19 DECEMBER 1863, Page 22

.Woxia ; or, the Daughter of Gehofen ; and Spare

Hours. Poems. By Henry J. Smith. (Ludwig Denicke, Leipzig.)-31r. Smith, who has been "denied the advantages of a liberal education and opportunities for study," sat himself down to adapt a German play to the English stage. When it was nearly finished he came across " Shakespearei* having never before read any play except "The King of the Frank& He then remodelled his work altogether. Under these circumstsjiees

the author deprecates criticism, and we will content ourselves with saying that men, like boys, must finish their education before their compositions can have any value. If a young man were to publish his school exercises, the critics would be right to castigate him, and we trust that the mercy we extend to Mr. Smith may not again be abused.