The Sun.
London, England, 1821-09-24 00:00:00

LITERARY REVIEW.

The LIFE and ADVENTURES of. GUZMAN D'ALFA.
RACHE or the SPANISH ROGUE. 2 Vols. 12mo.

lI:BRADY.

We regret that we have not had an earlier
opportunity of noticing the amusing and interest-
ing little work which we have now the pleasure
of recommending to the attention of our Readers,
in whom we have no doubt that the very flatter-
ing commendation which it has received from the
European Magazine and other Reviews will ex-
cite an interest much in its favour.
We congratulate the Public" (says the EUROPEAN MA-
GAZINE) " on the addition which Mr. Brady has made to
their literary amusements, and we are delighted to see our old
friend Guzman in a modern dress. This is one of the most
amusing books we know." We bear testimony to the fidelity
and zeal with which this Gentleman has discharged his task.—
He has preserved the simplicity as well as the spirit of his ori-
ginal, and has achieved the great difficulty,—that of avoiding
any thing like coarseness in the relation of things which are ne-
cessarily, and in their nature, vulgar. In this instance, as in
many others, he has satisfactorily shown that he has caught and
felt the very spirit of his Author."

We present our Readers with the following
extract, which they will find amusing, and it
will convince them with what fidelity the Beg-
gars of modern times adhere to the ancient laws
of their order :

" TITE LAWS OF BEGGING.—As beggars of every nation
are distinguished from each other by their different modes of
imploring alms ; as the Germans beg by singing, and in troops,
the French by their praying, the Flemings by their respectful
bowings, the Bohemians by fortune-telling, the Portuguese by
their crying, the Italians by long harangues, the English by
abusing, and the Spaniards by their haughty growlings: we
hereby command them all to observe the following statutes
under pain of our heavy displeasure.
" 1. We forbid any lame or wounded beggar, of whatever
nation he be, to appear in the quarters frequented by others full
of health and vigour, on account of the advantage they will
have over the latter. We also ordain, that all such as are in
perfect health, form no manner of connexion with blind men,
field-preachers, mountebanks, poets, musicians, redeemed cap-
tives, nor even with old soldiers that have escaped from a rout.
or seamen saved from a shipwreck. For although it is gene-
rally allowed, that all these must subsist by imploring charity,
their manners of lid.-fging being different, it is necessary that
each society keep to its own particular rules.

" 2. We ordain that beggars have certain, taverns assigned
them in every country, where shall preside three or four of their
ancients with staves in their hands as emblems of their autho-
rity.. Which said ancients are hereby empoWered to canvass,
in the aforesaid taverns, all the affairs of the world, and to give
their opinions as freely as they please. At the same time, we
permit the other'beggars to relate their own heroic exploits, as
well as those of their ancestors, and even to illustrate the con.
versation by boasting of battles they were never in.

" 3. We command that every beggar carry a good cudgel in
his hand, with a spike at the end of it, if possible,,to be pro-
trided against cnietgeneies, lqst the} repent of their neglect.-
", 4. That earh beggar take especial care never to presume to