582 MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE. 



ments appear to be made without design, each petty chief acting on his own 

 responsibility ; for Carlos himself is a man quite unfit to direct the operations 

 of his followers : it is generally believed that he is even deficient in personal 

 courage. On the other hand, their opponents are daily acquiring numbers 

 and confidence, and they are commanded by a man of undoubted courage, 

 whatever his other qualities may be. It \ is not likely, therefore, that 

 Carlos will now attempt a descent upon the low country ; he never dared to 

 leave the mountains during the lifetime of his general, and, if he did so now, 

 the attempt would certainly be attended with the ruin of his followers. I 

 therefore look upon his cause as hopeless ; for he has no prospect of assist- 

 ance, either foreign or domestic ; his credit he lost with Zumalacarregui ; and 

 it is not very probable that a Scythian army will march to his assistance. 



"Yet, though unable to act on the offensive, his partizans may still carry 

 on a guerilla warfare for some time; in short, until the Queen's government 

 can muster troops sufficient to occupy the whole country in a military manner. 

 Then will Don Carlos scamper off, and leave his misguided partizans to their 

 fate, as other princes have done on similar occasions." 



The volume is well worthy of perusal. We only wish it had embraced a 

 greater variety of details. 



A Day in the Woods; a Connected Series of Tales and Poems. By 

 Thomas Miller, Basket-Maker. Smith, Elder, and Co. 



This 'volume is ushered into the world under peculiar circumstances. Mr 

 Miller has hitherto, and does still, follow the humble occupation of a basket- 

 maker, by which he has contrived to support himself, his wife, and family. 

 The volume, on the advice of his literary friends, has been published, in the 

 hope of being thereby enabled to better his circumstances in life. We 

 trust his expectations will be realized. But, apart from a mere kindly dispo- 

 sition to aid a struggling and virtuous man, the work is deserving of patron- 

 age on the ground of its literary merits. It displays a mind of much native 

 elegance, with no inconsiderable portion of genius. It is redolent of a love of 

 Nature and Nature's works. It is pervaded throughout by much of the poetic 

 spirit. Even in the prose pieces you see the poetical imprimatur. We like 

 the poetry, however, best. It is ofttimes full of tender thought and beautiful 

 imagery. The fault of the prose is that the style is too flowery. Considering, 

 however, the circumstances under which it has appeared, it is a wonderful 

 volume. 



We give one extract from the poetry. It is entitled 



THE EVENING HYMN. 



How many days, with mute adieu. 



Have gone down yon untrodden sky ! 

 And still it looks as clear and blue 



As when it first was hung on high. 

 The rolling sun, the frowning cloud 



That drew the lightning in its rear,,.-. 

 The thunder, tramping deep and loud. 



Have left no foot-mark there. 



The village bells, with silver chime. 



Come softened by the distant shore ; 

 Though I have heard them many a time. 



They never rung so sweet before. 

 A silence rests upon the hill, 



A listening awe pervades the air : 

 The very flowers are shut, and still. 



And bowed as if in prayer. 



