7 JULY 1877, Page 23

Human Nature: a Mosaic of Sayings, Maxims, Opinions, and Re-

flections on Life and Character. Selected and arranged by D. W. Mitchell. (Smith, Elder, and Co.)--This is an unusually good book of its kind. A good " mosaic " is not to be made by every workman, nor out of every-day materials. Mr. Mitchell has sought his " sayings, maxims," am, far and wide, chosen them with judgment, and arranged them with skill. Sometimes we should have liked a little more than he has seen fit to give us. Ho might have found, one would think, something bettor to give us about the Yankee, under the head of "National Characters," than a saying of Mr. 0. W. Holmes about their way of inventing " the most uncouth, pretentious, detestable appella- tions." And sometimes we may question the authorship. Why should De Thou have the credit of Populus volt decipi, dectlpiat or, in its English form? But these are little faults in what is really a very woll executed volume.