458: 
or forty pages to each of the precedent vols. 
of about 300, and thus brought a Romance of 
the English Histories into the compass of two. 
But we beg Mr. G.’s pardon ; the imitation, 
we perceive, is to be carried still further. 
These three volumes are only the com- 
mencement of a series. We are to have 
another three vols. ; and another, and an- 
other, and another, &c. &c. But with all 
our admission of the talents of Mr. G. (and 
they are of no mean description), we can- 
not promise him that we shall follow either 
him or his great prototype through all the 
series he may thus lengthen out. There is 
yet another point of imitation, —namely, the 
bad English of the Great Unknown: at any 
rate, we think it would have been as well 
not to have let the imitation, in this respect, 
stare the reader in the face, from the very 
title-page. Will the author be kind enough 
to tell us, or will any body else, for we 
should be much obliged to them, what is 
the meanihg of “a Romance of the English 
Histories?”’ An English historical romance, 
or a Romance from English history, or @ 
Romance founded on English history, would 
be phraseology we could understand ; but 
really a Romance of the. English Histories, 
is gunshot beyond the sphere of our com- 
prehension : especially, as it is evidently no 
part of the design of the writer to bundle all 
the English histories into one Romance ; as 
the use of the comprehensive article THE, if 
it is admitted to have any meaning, seems 
to indicate. In fact, one of the evils with 
which our literature seems to be menaced 
by this inundation of Scottified novellizing, 
is a tendency to barbarize the English 
language. Let the Great Unknown and his 
northern followers reserve, at least, their 
Scotticisms for their Scottish characters, and 
not, by introducing them into their narra- 
tive also and their title-pages, mystify or 
Scottify us into a practical ignorance of the 
beautifully discriminative signification of our 
auxiliaries and particles. This would be 
“clipping (or, cripling rather) the wings of 
our Hermes” with a vengeance. 
_. Alice Allen, and other Tales. 8vo. By 
Alexander Wilson.— Why it should be called 
Alice Allen, in preference to any other 
name, we have yet to learn, unless because 
that is the first tale inthe book. It can- 
not be that it is the best. But best or 
worst are out of the question ; tly are all 
alike—strange and abortive efforts at the 
pathetic and the whimsical. The style is 
stiff and harsh; and, from the specimen of 
this first volume, we sincerely hope Mr. 
Wilson will not find leisure for another. 
Decision, a Tale, in 1 vol. 12mo.; by Mrs. 
Hofland.—This lady has favoured us again 
with another volume ; but, although written 
in her usual flow of smooth and easy style, 
it is less happy m conception than any of 
her former works. She appears to us to 
have forgotten the sex of her heroine, and 
.to have mistaken obstinacy for decision ; at 
_Jeast, such was the impression the principal 
List of New Publications. for November. 
[Dec. 1 
incidents left upon our'minds: -We are the 
more surprised at this, as Mrs. Hofland is 
a lady, the general tendency of whose works - 
and the truth with which she “ holds the 
mirror up to nature,” deservedly rank her 
with those benevolent enlighteners of the. 
youthful mind, Mrs. Barbauld and “Miss 
Edgeworth. We strongly recommend a 
revision of pp. 64 to 66, in particular. 
Gilmore, or the Last Lockinge, in 3 vols. 8yo. 
—The descriptive scenery of this work is 
beautiful ; but there is rather too much of 
it. The principal characters should act a 
little more, and reflect a little less. The 
author is also too fond of placing his 
“* figures in the distance ;”” so that the cu- 
riosity of the reader is raised to know 
whether it is a figure of fun, ora figure of 
fright, or a numerical figure. It generally 
turns out, however, to be some expected 
lover, mistress, servant, or friend, who is 
made a “ figure’’ of on the occasion. 
<a 
LIST OF NEW BOOKS. 
AGRICULTURE, 
Hortus Gramineus Woburnensis ; or, an 
Account of the Results of various Experi- 
ments on the Produce and Fattening Pro- 
perties of different Grasses, and other 
Plants, used as the Food of the more valu- 
able domestic Animals; instituted by John 
Duke of Bedford. To which is added an 
Appendix, pointing out the different Grasses 
best adapted for the Manufacture of Leghorn 
Bonnets, &c. By G. Sinclaia, F.L:8., F.H.S. 
Royal 8yo, ; 
Practical Remarks on the _Management 
and Improvement of Grass Land, as far as 
relites to Irrigation, Winter-flooding, and 
Drainage ; in a Letter to the Land-owners, 
&e., of the County of Essex. By C. C. 
Western, Esq., M.P. 8yo. 
ANTIQUITIES. . 
The History and Antiquities of the Parish 
and Palace of Lambeth; by J. Allan. Ato. 
and Syo. . 
EDUCATION. 
An Epitome of the History, Laws, and 
Religion of Greece, designed for the use of 
Young Persons. By J. Stackhouse, Mem- 
ber of the Literary and Philosophical Soci- 
ety of Liverpool, Author of “ Lectures on 
the Ancient Remains of Britain,”and other 
works. 12mo. 4s. 6d. 
A Key to the Exercises of Wanostrocht’s 
Latin Grammar. By A, Kennedy. 12mo. 
2s. 6d. : : 
A Key to the Spanish Language, and 
Conversation ; containing Idioms and Ex- 
pressions on a variety of Subjects with an 
Introduction to the Spanish Grammar, the 
whole arranged in such a manner as to en- 
able the student to acquire a speedy know- 
ledge of the Spanish Language, and parti- 
-ecularly adapted for Travellers. By D. E. 
Delara. 18mo. 2s. 6d, boards. 
Education at Home. 12mo. 2s. 
An Attempt to Illustrate the Rules of 
_English Grammar, and to explain the Na- 
ture 
