The Press.
London, England, 1858-01-02 00:00:00

20 TI-IE PRESS, JANUARY 2, 1858.
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~here he states that "the pollee of that Presidency was a stone, Stephenson, India, and others. Upon the THE MIDNIGHT MASS AT THE MADELEINE.
curse instead of a blessing. whole, the number is equal to the average produc- THE midnight mass of Christmas-eve was celebrated
The questions of railways, irrigation, land-taxredemp- tions of this able periodical. The articles upon
tion, Ste. are touched upon lightly but sufficiently by "Homer and his Translators," "Andrew Crosse," at the Madeleine in all its wonted splendour, and
Mr. Macirenzie, who quotes in extenso various letters and " The Indian Rebellion," are the three bust in once more attracted vast crowds to its solemn anti
he from time to time has addressed to the public the present number. striking ordinances. By ten o'clock the vast interior
journals upon these questions. In conclusion we Fraser commences the year well. We have a first of the Madeleine, incomparably nobler and more
recommend this pamphlet as one of the nonein paper upon " The Life and Writings of Fielding,"
imposing when lighted up at night than when seen
prehensive and practical yet published the by Mr. Keightley, whose object is to do what 11Ir.
subject. Lawrence " has left undone, and from his materials under the dull imprisoned rays forced into it no.
• " and references to make correct statements and gracefully and unwillingly by day, was occupied by a
Who's Who in 1858. Edited by C. 11. Oakes, M.A. " deduce just, or at least probable, conclusions, and, dense assemblage, filling area, tribunes, and upper
London : Bally Brothers. "if possible, to represent Henry Fielding as he galleries, and waiting patiently two hours for a
" really was." So far Mr. Keightley displays con- ceremony which was to endure two hours more from
THIS excellent little volume, now in its tenth year, siderable research. He disputes many of the state- its commencement. Nothing could be more orderly
needs no recommendation from us. Its reputation ments of Murphy, doubts Lord Wharncliffe's repre- and edifying than the general aspect of this immense
is sufficiently established, and we need only remark sentation of Fielding's poverty and distress at a congregation, composed almost in equal numbers of
that, while the present edition has been carefully Icertain period of his life, and traces the whole to an men and women, and of every rank of the population
revised, its contents have been enlarged and the exaggeration of Lady Mary Wortley Montague, who from highest to lowest. The rich and drawing-room-
general arrangements further improved. With this once wrote to Lady Bute that " Fielding's natural like decorations of this magnificent church put forth
statement e e need simply announce the publication "spirits gave him rapture with his cookmaid, and all their splendours for the occasion ; and the eye
of "Who's Who" for 1858. "cheerfulness when he was starving in a garret" : was dazzled by the display on all sides of rich dm-
peries, carpets, and gorgeous candelabras, and
In reading it we should recollect Lady Mary's love of
CHRISTMAS BOOKS. point, and the tendency of women in general to exaggera-
priestly vestments, sparking under a blaze of light,
in the midst of which the suberb white marble
A new and cheap edition of Captain Murray's tion. On the whole, I think that Mrs. Fielding's distress
Lands of the Stave and the Free (Routledge), with
may not at any time have been much greater than that of altar with its lofty figure of the Virgin, borne
Amelia, who had to cook her own dinner, hiving only a aloft by winged angels of gigantic size—one of the
many excellent woodcuts, of which that alone of the little girl for a servant, and who was under the necessity finest works of Pradier—lifted itself and its bright
stewardess of the Lady Franklin (p. 90) should of taking her ornaments and even her clothes to the pawn- illuminations as a sun-light centre of attrac•
make the reputation of any book, will be welcomed broker's, and of seeking her imprudent husband in a tion. From time to time M. l'Abbe Dagaerry, the
by all readers. Captain Murray is a lively and in- spueging-house. I cannot believe she ever was reduced cure of the Madeleine, crossed the spacious platform
telligent writer. His views upon tho political and to live in a garret. before the altar, and scanned the congregation with
social institutions of the United States are manly,
A new story, " The Prioress and Her Sister," by the his keen eye to see whether the enormous edifice
honest, and sound, and his hook we rank among the
author of " Meg of Elibank," is commenced in this would yet hold more ere the doors were shut—a
best of books on travel upon America.
