sence of Queen Elizabeth. We think that the author has departed from his usual judgment in delineating the characters of these royal ladies. He has drawn Mary as lovely, loving, and fascinating, but withal a spiteful and passionate beauty; while Elizabeth, with her frequent and uncouth oaths, is indeed a royal termagant-Harry the eighth in petticoats. He would, perhaps, have evinced more taste, in softening, rather than heightening, the portraits which historians have given of these queens. The time of the story is happily placed in the eighteenth year of Elizabeth's reign, when she shone in the pride of her power and meridian of her life. The most prominent character is the Earl of Leicester. He is represented as cruel in his wrath, grasping in his ambition, and treacherous in his love. The gallantry, address, and accomplishments, which adorn his character, serve to deepen these darker shades. In thus portraying the favourite Earl, the author has copied, and that very closely, the Leicester of Schiller. The objects of their love are not the same, but they are the same lovers-timid, suspicious, and temporizing, and in the end abandoning their victims to the fury of the storm, while they seek to preserve themselves. The lovely and ill-fated Amy is drawn with those nice and true strokes, which proclaim the "Author of Waverley." But her history is the greatest fault of the book. It is a tale of unbroken, unrelieved distress. The pleasures of the fète at Kenilworth, -which are described in the spirit of Shakspeare-are thrown into confusion by her distresses; the gorgeous festivity, the joyous spirit which breathes over them, saddened by her presence. The unpleasant feeling arising from the description of her woes, is not relieved by any nobleness or generosity, in the calculating Leicester; and the final catastrophe not only disgusts the taste, but the feelings of the reader. The author, in making Tressilian good and praise-worthy, has also made him dull: we had rather, for amusement, join company with the villain Varney, or the lawless Lambourne. This, however, is the fault of all his heroes, from Waverley to Tressilian; and they also bear a most suspicious resemblance to De Wilton, Malcom Graeme, and the other heroes recorded in Sir W. Scott's poems.

The scenes at Lidcote Hall are described with a careless and hasty hand; yet there might have been matter enough in the grief of an aged and doating father, to tempt the author's well known talents for the pathetic: but he was hurried to court, where it is true Sir Walter shines pre-eminent. In the direction of pageants, the marshalling of courtiers, and the costume and ceremonials of court, he is as much at home, as if he had been Elizabeth's lord chamberlain. His spirited description and minute delineation, render his pictures vivid and interesting: they are, however, but

pictures they "come not near the heart;" and the art and labour of the painter are sometimes too evident. We would not exchange the scenes in the Highlands with the noble outlaw and the honest Baillie, for all the glories of Elizabeth's court; and would rather visit the Clachan of Aberfoil, than even the splendid Kenilworth itself. We fear that our author has his eye upon the numerous and popular melo-dramas which have been taken from his works; -that he writes less to the heart than the eye; and, like a celebrated actor, passes over many points, that he may produce a more splendid effect on a few. The introduction of Raleigh to the Queen, is finely given; and the author has made use of the incident of his spreading his mantle for his sovereign to pass over the wet ground, with excellent effect. One of the best and most laboured descriptions, is the interview between the rival Earls, Sussex and Leicester, in the royal presence. The whole scene is described with great spirit and felicity-and we regret that space is not allowed us for a specimen. The allusions to Shakspeare and Spenser are happy, and the debate in the Queen's barge, upon the merits of the former, is delightful. While we are speaking of Shakspeare, we must observe that, as the author has deeply studied the poet, copied his phrases, and caught some of his spirit, he has also imitated one of his characters. The pedantic schoolmaster is no other than Holofernes, under a new name, and not as amusing as usual. Indeed the whole of the adventure in which this worthy acts his part, is awkward, and ill conceived. It is not wild enough to interest, nor has it wit to render it amusing. Dick Sludge, alias Flibbertigibbet, is as dull a personage as his predecessor, Gilpin Horner-who was the author of such dainty devices in the Lay of the last Minstrel ; and the history of Wayland Smith, is most unreasonable, both in its length and tediousness.

