BOOKS ON THE TABLE.
1. Dr. SOUTHEY has finished his great work on the History of the Peninsular War: the third and last bulky volume lies on our table. It is a monumental book. In many respects Dr. SOUTHEY'S History is worthy of the great contest it describes. His informa- tion is extensive ; his narrative power is easy and impressive; his principles are altogether British—what is called " truly British :" we sympathize more with them than with the Whiggish denunci- ations of this upright war,—though, we allow, the policy of the undertaking has been greatly coloured by its successful termina- tion. We do not say that we should not have joined with WHIT- BREAD and WARD (now, alas ! Lord DUDLEY) in denouncing the attempt; but since it was made, we are right glad to see the story told with a whole heart. The History is a patriotic one: when a thing is meant to be praised, it is called " truly British "—just as, on the other side of the water, they say " truly French" in the same sense. The great value of Dr. SOUTHEY'S work is its detail and its easy narrative; it is astonishing how soon the pleasant style of the author lifts the reader over his enormous pages.
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