The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-08 00:00:00

but tend to influence the public mind favourably
in reference to the scope and stability of his repu-
tation.

A Bundle of Crowquills. Dropped by Alfred Crow-
quill—in his eccentric flight over the Fields of
Literatu,re. G. Routledge and Co.
Whoever may resist the invitation prefixed to
this charming little volume by its author must be
incorrigible either in dullness or in parsimony.
Listen to them—these persuasive and scarcely re-
sistible invitations ! Firstly—" Address to the
Public—Buy it !--Alfred Crowquill—Crowsnest,
1853." Secondly—" Preface—Read it !—Alfred
Crowquill—Crowsnest, 1853." There ! Is not
our intimation held good—that the author makes
his bow somewhat decoyingly ? He has you fairly
by the button-hole before you have well turned
over the title-page. Then, having piqued you into
curiosity by his " Address" and his " Preface,'
he tickles you into attention by the " Contents',
of his volumette ! If we recollect rightly, the
sketches—sketches, recollect, both of pen and pen-
cil—here collected together, originally appeared in
the pages of our old favourite Bentley's Miscellany.
Gathered into one group they are ingeniously en-
titled as the reader has already, no doubt, observed
—" A Bundle of Crowquills"—Crowquills droppeut
by the artist-scribe in his eccentric flight over tho
fields of literature. A glance over the cable of
contents will show pleasantly enough which way
the crow
cflhiaems.berAfteirnshpoopotningg
aab,,osran
about
anl ~
lsword,"
peeping at a few " Reflections of a Pier-glass," ar-
tistically examining a " Portrait," prying down
the barrel of a "Holster Pistol," perching upon
an " Old Arm Chair," and cocking a stray feather
in the band of a " Cavalier's Hat"--away (we pre-
sume out of the window of the " Old Manorial
Chamber") away sails the old bird (not to be caught
with any chaff but his own) in "his eccentric
flight," as he tells us, " over the fields of litera-
ture." He wings his way through an atmosphere
of ,6 Glimpses and Mysteries"—pluming himself
contentedly first upon one subject and then upon
another, just as it suits the first flight of his
fancy or is suggested by the latest crochet
of his imagination. He sketches, among
other curiosities of art, " The Author," and gives
a pen-and-ink portraiture of that wonderful being
" The Man who was once Respectable." He de-
picts " The New Neighbourhood," and gives a pro-
file outline, as it were, of " The Old Woman at
the Corner." " The Young Gentleman who never
did Anything" is painfully true to the life ; but de4
lightfully true to the life iswthhiecipei.acill'eg of "The
Good-Natured Woman,"
afterwards. Another capter is which is
of blue-fire glimpse of
is a sly peep into a
v 0 thereietir is
f
a passing gibe at " Winter, after Le
andn There
Hood or Ingoldsby. Besides all which, the
is enlivened by a variety of equally droll ant;
Lodging-House,"
gTilnieg_Allpopu
diversified contributions. Several of the wood-cuts
aserivot,giloevdea. shortly
afterwards.
are capital—as, for example, that one at page 84, re-
presenting the little round-headed Irishman, with
his head bound up in a handkerchief. As plea-
sant reading by a fireside, or in the corner of a
railway carriage, Alfred Crowquill's " Bundle
of Crowquills" will be acceptable as another con-
tribution to what is already so plentiful—the popu-
lar store of cheap literature.

The Oliveira Prize Essay on Portugal. By J. J.
Forrester, Wine Grower in the Alto-Douro.
John Neale, High Holborn.

A great deal of information is given to us in
this book concerning Portugal. Besides the suc-
cessful pamphlet in question, there is evidence re-
garding that country taken before a committee of
the House of Commons, and the author's surveys
of the Wine Districts of the Alto-Douro, as adopted
and published by order ; likewise a statistical
comparison of the resources and commerce of Great
Britain and Ireland. There is a large map at the
conclusion, which presents a view of the Wino
Districts of the Alto-Douro ; it is well executed,
and is useful in forming an idea of the subjects
treated of before in the work. In the preface the
author mentions that he has been requested to
omit certain passages in the pamphlet, as changes
which he then asserted were necessary have since
been made. However, he justly observes that he
could not leave out that ene chapter, as all the
others refer to it, and the circumstances then ex-
isting have given a tone to the whole of hig
remarks. A memoir of Mr. Oliveira is given at
the end of the book. A. letter from that gentleman
to the author, declares his gratitude for the trouble
and ability displayed in the composition before us.
A list is given of the honours conferred on the
author of this essay.

The litonap, Hair. By Alexander Rowland.
Piper and Co.

This work is not so much devoted to the treat-
ment of the hair as to the consideration of the
different styles in which it has been worn in dif-
ferent times and countries, and a scientific analysis
of its properties and peculiarities, which are ex-
plained by illustrations. It is very curious to ob-
serve the extravagant fashions which have been
popular. Two groups of portraits are entertaining,
as showing the modes in which many well-known
individuals arranged their hair.

The Scottish Review. Vol. I. Houlston and

Stoneman.

The first four numbers of this quarterly have,
been bound up in one volume. It is chiefly de-
voted to the objects of temperance, being published
by the Scottish Temperance League, Glasgow, but
contains many articles on other subjects. The
preface asserts that its success has exceeded expeed
tation, and attributes it to the absence of all at-
tempt to supplant others and the spirit of competi-a
tion. Among the most interestinc, papers on the
chief subject is a criticism on the talented work a
" Harry Muir, the Laird of Alhinders."