The Press. — London, England, 1856-05-17 00:00:00

ale i scepters vaunt, .. reeds soon bruised, soon broken ; pomp our wits enchant, ' leaves behind a token. ,hose gorgeous halls, superfluously fair, in the air. are given in Mr. Singer's The repetition in Shake fabrick of this vision," and pageant faded," with the . the whole passage, lead us to written hurriedly. The idea that ;tially a meditative, specula solitary hours, an abject and we imagine, find few sup- 1e on Chatterton, we think , Devils of Luther, Milton, and original. We do not, however, anything " amazing " in the • as to the " direct agency of We rather think that such fixed in the mind of every receive continual confirma daily experience. Itlement, its Rise, Progress, and • Alexander ROES. London : original. It gives—in part observation on the spot—a Red River Settlement, from Selkirk in 1812 sent the first to that distant region, down le exceptional circumstances _ isolated from the rest of the progress and present state with is about equally divided der, the thermometer rising and in the latter falling 'et the climate is healthy, everything attains its full et the last census in 1849 still poor from the want of ibtful whether it could exist it receives -2,0001. yearly ngland, 1,0001. from the , and other sources of revenue. settlement would appear to be an Agricultural labourers receive 12s. per week, with their sleep in." Provisions are . per lb. ; butter, 7d. ; eggs, 3s. 6d., and barley 2s. per Jtages of its remote position useful in connection with the udson's Bay Company. The Red River Settlement, June we hope will do much to , though the narrative has worth to need indulgence. 'lad harder trials to sustain. Indians tinge the labours of Lance, while the piety of the throws rays of light on their struggle. It is satisfactory to on a small scale, no settlement can be pronounced so happy, ible as those in Red River. .nglish Nurses. By a Lady ols. London : Hurst and . full, and as we think fair, done by the English nurses from the commencement of (as far as those localities read this narrative of a writes in a conscientious that her• pen may have made vents with a simplicity and • that prepossess us in her to credit her with perfect following her step by step, unaffected words all the devoted women had to go sufferings they had to witness and that we comprehend their that their spirit, high as it when they found that their arduous than they antici- Mr. Herbert's original plan— thilanthropy—broke down on the costume arranged for the ladies were soon corn. the misapprehensions it good English hearts were ed their parts nobly, and RUC 'lout great difficulty, in keep good order. The opinion be that the employment of hospitals must always be, as on exceptional. When there was no THE PRESS. longer pressure on the regular hospital staff at Koulali, Dr. Humphrey determined that nothing was to be given to the patients except from the diet• rolls : The ladies' plans of nursing were upset, and they did not know what to do with themselves. . . . In a few days the ladies saw the reasonableness of Dr. Humphrey's regulation—hospital routine had been infringed upon for many months. The infringement began at a time of dis- tress unknown in the annals of military hospitals; it had been carried on beyond that period, and the time for its discontinuance had now arrived. A regulation once made for a military hospital should not be broken. If it is not sufficient for the wants of the men, it should be altered ; if it is sufficient, it should be obeyed. Miss Nightingale, however, seems to have found use ful occupation at llalaklava, after the necessity for female nurses at the Constantinople hospitals had entirely ceased. The "Lady Volunteer" has, in tracing her experience, produced one of those real and authentic narratives which are calculated to endure beyond the day for which they are imme diately written. Among the books of the war, from which its history will henceforth be written, this modest one must. occupy a place, and from its ster• ling, and in some measure romantic, character is well deserving a permanent place on our book shelves. Travels in Persia, Georgia, and Koordistan. From the German of Dr. Moritz Wagner. Three Vols. London : Hurst and Blackett. DR. WAGNER is a naturalist, and in 1843 visited the Transcaucasian provinces of Russia, and afterwards Persia, that he might enlarge the bounds of the science to which he is devoted. This account of his travels shows that he is something more than a naturalist merely; he has a keen eye for the obser vation of men, manners, and countries, and has, in addition, an agreeable and picturesque style. He gives in these volumes an authentic account of the present state of the Russian provinces south of the Caucasus, and enters largely into the character of the Circassian tribes, and the peculiar circumstances . . which have enabled them to withstand so long the persevering arms of Russia. In the field, the Circas sians want discipline and force to stand against their foes, but in mountain warfare the Russians com monly sustain the heaviest loss, and are unable to gain any permanent advantage. According to the author, Georgia is one of the most