The English public have given considerable encouragement to this method of book-making; and, to say the truth, when selections are conducted with judgement and taste, they cannot fail of being accept-[Page 310]able. They bring together, within a narrow compass, interesting pieces which are generally scattered through many volumes, and afford considerable entertainment at a very moderate price;—no trifling recommendation in these hard times. To the compiler of this little volume of Italian Letters, the praise of judicious discrimination is due; and his collection will be thankfully received by the Italian student who wishes to improve, and to write this elegant language with facility and correctness. Algarotti—Bembo—Bentivoglio—Boccalini—Castiglione—Caro—Fabri—Galileo— Ganganelli—Guarini—Lambertini— Machiavelli—Mascardi—Metastasio— Redi—Tasso—Tolomei—Zanotti, and others, are here laid under contribution; and, when drawing from such rich and various sources, it is no great compliment to the editor to say that this volume is both amusing and instructive. A letter from Ganganelli to a friend, on the subject of travelling in Italy, peculiarly merits those epithets on account of its style, its method of detail, and its reflections.

The accentuation of doubtful words will prove of great use to those who study the Italian language without a preceptor.