20 FEBRUARY 1864, Page 22

The Two Families; or, the Power of Religion. By J.

C. Bateman. (Hatchard and Co.)—There are certain families in this tale who never open their lips except to speak in Biblical language, and they are models of virtue, and attain to great worldly prosperity. There are other families who do not speak in this tongue, and they commit, eventually, shocking crimes. There is, also, a High Church clergyman, who does much mischief by his opinions, but as a clergyman this punishment is, of course, sufficient. To paint the world so falsely as this may be good for children ; but we should rather conclude that, like all other false- hood, its effects will be absolutely mischievous.