beautiful coun tries of the globe; in his ten years' wandering he met with no region which afforded him such unmixed delight : At no period was I . more bereft of comforts and of society, yet never have i felt freer, more elastic, or happy than on these adventurous excursions, when we made pil grimages throughout the land, pitching our tent in the choicest spots, and leading the lives of hunters, explorers, and botanists. We must allow him to describe an Imeritian land scape : The country through which we passed to the west of Kutais is surprisingly beautiful, resembling a vast English park, with mead3ws, rushing streams, mighty groups of timber trees, heavy with leafy honours and fruit ; it is a fairy garden like the park of Titania embellished by the gorgeous vegetation, sunshine, and azure skies of Colchis. The character of Imeritian landscape is gay, lovely, and simple without monotony. The eye is never wearied with looking at these fresh,verdant,and variegated glades, carpeted with flowers and plants, or of gazing up at the light-green shrubberies of the hazel and ash trees, of the willows and silver poplars, of the pear, cherry, apple, and apricot trees ; whilst at other times your path carries you past the pri meval giants of the forest. Yet the vine presents the most graceful ornament of these Colchian groves. This is its original cradle; it was here that it yielded its purple grape and fiery wine to the earliest races, and hence it spread into all lands of Europe and Asia to strengthen and rejoice the heart of man. The Colchian vine presents a splen• dour, luxury, and size, exceeding the conceptions of Euro peans. An admirable account is given by the author of the city of Tiflis, which seems to have made great pro gress of late years. Dr. Wagner is of opinion that from Georgia, Russia will soon spread her power over Persia, and Central Asia, and will ultimately invade British India. His speculations on the latter point, however, are wild, though the increasing influence of Russia in Asia is no doubt a fact. The volumes of the author are of the more value from the attention just now directed tl the Transcaucasian provinces of Russia, of which the work supplies such an ample and authentic account. ..* We are much obliged to the numerous corre spondents who have favoured us with communica tions on the " Text of Shakespeare." A pressure of new books prevents us from returning to the subject just at present. But we propose to do so shortly ; and meanwhile our kind and ingenious correspon dents may rely on it that their letters shall not be .ost sight of. We venture to solicit a continuance of t heir favours. 475 PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.-MAY 15. What is Truth ? J. Chapman The Characteristics of Styles. Chapman and Hall Gloucester Cathedral, or, the Last Days of the Tudors. Hope and Co . The Song of Drop o'lrater. Routledg e Gonsaga di Cappino. Longman, Sketches and Adventures in Madeira, Portugal, and th e Andalusians of Spain. Sampson Low and L Co. Signs of the Times. June. Smith and oi grnn lEiaders Natural Theology. Lord Brougham. Griffin and Co . Yarns Yarr a . H o p e an d C o Works of Professor Wilson. Blaekwoods Memoirs left by the Bight Hon. Sir Robert Peel, Burt., M.P. Part I. Murray The History of Greece, under Gillman and Venetian Douai- M AY 17 , 1856. Let greatness of her glassy in Not scepters, no, but reeds And let this wordly pomp ow All fades and scarcely teem Those golden palaces, those With furniture superfluoue Those stately courts, those sl Evanish all like vapours it The parallel passages al edition, now publishing. speare, "like the baseless " like this insubstantial confused construction of 11 believe that it was written Shakespeare was " essenti " the, and, even in his sol melancholy man," will, 1 Fir • After the article ter; • that on the " Three Devil Goethe " the most origina agree that there was ar sincere belief of Luther as " Satan in the world." NV belief must be firmly fib Christian man, and must tion from the facts of daily The Red River Settlemer Present State. By Al Smith and Elder. Ma. Ross's volume is or derived from personal ob complete history of the Re the dine when Lord Sel party of Scotch families to to the present time. The of this colony—almost is world—invest its progress much interest. The year between summer and wint in the former to 100 deg., to 40 deg. below zero. Ye crops are abundant, and growth. The population was 3,391. The colony is export trade, and it is dout without the capital which i from the Church of En Hudson's Bay Schools, ant For labour, the settlement advantageous place. Agri on an average from 10s. to food, and "a blanket to low,—meat, 2d. or 24d. 6d. per dozen ; wheat 3s. bushel. The disadvantage are great, but it is usefu operations of the Hudsor author dates his book " Re 10, 1852," a date which we secure for it favour here, too much substantial wo Seldom has any colony he The conflicts with the It the settlers with romance Presbyterian character Or gloomiest times of strugg read now:— \o farmers in the world, on or colony of agriculturists, car independent, and comfortable Eastern Hospitals and En; Volunteer. Two Vols Blackett. WHOEVER would read