number; a light, lively article upon the Sewell and regulation very properly adopted before the service
The Young Exiles (Routledge! is a charming tale their peculiarities ; Goethe's " Helena," translated by begins, especially at such an hour of the night, and
of exciting adventures in Siberia. We commend it Theodore Martin ; and an excellent review, one of with the motley and irregular crowd which congre-
as a fitting boy's book. the best we have read, of Dr. Livingstone's travels. gates around the building outside, and which puts a
Constance and Edith (Hatchards), on the other stop, also, to that perpetual ingress and egress and
hand, seeks to describe the incidents of home life.
The Dublin opens with a new and light pleasant shuffiing and scuffing of feet so disagreeable to the
id l
of
the which is a
It is a pleasing and gracefully-written story, replete story,ears of an English churchman in continental places
with liveliness and good sense, and may be profitably
at Rome, while the period ie that of the days of the of worship. At a quarter before midnight the un-
Chevalier. Then follow reviews of Buckle's " Civi-
read by our younger sisters. equalled organ poured out a gush of its liquid notes,
lisation," Livingstone, and " Western Siberia," ono- and at the same moment a whole company of priests,
Generalship, a tale, by George Roy (Griffin), is a ther chapter or two of Shirley Brooks' amusing tale in their golden draperies, issued forth from a
side
very amusing se.ies of feminine experiences in tire of "The Partners," and a pleasant sketchy article, door, and, with that exquisite scenic effect, better known
art of catching and managing a husband. The passing in review recent French and German lite-
scene is laid in Scotland, and the " guile men '' far nature. or more imposingly practised on no other stage,
north appear more easily caught than we southerners, streamed off, each bearing the Holy Sacrament, and
The anecdotes are well told, and the book will both
The current numbers of the West of Scotland accompanied by his attendant ministers and cross-
instruct and amuse our fair readers. Magazine and the Train both maintain their elm- bearer, to every altar within the sacred precincts, and
ratter. midnight mass began. " Que voulez vous ?" said a
Fairy Tale Charadts for Acting (Bentley) con-
Frenchman, in answer to a remark I made, " we have
sists of two shilling's worth of simple charades,
different
adapted to the capacity of children. The scenes and P ÜBLICATIONS RECElVED.—Decenumi 31. need of this sort of thin g, nous mitres ,the
nature of your services pre-supposes an internal and
dialogues are very appropriate, and the excellent BOOKS.
individual train of devoLion which is not generally
little volume serves to fill u gap long felt in our nur- Apocalyptic Sketches. By the Rev. Dr. Cummi ng, D.D.
found amongst us, or requires at least a stronger
eery literature. At this particular season of the Hall and Virtue.
stimulant to draw it forth." —Letter from Paris in the
year such an appropriate little book is a necessity in Merope. A Tragedy. By Mathew Arnold. Longmans. Guardian.
every home. British India; its Races and its History. By John Malden
Ghost Stories, by Hain Friswell (Bentley), is an Ludlow. Two Vole. Macmillan. •
amiable effort to rescue the ghost from modern and Spirit Drawings. A Personal Narrative. By W. M. Wil-
undeserved neglect. The age has exploded ghosts,!! ;gl kinson. Chapman and Hall. gloatade anb 614 3attiligence.
but our good friend Hain Friswell has determined Scripture and Science not at Variance. By John H. Pratt,
that this Christmas, at least, we shall nut be without M.A. Hatchards.
FRIDAY EVENING.
such pleasant ghost stories as may not only beguile The Revolution; its Management and Use. By Patrick E. THE return of the Bank of England for the week
the time, but may exercise the imagination, and, it Dove. A. and C. Black.
is hoped, leave the heart not unimproved. Of all PERIODICALS. ending Wednesday, December 30th, the last for the
the stories, we prefer " Snap Dragon " and " The The Westminster Review. John Chaptuan.—Blackwood's year 1857, shows the following changes compared with
Party with a Vengeance," but our readers had better ,
lfagazine. Blackwood.—Bentley's Magazine. Bentey.— that for the week preceding :
judge for themselves. Tl.ey will rind a charming Le &diet. Sitnpkin and Marshall.—Pared with Gold. Increase in Circulation
variety of phantom fancies. Chapman and Hall.—Davenport Dunn. Chapman and ,
Increase in Public Deposits ..
