Star.
London, England, 1826-05-11 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Vivian Grey. 2 Vols. post Bvo. London, 1896.
A new class of Novels has lately sprung up, which
has attained very great celebrity : we allude to those
which relate to fashionable life. Of these, several have
been published of great merit, such as Matilda, 7 re.
main, Granby, &c. all of which have been written by
persons of rank and fortune, who had thus the best
means of being acquainted with the subject. We do
not pretend to know who is the author of Vivian Grey,
but that he is a lively and accomplished writer will be
seen at once from his work, which details the adventures
of a young man of ambition in varied circumstances'
and often in very critical situations. There is much in-
genuity displayed in the construction of the 1141 ive,
as well as originality in the incidents. The characters
are extremely well drawn, and no doubt have their
prototypes in real life.
The style is very agreeable and diversified, and the
whole work possesses so much interest, that Vivian Grey
cannot fail of being popular with all classes of readers.
ihe Cook and Housewife's Manual, Bre. By Mrs. MA R•
GARET Doris, of Me Cleikum Inn, bt. Vahan 's. 12mo.
Edinburgh and Loudon.
It really makes ones mouth water to read the list of
savoury dishes for the due co. coction of which Mrs.
Margaret Does gives directi:ns in the valorise before
us; and on reading the work, we feel a stronger de.
sire to take our ease at the Cle;kum urn than even the
romance of St. Ronan's Well excited] The Manual
commences with a very lively and amusing intro.lnc-
lion; written in the style of the pi elace. to the ‘N'avelley
novels, but interlarded with many usefu) hints and rtg-
gestions. This is followed by a brief account ct the
leading national dishes of Scbtland, beginning with the
venerable haggis. Then come tables of Gills of fare for
dinners of all grades from five dishes to fifty; doec-
dons for carving, for roasting, boiling, stewing; receir to
for all sorts of madeldishts, sauces, preserves, &c.
We need not re/nark on the utility of books oss
Cookery, since every person who has g*t a mouth to
open, or an appetite to appease, must acknowledge their
value. The volume before us, however, presents some
novelty in works of this sort, for it displays wit,
humour, and learning, and may afford much amuse-
silent even to those who leave to others the important •
occupations of cookery and housewifery, of which it
forms so excellent a manual.

Earrimental Researches on the Light and Luminous
Waiter of the Glow Worm, Me Luminosity Rf Ilte Sea,
the Phenomena of the lameleon, BTC. By JOHN
hfUll RAY, F.S.A. F.L.S.—Glasgow, 1826.
The Essays in this little voltime are extremely
clever; and, however extraordinary some of the
inferences of the ingenious Author may appear, it is to
be recollected that they result fr3m i.icluctive ingtsities
into the physiology on which they treat, and thdt they
possess the charm of experimental research. In, the
account of the Tortoise the Author gives the following
account of one of these animals, at Peterborough:
From a document belonging to the archives of the Cathedral,
called the Bishop's Barn, it is well ascertained that the tortoise ac
Peterborough must have been about 220 years old. Bishop Maidee
predecessor in the See of Peterborough had remembered it above,
sixty years. and could recognise no visible change. He was the
seventh Bishop who had worn the mitre during its sojourn there:-
If I mistake not, its sustenance and abode were provided for it,
this document. Its shell was perforated, in order to attach it to a
tree, &c. to limit its ravages among the strawberry borders. The
animal bad its antipathies and predilections. It would eat endive,
green pease, and even the leek—while it positively rejected avers.
gas, parsley, and visage.

Mary Queen of Scots : Her Persecutions, Sufferings,
and Mats, from her Birth till her Death. 12nio.
_ _

Glasgow. 1826.
Although the life, melancholy adventures, and cruel death of the
ill-fated, but accomplished MART (Wen of Scots, have often been
narrated, yet we do not recollect having seen so complete a view of
the subject as the Author of this volume presents. lie vindicates
ably and successfully the character of the Qp►een, from the calum-
nies of some of her biographers and historians, and points out some
egrets into which they have fallen. No person can read this Nar-
rative but must sympathize deeply with the wrongs and sufferings
lof poor Maar, and feel an honest and strong indignation against
her persecutors-
- - - -

Metnotr of the late John Thomas Serres, Marine Painter
to the King. With an account of his esti angentent
front his Wife, the present soi•disant Peincesv of Cum-
be, land, and of the conduct on her part which pro-

duced it. 8 vo.- London, 1826.

Whether Serres, while living, dreaded, or, in spite of
their separation, respected his rib, we know not; but he
certainly let her play some strange antics without inter-
fering with her. It is probable, perhaps, that i!e had an
eye to a pension or a sinecure on o.ise's ascepding the
throne of Poland, which the Autocrat at all tiff Rossi:es
withholds from her. No sooner, however, is poor Seires
in his grave, than calumny bedaubs his widow in the
shape of a pamphlet, and, notwithstanding her claim Ifs
Royal blood, asserts that she was the d /righter of a house
painter in Warwickshire. The author of the pamphiet
also makes free with the character of th.• L .dy in
a way which-quite shocks our gall miry ; the memoir
is, however, a curious and amusing out.
No person need now be told of the perverseness of
Ex-StierifFrar kins, but few persons are perhaps aware,
that while the world was hearing of his amours with
Hannah White, he was slighting the overtures 4 f the
Princess Olive; that such was the case will appear by
the following letter addressed to his EI•S ieridship,
which the Editor says was found among Mr. Series 's
papers after his decease.
" Mr sass Sower-1 feel that I am outstepping the usual
bounds of female delicacy by thus opening my heart to a stranger ;
fur such I ant to you : although your personal qualifications and
superior mind presents your beloved image constantly to my ena-
moured senses. It is in vain, Sheriff, that 1 endeavour to surmount
the affections I bear to you, thus I throw myself on rat honour
and feelings as a Cattleman and a man of honour, convuactd such
a heart as yours will always hold sacred the confidence oi. a Lady.
Sheriff? how shall I tell you that I find it impossible to live any
longer without you. Virtue has hitherto been my chief observance,
and I respect its precepts—hut love, constant as she return of day,
triumphs over me. Sheriff, meet.me on Saturday, at the Grosvenor-
gate, Pstk-lane. If you are inclined to profit by these Selitillielitb,
no obstacles shall prevent our mutual happiness ; hut be delicate,
and spare me in the first and second interview. Be mine, Sheriff,
and the world will no longer interest a thought.
" Be exactly at three o'clock in Park.lane, and I will meet you.
My parasol is blue, with a white edge, that will direct your dttentiOn.
Commit this to the flames the moment you receive it, and recollect,
dear Sheriff, my honour, my happiness, and all my hopes, are iu
your possession.
- " P. S. Ride to morrow morning slowly round Bt dford-square.
and 1 shall know that this letter has reached you safe, which will
occasion no further trouble until we meet on Saturday.
" Thursday evening, Bedford-square."
The age of chivalry is gone, or a thousand swords
would leap from their scabbards to avenge the slight
put on the Princess by the Ex-Sheliff, who not only
refused the alliance thus tendereJ,but exposed a foe,- let-
ter to a person 1.110 of all others should not have been it.

Lord HZYRT Cituacutia, has taken A.4lfi-ld Ledge.
near Bury, and oa 'Thursday ta.t arrivid there with 1;5 LaJy 4,
i
tangly.

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