Star.
London, England, 1823-05-19 00:00:00

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ti tiailler bilinlialay the Anther of " Weveriey." 3 vols.
e .poptilatity of the Novels written by the Au-
thorof Waverley, renders all criticism on the Au-1
that's general talents unnecessary, and has indeed',
nearly superseded all criticism, the public reading
only to admire. There are, however, degrees of
merit in the productions of the Author f .Waverley,
if his genius has not become deteriorated : it has cer-
tainly been too much drawn upon of late years.
The principal number of the Novels of this Author
have been Scottish ; and here such an intimate know-
ledge was displayed of local customs and traditions,
and so much legendary lore exhibited, that it struck
the southern readers with amazement. In several
recent cases, however, the scene has been transferred
to England, and that sometimes very successfully,
particularly in the romance of Ivanhoe, which at once
carried us back to the chivalry of the middle ages.
Bot the Author had hitherto but crossed the Tweed;
he has now crossed the Channel; and the story of Quen-
tin Durward embraces the period of Louis XI. of France,
and the policy, intrigues, and contests, of a most inte-
resting part of his reign. The opening of the tale is
the arrival of Quentin Durward, a young Scot, who is
made one of the Scottish Archers of the Guard of
Louis. Quentin, from a variety of circumstances,.bot
.especially the superstition of Louis, becomes a leading
character. The description of Plessis-les-Tours, and
the horrid cruelties of its master, with many of his
plans and schemes, as well as histories of the agents
of his atrocities, form the main introduction, and are
said to be worthy of the Great Incognito." The
scene after this changes to the town and neighbour.
hood of Liege, and presents an account of one of the
veriest wild-boars that ever was painted, William de In
Marck, surnamed (and most truly) the Wild boar of
the Ardennes. The story carries you, in the next
place, to the Peronne, the Court and residence of
Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy ; and you ar-
rive here just as the policy of Louis the Eleventh
prompts him to beg to settle all his differences with
Charles by a virtual surrender of himself, or rather
an attempt to help out his plans by an apparent open
and friendly visit. The scenes and shifting: that fol-
low this step are drawn with a strong and powerful
pencil. At present we cart only say, that murders
and hangings are very frequent; stormings, sallies,
and onslaughts, not less so ; the whole drawn with
the features of Ivanhoe shining out in many instances,
and Quentin forming a very prominent figure not
only at the beginning but the end.
The characters in Quentin Durward are all well,
and some of them very powerfully drawn, the man-
ners of the age are very happily described, and the
story is connected and full of interest.
Witcoconst• ; or, lircrossrsritm—LThe Influence of Religious
Principles fly the Author of " The Decision," " Caroline
°MO) " Village Coutuiel,” &c. 2 vols. 12nio.
The leading objects of this story are said to be " to
enforce the necessity (the influence) of true religion
on the conduct of man,•and to chew that no repent-
anee can be permanent which is not founded on the
doctrines of Revelation." Were all wor ks of fiction
comecrated to purposes equally laudable, and billy
half as well executed as the present, our Circulating
Libraries v:oul prove a source of untold goqd loth!
thing generation, instead of pouting forth, as at pre►
sent, an ever copious stream of moral pollution. The
-characters are delightfully sketched; the sentiments
severe yet sound and rational, and the language,
with a few exceptions, correct, copious, and elegant.
—The Christian will find his faith fortified by a pe-
rusal of the work ; nor need the Infidel be averse to
consult its" pages ; for, thoogh he may rise from it
unconvinced, le will not, we dare say, deny it the
praise df being a very pleasant romance. We select,,
as a specirnent the following excellent sentiments of
the hertine of the novel on the interesting question,
as to the propriety of a matrimonial union between
persons who differ in their holies of future and eter-
s.% tl happiness :

"In Trelawny's mind love and vanity were at va-
riance. In Elizabeth's, the wish to please her pa-
rents, and the wish to forward her eternal interests
in an union for life, were the predominant feelings.
She considered marriage as an awful, an indissoluble
engagement ; that the more she became attached to
a being whom next to GOD she should think it.her
duty to obey, with less resolution she might be ena-
bled to subdue her failings, or her growing preju-
dices, if the man on whom her heart rested, instead
of confirming her faith, directly or indirectly set it,
at nought, by either indifference, scepticism, or ig-
norance on 'religious subjects. Mr. Coventry fur
worlds would not • have• urged her to mar), an im-
moral Man, but Mr. Trelawny, by well-timed silence,
and an apparent deference to Mr. Coventry's opi-
nions, had never given any cause for suspicion that
he was not altogether a Christian ; and so brilliant
in establishment for Elisabeth was not to be relin-
quished without jutt.grounds for its rejection. Once,
when conversing with her parents on the snbject, she
said, I will candidly allow that Mr. Trelawny's ap-
parent attachment might lead to a more tender in-,
terest on my part than I at present feel for him. I do
not expect to meet with a perfect character, but till
1 am convinced that his principles are untainted with
modern scepticism, I cannot give him the encourage-
silent you wish, and therefore as I do not think it is
very honourable to hold any one in suspense, let me
intreat-you, .my dearest father, to write him a deci-
ded refusal.'"

. .
ssnaLDrc, lisroxxxtes ; or, Rank Confusion In our Orders of
Precedence : with Disquisitions, Moral, Philosophical, and
Historical, on all the existirg Orders of Society. By It Mat-
' ters Not Who. 2 void.
The Heraldic Anomalies are a couple of light
agreeable volumes, full of anecdote and humour, in-
termingled with graver disquisitions. They treat on
all ranks and degrees of men, and chew several ca-
rious anomalies attending titles, as well as a great
variety of amusing facts connected with them. In a
highly entertaining dissertation on names, we find,
*moat:lateral others, the foll Owing anecdote:
A,clergyman of theitt.tMe cif. Friend, who had
• :gist possession of a .living to a Way.lisat rendered it
doubtful Whether it might not be regarded as
otitkakt,!!ratimpetident enough Ao ask As heigh-
:, keniawg iTergiu!an to prebch fbr hint! On the day that
ike3,ena: tifsead. la (as 4' is called); 4/Ito fried remon-
metal with him in the courseorthe tiegociatiew, and
being humorously inclined, to the great consternation