NV ITELOCK E . S ENI: I. IS A N D 4;
ERMAN C ON V ER S ATION.
grACK-TEAcimits have so long been in the 11E0)4 of flattering the indolent and ignorant with the it tied they can furnish thew, in the form. of rut and dry dialogues, With the n stessuss or making themselves intelligible in a language they have not studied—as if conversation could be stereotyped—that we were not surprised when this new attempt was laid on our table. The phrase " Uni- versity Dialogues" caught our eye. however ; Si) we opened OR chance, and were rewaru led. by lighting upon, its the first place, a dialogue " with the milliner or dressmaker," and in the second place, a dialogue " between two school-girls." The success with which the compiler has hit ow Slit easy tone of lismiliar conversa- tions in English, may be inferred than this spechnen—" If you are not invited to-slay, do site the friendly oct oh ' tabiag your dinner
with me." The school in which he less acquired his English would appear to he that of the cads and eahmen of' Losahm, from
his felicitous translation of Friseh l'ostMos "--" All right": but this Isis translation of "//ang-riemen," by the nautical phrase "mainbrace," " forbids us to interpret." He is evidently a correct character, and averse to pmfane swearing, inasmuch as Ise renders the not very startlins; German expletive "donnertnetter" Is) tile vet more innocent English substitute " brimstone and treacle!" but it is in his stock of amorous phrases that- all the poet stands re- vealed. " The sweet rosy enamel of the et/issial cheeks," (stherial being tile English fin. had)—" the eyes—thase Congreve-rockets that inflame all bosoms "—" when the liar:lolly of the spheres soars from her titroat,"—&.c. Sic. We can assure s sm readers, too, that Mr. Wisrrssoess's German is worthy of Isis English : we entirely agree with Isis own appreciation of it in Diologo, Seveuth—"I speak very bad German." The classes for whose use Isis book is mainly intended, may Ise conjectured from the titles (si some of the dia- logues,—" between a beggssr and a hard-hearted rich man," "be- tween two valets," " bet we s`11 st pea5...ntst arA a eiaaek," " between a reeruiting-ollicer and is day-lab.mrer." 'rise of the collection, however, is an "imaginary C:ssivtrsation," after the manner of LAN - DOE, between "Queen Victoria" and "Tullia, (laughter of Cicero." The scene is " a drawing-room at Willa:or Castle, the palace of Queen Victoria." The dr/boat/4 persoss are skillidly intmluced to us in the opening-speech of the Queeti—.. Who is then this las ly. with an aquiline nos!, dear Albert, with her large black eyes, with her lofty and noble figure, with a lit cc so proud and at the same time so co- quettish, who voters willu,01 being onn.,upe,•,1 by my page if hollo.nri and ?Hut mob's 0 courtesy like a win,11.1-dolicer 'Clic question is answered by 'labia, for " dear Albert." remahis mute as a stock-fish during the whole dialonte: and Victoria, having learned that Tullia " snakes the courtesy (den Kilda) of a Roman matron, and not that of an English dancin-girl," exelaisna—" Oh, Madam, do me the honour oh' being seated : an arm-chair for Madam Tullia." The Roman lady, however, prefers the " good bed I see. yonder ;" on which the Queen characteristically remarks—" rou mean, upon a sofa. Ibeg you to recline upon it, as if you were Lord in Waiting, reading a .liovel.cf Maine'', when not in our Equally characteristic ms the Royal inquiry after presence." be time of Tulha : " Really we are so accustomed to think
rough our Ministers, and by and with the advice of our th
Privy Council, that I really fbrget when that time was. If it Was not our honey-moon, Albert, they would be thinking for us now." In the course of the conversation, Tullia is informed—" 1 mu no blue-stocking, but my uncle the Duke of Sussex has often spoken to me of your immortal father ;" am! " I am now teaching my dear husband English indeed, I laid aside the book as you entered." Equally characteristic is the conversation of 'Nina ; as, for ex- ample-4, Cicero, whose daughter I am, that Cicero who has so many rivals in your House rf Commons." Or the interlocutor- ', But this coffic is black and bitter." " A little cream and sugar
render it palatable." " Au ! yes,. by Ilerettles ! this is indeed good, mid more refreshing than the wine of Lesbos."
° It is indeed difficult to say whether the author betrays more intimate knowledge of the manners of classic Rome or of the modern Court at Windsor. The author of l'elham and the Last Days of Pompeii has at last found a rival.
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