The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. II., No. 9, August, 1836Various
History
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. II., No. 9, August, 1836
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
We have more than once recorded in the Messenger the high pleasure
afforded us by the pages of Lieutenant Slidell. The “_Year in Spain_”
with the exception of its third volume, is no novelty, we are sure.
Its well-limned natural scenery—its exceedingly happy groups of
banditti, and boleros, and mouse-colored asses, and muleteers, and
modern Sancho Panzas, and Sangrados, and primitive Alcaldes, and
pallazzos, and plazas, and posadas, are still passing before the eyes
of a great majority of our readers in a Kaleidescopal freshness and
variety, unimpaired, and unimpairable. It would hardly be worth our
while then to tell the public what the public know quite as well as
ourselves—that the book has a vigorous interest—has received a great
deal of commendation—and deserves it. The third volume in the present
edition is superadded to the English _imprimatur_, and embodies what
we consider the most effective portion of the narrative—an account of
the author's visit to Grenada. The mechanical execution of the book is
honorable to the Messieurs Harpers. The vignettes in each of the
volumes, are particularly good. We would sincerely recommend our
friends to procure a copy of the work forthwith—to give it a niche in
their libraries—and to remember that it may safely be referred to upon
occasion, as a most creditable specimen of American talent.
ADVENTURES IN SEARCH OF A HORSE.
_The Adventures of a Gentleman in Search of a Horse. By Caveat Emptor,
Gent. One, Etc. Philadelphia: Republished by Carey, Lea and
Blanchard._
This book, to say nothing of its peculiar excellence and general
usefulness, is remarkable as being an anomaly in the literary way. The
first 180 pages are occupied with what the title implies, the
adventures of a gentleman in search of a horse—the remaining 100
embrace, in all its details, difficulties, and intricacies, a profound
treatise on the English _law of horse-dealing warranty!_—and this too,
strange as it may seem, appears to be the first and only treatise upon
a subject so interesting to a great portion of the English gentry.
Think of _law_, serviceable law too, intended as a matter of
reference, compiled by a well known attorney, and dedicated to Sir
John Gurney, one of the Barons of his Majesty's Court of
Exchequer—think of all this done up in a green muslin cover, and
illustrated by very laughable wood-cuts. Only imagine the stare of old
Coke, and of the other big wigged tribe in white calf and red-letter
binding, as our friend in the green habit shall take his station by
their side upon the book shelf!
The _adventurous_ portion of the book is all to which we have
attended, and so far we have found much fine humor, good advice, and
useful information in all matters touching the nature, the management,
and especially the purchase of a horse. We would advise all amateurs
to look well, and look quickly into the pages of Caveat Emptor.
LAFITTE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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