Wildfire: a Collection of Erratic Essays. By Charles J. Dunphie.
(London : Tinsley Brothers).—The very candid preface prefixed by Mr. Dunphie to his volume of reprints relieves us from the obligation of any lengthened review of it. He states, "that though some of the essays affect a thoughtful or critical tone, and are, therefore, meant to be read in a serious spirit, many more of them begin where common- sense leaves off," adding that, "incredible as it may appear on perusal, it is not the less true, that the articles of this latter class were intended to be amusing." He adopted for a motto Addison's maxim, " No matter in the world is so proper to write with as wildfire," though "probably in a sense, as with a result, hardly within the contemplation of that celebrated author." "It now and then happened to the present writer that his pen ran away with him." Now, in all this we are extremely happy in being able to agree with our author ; we congratulate him on the candour of his remarks,—they seem to us very much to the point. We have no idea from what magazine they are reprinted, and we can quite understand that they have occasionally done service in beguiling a tedious railway journey, but why, on the author's own showing, they should have been reprinted, passes our understanding. After they had enjoyed their hour, we think Mr. Dunphie should have considered that they belonged to his chapter on " Things that have Gone Out."
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