It is in the castle of Kenilworth, amid the festivities that astonished all England, that the author, as might be supposed, puts forth his strength; and the effort would be entirely successful, if it were not too apparent. It is a powerful and animated description, disfigured, indeed, by some bad jests, and a little extravagance, but evincing great skill and talent. The unfortunate Countess of Leicester, as the author generally terms her-flying from the designs of Varney to the protection of her husband, at Kenilworth is a sad and timid spectator of the following scene.

The Queen's purveyors had been abroad, sweeping the farms and villages of those articles usually exacted during a royal progress, and for which the owners were afterwards to obtain a tardy payment from the board of green cloth. The earl of Leicester's household officers had been scouring the country for the VOL. II.

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same purpose; and many of his friends and allies, both near and remote, took this opportunity of ingratiating themselves, by sending large quantities of provisions and delicacies of all kinds, with game in huge quantities, and whole tons of the best liquors, foreign and domestic. Thus the high roads were filled with droves of bullocks, sheep, and calves and hogs, and choked with loaded wains, whose axletrees cracked under their burdens of wine-casks and hogsheads of ale, and huge hampers of grocery goods, and slaughtered game, and salted provision, and sacks of flour. Perpetual stoppages took place as these wains became entangled; and their rude drivers, swearing and brawling till their wild passions were fully raised, began to debate precedence with their wagon whips and quarter staves, which occasional riots were usually quieted by a purveyor, deputymarshal's man, or some other person in authority, breaking the heads of both parties.

Here were, besides, players and mummers, jugglers and showmen of every description, traversing in joyous bands the paths which led to the palace of princely pleasure; for so the travelling minstrels had termed Kenilworth in the songs which already had come forth in anticipation of the revels which were there expected. In the midst of this motley show, mendicants were exhibiting their real or pretended miseries, forming a strange, though common contrast betwixt the vanities and the sorrows of human existence. All these floated along with the immense tide of population, whom mere curiosity had drawn together; and where the mechanic, in his leathern apron, elbowed the dink and dainty dame, his city mistress; where clowns, with hob-nailed shoes, were treading on the kibes of substantial burghers and gentlemen of worship, and where Joan of the dairy, with robust pace, and red sturdy arms, rowed her way onward, amongst those prim and pretty moppets, whose sires were knights and squires.

The throng and confusion was, however, of a gay and cheerful character. All came forth to see and to enjoy, and all laughed at the trifling inconveniences which at another time might have chafed their temper. Excepting the occasional brawls which we have mentioned amongst that irritable race, the carmen, the mingled sounds which arose from the multitude were those of light-hearted mirth, and tiptoe jollity. The musicians preluded on their instruments-the minstrels hummed their songs-the licensed jester whooped betwixt mirth and madness, as he brandished his baublethe morrice-dancers jangled their bells-the rustics halloo'd and whistled-men laughed loud, and maidens giggled shrill; while many a broad jest flew like a shuttle-cock from one party, to be caught in the air and returned from the opposite side of the road by another, at which it was aimed.'

At length the princely castle appeared, upon improving which, and the domains around, the earl of Leicester had, it is said, expended sixty thousand pounds sterling, a sum equal to half a million of our present money.

