14 FEBRUARY 1829, Page 11

LETTERS FROM THE "EGEAN TISESE are two pleasant mid instructive

volumes ; and after the feverish excitement of the Tales of Passion, the perusal is a whole- some relief: it is like passing from the heated and imbue atmo- sphere of a theatre, into the calm and cool air of a placid evening. The Letters from the iEgean contain an account of t he voyages made among the Cyclades, and other islands of the beautiful Archipelago, by Mr. EMERSON and his friends. With descriptions of scenery, of costume, of adventure, the author recounts the tales of superstition, the traditions, and the romances, and sometimes * Letters from the Algean. By James Emerson, Esq. 2 vols. London, 1o29. Colburn. translates the poetry of the islands. He renews the interest in the beautiful land of Greece, which, amidst the competition of so many other nearer interests, is apt to fade, but which simply requires old associations to be once again touched upon by such narratives as those before us, to rise again in all its former strength. The cause of Greece, as it is called, has evidently been for some time declining: as it approaches a fair hope of a happy settlement, the feelings of the people have subsided into indifference. The mismanagement of the loans co-operating with several minor circumstances, has no .doubt contributed to increase the natural growth of apathy. The selfish and grasping character of the modern Greek, his per- petual dissensions and restless dishonesty, have tended consider- ably to alienate the hearts of the friends of Greece in Thitain from their • " wonted fires." The peaceful and amiable character of this volume will have the useful effect of restoring the sympathy of our countrymen to its former vigour. We may shortly expect to see the republic of Greece a free and independent nation; and though perhaps its limits may be more confined than its partisans had hoped, there will be ample room for the development of Greek re- sources, and a sufficient field for the exercise of those duties which will in time restore the Greek character to the respect of Europe. No one can read these volumes even (to say nothing of other abundant sources) without being convinced, that the rugged moun- tains and narrow seas of Greece are peopled with men worthy of independence and capable of maintaining it. By the praise we have given Air. EMERSON'S work, we are far from meaning that it contains much novelty : on the contrary, we should with difficulty turn to a passage which somewhere ce other we have not found an equivalent for in tile various books about Greece : it is, however, new in form, pleasant in temper, and well- timed; and at any rate, that which it is the absurd fashion to call the Personal Narrative is wholly new. The only fault we have to find, is the sparingness with which dates are used; a neglect which may lead readers to believe that the experience is more modern than it really is.