The two last volumes (twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth) of the stately
edition of The Works of William W. Thackeray (Smith, Elder, and Co.), contain " miscellaneous essays," i.e., reviews, tales, a lecture on "Charity and Humour" (to our mind, the best thing in the volume), and other miscellanies, and such "Contributions to Punch" as had not been reprinted in the earlier volumes. It must not be supposed that all the contributions to periodical literature, journals, annuals, &a., made by the great novelist before he had achieved his great success, are included in these volumes. Like other men who have to live by the pen, and who have no name to give a value to their work, he had to write much if he wanted to make both ands meet ; and, of course, some things that he wrote are as nearly valueless as anything coming from the pen of genius can be. We are inclined to think that the process of selection might have been more severe with advantage. Such a tale as " The Professor" is quite unworthy of the writer ; but on the whole, doubtless, considering the eagerness with which the public look for the unconsidered trifles left by great men, as mach has been done in this way as could be expected.
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