stones are broken small, they form acute angles; those joint in with each other, and take an equal bearing of the pressure which comes upon them: not so with unbroken round stones; they always remain loose, and carriage wheels pass through, not over them as they ought to do, which causes very great additional draught; and when such stones are put upon high cobbling roads, it renders travelling very unsafe for a time, until the stones are pushed over the sides of the road by the carriage wheels, and thereby leaving the centres of the roads in much the same state as before they were attempted to be repaired, with all the time, labour and expence lost. Another custom, which cannot be too severely censured, is the imprudent and improvident system of laying bad materials upon roads, when good materials can be Conveniently obtained. It is not uncommon to see perfect dirt or sand laid upon roads, which is adding fuel to fire, and makes the roads worse than before. The error of this system may be readily explained by culculation. Suppose the distance from the gravel pit to the part of the road intended to be repaired is one mile; a team carrying six loads per day, travels twelve miles, exclusive of a distance going to and from work. I calculate the expence of a team of three horses, with a man to drive, including wear and tear, at 14s. per day, and the expence of digging and filling the gravel, at 4d. per load, making the whole expence 16s. per day, for doing no good whatever, but on half the time employed upon the roads, leaving the other part of the time to be beneficially employed upon his farm. Felix Alvarez; or, Manners in Spain: containing descriptive Accounts of some of the prominent Events of the late Peninsular War, and authentic Anecdotes, illustrative of the Spanish Character, &c. &c. By Alexander R. C. Dallas, Esq. 12mo. 3 vols. 18s. Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy, London, 1818. DURING the greatest part of the siege the contrary, doing a great deal of injury, will be saved. The following account of the fording of the lake of La Janda is new to ns, and we apprehend also to most of our readers. time it took place, Alvarez, the hero of We shall only add, that at the our author's tale, was one of General Graham's staff officers. It was late in the day before the order was given to march; and then it was to retrace the steps they had taken on the morning of the preceding day. It appeared that the original plan had been changed, or that the direction they had taken towards Medina Sidonia was but a feint; for the army now directed its course towards Chiclana. They marched back on the same road for some distance, and then striking off on the left, arrived soon on the bank of the lake of La Janda, a consider able body of water, which lies between the two roads from Tarifa; the one to Medina Sidonia, and the other to Chiclana. The bottom of this lake was of mud; but to render it fordable, a quantity of stones had been sunk across it, forming a pathway under the water, of about seven feet in breadth, and extending upwards of a quarter of a mile. Its limits were distinguished by bushes and poles, set up to prevent the unwary traveller from overstepping its boundaries, and falling into the mud. The army halted at the commencement of this sunken bridge, and shortly afterwards, the Spaniards taking the lead, began their march over it, passing through the water, which in some parts rose above their middles. The whole staff of the army, both Spanish and English, had already passed, and were waiting on the opposite side of the lake. The soldiers came through this long ford rather cautiously and slowly; and General La Peua, from his horse, encouraged them to proceed with more activity and less apprehension. His words, however, had little effect; for it was the work of some hours to pass over the whole Spanish division. Felix, who had been in conversation with some of the Spanish officers near General La Pena, felt an impulse of shame that no reprimand had been given to the officers of the regiments as they passed, a great part of whom, instead of setting an example to the men of despising the inconvenience attending the passage, and encouraging them to proceed, with a selfish concern for their own com forts, scrupled not to add to the burthens of their men by mounting on their backs, to endeavour to avoid being wetted. Felix was sufficiently master of English to understand the murmur of contempt which these officers, as pusillanimous as the men they commanded were brave, excited amongst the English staff, and he hastened to join the group, lest he should be included in the general disapprobation. He placed himself by chance close behind General Graham, just as the head of the British column began to appear. The men were a little scattered, and wading rather cautiously through the water; but the officers were all doing their best to keep them close up, by encouraging those who were weak, and punishing those who were only indolent, "Will you hold my horse, Sir?" said General Graham. Felix came forward and took the bridle as the General descended. A glow of surprise and admiration, mingled