The Sun.
London, England, 1840-10-23 00:00:00

ETENING EDITION:

practice. We object not to the use of imagery, far
otherwise ; we are no advocates for a prim, quaker-
like, drab-coloured style; but it should be sparingly
Used, and never but when, as in Burke's writings, it
rises naturally out of the subject, and sets it off in
bright relief. But for what is called.firrewriling, that
is to say, for bloated, rolling periods, or snappish
epigrammatic sentences strung together without
rhyme or reason—for this falsetto manner, we pro-
fess a sovereign contempt, satisfied, as we are,
that it is one of those tricky expedients to which
common-place is ever apt to resort, in order to
conceal its natural sterility of thought. " The
Foreign Slave Trade" is an article of average merit,
and endorses Sir T. Buxton's statement that this ne-
farious traffic is carried on to as great an extent as
" Hallam's History of Literature" gives a
nlspassionate, analytical notice of one of the cleverest
and most learned works that the present age has
Produced. In the criticism on Von Raumer's " Italy
and the Italians," the German Professor's volumes
are dealt with far too leniently, and no mention
made of the strong Metternich taint with which
they are infected. The one or two remaining arti-
cles call for no particular comment.

"HE WORKS OF WYCHERLEY. CON-
GREVE, VANBR UGH, and FARQUHAR.
Moxon, London, 1840.
We have only one fault to find with this volume,
but that one, as Dennis Bulgruddery observed of
ofis wife's dram-drinking, "is a thumper." It is
• stich ponderous dimensions that there is no read•
Ing it but at a desk, which is a most formal and in-
Convenient manner of reading the works of such
rightly comic writers as Wycherley, Congreve,
o relish them thoroughly, we should peruse them
elititlr ease that is to say, while seated in a snu.;
°w•chair by the fire-side, or lounging u
un-
embarrassed on a sofa. But with a
ra cor-
e-sized octavo like t
ent, larghis, such a
orniliar, off-hand mode of reading is wholly
hilt of the question, for it is impossible to
itlthe volume in one's hand for ten minutes
together. If we except this defect—which was,
perhaps, unavoidable—nothing can exceed in neat-
t e." and elegance the edition before us, which con-
calrls the complete works of four of the greatest
"nothinglic writers in our language, to say of an
introductory
0 essay on their writings, from the pen
f Leigh., Hunt, one of the most discriminating of
e°"ro critics. The parts we like least in this
18,4 y are those which refer to Congreve, for
g'°'n Mr. Hunt appears to entertain no very
e.tt ttt admiration. He allows him abundant
it is true,—for the most inveterate
Veiudiee could not do otherwise ; but the conces-
t:" is coldly made, and in terms which almost
made,
its effect. Scarcely any mention is
too, of Congreve's humour, which noue can
inY him, who remember Valentine's scene with
rapland in " Love for Love," and Miss Prue 's
first interview with Ben the Sailor, when, instead
th'taking love, as it was intended they should do,
~,,;e3r, fall to loggerheads with each other. The
the
on Farquhar is excellent throughout ; and
e brief biographical notices that occur in the
essay, are told in Mr. Hunt's heartiest and plea-
santest manner.