building in the neighborhood; built with some little architectural elegance, whose effect was magnified by the unadorned character and gloomy air of the surrounding edifices. A beautiful gas-light, in a richly ornamented lamp, stood as an inviting beacon, visible in many diverging directions. The windows were glazed with costly plate-glass, bearing inscribed, in illuminated letters, the words--gin at three-pence--generous wines hot-spiced;--and the door surrounded by stained panes of rich dye, having rosettes, bunches of grapes, and gay devices." There are some few _niaiseries_ in the work before us, which, although insufficient to affect its character as a whole, yet constitute a weak point in what otherwise is beautiful, and cause us to regret sincerely, the accidents which have admitted them. We may mention, in especial, the too frequent introduction of the monosyllable "_how_," in such sentences as "they told how"--"it was related how"--"I was informed how," &c. Mr. Slidell will find, upon self-scrutiny, that he has fallen into this habit through the sin of imitation. The Lieutenant, too, suffers his work to savor far too strongly of the ship, and lets slip him no opportunity of thrusting upon the public attention the fact of his particular vocation--insisting, indeed, upon this matter with a pertinacity even ludicrous--a pertinacity which will be exemplified in the following passage: "_Unaccustomed as I had been in the larger vessels, in which I had sailed of late_, to be thus unceremoniously boarded _on the hallowed region of the quarter-deck_, this seemed to me quite a superfluous piece of impertinence. The remains of my sentiment were at once washed away, and _not minding a little honest salt-water_, I betook myself forthwith to the substantial comfortings of the repast, which I found smoking on the cabin table. Dinner was over: tea and conversation had followed; the evening was already far advanced, and I began to yield to the sleepy sensation _which the familiar roll of the sea inspired_. Before turning in I ascended to the companionway to breathe the fresh air, and see what progress we were making. _Familiar as I was with the sight of ships in every possible situation_, I was much struck with the beauty of the scene."