with shame at the contrast in the conduct of his countrymen, suffused the cheek of Alvarez as he saw this venerable soldier deliberately walk into the depth of the ford, assisting the regimental officers in the execution of their duty, speaking to his men as he met them, and desiring them to press forward. He recrossed the greater part of the lake, and the effect of his presence among the soldiers, and of his contempt of his own personal convenience, was electrical. The division pressed forward in as close order, and with as little attention to the stoney uncertain path on which they trod, or the water with which it was covered, as if they had been marching on a high road. The consequence was that it took no more time for the whole English troops to pass over, than it would have done had it been the best raised bridge in the world; and by not allowing the soldiers to stop when they were over, but making them immediately continue their march, the ill consequences to their health were prevented. Felix felt a degree of enthusiastic admiration as he held the stirrup for General Graham to remount, an office which he would not for worlds have given up to the orderly dragoon who attended, and the expression of his feelings was the subject of his conversation with Captain M- during the rest of the march. In a note Mr. Dallas states appeals to British officers now living, for the truth of the preceding interesting anecdote of the gallant English Gene ral. The Guerilla incident, related in the ensuing paragraph, as one of the exploits performed by Alvarez, actually took place under the brave leader Espoz y Mina, at the head of a handful of Biscayan Volunteers, who succeeded in destroying the escort of a convoy which at a time when the French were firmly was passing from Pamplona to Tolosa, established in the country, and the Spaniards scarcely ventured to cherish a hope of being delivered from them. Alvarez did not remain in the camp; for he heard with delight, upon his arrival, that there was a body of a thousand French upon its march from Pamplona to join the convoy at Tolosa, and which, if they had not received the intelligence of its being overtaken, and turned back in consequence, might yet perhaps be cut off. It was with the greatest joy that Felix ob. tained permission to take his regiment in search of this body; and having procured the proper guides, he set out about midnight upon his expedition. He marched all night, and at day-light | ran from mouth to mouth-it was echoed one of his guides, whom he had dispatched by the hills: it was executed by the paconsiderably in advance, returned to inform triots, who, at the word, commenced a real him that the band he was in search of were feu de joie down upon the heads of the encamped in the valley of Lecumberri, a French; whilst others, who had been lafertile spot about a league before him. bouring to loosen large masses of the rock, Alvarez now began to prepare to receive gave them the last push, and sent them them: and as the day-light increased, he upon the heads of their victims, at once devised a plan which, by the assistance of to overwhelm them and impede their prothe guides, he was enabled to put into gress. execution. The road from Tolosa to Pamplona, as far as Lecumberri, is a most extraordinary example of human art and labour. It is a fine, hard, military road, carried for a considerable distance along the course of the little river Lizarza, which takes its rise near Lecumberri, and runs with no perceptible descent until it falls into the Oria at Tolosa; its way is through gigantic mountains, which in many parts seem to have been split asunder only to admit its course: so perpendicular are their sides, so close are their summits to each other; and in those parts where this is not so strikingly the case, the ascent of the mountains on either side is so rapid as to be almost inaccessible. Felix divided his regiment into two parties, and both, by the assistance of the guides, were enabled to ascend the craggy hills on the sides of the road to a considerable height above it, by mountain paths, and by scrambling over points where human foot had never ventured before. By this means the whole of the men became ambushed perfectly out of sight, at a vast height above the road, and so immediately over it, that they completely commanded it. Having thus disposed of his little force. Alvarez waited patiently for the arrival of the victims whom he hoped to immolate. All were desired to remain perfectly quiet until Felix should give the signal for destruction, and they waited not long for the welcome sound. The sun ascended, and the French column was put in motion. They commenced their march anticipating a speedy arrival at To losa and union with their comrades: it was doomed that none should arrive at Tolosa, but that many should join their comrades who had there paid the forfeit of their crimes. They left the rich vale of Lecumberri, and boldly entered upon the road or rather long defile, whose overhanging walls supported the instruments of the vengeance of Heaven. Marching on, they arrived at the part where Felix was posted with his irregularly