The Sun.
London, England, 1832-04-04 00:00:00

LITVRATURE.

STANDARD NOVELS, No. XI V.

The present:Number contains Cooper's bes'
American tale, " The Pioneers," carefully re•
wised, corrected,' and furnished with an expla-
natory introduction by the author. Those
who have read the novel—and what novel reader
has not ?—will be glad to peruse it a second
time ; for it is one of the very few works of fiction,
which, from its variety of character, the freshness
and vivacity of its incidents, and the extraordi-
nary energy of some of its scenic descriptions.
will hear the test of the most rigid critical scrutiny.
The quaint, old backwoodsman, Natty Bumpo,
as striking a character as novelist ever yet depicted.
figures on the stage here more prominently and
to greater advantage than even in the " Last of

the Mohicans," or the Prairie," in which latter
tale the disconsolate, friendless, doting old man
appears gliding like a shadow among scenes en-
deared to him by a thousand fond associations.
In the work before us he is in his full vigour of
mind and body, consequently his character is
more strongly defined, and takes a deeper hold
of the imagination. The volume is tastefully
embellished with two choice engraving's by Rolls.

ACCOUNT ofthe BEULAH SALINE SPA.
LONDON, 1832.

We are indebted to this account of a most
thriving place of Summer resort, and whose
newly discovered Spa is pronounced. by compe-
tent authorities, to possess qualities of a highly
salubrious medicinal character, to Dr. Weather-
head who, it seems, hasanalysed the waters of the
spring, and reported a favourable opinion thereon,
which he has here communicated to the world-
So long as the worthy Doctor confines himself
to plain matter-of-fact statements, his opi-
nions are entitled to respect ; but the instant
he leaves the broad high-way of common►
sense to trespass upon the flowery paths
of fine-writing, he becomes not merely tire-
some, but ridiculous, and deserves to be sen-
tenced by the critic as an arrant poacher on other
people's domains. What, for instance, can be
more absurd than the following bombast ?
Wishing simply to inform us that Norwood was
once the favourite resort of gipsy fortune-
tellers, the pompous M.D. communicates the
novel intelligence in this inflated style :

" Norwood was, in the memory of several of the in-
habitants still living, an entire forest of oaks, and the well-
known resort of the swarthy remnant of those vagrant
Egyptians who way-I,y the path of the too credulous
maiden, to bid her hope or fear evens, which often guide
the future tenor of her life, realizing in dreams fortunes
as unsubstantial and visionary as the flattering and decep-
tive vehicle that, for a happy while, depicts their ideal ex-
istence on the alumberi,g itnaginition."

" This is not poetry, but prose run mad."
We recommend Dr. Weatherhead to cancel it in

a future edition.

QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF EDUC.A.
TION—No. 6. LONDON, 1832.

The design of this work is excellent, and its
execution no less entitled to praise. Consum-
mate tact is shown in the selection of the topics
discussed, and very superior diligence in the way
in which they are worked up. The details re-
specting the Spanish Universities have all the
zest of novelty, being fuller and completer than
any we have yet seen. There are also many in-
genious hints suggested in the article entitled—
" On some Methods employed for the Instruc-
tion of the Deaf and Dumb." The reviews,
chiefly of a practical and scientific character, are
marked by a spirit of candour and discrimination.

LARDNER'S CABINET CYCLOP.X,DIA,
No. XXIX. LONDON, 1832,
Comprises the first volume of a " History of
Spain and Portugal," penned in an easy, yet ani-
mated style, and with a scrupulous adherence to
facts. Such a history was much wanted ; for
though we have accounts in abundance of cer-
tain romantic periods in the annals of the
Spanish and Portuguerie Peninsula, yet we have,
till now, been sadly deficient in one continuous
history of it. The present work is an attempt
to supply this desideratum, and we feel justified
in asserting, that it is a highly successful one.