30 APRIL 1836, Page 17

Travelling Opinions and Sketches in Russia and Poland, con- tains

the narrative of a trip to St. Petersburg in an English merchant vessel ; a rapid tour to the fair of Novgorod, partly in a boat, partly in the telegas or four-wheeled vehicles of the coun- try; and a return journey thence to Moscow and Warsaw. The author is a person of what is called plain common sense, who sees nothing but what is on the surface, and colours the little which he does see by his own prejudices of habit and custom. When we add to this, that the hasty tour was made in 1819, it may be conjectured that the volume might have been dispensed with. Yet it may be read, but for its reality and air of characteristic John Bullism.