VOLUME VI.

WILL APPEAR ON THE FIRST OF JUNE,

CONTAINING

THE SLAVE-KING,

From the "Bug Jargal" of Victor Hugo.

This story, which describes the emancipation of the Slaves of St. Domingo, effected by themselves, and by force of arms, will be enriched with the original Notes of a recent English Traveller.

A TALE OF THE CARAVANSERAI,

By James Baillie Fraser, Esq. author of the Kuzzilbash, _is nearly ready_.

The celebrated historical Romance of

THE SIEGE OF VIENNA,

Condensed and adapted from the German of Madame Pichler, _is ready for the press_.

Original Works of first-rate talent, by the most distinguished writers of the age, will follow in succession.

THE LIBRARY OF ROMANCE,

EDITED BY

LEITCH RITCHIE,

_Author of "Schinderhannes, the Robber of the Rhine," "Heath's Picturesque Annual," "Turner's Annual Tour," "London Nights' Entertainments," &c._

This new and important undertaking has now received a four months' trial; and the result is a determination, on the part of the proprietors, to carry on the series with redoubled spirit and energy. The patronage of the public, and the prompt, manly, and generous support of the periodical press throughout the country, leave them no excuse for carelessness or timidity; and they pledge themselves, therefore, without hesitation, to spare neither personal labour nor expense in redeeming the promise of the Prospectus, by producing a series of works of fiction "_greatly cheaper than the cheapest, and fully as good as the best that have preceded them_."

A reduction of more than _two-thirds_ in the price of an original novel (effected in the Library of Romance) is of itself an important consideration, in times when economy is a matter both of fashion and necessity; but there are other circumstances connected with the form of the work which are equally deserving of public attention. Hitherto it was as necessary to extend a work of fiction to three volumes as a tragedy to five acts. The publisher was a kind of literary Procrustes, and compelled the _Attic_ wayfarers who fell into his hands _to be all of one size_. This would have been comparatively a slight evil, or no evil at all, if the scale had been a moderate one; but it may be conceived what pulling and stretching were necessary in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, and how long, and lean, and lank, and shapeless, the victims looked after the operation. We, too, have a standard of our own; but it is short enough to be reached by any author of respectable dimensions. Compression, therefore, will be our chief labour; and, generally speaking, the sufferer himself will have most cause to rejoice.

It has been suggested to the proprietors by the Circulating Libraries, that the volumes of the Library of Romance are inconveniently long, and should be rendered capable of being divided into two, so as to enable them to supply their subscribers with the usual quantum of reading at a time. This appears to be nothing more than reasonable; and it has, therefore, been determined that in future each volume shall be divided into parts, or books, so as to admit of its being bound up, at the option of the possessors, into separate volumes. To effect this more easily, the work will be sold to the Libraries in sheets as well as bound.

Library of Original Romance.

EDITED BY LEITCH RITCHIE, ESQ.

A uniform Series of Original Tales, Novels, and Romances, written expressly for this work, by the most popular and distinguished living Authors of the Age, now publishing in Monthly Volumes, uniform with the Waverley Novels, each volume complete in itself, and equal in quantity to two volumes of a common Novel.

PRICE SIX SHILLINGS, ELEGANTLY BOUND IN CLOTH.

_The First Monthly Volume, of the Series was published last New Year's Day, entitled,_

THE GHOST-HUNTER AND HIS FAMILY.

By Mr. Banim, Author of "The O'Hara Tales," and is acknowledged to be "_the most talented and extraordinary work that has issued from the press for many years_."

"The very graceful volume before us must sell by thousands to repay the enterprising publishers for the cost of its production. Mr. Banim has put forth all the vigour that belonged to the old O'Hara Tales, and avoided the weaknesses that sullied his subsequent efforts. He has gone back to Nature, and she has welcomed the return of her favourite child with more than a mother's fondness. * * * The Tale is the best that has appeared this season."--_Athenæum._

_The Second Volume, published on the 1st of February, contains_

SCHINDERHANNES, THE ROBBER OF THE RHINE.

By the Editor, Leitch Ritchie.

"This volume calls for unqualified praise. It is elegantly written, abounds in striking incident, and is, throughout, replete with highly-wrought and well sustained interest. In short, this is decidedly one of the best romances we have ever read, whether we judge by incident, character, or plot."--_Court Journal._

_The Third Volume, published on the 1st of March, contains_

"WALTHAM," A Novel.

"We sincerely recommend "Waltham" to the perusal of our readers; and most heartily do we wish success to the "Library of Romance." Many a flower, otherwise "born to blush unseen," will, we trust, be drawn from its obscurity by the spirited undertaking of Mr. Ritchie."--_Brighton Herald._

_The Fourth Volume, published on the 1st of April, contains_

THE STOLEN CHILD, A TALE OF THE TOWN, FOUNDED ON A CERTAIN INTERESTING FACT.

