The Press. — London, England, 1855-12-15 00:00:00

1198 herself by journeys into the interior of the prosperity and admirable effects of Rajah Brooks's government ; and continuing her course to Java, explored the Dutch settlements in the Indian Ocean, of which she has given us a particular and curious account, more favorable to Dutch government than previous travellers have allowed. From Batavia she crossed the Pacific to California, saw San Francisco in the height of its prosperity, and made many excursions in the ne gb bourhood ; then sailed, or rati,er steamed, to Tana na, went still southward to Lima, of which an aurae ive description is given, and left it to proceed no' thw Ord by sea to Guayaquil, whence she travelled iverlind to Quito, crossing the cordillera of the Andes, waere the famed Chimborazo rises 21,000 feet ab( vs the sea-level. She had intended to proceed from Quito, through the Indian country, to Loretto, on the Ama zon, but failing to meet with any countenance from the authorities of Ecuador, she was forced to abandon her purpose and return to Guayaquil; thence she went again to Panama, crossed the Isthmus, and sailed to New Orleans ; went up the Mississippi, left the main stream for the Arkansas, and made an in cursion into the territories of the Cherokee Indians. Returning to the Mississippi, she ascended that mag • nificent watercourse to the Falls of St. Anthony ; made the tour of the North American Lakes to Niagara; travelled onward to Montreal and Quebec, and from the latter place by rail and river to New York. She made a journey to Boston ; visited num berless other places ; crossed the Atlantic to Liver pool; and as a final trip sailed to the Azores, and returned by way of Lisbon. In all her four years' travel she observed with a quick eye, and listened with an attent ear. Her own estimate of her merits as a writer is modest and near the mark : I am by no means to be counted among the fortunately gifted of my sex, but am a most simple and unpretending person, and can claim as a writer no merit whatever, beyond that of describing truly and without exaggeration what 1 have seen and experienced. Not the least curious part of the book is the sim plicity of the lady's preparations for her long and sometimes perilous journeys. She was alone, and rarely cared to engage an attendant. She thought no more of a voyage or journey of some thousands of miles than a Londoner does of going to Brighton. We read of her " carpet-bag," but rarely of any im pedimenta 'beside. From the Dutch authorities she received a cordial welcome and valuable assistance, and through their kindness was enabled to extend her travel far beyond her first intention. In general the name of Ida Pfeiffer secured her a welcome wherever she went, and franked her passage across seas, or by rivers or railways. The Americans were particularly—not gallant—bat really generous in this respect, and while in the States she could travel as she pleased free of charge. We are sorry to say all was changed when she visited Canada, and when she found herself in England. Her two volumes are full of variety and information. The best parts are those descriptive of the Dutch colonies in India, and of her travels in South America, but her narrative is always sensible, intelligent, and agreeable. That a lady whom we presume must be elderly should alone travel so long and so far is very honourable to her spirit and enterprise, and also a gratifying proof that the world she encircled has made of late years marvellous progress in commerce and civilisation. The work would be improved by dates being more precisely marked. In the first volume, page 424, first line, August is printed for April, and the error is repeated from page 433 to 440. We notice the error, as it creates confusion in the narra tive. The White Chief. A Legend of Northern Mexico. By Captain Mayne Reid. Three Vols. Bogue. THE style and subject of Captain Reid's romances are sure to make them popular among a large class of readers. They are full of wild adventure and picturesque effect. " The White Chief " bears some resemblance to the Indian novels of Cooper, but is quite distinct from them in time and action. The narrative relates incidents supposed to have occurred in a district of Northern Mexico a hundred years ago, resulting in the destruction of a Spanish settle ment. The theme, admitting of daring deeds, hair breadth escapes, desperate conflicts, and revengeful excesses, is exactly suited to Captain Reid's talents. The scene in which Carlos perceives from his prison the outrage inflicted on his mother and sister excites in the reader both terror and pity. The whole nar rative is exciting and rapid, and belongs to the or thodox school of adventurous romance. German Rending Book. By Dr. M. M. Fischel. London : Nutt and Co. THIS book is arranged on quite a new principle, in order to facilitate the study of German; and it seems to us that if all first reading-books were so arranged, languages would