If Coleridge, in this book, is deprived of almost every thing but his genius, and is even represented as having that a good deal dashed with charlatanry, Southey appears in his most amiable light. The austerity and spiritual pride of the man are not so prominent as the finer qualities of his heart. His letters are admirable. The earlier ones are especially spirited and graphic. He sketches the external appearance of his acquaintances to the life. “I saw,” he says, “Dr. Gregory to-day; a very brown-looking man, of most pinquescent and full-moon cheeks. There is much tallow in him.” Of Dr. Hunter he draws a very animated portrait. “He has a very red, drinking face, little, good-humored eyes, with the skin drawn up under them, like cunning and short-sightedness united. I saw Dr. Hunter again yesterday. I neither like him, nor his wife, nor his son, nor his daughter, nor any thing that is his.” Gilbert Wakefield is despatched in a few words. “He has a most critic-like voice, as if he had snarled himself hoarse. You see I like the women better than the men. Indeed, they are better animals in general, perhaps because more is left to nature in their education. Nature is very good, but God knows there is very little of it left.” The whole of Southey’s youthful letters are marked by sense, enthusiasm and humor. The collection extends almost to his death. In 1826, while he was editing an edition of John Bunyan, he writes to Cottle, noticing a rumor that the Pilgrim’s Progress was a mere translation from the Dutch. “The charge of plagiarism,” he says, “is utterly false. _When you and I meet in the next world, we will go and see John Bunyan_, and tell him how I have tinkered the fellow, for tinker him I will, who has endeavored to pick a hole in his reputation.” This is a most perfect specimen of Southey’s peculiar humor. In another letter Cottle tells him that Mackintosh has said his style was founded on Horace Walpole’s. Southey replies, “my style is founded on nobody’s. _I say what I have to say as plainly as I can, without thinking of the style, and this is the whole secret. . ._ In fact, I write, as you may always have remarked, such as I always converse, without effort, and without aiming at display.” This confession from the most fascinating of prose writers, conveys an important truth with authority. We have said that this book derives all its value from the letters or recollections of the author’s eminent friends. As such it will be extensively read. Cottle’s portion is done badly, especially in the arrangement of the matter. No person curious in literary history will fail to obtain the book, in spite of the compiler’s deficiencies. * * * * * _The Public Men of the Revolution, Including Events from the Peace of 1783 to the Peace of 1815. In a Series of Letters. By the late Hon. Wm. Sullivan, LL. D. Edited by his Son, John T. S. Sullivan. Philadelphia: Carey & Hart. 1 vol. 8vo._