7 MARCH 1868, Page 24

The Young Earl. 2 vols. (Saunders and Otley.) — Manifestly

a youthful work, the author of which wants to play at novel-writing. From first to last everything is according to the Cocker of fiction, and neither wo, nor the author, nor the characters believe in what is going on. We have never seen a more innocent attempt at interesting and mystifying the reader. Not that the reader is in the dark for a moment, but he is amused in spite of himself, just as the keenest parent allows himself to be taken in every morning by the intact appearance of a reversed eggshell.