The Press.
London, England, 1855-04-21 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

shortly on the influence which Christianity has bad
on the progress of modern society. The writer, in
conclusion, conceives that the doom of the Latin, if
regarded as synonymous with the Butuish Church,

is scarcely a subject for inquiry, because the " sure word
of prophecy " has already determined, with a clearness
sufficient for all practical purposes, the things which shall
come upon her. .

The "Prisons of the Continent" is one of the most
careful and useful papers in the number, from the
mass of facts collected. The article on " Costume "
seems out of place in a Review of so grave a character.
The papers on Addison, on Astley Cooper and
Abernethy, and on George Giltallan (who is too
harshly treated), are of the usual average of " Quar-
terly" writing. The " Wei with Russia" goes over
the who e question, from the aggressions of Catherine
to the death of Nicholas.

In the Irish Quarterly Review we notice a con-
tinuation of those elaborate papers on social ques-
tions, as reformatory schools, education, an.i prison
discipline, which bavo lately occupied much space
in this periodical. The biography of Juhn Banim
is eloquently continued, and there is a good critical
article on the " Poets of Labour," Robert Nicoll, and
Gerald Massey, but the Review seems to want more
systematic editing and better management.
In these hurried notices of so many volumes—for
each Review is a volume in itself—we have probably
made errors inseparable from the cursory perusal we
could give to their contents. But we can at least
state the impression they have made on our mind.
In general they seem to us wanting in character,
and to be deficient in originality of view. A con-
siderable number of the articles are made up, we
will not say exactly on the scissors and-paste prin-
ciple, but certainly with less labour, and manifest-
ing less thought, and less critical ability, than the
literary notices which appear in weekly journals of
the class of our own. Now, we think that in a
Review, published at the high price of these publica-
tions, it is scarcely fair to make up articles by pick-
ing out the plums from newly published books. If
a writer has anything to say on a book, either in the
way of disquisition, or criticism, or supplementary
information, it is very proper that he should be
heard at length, but that kind of reviewing is very dif-
ferent rom such epitomising as is now commonly
pra :Used in the"Quttrterlies," and from such narratives 0
made up from the daily newspapers and blue books,
as are presented to us, ad nauseam, on the Russian
war and other questions of the day. It is true we
see. these reviews unfavorably from having them
brought before us in the mass. But, still, it must
be evident to every candid reader that their literary
composition deelining—that they are becoming su
perficial a id careless—that mechanical writing which
any bit c .head, wi .h given ma:erials, can furnish by the
mile, is i er •asin;4—that mere labour is superseding
t—that quantity is more looked to than
quality—Enid that they are in danger of sinking alto-
gether, if a better spirit be not infused into them.
l'he principle on which many of them appears to be
constructed is, to get two or three articles of some
literary merit, and to make up the other contents of the
number from any materials more readily available.
The publication of the "Oxford Essa)s" is one
proof that those really thoughtful and critical minds
which should be the support of Quarterly Reviews
are choosing a distinct vehicle for the expression of their
opinions and knowledge; and unless our reviews
become more intellectual, and less mere publishing
speculations, they will find it impossible to maintain
the station they once held. Reviewing is so much
easier than original writing—in other words, it is
so much easier for a certain class of penmen to pick
another man's brains than to exercise their own—
that we have now a score of reviewers for every
author. To daily and weekly journals may be safely
left the task of making the general character of a
book known : a quarterly review should disdain the
drudgery work of mere extract and compilation ; and
if it cannot live without such aid, its cessation will be
no loss to the community. We are satisfied that
many of the writers now employed in getting these
bulky periodicals together might spend their time
more profitably in higher departments of literature.
We certainly want at the present time more author.
ship and less criticism, more genuine literary work
and less pilfering and manufacture.

OurAnglo-Indian Army. A Military History of the
British Empire in the East. By Captain Rafter.
London : Bogue.

AN intelligent narrative compiled from the works
of Mill, Thornton, Beatson, Orme, 6m., of the
operations of the Anglo Indian army since its
earliest establishment in India down to the cam-
paign of the Punjaub. The volume thus forms a
popular history of our wars in Intlia, and marks the
sueces•ive steps in the growth of our empire. The
wochleuts Are so indifferent that they might ..ith at
vantage be omitted. Captain Ratter, in hi- preface,
appears to be a thorough Indian reformer, and

rejoices over the coming destiny of the " Twenty-
four," and of the time "when under the auspices of
" a liberal and enlightened responsible Government "
the mighty resources of India " will no longer be
" diverted into private channels ; the prizes in its
" wheel no longer be predestined by family patronage
" to individual aggrandisement, but thrown open to
" general competition; and India herself, freed from
" the grinding rule under which she has long
" suffered, shall be allowed to
'wear her plumed
And jewelled turban wail a smile of paw,: "