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of the time of Louis XV, must however be excepted. Their shameless wickedness cannot receive even the probation of a jesting praise. But the memoirs grew purer as the revolution approached: though their number did not decline. With that event however, the minute subdivisions of society, which had afforded such excellent theatres for narrative talent were broken up. Men and women lost in the crowd, ceased to be historians of events in which they appeared no longer prominent actors. And now that the besom of the new revolution has again passed over society, sweeping down the little barriers which were commencing to parcel out once more its domain, we fear that we cannot again expect to read the pleasant gossip, which has made every other age in French history as amusing as a tale.

But whether the want of this sort of literature in England be its glory or not-we shall not stay to inquire. Enough to say, in closing, that we recommend Howell, not to the scholar, to the divine, to the lawyer, or to the statesman, but to that busy multitude of idle people, who do not think the care ill bestowed which brings a quiet pleasure, as its only reward.

Those who like annuals and periodicals, will find much to amuse and interest them in this Gift Book of the Olden Times.