extended line of patriots on eit! er side of the road. He waited until they had quite entered the toils, and then he gave the anxiously expected word. "Venganza!" he exclaimed." Venganza" Had it rained fire from the heavens upon these bewildered and panic-struck Frenchmen, the effect could not have been more terror-striking. They were so astonished at this sudden and commanding attack, that scarce a Frenchman attempted to raise his musket in reply to the volleys that poured down from above; and the bullets of the few that did, were impotently lost in the brushwood which screened and protected their hidden enemies. The only thought was of flight, and many a foot was arrested as it was raised to fly, never to move again: many a life was poured out into the silver stream of the Lizarza, giving it the tint of the ruby to the delighted eyes of Los Vengadores, as they caught the bright beams of the sun which played upon it. So secure were the destroyers, that as their aim was marred by no nervous feel of danger, almost every shot did its appointed duty. The narrative of the insidious manner in which the French first obtained possession of the almost impregnable fortress of San Sebastian, has (we believe) never been printed until now. Mr. Dallas's account of the storming of that place by the British, contains some anecdotes that are not generally known. We dismiss Mr. Dallas's work, with our cordial approbation. More amusing, and we believe more correct, delineations of Spanish manners and customs, during an important period of modern history, are exhibited in his unpretending but interesting volumes, than are to be found in many bulky volumes of travels through the Peninsula. Family Annals: or the Sisters.” By Mary Hays, 12mo. 5s. Simpkin and, Marshal, London, 1817. Amusement and instruction are happily blended in this tale for youth; in which the fair authoress has endeavoured to imitate the style and manner of Miss Edgeworth's justly celebrated tales. EDUCATION. A Letter to the Rev. W. B. White- M. A. Picquot is printing, a Chronolohead, M.A. on the Question of Ecclesi-gical Abridgement of the History of Moastical Jurisdiction over voluntary cha- dern Europe, compiled from the best Engritable Associations, particularly with lish, French, and German historians. reference to the "Protest" of the Rev. 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Mr. John Nichols is preparing for pub. lication, in three Svo volumes, the Miscellaneous works of the late George Hardinge, Esq. MUSIC. This day is pubished, No. I. of the Euterpean; being a choice collection of Glees, Catches. Canons, &c. selected and arranged by J. Snowdon. Demy 4to. price to subscribers Is. non subscribers 1s. 6d. each number. An Epicedium, with Elegiac Tributes to commemorate the deaths of Sheridan, Whitbread, and Spencer. By Richard Hatt, 12mo. Is. Westley, London, 1818. A former impression of Mr. Hatt's Epicedium, to the memory of her late Royal Highness the Princess Charlotte, was mentioned with due commendation in our last volume (p. 947.) We notice the present edition on account of the tributes which it contains to the meof the eminent men whose names mory are specified in the title. They are The proprietors of the Rev. Mr. Todd's both pleasing and poetical: and want inform the public that they will shortly edition of Dr. Johuson's Dictionary, beg to of room alone prevents us from trans-publish an abridgement of that valuable planting one or two of them to our poe-work, by Alexander Chalmers, Esq. F.S.A. tical parterre. Literary Register. Authors, Editors, and Publishers, are particularl requested to forward to the Literary Panorama Office, post paid, on or before the 9th day of each month, the titles, prices, and other parti culars of works in hand, or published, for this department of the work. ..... WORKS ANNOUNCED FOR PUBLICATION. BIOGRAPHY. PHILOLOGY. POETRY. Preparing for publication the Moor of Tripoli, a poem By Mrs. Eliz Thomas, anthor of Purity of Heart, the Confesssion, a poem, &c. tled Nuga Moderna, or Morning thoughts A small volume will soon appear, entiand Midnight Musings. By Mr. Parke, editor of Nugæ Antiquæ, &c. THEOLOGY. The Rev. B. Brook is preparing for publication, the State and Progress of Reli Dr. Andrew Duncan will soon publish,gious Liberty, from the first propagation an Account of the Life, Writings, and of Christianity in Britain to the present Character of the late Dr. Alexander Mon ro, delivered as the Harveian oration a Edinburgh 'or 1818. Johu Gait, esq. is preparing the second part of the Life of Benjamin West, Esq. time. Mr. J. W. Whittaker, of St. John's ColJege, Cambridge, has in the press, a Critical Examination of Mr Bellamy's Translation of Genesis, comprising a refutation of his calummes against the English transla Mr. William Carey has in the press, a Biographical Sketch of B. R Haydon, Esq.tors of the Bible. with critical observations on his paintings. and some notice of his essays in the public journals Speedily will be published, a volume of Sermons, by the Rev, C. R. Maturin, curate of St. Peter's, Dublin. 8vo. TOPOGRAPHY. 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