By John Galt, Esq., author of the "Ayrshire Legatees," "Annals of the Parish," "Lawrie Todd," &c.

"The Stolen Child is a most cleverly managed story, with consequences and contrivances worthy a lawyer's brief--we do not think any one ever exceeded Mr. Galt in sketching national portraits--they are preserved as if for a museum of natural curiosities."--_Literary Gazette._

"The Autobiography in this volume is equal to Mr. Galt's best days, and even his subordinate characters are worthy to be recorded in the Annals of the Parish."--_Athenæum._

SMITH, ELDER, AND CO., CORNHILL.

WORKS

IN THE PRESS, OR RECENTLY PUBLISHED,

BY SMITH, ELDER AND CO.,

Cornhill, London.

_Preparing for the press, and to be speedily published,_

DEDICATED, BY PERMISSION, TO LORD GODERICH,

THE NARRATIVE OF TWO

EXPEDITIONS INTO THE INTERIOR OF AUSTRALIA,

Undertaken by Captain Charles Sturt, of the 39th Regiment, by order of the Colonial Government to ascertain the nature of the Country to the west and north-west of the Colony of New South Wales. This work will contain a correct Chart of the Rivers that were discovered; a Minute Description of the Country, its Geology, Productions, the Character of its Rivers, Plains and Inhabitants, together with much useful information. It will give a distinct account of Captain Barker's Survey of St. Vincent's Gulf, the nature of the Soil in the Promontory of Cape Jervis, its Streams, Anchorage, &c.: and will be illustrated by numerous Drawings of the Scenery, Ornithology, and Fossil Formation of the Country traversed, interspersed with numerous Anecdotes of the Natives, their Manners, Weapons, and other Peculiarities. The whole, throwing a new light on the Country that was explored.

_Preparing for publication, in Demy 8vo. Illustrated._

Narrative of a Journey to the

FALLS OF THE CAVERY;

With an Historical and Descriptive Account of

THE NEILGHERRY HILLS:

Illustrated by correct Views of the very splendid and striking Scenery met with in these Regions, and on the Route there from Madras. By Lieutenant H. Jervis, H.M. 62d Regt.

The work now proposed will form a complete Guide both to the invalid and others visiting this romantic country: the names of Subscribers will be inserted in the Volume, which will be put to press as soon as a sufficient number has been received.

Price Fifteen Shillings, neatly bound in cloth.

_Just published, beautifully illustrated, price 7s. 6d. cloth extra, or 10s. 6d. elegantly bound in Morocco,_

PICTURES OF PRIVATE LIFE,

BY SARAH STICKNEY.

"Sarah Stickney is an honour to her sex, and an ornament to literature. We would place her volume in an exquisite small library, sacred to sabbath feelings and the heart's best moods, when love and charity and hope combine to throw over the mind that soft and tranquil glow only to be compared to the later glories of the day."--_Spectator._

"A very charming volume, full of graceful and feminine feeling, and an enthusiastic sense of religious faith."--_Literary Gazette._

"It is altogether such a work as every mother of a family would place in the hands of her children, and from which even that mother might herself learn a profitable lesson.--For our own part, we do not hesitate to affirm that few, very few works indeed, have of late years, more affected or interested our feelings than that we now most unfeignedly recommend to the attention of our readers."--_Cheltenham Journal._

"We predict that this interesting volume will become an universal favourite.--We have in fact never met with a book, besides the Sacred Oracles, which might be more advantageously put into the hands of young persons."--_Bristol Journal._

"This beautiful little volume cannot be perused without affecting and improving the head and the heart, and to young ladies particularly, would we most earnestly recommend it."--_Scots Times._

_Just completed, in Demy 8vo. with Portrait, Price 10s. 6d._

THE LIFE OF THE POET, WILLIAM COWPER.

Compiled from his correspondence, and other authentic sources of information. Containing a full Development of his Religious Character--Observations on his Depressive Malady--Interesting Details on the peculiarity of his Case--with Critical Remarks on his Productions;--forming a complete and connected Record of the Poet's extraordinary Life, and intended to remove the Obscurities which have hitherto hung over his Singular Personal History. By Thomas Taylor.

"There was room for another biography of Cowper; and Mr. Taylor has proved himself a worthy compiler of the materials which, subsequent to Hayley's Life, have been flowing into the stock of public information. He has taken a fair and intelligent view of the exceedingly interesting character of this most afflicted and yet most gifted Poet--whose name is destined to go down to posterity as the brightest poetical moralist that has ever fathomed the depths of the English language."--_Spectator._

_Now ready, the Second Edition, price 2s. 6d. bound, cloth._

THE VILLAGE POOR-HOUSE.

By a Country Curate.