be much more easily and agreeably acquired. The dullest student may Iliii THE PRESS. take courage and become a German scholar by read ing the tale introduced, and studying the grammati cal rules given in the rotes and in the appendix. The tale is one of Franz Hoffman's, of which a literal translation is given, far more encouraging and less fatiguing than the constant search for words in the dictionary and the forgetting them the next moment. In order to make a deep impression on the reader's mind, the principal rules of the grammar are given in the notes, and the separable compound verbs, so puzzling and tiresome, have been par ticularly attended to, and illustrated by examples, so that no one with a tolerable memory could possibly forget them. In the appendix is a very good ar rangement of the formation of the tenses of the verbs, the only plan for learning verbs thoroughly in any language, and of the terminations of the nouns, dividing the feminine, on account of their simplicity, from the masculine and neuter nouns, which are more difficult to remember, and for which four rules are given. The exceptions to these rules of course must be learned as such, or impressed upon the memory by reading. The irregular verbs have been arranged under three separate heads, viz., those irregular in two, in three, and four parts, and can only be regarded as a matter of memory. In conclusion, we can only say that this book ought to be in the hands of every one desirous of ac quiring German quickly; and we sincerely hope to see a reading book of the kind arranged in every language for the use of students. The Wanderer in Arabia. By George T. Lowth, Esq. Two Vols. Hurst and Blackett. "DE gustibus non est disputandum," and this is a book which will be judged according to the taste of the reader who takes it up. Viewed good-naturedly, it is lively, clever, and novel; hut sour criticism may object to it as puerile and affected. The volumes describe a voyage up the Nile, and a ride through the Holy Land, made in the autumn and winter of 1851.2. The author, accompanied by his wife—" the Sitt "—commenced his wanderings with a determi nation to be pleased, and to realise in the Arabia of to-day the land of the Caliph Haroun Alraschid, and the dreams which were familiar to his childhood through the " Arabian Nights." Hence he viewed all things under the most favorable aspect; was well served by his attendants ; met with few mis haps ; and was never weary of admiring the strange and storied scenes which met his view. There is something infectious in all genuine sentiment; and the author's continued cheerfulness and exclama tions of delight beguile our attention, give us a sen sation of pleasure, and make us loth to part with so very attractive a companion. Persons who meditate a similar trip may, for their arrangements, consult the book with profit, as Mr. Lowth and his lady seem to have been singularly fortunate in all their jour neyings. The sketches, if a little idealised at times, have the merit of making us thoroughly acquainted with the objects described, and of bringing scenes and persons with great distinctness before the eye. The manner of Mr. Lowth has, besides, the charm of perfect originality. For description be has a pencil of his own, and uses it in his own way. Much of his narrative is masterly, from the distinct impressions it leaves on the mind. Mr. Lowth gives us an idea of some months of delightful travel, and shows, though in an unpretending manner, the accomplish ments of a scholar, and the skill and discernment of an intelligent traveller. He writes with freedom, and, in addition to all his other good qualities, is evidently, from his care and frequent mention of " the Sat," a most affectionate husband. PERIODICAL LITERATURE. THIS month's number of the Journal of the Statistical Society of London contains an interesting article on " The Effect of the War, in Russia and England, upon the Principal Articles of Russian Produce." The results of the inquiry are thus summed up : That, previous to the war, Russia exported her principal Baltic produce chiefly to England, and England imported such productions chiefly from Russia. _ _ That, since the outbreak of war, the exports of produce from Russia have diminished to a greater proportionate extent than the general imports of such articles into England. That there has not been an increase of value of produce in Russia to compensate the producer for the decrease of exports; whilst supplies from other countries than Russia, and the use of substitutes, will prevent the consumer, in England, suffering from very high prices. The article on " Our National Strength " is also exceedingly curious. It is based upon the Census of 1851, and is well worth perusal. The present is an entertaining number of The West of Scotland Magazine, and must be considered decidedly cheap at the price. The article of greatest pretension is that entitled " Our Study," and contains some very rational criticism, though