Stenelaus and Antylda (Griffith and Ferran is a Hall.--Culburn's New Monnly. Chapman and Hall.— Decrease in Other Deposits 78,847 •
clever little legend, illustrated by Cruikshank, to Cassette Art Treasures. Kent and Co. Increase in Government Securities 2,048,735
point out "to children of a larger growth " the Decrease in Other Securities 788,371
horrors of drink, and the inevitable consequences the Increase in Bullion
habit imposes upon a fool and his wife. MIDDLE CLASS EDUCATION. Increase in Re at
Willie's Birthday and Willie's Rest (Smith and A MEETING of the clergy of the Archdeaconry of Decrease in Reserve 1,3115,770
Bullion in both Departments .... 11,454,901
Elder) are two pleasant homely stories for children. Liverpool having been duly summoned, was held a Circulation, including Bank Post
They are both well written, and form acceptable pre- few day ago in the board-room of the Collegiate Bills
seats to children.
Institution, the Venerable Archdeacon Jones in the The changes shown in this comparison are
Fairy Fables, by Cuthbert Bede rs Bentley), form a chair, for the consideration of this subject. After an principally due to the cancelling of the 2,000,00 G/.
series of tales of imagination, not particularly lively ;
rather of that grave cast of nonsense we might ex- adjourned meeting, and a discussion of five hours notes iestied under the authority of the Government
pect from the author. in all, the following resolution was adopted :—" That letter, in consequence of which that amount of
River Gardens, by Neel Humphreys (Samson the clergy of the Archdeaconry of Liverpool thank- securities have been returned to the banking depart-
Low), is an extremely useful little book, and, in the fully recognise the high motives which have induced ment, while the demands of the active circulation
rage for aquariums and vivariums, one to be con- the University of Oxford to originate a plan for the have temporarily reduced the Reserve by rather a
suited. It contains an amount of practical informs- heavy amount. The Private S-.•eurities show a con-
tion upon the art of cultivating fresh-water plants in improvement of the education of the middle classes siderable falling oft but the item is still very large,
aquaria that careful reading can alone afford a just of England, and sincerely desire to co operate being more than 27,299,8001. The Bullion is rapidly
conception of. The book is cheap, compact, well heartily with the same, so far as their conscientious increasing, and next week it will probably reach
printed, and embellished with several coloured 12,000,0001.
convictions will allow. They cannot, however, con-
engravings. The demand for discounts is exceedingly mode-
ceal from the public, nor ought they to conceal from
Greville, a tale by Mrs. Gore (Hodgson), is a rate ; and as both the Lombard street houses and
cheap reprint of ttat excellent sketch of Paris life the University, that many of their body have serious the joint-stock banks find much difficulty in employ-
twenty years since. Mrs. Gore's novels are always misgivings as to the effect which is likely to be ing their reserves, they have reduced their rates of
welcome, and this cheap series, we have no doubt, proCuced on the religion of the middle classes by allowance upon deposits, although the minimum
will meet with a more extended popularity. that terms of discount at the Bank remain at eight per
resolution which precludes proficiency in divinity
cent. The private establishments are now giving
from receiving honourable distinction. They, there-PERIODICAL LITERATURE.onIy five per cent. upon large sums, and four per cent.
fore, respectfully request that that part of the scheme upon small amounts. This reduction indicates a
THE London Quarterly appears first in the field of may receive careful reconsideration, and especially difficulty in the employment of money for any con-
the quarterlies for the now year, and contains articles that such steps as seem desirable may be taken for siderable period at more than six per cent. Indeed,
upon the Waldenses, upon " omer and his Trans- obtaining the general sense of the clergy of the short commercial paper, of the choicest quality, is
lators," the memorials of Andrew Crosse, Living- Church of England on this subject." readily done at six and three-quarters per cent.; and
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