New-York tribune., 1877-06-27
asmucb as the author has simply and honestly done
what he intended.

asmuch as the author has simply and honestly done
what he intended.
In "Norston's Rest" Mrs. Stephens seems in
clined to enter thei lists with Mrs. Henry Wood and
other English womep-novelists of that class. She in
vades England for her scenery and characters, gives
us a park and castle, Sir Noel and Lady Rose, a
usekceper, butler, and other conventional ser
vants,--in short, the properties" have all been
carefully selected and by gas-light the piece looks
very much like real life. As the spectator IN
tbeater. SO here the reader who comes to be enter
tanned for three or four hours will be satisfied with
the performance. 1t is what he or she expected:
the moneys worth has been received, the laugh
laughed, the thin tear she'd and the pleasant shud-
der of excitement been felt. Next week there Will
be something else aud the week after still differ
ent entertainment. Mrs Stephens has already pro-
vided for % weeks-such being the number of her
"works, and there is no reason why she should
stop short of 3D. and thus secure her admirers for
the whole year.
1.-The Heiress in the Family by Mrs. Macken-
zie Daniel is q novel of domestic life, which opens
and ends in rural part of England. The incidents
in this unusually well constructed tale are moder-
aely sensational vet entirely probable and the va
rious situations az skiilfufly presented" So says
the publishers note. We may add that the style is
proper and formal TO degree which is seldom
found, that the moral reflections are monstrousiy
original and profound, for instance, when the au-
thoress says: 81 believe it is acknowledged fact
that every human being has some weakness or in-
consistency Of character;' and that the CONVERSE
tions are very epigrammatc and sparkling, as when
the heroine says: "SOne magazine articles are
very nice" Even nun i'll her clolster-cel might
read this novel, and not be too deeply agltated III
is like the talk of highly respectable lady. dressed
l. I,..,l rIh N
prim lips, and teeth almost shiny and even to be
genuine Love and passion, joy, sorrow, and
despair lose their sharp quality IN passing through
her PLACID nature and reaching utteranee III her pre-
ciSey modulated voice
THE LAW OF EVIDENCE Bv FRANCIs WHARTON, IL. D.
vcls. syo pp 7l7-7e9 Kay & Brother
The numerous and important changes which
the law Of evidence has undergone within comparatively
recent years, by legislative enactment and by the app
cation in Of common law Of the rules obtang III
of equity, has rendered new work upon tis SUD
iect II necessary at least desirable The admission
Of parties and interested persons witnesses has
created number Of rules aud given rise to distinctions
which could not have been developed while persons
standing that category regarded as incompetent
TO testify and not only has an important class of al
Indications been added by this change 70 the law of cv
dence but vast OF cses depending on the dInes
has been rendered wholly obsolete. The changes made
! mode or plFdung requiring ldtlS anu Hot HtIt
forms be stated and the liberty 81 amendment IN civil
issues by permitting the plcaGnss Ia he maze conform
abe tbc facts proved have also rendered practically
useless the Old decisions variance The gradual modi
caOn which has been made in the doctrine OF rFeSp
lions and the increased tendency OF courts 20 determine
the relevancy Of testimony ny sound reasoning applied
10 the particular circumstances OF The rather than
by strc, tecu,cl rules have also introduced into the
law a series ct decisions winch have needed 60 be dis
cussrd grouped and onizcd II is 10 meet these
| changes that the volumes before Us have
been prepared. The distinguishing excellcHce OF
Dr. Whartou's works has been their aim TO
| present not merely the decisions OF courts. but
lie principles upon which these decisions depends 9nd the
theories which Justify them. This object was Observable
particularly N his ucatises upon the conflict OF laws
negligence and agency. This ain las been Kept in view
in the Work before and has been acconpf he'd with
tie same gratifying success ia the Other works We
have named 10 doubles The value OF an authority to
show that i. IS N harmony with its class aad proceeds
logically from principle OF universal application The
present commentary includes the discussion Of a te
rules Of evidence Of present value, executing those per-
tanning TO criminal issues, stating and explaining their
doctrines aud relations in the text, and Illustrating
them citations i'm the notes In hc latter he has com
pretended not only large number and PERHAPS all the
leading English cases hut every American case however
obscure applicable cxsin- roles far they could
he collected. In fhis way complete view o. the
American law Of evidence is presented, and harmony
among the rules applied in the scycrai stat promoted
The work Is divided into three books. entitled the
Requisites Of Pro. the Mode OF Receiving Proof and
tie I,Grct oi Proof and these suhdiyded into
chapters CORES sqopfur with me natural divisions or TIE
topic TIL. wHo.e is preceded lE cmiu1r1 discussion
uuon the nature of legal evidence, which IS au aduirahe
and interesting specimen o. lucid acute. and logical
reasoning. Au unusually fuii index, comprisnE
hundred closely printed pages facilitates consultation;
and thc table of cases, comprchendng nearly 5000
references, illustrates the v.tIvs oi the Id IA when
the author s worked ana me p.udeICIS ianor involved
in inonS tie EnqEaIh>, ana sepa' 'aiing me NaodDc
matter from that which may be regarded useless.