we •annot agree with it as a whole. SATURDAY, PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. BOOKS. The Birthday Council, or, How to be Useful. Alaric Watts. Hamilton and Co. A Bird's-eye View of India. By Sir Erskine Perry, M.P. J. Murray. The War in the Crimea. By the Earl of Ellesmere. Ditto. Zaidee. A Romance. Three Vols. By Margaret Oliphant. Blackwoods. The Spirit of the Holly. By Mrs. Owen. Routledge. Journal Kept During the Russian llar. By Mrs. Henry l)uberley. Longmans. The Christmas Tree, and other Tales. By Frances Kemble. J. W. Parker and Son. Nonpariel House, or, The Fortunes of Henry Moun(joy. By Henry Curling. Three Vols. Hall and Virtue. Poems. By William Parkinson, M.A. Bell and Laid]•. Oeland; a Thread of Life. Ward and Locke. PAMPHLETS. Position and Prospects of the London Reformatory Institu tion. By Henry Whitehead, M.A. Hatehard. The Principles of the English Reformation. itivington. Blusit. EXETER-HALL. THE return of Jenny Lind after an absence of nearly six years was an event certain to create no little ex citement among all classes. Exeter•hall conse quently on Monday night was as full as Mr. Mitchell would permit it to be, and that was just as full as it ought to be, and no more. The reception of Jenny Lind was of course enthusiastic. In appearance she is thinner, but looks remarkably well. In the open ing air and chorus, "The marvellous work," her voice seemed a little tremulous, but she soon throw that off, and in "Verdure clad" sang with faultless intonation and exquisite and unrivalled brilliancy. In the trio and chorus, " The Lord is great," her lull, rich, mellow notes were heard far above all with mar vellous power, while in that chef d'oeuvre of descrip tive music, "On mighty pens the eagle wings her way," she sang in the perfection of taste, and with consummate effect. There is no doubt that Jenny Lind still retains her voice in all its original ex cellence. The mellowness of tone, and the wonder ful elaiicity which enables her to execute faultlessly those rapid flights in the highest regions of the scale, are still there ; while her unrivalled taste in the interpretation of the text in sacred music, is dis played by her pure simplicity of style. For sacred music there never was a more correct singer than Jenny Lind. Throughout the whole of the per formance on Monday, in all the duets and conceited pieces, the perfection of her style was remarkable. The audience were enthusiastic, and the applause so genuine that the fair cantatrice must have been pleased with her generous welcome and the warm appreciation the audience evinced of her efforts to please them. In other respects the concert was below the average—the orchestra was uncertain, and the choruses' weak. We shall hope to see and hear both under improved circumstances in the perform ance of the Elijah on Monday next. COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE. ON Monday night M. Jullien gave the last of his festivals, on which occasion the first part of the con cert was devoted to a selection from the instrumental works of Beethoven. The overture to Fidelio, the concerto in C for the violin, the piano concerto in D, the scherzo from the symphony in A, and the sym phony in C minor, evidently delighted, without any exaggeration, a house crowded iu every part. The change effected by N. Jullien in the taste of that portion of the public over which he has for many years exercised the most beneficial influence, must hate been plainly and strikingly obvious to the most careless observer on Monday evening. The promenade was thronged by attentive listeners, whose faces, if they were not agitated by that in tensity of enjoyment which would have interested the observer in a continental audience, were at least filled with honest unaffected relish of the glorious music which, a very few years since, they would almost unanimously have voted a most awful bore before the evening was half over. It has been too much the fashion to regard M. Jullien as a clever but rather eccentric and amusing com poser and conductor. He is, with all his absurdities, "Sebastopol Quadrilles," pantomime, and claptrap, something better and higher—a great and successinl musical educator. He has trained his uncultivated bearers as carefully and patiently as any village schoolmaster the unmanageable little cubs committed to his charge. Beginning in early times with single movements selected from great instrumental worts, a taking allegro, a quaint scherzo, a beautiful andante, he accustomed his audiences at length to bear a whole symphony for the sake of some familia r single portion of it. Very manifest at first were the outward and visible signs of impatience on the part of the pupils; but M. Jullien a change tout cela, and now the few yawners are perhaps a solitary couple of strayed " swells " in the promenade, or some over ample mamma in the private boxes. The violin concerto on Monday was played by N. S ainton. There was an uncertainty in the bass