"The terrible War of Succession had now arrived at such a point that the royal authority seemed on the point of being destroyed." "The Government were extremely disconcerted by this acquittal, the more especially as the evidence, especially against the military, was so decisive." "The few who regarded them in their true light were regarded as mere dreamers.' "This proposal was no great violation of the liberties of the subject, for it only proposed to subject military persons to the trial of their military superiors." "At the same time a grant of £100,000, which had been granted to the sufferers in St. Vincent, was extended to £1,000,000, and made to extend to the sufferers under the Jamaica insurrection." But enough for the present of these platitudes! The writer who, next to Sir Archibald, exhibits most examples of this sort of phrase, is Sir Walter Scott, in whose works, especially his "Life of Napoleon," it is of frequent occurrence. Among the numerous devices resorted to by authors in our day, in order to secure unmerited popularity and importance, may be reckoned the adoption of mysterious, out-of-the-way "titles " for their works. Some titles are studiously farfetched; others are mere pegs to hang a subject upon. Some promise more than they perform ; others less. Your popular author knows enough of his craft to be convinced that the maxim, omne ignotum pro magnifico, holds good even in this age of discoveries; and that a book with a plain, honest name will not sell, while one with a startling title is almost certain to become attractive. "Have you read the new novel?” inquires young miss of some female friend; and as we no longer live in an age when the question might be answered without reference to the name of the book, her friend naturally replies: "Which ?"— "Why, Kaloolah, my dear."-" Kaloolah! pray what is that?"—" Oh, then, you have not read it. Beautiful! most interesting! and what a funny name, too! It was the curiosity to see what might be found under such a strange title that stimulated me to become acquainted with the work; and right glad I am of my venture. Do get the book and read it: you will really find it most interesting." Where is the young lady that would not be anxious to read an interesting work with a strange title, so as to be able to name it, and talk of it to her companions? From this category, however, I must except the Book of Travels known by the name of "Eōthen." The author of that very able work stood in no need of such meretricious aids to popularity. It is melancholy to think how honest people are defrauded of their money in consequence of the fallacious titles that are now commonly adopted for the worthless literature of the day. The use of false titles ought to be made punishable at law, like the use of false coins, with this difference, that the imposition in the latter case is less injurious, because more easily detected, than in the former, where you have often to wade through a couple of volumes of sheer trash, before you can discover that you have been duped. |