Critical Notices [pp. 255-288]

1853.] Critical NAotices. 259
sor of Logic, etc., in the University of St. Andrews. His work appears
to be the fruit of ample research, and of some reflection. Its greater
compactness will render it preferable to most works of the class, devo tedl to the same subject. A neat essay on American literature closes
the volume, and, so far as it goes, is unexceptionable. But the plan of
the work required a history, hlowever condensed, and not an essay. Be sides, American literature is, in fact, a literature of the English lan guage, and as such should not be assigned a place as a thing apart,
separated from the household. In literary respects, we do not recog nize the distinctions of nations, as apart from race and speech.
Bird's Nick of the Woods. (Redfield.) The novels of Dr. Bird
acquired a wide circulation and considerable popularity when first pub lished. They have not lost their flavour with years. On the contrary,
like all good books, they acquire strength firom age, and grow more
sweetly mellow with maturity. We trust that this volume is only an
avant courier, and that we shall soon be put in possession of the whole
excellent series of his writings. " Nick of the Woods" is a story of
frontier life-of the ~onflict-savage, wild, capricious, peculiar, which has
always marked, upon our borders, the encounter between the red-man and
the white. It is full of life and bustle, and the scenes are as rapid and
sometimes as brilliant in their transitions as those of the kaleidoscope.
The author gives us a new and neat preface, chiefly explanatory of
points to which the critics offered cavil. The volume is illustrated by
engravings.
Jamrnes' Atlgnes Sorel. A Tale of France in the times of Charles VI.
and VII. The celebrated merchant of France, Jacques Coeur, figures
in it. The materiel is partly historical, and Mr. James is the best of
English authorities on French History. As a story, "Agnes Sorel" ranks
with the average of the author's productions. It is filll of life, bustle,
progress, and unceasing interest.
Harry ffuir is a good domestic story, full of interest, of a most admirable moral, frequently very touching, and exhibiting a most shrewd
and sagacious faculty for characterization. Harry Muir, is one of that
large class of unfortunates, who are smart and showy; a good fellow, possessed of considerable social powers, but, unhappily, of that vanity also
which is so commonly the fatal accompaniment of such possessions. He
is the fool of his own parts, which mock him, ruin him, rob him of
youth, pride, hope, of the world's respect, and finally of life. His cha