"Temper: a Tale," published in 1854, and "Henry Lyle, or, Life and Existence," published in 1856, we detect many of the excellences which won for Captain Marryat his popularity and renown as a writer.

WILLIAM HAMILTON MAXWELL.

MR. Maxwell is to soldiers what Captain Marryat was to sailors. It is to him that military men, and all who feel interest in the pursuits and tenour of a soldier's life, look for tales of martial adventure, camp experience, the fun and boredom of barracks, and the heroism and excitement of a battle-field. For many years Mr. Maxwell has used his pen most industriously, infusing into his stories a spirit of generosity and gallant resolve, calculated to foster in the breasts of his particular admirers the frankness, and courage, and elastic hopefulness which have long distinguished English soldiers. The favourites in public esteem of Mr. Maxwell's numerous works are "The Bivouac," "Hector O'Halloran," "Stories of Waterloo," "Dark Lady of Doona," "Brian O'Linn," and "Wild Sports of the West."

MAYHEW.

To make mention of any one of the brothers Mayhew, without saying something that immediately relates to another of them, is almost impossible. A firmly united band they have all distinguished themselves in literature, but have almost always proceeded in their undertakings on a system of co-operation, the result of which is, that they constitute a domestic group posed and ready for the artist, and can hardly be treated as separate subjects. Augustus helps Horace, Horace helps Henry, Henry works with Augustus, Augustus takes part with Edward. Mr. Horace Mayhew

has written the history of "Model Men;" we should think he and his brothers might serve as studies for a new work to be called, "The Model Brothers." As members of the ignorant and far-removed public, we feel no slight curiosity as to the mutual relations in private life of this staunch fraternity-this happy family of literature! It is difficult to imagine that with so loving a front to the world, they squabble and fight in the background like all the brothers of our own acquaintance.

Without a doubt, the debt due from the English public to the Mayhews for amusement of the highest order is a heavy one; and the future historian who looks for the picture of the social life of this generation in its current literature, will respect them as foremost for genius and success amongst the authors of their day. Henry Mayhew was the originator of "Punch," and to his inspiration in the earlier years of his career must be attributed much of the present excellence of that paper, which we believe is more firmly fixed in the good-will of Englishmen than any other organ of journalism. Henry Mayhew also has rendered valuable service to society in his "London Labour and the Poor;" a work of noble design, that will stand forth to posterity as a memorable example of philanthropic labour undertaken by a private individual, that ought long before to have been performed by government. By these two achievements, "Punch," and the inquiry into the condition of the "London Poor," the name of Mayhew will for many years be honourably distinguished. But it has other titles to celebrity. Mr. Thomas Mayhew, in starting the "Penny National Library," originated a movement which has brought a large proportion of our most valuable literature within the reach of a working man of slender means. Horace Mayhew, besides having enriched the pages of "Punch" without intermission, from the time of its first appearance up to the present date, has either by himself, or

in conjunction with one of his brothers, produced a series of tales, farces, and humorous brochures that are read everywhere, and admired by everyone. What lady, who has an establishment to preside over, has not read “The Greatest Plague of Life ?" The "Letters left at the Pastry Cook's" are to be found in every house not closed against the "Pickwick Papers," and "Household Words." And only recently has been published "Paved with Gold," a work which will ably sustain the popularity of the Brothers Mayhew.

G. J. WHYTE MELVILE.

AMONGST the rising of our younger novelists, this gentleman is favourably known, and the strength and ease of his style justify the belief entertained by many that he is destined to win the highest honour the profession of literature can offer. For some time he has been the principal writer of fiction in the pages of Fraser, and he is well deserving of such employment. Perhaps he is somewhat an imitator of Thackeray; but it is difficult for an artist to admire a great master and not follow in his steps. It may be advanced, also, that in his choice of subjects, and his way of handling them, Mr. Melville does not display much originality; but then it cannot be denied that in his writings he is always a lively, accomplished, entertaining, and most gentlemanly companion. His excellent and justly popular works of imagination are "Digby Grand," "Kate Coventry," ""General Bounce," and "The Interpreter."

THOMAS MILLER.

THIS agreeable and fertile author first become known as a poet and a prose-writer of no ordinary power, while he

was employed in the humble calling of a basket-maker. He was born on the 31st of August, 1809, in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire; he is, therefore, still of an age when the mental faculties rather increase than wane, and the marked improvement of his style, with each new production of his pen, encourages us to look for even better things from him than his unquestionable talents have as yet favoured us with.

His principal fictitious works are "Royston Gower," 1838; "Fair Rosamond, or the days of King Henry II. ;" "Lady Jane Grey, an Historical Romance;" "Gideon Giles, the Roper;" "Godfrey Malvern, or the Life of an Author," and "Fred Holdersworth." Besides these works and numerous books for children, as well as poems, Mr. Miller has contributed largely to periodicals and newspapers.

JOHN MILLS.

As soon as English gentlemen began to care for intellectual pleasures, as well as field sports, a class of writers sprung up whose business it has been to describe the virtues and faults, and peculiarities of horses, dogs, and all the animals that contribute to the animation of the huntingfield and the race-course. How well these artists have performed their task, it is needless to say; for so forcibly have they displayed the charms of our truly national amusements, and such a halo of poetry have they thrown around the sportsman's life, that some of the most fascinating and inspiriting scenes fictitious literature has presented us with, are those bold dashing pictures of cross-country gallops and break-neck leaps, which abound in the pages of Mills, Lever, and the excellent author of "Handley Cross." We believe that the "horsey and houndey school," as it has been termed, has done good service to our national

"Westward Ho," and "Two Years Ago." The literary clergyman is a common sight; popular preachers who occupy their spare hours with composing fashionable novels for May-fair, and pulpit orators of sectarian animosities. who flood the world of their admirers with endless thousands of silly tracts, are plentiful indeed; but a clergyman who, like Mr. Kingsley, without ever degrading his sacred office to serve the purposes of an advertisement, or ever for a moment forgetting the solemn duties of his calling, uses literature as a means of instructing and elevating his fellow men, is a rare spectacle.

The Rev. Charles Kingsley, Rector of Eversley, Hants, and Honorary Canon of Middleham, was born at a village in Devonshire, on the borders of Dartmoor, in June, 1819. He is therefore now at an age when the mental powers are usually in their perfection. After receiving a good preliminary education at King's College, London, Mr. Kingsley entered the society of Magdalen College, Cambridge, and terminated his undergraduate career by gaining the honours of a senior optime, and a first-class man in the Classical Tripos. After devoting a short time to the study of the law, with the intention of going to the bar, he was ordained to the curacy of Eversley, and the living of that parish becoming vacant within two years after his ordination, the patron, the late Sir John Cope, Baronet, presented him to it.

Mr. Kingsley is one of the most productive writers of his age, and if he continue to publish at the same rate as he has during the last twelve years, he will, ere long, become a more voluminous writer than Mr. James. In the British Museum catalogue are mentioned eighteen publications from his pen, the first of which appeared in 1845. But as yet there are no signs of his over-writing himself. The same fresh wit, sturdy humour, pure and nervous English style, copious learning, delicate knowledge of character, and