Star.
London, England, 1828-12-11 00:00:00

TALES OF THE GREAT ST. BERNARD.
3 vols. post octavo. COMM

These volumes are attributed to Mr. Croly, the :uthor
of Sotalkie', and display in an eminent degree the vigo-
rous imagination and splendid desctiptive powers of
that deservedly popular Romance. The great beauty
of the present production consists in the strength and
propriety of its style, which is so tempered by the
writer, according as the variation of subject requires,
that whether the scene be of the humourous or serious
east, the reader is equally delighted; the rapiJity with
*filch the incidents succeed each other, the talents
exerted in working up the plots, and the brilliancy
of colouring throughout, are also among the power-
ful attractions of these volumes. The tales are sup-
posed to be related by travellers, who, crossing
the Alps, ate compelled by sudden inclemency of
weather to congregate together for shelter, in a con-
vent or Hospice of Mount S. Bernard. The first, en-
titled the Woes of Wealth, is related by an English
Squire, who has cpii ted hi, country, not from the mere
rage for roaming over the Continent, but to avoid the
inteerable miseries consequent on a sudden accu-
mulation of wealth. Toe case is made out with an
infinity of wit and ingenuity; some extravagancies
appear indispensably necessary. The scene of the
second tale, Plebe, is laid in the provinces ti Wal-
-14-hia, S:rvia, Bulgaria, and Riimelia. It is litre that
Mr. CROLY'S brilliant talents shine in all their lustre ;
nor will we attempt to describe.the effects which he
produces by his knowledge of ihose countries, their his-
tory, and the manners and customs of their
liz-d, half-savage inhaisit inti—the combination is per-
t ct, though we have to object interne instance t s the
tritroduction of incidents apparently supernatural, no
solution of which is sub•equently offered. There
are teveral other minor tales, but as we despair of doing
justice to our Author by an extract suited to our space
from the body of the work, we must refer our readers
to the work itself.

TALES AND CONFESSIONS. by Larren Mecum. One Vul.

Sanni, &Das, and Co. Corohlll.

This work comprise!, in a single volume, a fund of
amusement which we have frequently sought for in
vain in publications extending to a much greater
length, and holding forth in their Title pages. almoPt
unbounded pretensions. Under the pimple title of
Mks and Confessions, Mr. Ritchie has given us a
series of stories combining food f r all appetites—
The old or the young, the grave or the gay, may
each find amusement suited to his peculiar taste;
and whilst the admirer of light reading will not be
deterred from taking up the work by the prospect of
a laborious pilgrimage through a narrative extended
to the length of three or tour volumes, the reader, who
would be thought to pursue the more substantial path
of literature, will find, on the perusal of Taki and Con•
lesions, a full reward for his condescension in the
Amus ment which he will desire from it. The narratives,
upwards of twenty in number, vary in their charactrr
pet the style of each is well adapted to its subject. In
a word, the event of imagination and the power of de-
scription displayed by the author in this volume of
trifle', proves his capabilities for much greater things,
should he feel disposed to attempt them, in this class
of Literatures

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