[ 250 ] [April 1, 



NEW BOOKS PUBLISHED IN MARCH : 



WITH AN HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL PROEMIUM. 



Authors or Publishers, tlesirous of seeing an early notice of their Works, are 

 requested to transmit copies before the \6th of the Month. 



topher Wren, in his writings, has evinced 

 for it the most profound contempt, and 

 has, indeed, endeaToiired to brand it with 

 a barbarous designation, in giving it the 

 title of Gothic, by which it is now ge- 

 nerally distineiuislied. He only succeeded 

 80 far as to inspirt'feelings of grandeur 

 and sublimity, l)y a term, which before 

 signified all that was barbarous and void 

 of (aste. If, however, we examine the 

 buildings of that great man in this style of 

 architecture, we shall have the consolation 

 of perceiving that his contempt for it was 

 only succeeded by his perfect ignorance 

 of its rules and its beauties. The ancient 

 castles which now remain in existence, are 

 especially calculated to excite us to study 

 their architectural rules. This work will 

 present, in a series of beautiful engravings, 

 all the most important military remains 

 in the kingdom, accompanied by a short 

 historical accotmt and description, con- 

 taining the principal information requi- 

 site for a student; and also illustrated, in 

 some instances, by a ground plan of the 

 building in its original stale, which every 

 archsologist will know to be of the ut- 

 most utility in assisting his studies. The 

 three first numbers now before us, are, in 

 point of beauty, all that the most fasti- 

 dious critic can desire. 



To those whose time hangs heavy upon 

 their hands we can recommend a lively 

 volume which has lately appeared under 

 tl»e title of. The Lucubrations of Humphrey 

 Ravelin, esq, late Major in the Re- 

 giment of Infantry, and which is well 

 calculated to amuse an idle hour. The 

 author appears, bona fide, to have been a 

 military man, and likewise to have seen 

 some service. In his delineation of man- 

 ners he is clever and acute, and his style 

 is pleasant and easy. A few episodes are 

 introduced, which are written with con- 

 siderable feeling. In two or three in- 

 stances, however, we feel inclined to ditftr 

 from the author : we are rather sceptical 

 as to the propriety of the high euloiiiinns 

 on Sir Thomas Ficton, and we do not like 

 the spirit in which the chapter headed 

 " Charity," is written. Upon the whole, 

 however, the volume is well worth a 

 perusal. 



Ill " Lore," a poem, by E. Elliott, 

 we recogni>e the efforts of a strong and 

 feeling mind, possessed of very consider- 

 able poetical powers. There is a life and 

 vigour in the verse, which we do not often 

 meet with in this kind of composition, and 

 some of his episodes are told with much 

 pathos and effect. We could have wished 



that 



WE have great pleasure in announc- 

 ing the publication of the second 

 volume of Specimens of the Russian 

 Poets, with Introductory Remark), by Mr. 

 BowRiNG. The very favourable recep- 

 tion experienced by the first part of these 

 elegant translations will, wc feel confi- 

 dent, be extended to the present volume, 

 in which we find much to praise and to 

 admire. A considerable portion of the 

 specimens here adduced, is of a martial 

 character, and seems to have been elicited 

 by the last conflict between France and 

 Russia, which roused in the latter coun- 

 try, and indeed throughout the whole 

 continent, a high spirit of poetry, and a 

 concomitant patriotic sentiment, the ef- 

 fects of which are yet to be seen. Our 

 readers will feel additional interest in this 

 volume, when they are informed, that it 

 was written during the author's confine- 

 ment in the prison of Boulogne, and 

 formed his only consolation during his 

 long and unjust detention. The circum- 

 stances attending that iniquitous trans- 

 action have been detailed by Mr. Bowring, 

 in a separate pamphlet. By the fortitude 

 and ability displayed by him in that affair, 

 he has secured to himself the sympathy 

 and applause of his country, and covered 

 his oppressors with merited disgrace. We 

 warmly recommend to our readers the 

 perusal of both these works, in which 

 they will find equal reason to admire the 

 literary taste, and to esteem the personal 

 character and patriotic sentiments, of the 

 able author. 



Since the notice of the Encyclopedia of 

 Antiquities, which appeared in a former 

 number, we have perused two more parts 

 of this work, and are disposed to think 

 even more favourably of it than before. 

 The account of the ancient architecture 

 of the Britons is, in particular, an article 

 of great talent. The illustrations which 

 accompany this book, though neither nu- 

 merous nor of a very superior kind, are 

 well selected in their subjects. On the 

 whole, the work certainly promises to be 

 a complete and concise body of antiqua- 

 rian knowledge, for the reference of the 

 learned archaeologist, as well as for the 

 instruction of students. 



An architectural work, which is highly 

 deserving of attention, has lately been 

 commenced under the title of, A Series of 

 Vieios of the most Interesting Remains of 

 the Ancient Castles in England and (-Vales, 

 The attention of the public has, till of late 

 years, been little directed to the subject 

 of ancient English architecture. Sir Chris- 



