19 DECEMBER 1863, Page 22

more pleasure in commending these two biographies. The story of

these great men's lives is told clearly, and the life of Shakespeare con- tains besides a great deal of useful information as to the early editions of the poet and other points of literary antiquarianism. Mr. Neil, however, may depend on it that he would vastly improve even these works, if he would go through them again, and "strike out everything he thinks particularly fine."