Read again, and for the third time at least, Miss Austen’s very finely written novel of ‘Pride and Prejudice.’ That young lady had a talent for describing the involvements, and feelings, and characters, of ordinary life, which is to me the most wonderful I ever met with. The Big Bow-Wow strain I can do myself like any now going; but the exquisite touch, which renders ordinary commonplace things and characters interesting from the truth of the description and the sentiment, is denied to me. What a pity such a gifted creature died so early! SIR WALTER SCOTT: _Diary_, March, 1826, in ‘Memoirs,’ by J. G. Lockhart. Edinburgh: Adam & Charles Black, 1871. * * * * * [Sidenote: Anecdote of ‘Mansfield Park.’] A pleasant anecdote, told to us on good authority in England, is illustrative of Miss Austen’s power over various minds. A party of distinguished literary men met at a country-seat; among them was Macaulay, and we believe, Hallam; at all events, they were men of high reputation. While discussing the merits of various authors, it was proposed that each should write down the name of that work of fiction which had given him the greatest pleasure. Much surprise and amusement followed; for, on opening the slips of paper, _seven_ bore the name of ‘Mansfield Park.’ MRS. R. C. WATERSTON: ‘Jane Austen,’ in the _Atlantic Monthly_, February, 1863. * * * * * [Sidenote: “A prose Shakespeare.”] We would say that Fielding and Miss Austen are the greatest novelists in our language.... Miss Austen has been called a prose Shakespeare,--and among others, by Macaulay. In spite of the sense of incongruity which besets us in the words _prose_ Shakespeare, we confess the greatness of Miss Austen, her marvellous dramatic power, seems, more than anything in Scott, akin to Shakespeare. G. H. LEWES: ‘Recent Novels,’ in _Fraser’s Magazine_, December, 1847. * * * * * [Sidenote: Only shrewd and observant.]