260 
which her general definition is an intention 
to deceive. She then proceeds to comment 
on the various modes, adopted by the world 
n its daily communications, wherein this 
* intention to deceive” is glaringly con- 
spicuous. The illustrations are written 
with her usual success. Each tale tells 
home; and perhaps there will be little 
difficulty in concluding with Mrs. Opie, 
that “lying is the most common of all 
vices.” Some of the extracts also from 
Lord Bacon, Addison, Johnson, Hawks- 
worth, &c., as extracts, are good, and in 
the book-making way do well enough; 
but we wish that Mrs. Opie had stopped 
here, and omitted her martyrologies, with 
their disputed statements and controversial 
bearings. These, we think, farther than 
the brief statements necessary to the thread 
of history, should be reserved for works 
professedly of a theological description. 
In a work of this description, they nar- 
row the utilities, by contracting its cir- 
culation within the limits of sectarianism. 
Tales of Ardennes. By DERWENT CON- 
way: 1 vol, 8vo.—This little work, amus- 
ing and interesting in itself, is somewhat in 
the style of “ Highways and Byeways,”’ 
and is not much inferior in point of 
writing—being elegant, natural and de- 
scriptive. The: death of Agnes, in the 
“ Confessions of Camille du Fay,” is full 
of deep and tender pathos; and we wish 
the author such success as may tempt him 
further to extend his travels whereby the 
fire-side worshippers may be benefitted as 
well as amused. 
Boyle’s Fashionable Court and Country 
Guide and Town Visiting Directory, corrected 
for April 1825: containing an Alphabetical 
Arrangement of the Names and Places of 
Abode (with the Family Names of the Nobility ), 
in Town and Country, of all the Ladies and 
Gentlemen of Fashion. To which are added, 
the Inns of Court, &c. : with a List of Coffee 
Houses, &c. ; a List of Institutions and Public 
Establishments, &c. E. Borre and Son, 
* No. 1, Leicester-Square.— We announce with 
pleasure the customary Spring Edition of 
this most useful work, rendered still more 
useful ‘by the additions and improvements 
now included. That its circulation should 
increase at every edition, we are not sur- 
prised, since there can be scarcely an in- 
‘dividual in any condition of life—permanent, 
resident, or temporary visitant of the metro- 
polis—to whom this little book may not 
sometimes be necessary, always useful. 
<< e 
‘FOREIGN LITERATURE, &c. 
FRANCE. 
The 5th Edition of an “ Exposition du 
Systeme du Monde,” by the Count de 
Laplace, revised and augmented by the 
author, is ably, though briefly reviewed, by 
M. Franceeur, in the January number of 
the ‘‘ Revue Encyclopédique.” In the 6th 
chapter of the last book, M. de Laplace 
makes some reflections upon the errors 
Monthly Review of Literature, 
[April 1, 
from which the most exalted genius is not 
exempt. He has proved in his “‘ Mécanique 
Céleste,”’ that the motions of the planets and 
their satellites fulfil conditions, that assure 
the eternity of their duration, and fix the 
limits of their variations: but Newton, 
whose name requires no distinctive epithet, 
to whose research (extraordinary as it may 
seem) this had not been revealed, thought 
that the heavenly bodies continually be- 
came more irregular in their movements ; 
and that, indeed, the intervention of diyine 
power would be necessary to restore order 
to the system. It is worthy of remark, 
that the Lilterati, among whom Count 
Laplace dwells, assert ‘‘ that literature is 
not less advanced than science, by his ex- 
ertions.”’ 
Collection des Constitutions, Chartes et Lois, 
&c. Collection of the Fundamental Consti- 
tutions, Charters and Laws of the People af 
Europe, and the Two Americas ; by Messrs. 
P. A.; Durou J. B. Duvererer, and J. 
GUuEDET, advocates of the “‘ Cour Royale” at 
Paris. 6 vols. 
How happy the idea (though not quite 
original), in an age in which political sci- 
ence holds a situation “‘ so high advanced,” 
to attempt, in one glance, to comprize the 
constitutions of the chief people of two 
worlds. But the authors of this important 
collection have not only given accounts of 
the policy by which nations are now go- 
verned, but have sought out the first prin- 
ciples of their laws, and followed them up 
to their full development. 
La France, l’ Emigration, et les Colons.— 
France, Emigration, and the Colonies. By 
M. De Prapt;, late Archbishop of Malines, 
(Mechlin), Paris, 2 vols. 
Sagacity the most perfect, animated’ by 
the highest zeal for justice, and by patriot 
love, is called for in discussing a question of 
such general interest. 
All these requirements are found in M. 
De Pradt, whose work will conciliate the 
approbation of all impartial minds, will con- 
vince the followers of common sense, and 
will, perliaps, remove the prejudices: of 
ignorance, upon a subject, whose solution 
lays not at every man’s door. 
Guvres de Boileau Despreaux. Works of — 
Boileau Despreaur, with a Commentary. By 
M. De Satnt-Sunin: ornamented with 
12 plates, after new Designs ; Paris, 4 vols, 
8vo.— Boileau, perhaps the most perfect of 
modern Authors, was the man who best 
knew, and imitated the ancients ; but, the 
French Academy covered itself with ridi- 
-cule, by adjudging its prize to Marmontel, 
for a poetical epistle, in which Boileau was 
depicted as a mere dull imitator.—Become 
the censor of the follies of his age, and the 
law-giver of the Phocianmountain, Boileau’s 
works contain a multitude of passages and 
allusions, which, without a commentator’s 
aid, it is impossible to understand; M. de 
Saint>Surin thinks that his’ edition will 
satisfy every wish; buf, alas, like other 
commentators, 
