awsterfort4 and Some of Its People. By the author of
"A Bad Begin- ning." Three vols. (Smith, Elder, and (lo.)—This is a work which belongs to the straitest sect of the domestic class of novels. It consists, as its name imports, of an account of some of the sayings and doings of some of the inhabitants of a small country town, strung together on a .43lender thread of story not more than strong enough to keep the whole collection from falling to pieces. The main feature of the tale is a re- petition of endeavours on the part of an enterprising young lady, who has conceived an unrequited passion for the hero of the book, to separate the object of her affections from a charming cousin of hers to whom he is warmly attached. These attempts are finally foiled, but not until both hero and heroine have shown such unnatural ingenuity, the one in behaving foolishly and the other in taking unnecessary offence, as tends seriously to diminish whatever interest we might otherwise be in- clined to take in their affairs. On the whole, the utmost that we can say for the book is, that it is tolerably pleasantly written, and may be read without fatigue. It is, in every respect, so much feebler than "A Bad Beginning," that it is impossible not to entertain a suspicion that it was really written before its predecessor, and that its author has been induced to give 'it to the public by the favourable reception that was accorded to his former work.
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