The Spectator in London. (Seeley and Co.)—An editor, who does
not give his name, has collected from the Spectator such papers as refer to life in London, a few necessary or expedient omissions, demanded by more decent manners, being made. It is quite surprising to see the variety of topics treated, and to note the resemblances and the differences between the London of Addison and Steele and that which is familiar to ourselves. The Mohocks are gone ; the coffee-houses, if not gone, are greatly changed ; great men no longer hold levees, though their com- pany is still frequented by those who desire something from them. We have our opera, but do not exhibit sham Lions at it. The "play-houses" no longer show us men "stabbed, poisoned, racked, or impaled," but we are not sure that they have changed for the better; ladies in hat and coat no longer surprise us, though it strikes us as strange when we read how they used to "tie up their hair in a Bag or Ribbond in imitation of the smart Part of the opposite Sex." We might go on with these contrasts and comparisons ; but our readers will, we hope, go to this pretty little volume to hear more about the matter. It is excellently printed, illustrated in a delightful way, and altogether makes as charming a book as could be desired.
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