The Sun.
London, England, 1837-09-23 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

ENCYCL OP2ED/A BRITANNICA, VoL. XV.

P.NT 11. Seventh Edition.
Edinburgh, Blach and Co., 1837.
Evidences innumerable of the research, judgment,
and. ability of Professor Napier, the learned editor of
Ins edition of one of the most useful works in the
English language, are to be met with in almost every
article. Many of these, if published separately, would
‘obtain a wide circulation. The article on Moral Phi-
losophy ranks among the best productions on this sub-
ject to be found in any language. The tabular disser-
tation.. on Human Mortality, and the epitomized, but
highly interesting History of Music are as complete as
Industry well applied could render them. But the
most striking article in this Part is the animated, well-
Conceived Sketch of Napoleon. The writer, whoever
be may be, has dared to render justice to the character
of a man, who, with all his faults, possessed a thou-
sand times more true greatness of mind than the
greatest of his conquerors. Posterity," he well con-
cludes, " will judge of the treatment which Napoleon
experienced at the•hand of England. A prisoner in
another hemisphere, he laboured to defend the reputa-
tion which he knew history was preparing for him,
end which various parties exaggerated or blackened,
according to tho dictates of their respective preju-
dices or passions. But death surprised him at the
moment when he was putting his commentaries into
21/ape) and he consequently left them imperfect.
'hey contain much, however, that is not only valu-
able in itself, but calculated to dispel prejudice, and
to throw light upon some of the most important
"exits in his life ; and no man can read them atten-
tively without experiencing a feeling of respect and
sympathy, mixed with admiration. * By his
Victories of Montenotte, Castiglione, Rivoli, the Py-
ramids, Marengo, Ulm, Austerlitz, Jena, Friedland,
%bensberg, Ratisbon, Wagram, Dresden, Champau-
bert, Montmirail and Ligny, he acquired enough of glory
to efface the single disaster of Waterloo.; and his five
'codes embody a system of jurisprudence in the forma-
tion of which he had a principal share, and which
as not only proved a boon of inestimable value to
France, but is even at this day received as authorita-
tive in a great portion of Europe ; thus justifying his
Own Proud anticipation, that he would go down to
Posterity with the codes in his hand. The monuments
wnich he has left in France and in Italy will also
attest his grandeur to the remotest ages." How this
appreciation of all that is great in the character of
Napoleon would have gladdened the heart of his histo-
lien, the late William Hazlitt ! Besides the scientific
plates, this Part is embellished with a beautiful
View of Fingal's Cave, Staffa, from a drawing by

QUESTIONS ON THE HISTORY OF EUROPE.

Longman, London, 1837.
trThis work, which is a sequel to Miss Mangnall's
IL4lstorical Questions, is the production of Miss
Ll..rner, and forms a valuable addition to the number
'our elementary school books. It contains an im-
erise variety of questions and answers on the subject
of the leading historical events in France, Spain, Por-
tugal, Germany, Poland, and Italy ; and also with re-
F.ard to the Apostolic See, and the reigns of the Popes
Ir°lll the time of St. Peter. We know of no book
lrinch we would sooner put into the hands of a young
Person
who was just commencing the perusal of mo-
dern history. The questions are all well put, and the
Itnsvvers brief and pointed, but containing a vast quan-
tity of serviceable, pertinent information. It is evident
!hat such a work requires only to be in general circu-
4tion among schools.

GOETHE'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH A
CHILD, 2 Vols.
Longman, London, 1837.
There is much beauty and delicacy of sentiment and
'lll agination evinced in this epistolary correspondence
b~
Nreen the veteran Goethe, and one of the most
Yol ithful and enthusiastic of his admirers, named Bel-
tin4e, many of whose letters, though containing rather
too diffuse and florid descriptions, yet cannot be read
Iviti,out interest ; for they abound in touches of pathos,
ian a poetry of the most sterling character. They are
.d. 'tea the gems of the volumes, for old Goethe's re-
Piti! xi contain little or nothing that he has not repeated
a
1 east a dozen times in his Wilhelm Meister, and his
ant, )biography.