University of Virginia Library

“This volume is the work of a gentleman of leisure, and, judging from
the revelations which he makes, he was educated with `elegant desires'
and sufficient wealth to permit him to indulge his tastes. The sketches
which are here collected are marked by spirit, vivacity, and agreeable description.
The author writes with the ease of a good, clever fellow, who
always looks on the bright side of things, and who endeavors to extract
amusement from the most unpromising subjects. His adventures are
candidly told, and he leads the reader into many foreign mysteries which
most travellers avoid. His style is remarkably easy and flowing. You
glide along without an effort, and he manages to keep up an interest which
it is the good fortune of few writers to produce. The unknown author has
hit the target precisely. Much of the spirit of the late John Sanderson
flows from his pen, and his volume will form a delightful sequel to the agreeable
book of that pleasant and witty writer.”

“In originality of conception, grace of diction, humor of style—in
classic allusion, piquancy, wit, and vivacity, its author stands unrivalled by
any `light' writer, ancient or modern, with whom we are acquainted.
Whoever buys the book and reads the opening chapter, we venture to say,
would not part with it for ten times its cost, if he could not procure another.
We would remark, however, that some portions of the work are
more suited for gentlemen readers than for all ladies, from the floridity of
the language, though even in its most questionable passages there is a
redeeming morality, and a beauty of style and sentiment.”

“It is certainly a vivacious production, and, with some objectionable
passages, has many good ones. The writer certainly did not belong to the
melancholy or abstemious school at the time he sketched the scenes and
incidents of his travels. He seems to have been deeply imbued at that
period with the Byronic temperament, which breathes in almost every line.
The same versatile, don't care, dashing and off-hand style which runs
through the letters and rhymes of the poet, is discernible in this new but
anonymous candidate for public favor.”

“The publisher has made an elegant volume of these spicy leaves which
have all the pungency of the real `Fanny Fern,' with the racy, free spirit,
that bespeaks the travelled gentleman and the polished wit. Our readers
have had repeated `on and off' specimens of the manner in which these
American `Wild Oats' were sown upon European soil, and have no doubt
been heartily amused at the bold, original way in which our gentleman of
leisure went over the ground. That there may be no suspicion of partiality
towards city customers, Mr. P. is determined to give both town and country
a fair show, and so sends copies, free of postage, on the receipt of fifty
cents. In this way, all can be promptly supplied with the gleanings from
the ripe old harvest fields, where love and philosophy, in sked balls, and
monasteries. London sights, Parisian charms and Italian romance, flourish
in rich luxuriance.”