In four lectures our author discusses the “life, writings, and times of M. de Chateaubriand”, involving, much of the internal history of France, especially as regards literature and religion under the first Napoleon and the succeeding governments down to the Revolution in 1848. These lectures are full of interest. But what must be considered as by far the most important portion of this volume is that in which Professor Robertson treats of the “Secret Societies of Modern Times”. In two lectures he traces the origin and progress of the Freemasons, the Illuminati, the Jacobins, the Carbonari, and the Socialists; and in an appendix adds a “brief exposition of the principal heads of Papal legislation on Secret Societies”. Such are the contents of the work. The style is agreeable and clear, the diction felicitous, and above all, the sentiments just, equally characterised by extensive information, political sagacity, and a profound reverence for divine faith. The professor has happily avoided both the tedious exhaustiveness of the German, and the brilliant flippancy which so often charms us in the French. Nor has he been unmindful of the more laborious students who would not shrink from the toil of research after further information. For these he has provided such an array of authorities, on each of his subjects, as must greatly facilitate the progress of those who would engage in diligent historical investigation. We know not where else there could be had so intelligible an account of the secret societies which have been so active in all the political convulsions of Europe, from 1789 to the present time. We need not advert to the part which secret societies have had in producing the present deplorable state of Italy. To the readers of the _Civiltà Cattolica_ such reference would be unnecessary. To those who have not the advantage of regularly reading that most instructive periodical we would recommend Professor Robertson’s lectures, as containing, in a moderate sized volume, a most perspicuous summary of what is requisite to be known concerning those dark conspiracies and their objects. If it were only for this, the volume would be a most welcome addition to our historical library. The book has been brought out with the utmost elegance of paper, type, and printing. III. _La Roma Sotterrana Cristiana descritta ed illustrata_ dal Cav. G. B. de Rossi. Publicata per ordine della Santità di N. S. Papa Pio IX. Chromolithografia Ponteficia Roma, 1864. vol. 1. _Christian Subterranean Rome, described and illustrated_ by Cav. G. B. de Rossi. Published by order of His Holiness Pope Pius IX., vol. 1.