5 AUGUST 1882, Page 23

Tales and Traditions of Switzerland. By William Westall. (Tinsley Brothers.)---This

is a very unequal, but in great part an admirable little book. The stories founded on criminal causes cdiebres are very grim, and of the highest interest as illustrating the severity of the criminal law in that democratic country, The tale in the book which pleases us most is that of "Potentate and Parson," a delightful little Idyll of life in the Orisons. "Lucky Sam Briggs " is entertaining in its way, but a way so much below the mark of the other tales, that we regret to have it included in a volume which otherwise may he regarded as containing food for the imagination, as well as food for the memory. On the whole, however, Mr. %Vestal' deserves our hest thanks for his interesting and graphic stories illustrative of Swiss

life.