548 
terest it is to prove him ‘to be in the 
wrong. Of the antiquity and genuine- 
ness of the manuscripts, however, no 
doubts can possibly exist ; and the: trans- 
lator, while he admits that they are not of 
so old a date as the events recorded, as- 
serts with confidence, that they must be 
faithful transcripts from the most ancient 
records; their style, language, and con- 
tents, equally precluding the possibility 
of their being forged. A fac-simile is 
given *n the second volume from thé “ Roll 
of the Laws of Eri,” (a copy of which will 
be given in our Supplement, ) and we under- 
stand that he has gratified the public with 
an inspection of the originals, which he has 
deposited at the publisher’s. His case 
thus rests on firm ground, and he has no 
reason to apprehend the revival of a con- 
troversy ‘like that of Chatterton or 
Macpherson. But, if any variety of opi- 
nion should be raised on conflicting his- 
torical questions, every reader cannot fail 
to be impressed with the greatest respect 
for the profound erudition and patient 
research every where visible in the valu- 
able disquisitions which the editor has 
prefixed to his translations. The work is 
dedicated to Sir Francis Burdett, in a 
tone altogether original; and Sir Francis 
is understood to take a lively interest in 
the success of this work, a feeling in which 
he will be joimed by the gentlemen of 
Yreland and the literati of Europe and 
America. 
Mr. WAsnIneTon IRVING, the author 
of the Sketch Book, has just published a 
new work, in two volumes, entitled, 
Bracebridge Hall, or the Humourists. High 
as Mr. Irving’s character, as an elegant 
and pleasing writer, has stood in public 
estimation, since the republication of his 
Sketch Book on this side of the Atlantic, 
we still think that his literary reputation 
will be encreased by the present work. 
Bracebridge Hall is intended to give-a 
picture of old English feelings and man- 
ners, and we think Mr. Irving has been 
very successful in this attempt. No one 
better deseribes the old popular customs 
of England, the May-day sports and the 
Christmas revelries. The characters which 
are introduced are cleverly drawn, and 
display excellent feeling and very. consi- 
derable humour. "Phe Squire himself, and 
Christie, his Huntsman, are admirable 
portraits. But perhaps the most valuable 
portions of these volumes to the English 
reader, ave those in which the author in- 
troduces a few sketches of American cha- 
racter, such as that of the Dutch Hunter 
surrounded by his Indian attendants. The 
story of Annette Delarbre is beautifully 
written, The few observations at the end 
of the second volume, on the national 
animosities of the two countries, are 
worthy of the best attention, both of En- 
glishmen and Americans. 
Tn an Itinerary of Provence and the Rhone, 
Literary and Critical Proémium. 
[July ty 
made during the Year: 1819, by Jounx 
Hucues, A.mvof Oriel College, Oxford, 
-will be. found a spirited: but hasty sketch 
of the principal points. worthy of obser- 
vation, through this interesting line of 
country. . The author does little more tha 
advert to the prominent objects of history 
and antiquity which came under his notice, 
and perhaps this is all which the natune of 
his work, intended principally to guide 
the traveller to the scenes most likely to 
reward his attention, ought to lead us to 
expect. Mr. Hughes is evidently an ob- 
serving and well-informed man, | but we 
could wish that his frequent recollections 
of the effects of blasphemy and sedition in 
the French reyolution, had been: qualified 
by the reflection of the despotism and 
bigotry in which they had) their origin. 
The pages are interspersed) with many 
rough, but characteristic etchings, and a 
‘series of more laboured and. expensive 
illnstrations will appear an a_ separate 
form. The Itinerary, when thus com- 
pleted, will present a very agreeable! and 
lively picture of the southern districts of 
France, ; 
The riddle offered to our conjectures in 
the Fortunes of Nigel is at last solved; 
and, rather contrary to our expectations, 
it has proved to be not'a chivalric ro- 
mance, but an Anglo-Scotch’ historical 
novel. The scene is laid in ‘the court of 
James I. whither Nigel, a young Scotch 
lord, repairs to claim a large advance of 
money, formerly made by his father to the 
sovereign. The difficulties which he en- 
counters in this pursuit, the temptations 
to which he is exposed, with his final ex- 
trication, and restoration to fortune’ and 
favor, form the groundwosk to: the story, 
As a story, however, it is hardly worth 
while to look at these volumes, the rich- 
ness of which consists in the exact and 
beautiful portraiture of the manners and 
characters of that period, and the exqui- 
site way in which the author has worked 
into his plan the amusing: humours and 
foibles of the worthy King James. The 
scenes in which this.royal actor is shewn 
off, are the best in the work. If, on the 
other hand, we were to name the weakest 
part, we must unquestionably ‘fix, on the 
episode of the Lady Hermione, which is 
not raised one degree above the merit of a 
second or third-rate novel. Compared, 
however, with the Pirate, we do not he- 
sitate in giving the preference’ to Sir 
Walter’s latest born, whose phiysiognomy, 
if not altogether unknown to ‘us, presents 
at least some strong and distinet features, 
possessing beauty and novelty amply suffi- 
cient to interest and amuse us. In an 
historical | view, we think that the cha- 
racters of Prince'Charles, and particularly 
of Buckingham, are painted in too fayour- 
able colours; and that of James himself, 
though we are not quite sure that the 
author is so wrong in this, is exhibited in 
so 
