The Press.
London, England, 1854-05-13 00:00:00

PERIODIC AL LITERATURE.

The Art-Journal. London: Arthur Hall, Virtue,

and CO.
THE last number keeps up the reputation of this
journal. The principal engravings, Landseer's
" War," and a portrait of Sir Joshua Reynolds, are
in the highest style of excellence. The former is
engraved by L. Stocks, the latter by T. W. Hunt.

Macphail's Edinburgh Ecclesiastical Journal and
Literary Review for May. London : Simpkin,
Marshall, and Co.

WE have here four articles of average merit,
and one on " The Grave of l'rofessor Wilson."
The latter will perhaps most attract the attention of
the general reader. But truth compels us to state that
the writer wholly mistakes and overrates the position
which the late distinguished professor held in the world
of letters and learning. "Gorgeous," "splendid,"
" Shaksperean," are epithets not applicable to his
compositions, either in prose or verse ; neither is it
correct to say that his poems were " hailed with
" boundless delight." In describing his lectures,
" the fervid eloquence, the far-stretching intellect,
" and the boundless mental wealth of the teacher,"
are said to have absorbed " all the admiration " of
the hearers. Yet, notwithstanding these surpassing
powers, his deportment in society was gracious.
" Every person might be at ease in his company, yet
" every person so situated felt he was in the conde-
" scending society of a king of men." So much can
be said with truth and judgment in favour of the
late professor's learning, literary excellence, and
varied social powers, that we have thought it right
to notice this indiscriminating eulogy, the superla-
tives of which are inapplicable not only to Professor
Wilson, but to the greatest man that ever lived.

O'Byrne's Encyclopedia of the War. Part I.

London : Skeet.

This is the first number of a work designed to supply
a want which all who have had to collect materials
for a narrative of any public event must have expe-
rienced. Scattered in newspapers, annual registers,
blue books, and gazettes, the labour of obtaining and
arranging authorities is immense. This Mr. O'Byrne
(a relative, we believe, of the naval O'Byme) de-
signs to obviate by compiling a history of the war
as events occur. The geography of the belligerent
countries will be described, and the biography of
those whom events make conspicuous supplied.
This, the first number, is well executed; but, as the
author, to ensure accuracy, is compelled to keep in
the rear of newspapers, it will be more interesting
years hence than now.

The Life and Adventures of Dick Diminy the Jockey.
No. VIII. By Priam. London : Vickers.
THE eighth part of this tale is as exiting and
melodramatic as its predecessors. Sir Brigwell
Fleece, the rascally baronet, and St. Leger Bolt, the
Protean blackleg, after a personal conflict in which
they half strangle each other, become allies in
iniquity. The latter, " who can be a gentleman
" when he pleases," fascinates several distinguished
members of the nobility, both male and female, by
the force of certain puns and compliments which
we previously supposed were only potent on the
stage of minor theatres. However, there is ample
incident in this number of Dick Diminy; and the
parody of the vaticinations of the " prophets " whom
sporting papers keep on their establishments is
amusing.