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.