Occasionally we catch a glimpse of his religious tendencies, which are at one time influenced by J. H. NEWMAN, at another by J. S. MILL; and it is interesting to read his _naive_ utterances about Scripture, showing that whatever lectures he may have attended at Cambridge, those on Divinity, or on the Greek Testament, could not have been among them. And this indeed is highly probable. His kindness of heart is evident throughout. His laughing at himself as a Snob when affecting the company of great people is delightful, though there seems to be in this self-ridicule something of the true word spoken in jest. He makes a burlesque flourish--so like him--about sending in "his resignation" to _Mr. Punch_. As a matter of fact, he remained an honorary member of _Mr. Punch's_ Cabinet Council, and retained his seat at _Mr. Punch's_ table, up to the time of his death. The present writer remembers WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY being frequently present in _Mr. Punch's_ Council Chamber, _Consule Marco_. A most interesting, amusing, and instructive book, especially to literary men--(some novelists must be delighted at finding THACKERAY reading over the previous portions of his own serial in order to recall the names of his characters, and his frantic joy at hitting on the title of _Vanity Fair_)--is this collection of THACKERAY'S Letters. To Mrs. BROOKFIELD our heartiest thanks are due. _Like and Unlike_. By Miss BRADDON. Everybody who cares about a novel with a good plot so well worked out that the excitement is kept up through the three volumes and culminates with the last chapter of the story, must "Like" and can never again "Unlike," this the latest and certainly one of the best of Miss BRADDON'S novels. Miss BRADDON is our most dramatic novelist. Her method is to interest the reader at once with the very first line, just as that Master-Dramatist of our time DION BOUCICAULT would rivet the attention of an audience by the action at the opening of the piece, even before a line of the dialogue had been spoken. This authoress never wastes her own time and that of her reader, by giving up any number of pages at the outset to a minute description of scenery, to a history of a certain family, to a wearisome account of the habits and customs of the natives, or to explaining peculiarities in manners and dialect which are to form one of the principal charms of the story. No: Miss BRADDON is dramatic just as far as the drama can assist her, and then she is the genuine novelist. A few touches present her characters living before the reader, and the story easily developes itself in, apparently, the most natural manner possible. _Like and Unlike_ will make many people late for dinner, and will keep a number of persons up at night when they ought to be soundly sleeping. These are two sure tests of a really well-told sensational novel. _Vive_ Miss BRADDON! YOUR OWN BOOK-WORM. * * * * * A LICHFIELD HOUSE OF CALL.