"The design of this Poem is admirable, and the execution of it spirited and vigorous. We have read the little volume with great delight at seeing such good powers put forth for so excellent a purpose."--_Examiner._

"The author has drawn from Nature; his feelings are enlisted in the cause of the poor; hence, the fidelity of his descriptions and the earnestness of his manners."--_Morning Chronicle._

"We recommend this little volume to our readers. It is full of interest, and will richly repay the perusal."--_Scots Times._

"There is real poetry in this little volume, and many home truths are told in a terse and pointed manner: it is well worthy of perusal."--_Tait's Magazine._

"This little volume claims our attention by the high poetical talent it displays."--_Penny Magazine._

"It is really refreshing to meet with a little volume such as the one before us. The author is a poet of very high order, and his unassuming volume is a rich treasure, from which the reader may gather much that is valuable."--_New Monthly Magazine._

"This is a poem of extraordinary power. It is one of those deep-striking, rivetting compositions, no one can take up without reading to the end."--_Court Magazine._

See also the _Times_, _Monthly Repository_, _Metropolitan_, &c. &c. for high characters of this work.

_Just completed, in Post 8vo. illustrated by Parris, price 10s. 6d. elegantly bound in morocco extra._

LONDON NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS;

A new Edition, with additions, of TALES AND CONFESSIONS.

By Leitch Ritchie.

This work is supposed by eminent critics to be his _chef d'oeuvre_. The original edition, it will be recollected, (although not containing, like the present, any of the later efforts of his pen), was pronounced by the London Reviewers to be "the most extraordinary work of fiction that has for many years issued from the press."

"Mr. Ritchie is by far our best writer of romantic and imaginary Tales," was the _dictum_ of the Literary Gazette on another occasion; and the Atlas pronounces him to be "the Scott of the short, picturesque, bold, and dramatic story."

"The power of fascinating the reader, of chaining him down, as it were, while his fancy is tormented by terrible imaginings, is the principal characteristic of Mr. Ritchie's fiction."--_London Weekly Review._

"This Scott of Tale-writers."--_National Standard._

THE BENGALEE;

Or, SKETCHES OF SOCIETY AND MANNERS IN THE EAST; including Satires in India, &c. &c. By an Officer in the Bengal Army. Post 8vo. Price 10_s._ 6_d._ boards.

"It is impossible to speak too highly of this elegant and unpretending publication. The object of the Author is to present a picture of society and manners in the East Indies; and we do not remember to have met with any book of which the plan is more ably executed, or in which instruction and entertainment are more agreeably combined."--_Oriental Herald._

"The work before us, we hesitate not to affirm, is one of the best--if not the very best--of the kind we have met with for many years. It is most pleasantly written, and contains a felicitous admixture of the serious with the humorous. It is one of the very few books of modern production which the general reader will go through from beginning to end without feeling himself thereby subjected to a species of mental drudgery. It will be read with delight by all acquainted with the English language; but as most of the articles have a reference to circumstances connected with India, it will possess peculiar attraction to those who have been in the East."--_London Weekly Review._

THE ADVENTURES OF NAUFRAGUS,

Written by Himself; giving a faithful Account of his Voyages, Shipwreck, and Travels, from his first outset as a Midshipman in the East India Company's Service, till he became a Commander in the Indian Seas; including a general description of India, of the Hindoo Superstitions, Idolatry, and Sacrifices of the Suttee, or Immolation of Hindoo Widows, &c. &c. Second edition, 8vo. Price 9_s._ boards.

"From the extraordinary nature of the adventures described in the volume under this name, and the extreme youth of the author, we formed an opinion that the work was a collection of facts and observations which had occurred to various persons, and were strung together, for the sake of uniformity, as having happened to a single individual. In this, however, we learn that we have been mistaken; for we have received a letter from Naufragus himself, affording us not only most satisfactory evidence of his identity, but such convincing reasons to rely upon the authenticity of his narrative, that we can no longer entertain a doubt upon the subject, and we have only to say, that the certainty of its reality adds greatly to the interest of his eventful story."--_Literary Gazette._

"If you wish for a pleasant travelling companion, or a friend to beguile a lonely or a tedious hour--if you have any desire to view an interesting, we might truly say, a wonderful picture of real life, read the Adventures of Naufragus."--_Scotsman._

THE LAST OF THE PLANTAGENETS.

An Historical Narrative, illustrating some of the Public Events and the Ecclesiastical and Domestic Manners of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries. Second Edition, Demy 8vo. 12_s._ boards.

"One of the most faithful and delicate narratives that the whole library of English Romance can furnish. The plaintiveness, purity, and simplicity of the diction, and the monastic quietness, the unaffected tenderness, and repose of the incidents, must render this Volume a permanent favourite with all readers of taste and feeling."--_Atlas._