answer questions about the past life of the Guerre family more minutely and accurately than the rightful claimant.  Being disavowed, however, by the great majority of witnesses, including the wife, on the appearance of her true husband, he was sentenced to death for his fraud.  Before his execution he made a confession, saying that some intimate friends of Martin Guerre, misled by the astonishing resemblance, had accosted him by that name, which gave him the idea of claiming Guerre’s position and property; and that he had gained his intimate knowledge of Guerre’s life partly from Guerre himself, whom he had known slightly in the army, and partly from several common acquaintances.  With this slender outfit of material he came within an ace of effecting his design, thanks to an exceptionally tenacious and ready memory.”—­Extract from notice in “New York Daily Sun,” of “The Travelling Law School.” D. Lothrop & Co. $1.00.

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AMERICAN BOOKS IN ENGLAND.

The cordial reception awarded to the best class of American books in England, is indicated by the following notices from the Oldham Evening & Weekly Chronicle of October 4: 

“FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS AND HOW THEY GREW.  By Margaret Sidney.  Boston:  D. Lothrop & Co.  This gorgeously got up and profusely and beautifully illustrated volume is one of engrossing interest.  All the characters are skilfully drawn, the events are interestingly marshalled, and the plot most naturally developed.  For humour and pathos, for sympathy yet fidelity, for loftiness of tone yet simplicity of style, this charming volume has few superiors.  Here and there it reminds us of Mark Twain, anon of Dickens, and often of George Eliot, for the authoress has many of the strong points of all these writers.  Such wholesome and bracing literature as this may well find its place in all our homes.  It is a tale of a high order, and is a real study of life.  It is fresh, breezy, bracing.  It is strengthening and enthralling.”

“CAMBRIDGE SERMONS. By Rev. Alexander McKenzie.  Boston:  D. Lothrop & Co.  This neatly and strongly got up volume consists of sixteen fresh, vigorous, chatty, colloquial sermons.  The author has the solidity of the Scotch teacher, and the polish and beauty of the English preacher combined with the freedom, the raciness, interest, and the freshness of the American pulpit orator.  These discourses are orations which were delivered extemporaneously and taken down by a shorthand writer.  Hence they are homely, yet eloquent; natural, yet cultivated, and come right home to the hearts of the readers.  No one could tire reading these sermons.  They are as racy as a magazine article, as instructive as a lecture, and as impressive and lofty as a message from God.  They are thoroughly American for their fearlessness, their living energy, and their originality.  Sermons of this high order are sure to be in demand.”

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