15 DECEMBER 1838, Page 19

The Reclaimed Family, by the author of "Edwin and Mary,"

is a collection of short stories, designed for reading-lessons, and countenanced if not authorized by the Board of Education in Ireland. The thread which strings thorn together is the history of a drunken bricklayer, reformed by means of his daughter, salio has been taught at school, and sets her brothers and sisters reading lessons at home. The design of the book is excellent, but not judiciously executed. The conversion of the drunkard is too sudden, and too easily accomplished ; his exemplary con- duct too immediate to be like nature ; and the language gene- rally finer, and harder, than it need to be. The book, however, is entertaining, and of a cheerful spirit.