a account of all that was don at Scutari and Koulali fro their mission to its close are concerned), should "Lady Volunteer." She spirit, though it is likely th slips; and she relates eve succinctness of' manner favour, and disposes us I accuracy. It is only by by reading in her plain, dangers this band of de through, all the suffering, to bear part in alleviating, heroism. The wonder is was, did not fail them le task was so much more paced. Some articles of M: the mere foppishness of phi the first trial. Such was all nurses alike, which tl pelled to abandon from occasioned. But the goi there; the ladies played t seeded, though not withou ing their subordinates in of the authoress seems to 1 nurses in military hospiti this occasion, exceptions . - ration. (.7eurge r inl ; ay, LL.I). The Phantom Regiment. Blackwoods Hodgson Practical Perspective. R. Burchett. Chapman and Hall —A Treatise on Ships' Anchors. George Cotsell, N.A. J. W code—Yesterday and To-Morrow. Hatchard—Tracts for the Present Crisis. Sir Arthur H. Elton. Bristol: Kerslake—Unity Bank—A Paper on the Circulating Medium of Seignorage on Gold Coin. Hatchard—Speech of Lord Albemarle on Torture in the Madras Presidency. Ridgwaft— Speech of Sir Erskine Perry on Indian Finances, and the Policy of Annexation. Ridgway—Tennyson's " Maud" Vindicated. Jarrold and Sons—Mr. G. Coombe's Doctrine on the Currency Question. Richardson—The History of France. London Printing Company—A Letter to the Marquis of Breadalbane upon the Peace and its Prospects. Ridgway—A Lecture to the Loughborough Literary Society. Rivington—The National Sunday League Record—Dowling v. Lawler. Dublin : Oldham—.4 Sermon adapted for a Day of Thanksgiving. Longmans—The Art of making Catalogues of Libraries—A Plea for the Maintenance of our National Christianity. Bell and Daldy-7 1 / 4 e Newspaper and General Reader's Pocket Companion. J. and F. Shaw —The Child's Railway Library. Ward and Lock—.4lbionia. C. Fox—Metropolitan Fire Assurance, and Fire Police. Kelly—Exclusion. No Intolerance. Hardwicke—Letters on the Cathedral System. Hope and Co.—Hints to Wives and Mothers. Bosworth—Hints to Mistresses. Bosworth— Tracts for the Church in 1856. Bosworth—The Discovery of Gold and Silver in Australia. Longmans--Dtnaniogeviery. W. Freeman—Notes on the Principal Pictures in the Royal Academy and Society of Painters in Water Colours. No. 11. Smith, Elder, and Co.--Profits upon British Capital. Richardson—A Letter to the Society of Arts on Indian! Public Works. Richardson—Official Report of Colone Baker. Richardson—The Russian Account of the Battle of Inkermann. Murray—Speech of the Bishop of Exeter on the Church IXscipline Bill. Murray—Metropolitan *Sepul ture. Gardiner—The Christian Sunday, not the Jewish Sabbath. Theobald—Thirdßepot I of the Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851. Eyre and Hundred French Phrases. Groombridge and Son—Letter- Writing Simplified. Groombridge and Son—A Letter to the Edito, of the " Times" Newspaper upon the Expediency of Repealing the Act of Uniformity. Ridgway—The Paisley Wallet and Literary Album. Glasgow : Murray. tint qtris. ROYAL ACADEMY. (Third Notice.) As a contrast in intelligib►lity of sentiment to Mr. Millais' "Peace Proclaimed," we may notice Mr. Noel Paton's "Home" (No. 35), in illustration of the same event. There is no elaborate allegory here ; all is simple pathos, appealing to the heart alone. A wounded soldier has just reached his cottage home, and sinks exhausted into a chair; his aged mother hides her head on his neck, and his young wife, completely overpowered, falls half fainting on his breast. The accessories are painted with a won derful truth of detail which heightens the intense reality of the scene, but the colour of the flesh is perfectly unnatural. Webster has but one picture, "Hide and Seek," a simple bit of childish fun, capitally rendered; the contrast between the quiet enjoyment of the mother and the intense eagerness of the children (one of whom in his haste has for gotten to conceal his hand, which peeps out in a most tell-tale manner from beneath the basket which hides his body), is well conceived and truthfully ex pressed. There is a warmth of colour, too, in the work unusual in Mr. Webster's producticns. Mr. Faed's Home and the Homeless" (No. 273) is a "sweet thing," so say the ladies, at least, who crowd before it. It is remarkable for the striking truth of expression in one of the children, the youngest, to whom paterfamilias is offering an apple. The artist has seized the first look with which a very young child regards an object presented to it, that air of intense profundity and puzzled curiosity which precedes both pleasure and gratitude, and has suc ceeded in conveying his meaning with the most per fect success. The sentiment of the picture is remarkably touching, though perhaps, regarded as a whole, it falls somewhat short of the " Mitherless Bairn." Mr. Frank Stone has but one picture, the subject of which is of course a fugitive tone from that one string on which be plays so constantly and so well. "Doubt" (No. :?I9) will bear comparison with any of his previous works for beauty of colour and form, while the success with which he has fixed 4