completed from Dresden to Prague--the capitals
of the two kingdoms of Saxony and Bohemia--along the banks of the
Elbe; it is no great distance, and yet the fees north of the frontier
are charged in _thalers_ and _neu-groschen_, while those south of it
are in _florins_ and _kreutzers_.

There have been very busy and important railway enterprises agreed
upon or discussed within the last year or two, in various parts of the
continent, which augur favourably for the future of Europe. We shall
shortly pass these in review, to shew what may possibly be the aspect
presented by the 'Continental Bradshaw' in 1862.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] A line of about forty-five miles, from Christiania to the end of
the Mioesin Lake, is surveyed, and in course of preparation.--_Ed._

A SEARCH FOR ROBIN HOOD.

The adventures of an amateur in search of a picture, of a foundling in
search of his father, and even of a dog in search of his master, have
been severally recorded by skilful pens for the amusement of the
public. But, however entertaining or romantic these narratives may be
considered, they can hardly surpass in interest the curious history
which has just been disclosed of the adventures of an antiquary in
search of a ballad-hero. We owe our knowledge of the facts to one of a
series of _Critical and Historical Tracts_, by the Rev. Joseph Hunter,
now in course of publication. Mr Hunter is an assistant-keeper of the
public records, and is well known, by his other publications, as one
of the most laborious and most judicious elucidators of mysterious
passages in our national history. But the evidences of industry, of
minute knowledge, and of logical acuteness, contained in his little
treatise concerning 'the ballad-hero, Robin Hood,' are really
surprising. The story of an obscure outlaw, who chased deer and took
purses in a northern forest five hundred years ago, has been
investigated with the painstaking sagacity of a Niebuhr; and a strong
light has been unexpectedly thrown on the state of public sentiment
and manners existing at that period. Mr Hunter, it is proper to say,
dwells in his treatise chiefly upon results, and says little, and that
very modestly, of the labours by which they were obtained. He even
seems to fear that his subject may be considered trivial, and that he
may possibly receive 'the censure of being one who busies himself with
the mere playthings of antiquity.' Dr Percy, when he compiled his
invaluable Reliqu