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

character, as well as to literature. During the dynasty of the renowned Mr. Brummel, who exerted all his influence (and perhaps beneficially) to shame men of rank out of an over-weaning fondness for the pursuits of the stable, a fashion set in unfairly to depreciate the manly exercises of country gentlemen, and to throw ridicule on enthusiastic lovers of hunting. This was only a natural re-action from the coarseness and insufferable vulgarities of those noble leaders of sporting circles, who persisted in wearing topboots on all occasions, and in interlarding their ordinary conversation with the oaths and slang of grooms and jockeys, and who even had holes punched or drilled through their eye-teeth, so as to enable them to whistle and spit with greater effect. But still it was a re-action, that was guilty of much injustice and error, and threatened to bring the country sports of our ancestors into undeserved odium and even disuse. Soon it was felt that it would be wiser to try and elevate those generous and invigorating pastimes from the filth and blackguardism that surrounded them, than to brand them and their advocates as mean and besotted. To do this was not a difficult task; for the writers who undertook it had upon their side the deep, firm, abiding sentiments of the nation, and all the pleasant associations of the country-the brisk air, bright landscape, and cheering music-which make the most obstinate defenders of cities still keep their best love for rural scenes.

Mr. John Mills may be taken as a good representative of this school, which has of late years become much more numerous than when he first joined it. His family is of Suffolk extraction, his father having been some years since the proprietor of Brandeston Hall-one of the most picturesque, as well as ancient, seats in that county.

Mr. Mills's excellent and highly popular works are "The Old English Gentleman," "The Stage Coach, or the Road of Life," ""Christmas in the Olden Time," "The Life of a

Fox-hound," "The Belle of the Village; or, "Tis not all Gold that Glitters," "Our County," "The Life of a Racehorse," and "The Wheel of Life."

LADY SYDNEY MORGAN.

THIS celebrated and voluminous writer was born in Dublin in or about the year 1783, and consequently is now of an age far beyond that ordinarily granted to those who attain. to venerable years. But though her ladyship is more than eighty, her intellects are as active and her spirits as buoyant, as when two generations since she made her début in the most brilliant society of London as the "Wild Irish Girl.” Her house is still frequented by the most distinguished men of letters and leading personages in the world of fashion, and it is rare for a stranger of any note to visit our shores and quit them without having sought an introduction to the author of "Woman and her Master."

Lady Morgan's maiden name was Sydney Owenson, and her father, besides being nearly related to Oliver Goldsmith, has two good claims on our respect, for he was one of the best professional actors the Irish stage possessed, and was the author of several popular Irish songs. Mr. Owenson was also the friend and protector of the poet Dermody. Lady Morgan's literary career commenced in the last century, years before Byron published a line, or Moore had fascinated voluptuaries with "Tom Little's" poems. first volume was a collection of short pieces in verse, and was produced by her pen ere she had completed her fourteenth year. From that early period till her eyesight failed her some years since, she was a most industrious writer, having favoured the world with not less than seventy distinct volumes. Of her numerous achievements in almost every department of literary composition, the best known are

Her

"The Lay of the Irish Harp," the precursor of Moore's Irish Melodies, "St. Clair, or the Heiress of Desmond," "The Novice of St. Dominick," "The Wild Irish Girl," "Patriotic Sketches," "Ida," "The Missionary," "O'Donnell," "Florence Macarthy," "The O'Briens and O'Flahertys," "The Book of the Boudoir," "The Princess," "France," Italy," "Dramatic Scenes from Real Life," "The Life and Times of Salvator Rosa," and lastly, "Woman and her -Master," which was published in 1840.

It was in 1811 that Miss Owenson while on a visit to the Marquis of Abercorn, made the acquaintance of her husband Sir Charles Morgan, the physician, and author of "Sketches of the Philosophy of Life and Morals." Subsequently to the publication of " Woman and her Master" in 1840, Lady Morgan, in conjunction with her husband, delighted the educated world with those two pleasant volumes of sketches entitled "The Book without a Name."

Amongst the many appropriately bestowed pensions granted during Lord Grey's administration, was one of £300, from the Civil List to Lady Morgan. This pension her ladyship still enjoys (and long may she continue to do so) in that interesting society of wits and people of fashion, of which her extraordinary conversational powers are the principal attraction and delight.

DINAH MARIA MULOCH.

AMONGST living novelists there are few who are superior to Miss Muloch. As a painter of domestic life, and a delineator of rural manners, she is unequalled. It is true, that while reading her works we never forget her sex; but it is that fact which constitutes, perhaps, their principal charm, and to which they are indebted for their best influences. Her men all love like women; but when such a