The outer wall of this splendid and gigantic structure enclosed seven acres, a part of which was occupied by extensive stables, and by a pleasure garden, with its trim arbours and parterres, and the rest formed the large base-court, or outer yard, of the noble castle. The lordly structure itself, which rose near the centre of this spacious enclosure, was composed of a huge pile of magnificent castellated buildings, apparently of different ages, surrounding an inner court, and bearing in the names attached to each portion of the magnificent mass, and in the armonial bearings which were there blazoned, the emblems of mighty chiefs who had long passed away, and whose history, could ambition have lent ear to it, might have read a lesson to the haughty favourite, who had now acquired and was augmenting the fair domain. A large and massive keep, which formed the citadel of the castle, was of uncertain, though great antiquity. It bore the name of Cæsar, perhaps from its resemblance to that in the tower of London so called. Some antiquaries ascribed its foundation to the time of Kenelph, from whom the castle had its name, a Saxon king of Mercia, and others to an early æra after the Norman conquest. On the exterior walls frowned the scutcheon of the Clintons, by whom they were founded in the reign of Henry I., and of the yet more redoubted Simon de Montfort, by whom, during the barons' wars, Kenilworth was long held out against Henry III. Here Mortimer, Earl of March, famous alike for his rise and his fall, had once gayly revelled, while his dethroned sovereign, Edward II., languished in its dungeons. Old John of Gaunt, 'time-honoured Lancaster,' had widely extended the castle, erecting that noble and massive pile which yet bears the name of Lancaster's Buildings; and Leicester himself had outdone the former possessors, princely and powerful as they were, by erecting another immense structure, which now lies crushed under its own ruins, the monument of its owner's ambition. The external wall of this royal castle was, on the south and west sides, adorned and defended by a lake partly artificial, across which Leicester had constructed a stately bridge, that Elizabeth might enter the castle by a path hitherto untrodden, instead of the usual entrance to the northward, over which he had erected a gate-house or barbican, which still exists, and is equal in extent and superior in architecture, to the baronial castle of many a northern chief.

Beyond the lake lay an extensive chase, full of red deer, fallow deer, roes, and every species of game, and abounding with lofty trees, from amongst which the extended front and massive towers of the castle were seen to rise in majesty and beauty. We cannot but add, that of this lordly palace, where princes feasted and heroes fought, now in the bloody earnest of storm and siege, and now in the games of chivalry, where beauty dealt the prize which valour won, all is now desolate. The bed of the lake is but a rushy swamp; and the massive ruins of the castle only serve to show what their splendour once was, and to impress on the musing visiter the transitory value of human possessions, and the happiness of those who enjoy an humble lot in virtuous contentment.'

The gay Raleigh—the rude Blount-and the voluble boaster, Lambourne-are animated sketches. The considerate publican and the portly mercer are good in their way, though the former savours a little too much of "mine host" in Shakspeare. There is nothing very striking in the character of Anthony Foster,-and Alasco, the Alchymist, ought to have been banished the novel as well as the country. It may be said that his introduction was characteristic of the age, and serves to mark the costume of the work; but surely there is too much of this dull personage, who has not the merit even of originality. The plain, warlike Sussex stands in bold contrast to his smooth and graceful rival. The preference he gives the Bear garden, over the plays of Shakspeare his contempt for that "froth and folly" poetry-and his rapturous description of the sports of the Bear garden, are admirably expressive of his character.-The keeping of his household is also in strict accordance with the habits of a soldier, and we could not but participate in Raleigh's fears, when the queen announced her intention of surprising the Earl.

"Now the Lord have pity on us!" said the young courtier to himself. "Good hearts, the Earl hath many a one round him; but good heads are scarce with us-and he himself is too ill to give direction. And Blount will be at his morning meal of Yarmouth herrings and ale; and Tracy will have his beastly black puddings and Rhenish;-those thorough-paced Welchmen, Thomas ap Rice and Evan Evans, will be at work on their leek porridge and toasted cheese and she detests, they say, all coarse meats, evil smells, and strong wines. Could they but think of burning some rosemary in the great hall! but vogue la galere, all must now be trusted to chance. Luck hath done indifferent well for me this morning, for I trust I have spoiled a cloak, and made a court fortune-May she do as much for my gallant patron!"''

The narrative becomes hurried, and carries us rapidly with it towards the conclusion of the tale. The interview between the Queen and Amy-Leicester's jealousy of his wife, and his cruel determination-his combat with Tressilian-his conviction of his wife's innocence-and his avowal of his marriage to the Queen-these events, strongly depictured, follow each other in quick succession, and, setting aside the continual gloomy sensa tion and feverish interest they excite, are the best passages of the book. The struggle in the bosom of Elizabeth, when she learns the perfidy of Leicester-the confusion of the courtiers, and the humility of the disgraced Earl, are vividly represented. We are tempted to extract these scenes-but as the novel has been so generally read, it is only necessary to allude to them.

Our author in this, as well as in his former productions, is largely indebted to the popular ancient English writers. The