CURRENT LITERATURE.
Memoirs of Count Lavalette. (Gibbings and Co.)—Lavalette, born in 1769, began by being a fervent Royalist. Compromised by his zeal, he took service in the army. Circumstances brought him into connection with Bonaparte, whom he accompanied to Egypt in the capacity of aide-de-camp. During the Empire he fulfilled the duties of Postmaster General. These he took up again during the Hundred Days. He was condemned to death at the Restoration, and would have been executed, the King, for some reason unknown, being inexorable—Lavalette had never borne arms—but for the devotion of his wife, who contrived his escape. The effort cost the poor lady her reason, which she never recovered. He returned, under a pardon, to France in 1822, and died seven years afterwards. The most interesting parts of his memoirs are his experiences in Egypt, and the story of his trial, condemnation, and escape. We cannot compliment the translator on his work. "Night and solitude recalled to my memory the fatal words,' Pain of Death !" Surely this should be "Penalty." ",Peine," as we presume it is in the original, is scarcely an obscure word.
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