The Press.
London, England, 1856-07-26 00:00:00

it would be equally unjust, not to add his testimony to
that of other travellers, u to the extraordinary amount and
extraordinary accuracy of the information contained in
their volumes. It is no exaggeration to say, that travelling
in any of the countries to which this series of works is
devoted, has become mud) easier, more interesting, and
more instructive, than in the times betbre the happy ih•
veution which has given us these silent and precious
guides:
But, tluan,,,esi bong this volume of " Sight
seeing," t. What object, did its . author pro-
pose? He is not deep in picture-talk; he is.,
not versed in esthetics ; and he is not an
eloquent or profound writer. Sir Francis
Head could produce an entertaining work on
a tour to Buxton viii Clapham, including a
lounge on Kennington-common; but Sir John
Forbes is not Sir Francis Head, and he is not
an adept in bookmaking, like the late amusing
"James Johnsou,. gp,p," who appears to be
his model.
Here is what this volume contains. It
commences with the date of leaving London
on 30th July, 1855, and in the few weeks of
the autumnal season the author undertook to
" do" the " sight-seeing " of Aix-la-Chapelle,
Dusseldorf, Cassel, Eisenach, together with
Gotha, Erfurt, and Weimar, along with ate
other grand points of the German tour. •'To
LOipsic he allots three pages ; Berlin isidis-
posed of in a round dozen ; seven pages are
allotted to Dresden ; " Saxon Switzerland " is
discussed in the same proportion ; 'sienna
receives about a score; the author rushes i
down the Danube, glancing at Pesth and
Buda ; and then he goes up the Danube, and
scours here, there, and everywhere, like a
perturbed spirit The names of the places he
" saw," when swept together into a catalogue
of contents, occupy not less than twelve
pages.
It is obvious that o**a volume can afford
neither profit nor pleasure. If, indeed, Sir
John Forbes had printed flis hotel bills, he
might have rendered some service, but he
satisfies himself by saying that his tour
" might be accomplished, without any special
" regard :to eticitiorny, at 'a less expense than
" twenty-four shillings per day." The' par-
ticulars might have been useful.
" Nobody," said Johnson, " can be written
" down except by himself " Let us hear Sir
John Forbes testify to his competency for
describing " sight-seeing." Of "4110 sights "
at Vienna he writes:— ,

Bet the great sights of Vienna, as of moist dee Miler
large cities in Germany, are its picture galleries, which
are of first-rate excellence. Besides the great National
Gallery in the Belvedere Palace, there are several private
collections of great value; as those of the Princes Liech-
tenstein and Esterhazy ; of the Counts Czemin, Schiin•
born, Harrach, Lemberg, dca. I had only time to visit
the three first named.
And he then puts on the critical black cap,
and sentenassi„ •.fpliowing
fashion
J do not pretend to offer ma aeenrate estimate of the re •
spective merits of the pictures in these three galleries, as,
indeed, I feel myself incompetent to do BO ; but [ suppose
there will be a pretty general asses: in giving the first place
to the Dresden, mid the second to the Vienna Gallery. In
some respects, I think, the latter excels „even the
Dresden collection, more particularly in the greater
number and in the greater variety of good pictures by good
masters; althetigh the former contains a.certain number of
masterpieces not to be matched by thlit) 4)kt-believe, any
other gallery' r ,•I
Thought .4461 ntinnrtlnioivledge, a super-
traVelltdi t,lll‘deriittalent for deserib-
• 11 ,
4Pg saner • ji try, igit/ ,16'hn 'Forbes on
tne mouptaans from
Innsprock in the,Tyrol, Mere is the way he
portray‘that.‘! sight ": „ .
The inegnifieent range of mountains forming • the
northern beundery of the valley, is here seen liaise sp,
like a gigantic .wall, front the yery border of the 41:y, and
filling up with its dark peaks, intermixed with ,snow,
the whole sky above it. Such a background, at once so
grand and so picturesque, now coming in as an essential
Attune in the pie.tivrei :effectually.ehasee frein the, mind of
the spectator all the ideas of commonness and tameness
which the immediate site of the town might otherwise ex-
cite, and leaves as the abiding influence an impression
of a perfectly opposite kind.
And then he goes on .,‘•
A,,,,k0.
"" i
„„,.\
The hour at which the diligenee'reaehed I eh left
the passengers but a scanty portion of daylight to look
about them. The time, however, sufficed to convey a
general impression of the town and its remarkable
locality.
But need we go on? There is no necessity
for doing so. Books of this kind are too
leniently treated. Sir John Forbes published

'eft 14

a hasty volume ou Ireland, in which he flip-
pantly discussed some of the most intricate
questions of the sister country ; but really
he has now appeared sufficiently,. eften in
print to gratify his rage for rapid writing.
He is ",Physician to the,Queen's Household,'
and atienile the servant...9f her Mujesty when
they are ailing. He is,. also, a. Knight, and
wishes to graduate as alpapelsagi• author ; and
let him, by all maafte'hiete"thirtank to which
his style of composition' entitles him. In his
race against "Murray'a itlaudbp9k. ". At
completely distanced. i•io, 'um }tuil•Wilt

The Sketcher. By the Rev. John Eagles, A.M.
London: Blackwoods.
IN the introduction to this volume a pleasing
sketch is given of the life of the author. He
was a contributor to Blackwood's Magazine for
twenty-five years, his writings being princi-
pally on the higher departments of art; but
he contributed also essays on classical sub-
jects in prose and verse, and was the translator
of Homer's Hymns. He entered Holy Orders
early in life, but never rose above a curacy.
For five years he was curate t.) Sydney Smith,
at Halberton, in Devonshire. Tt is to ba
regretted that, it as unable to finis) the
review of the memoirs of that celebrated' Man
on which he was engaged at the time of his
death. The talents of Mr. Eagles as a painter
are highly eulogised in this memoir. He
appears to have sketched with great facility.
An accomplished and amiable man,
.his life
was passed in privacy. For the last fourteen
years of his existence he performed no paro-
chial duty, dying in Clifton in 1855. We could
have wished i for some faller particulars con-
cerning hitn.. MI nothing is said on the two
points which greatly influence every w*n's
course of life—his family and his fortunn.'
The " Sketolier 4t if fi: Wake remarkable
for Tlyeliness offaneY anditiolThipiial elegance,
than; for artistic criticism. M. Eagles seems
to,4Sie conceived the ndtiOn thag, i
,*e' t,
province of the painter pot only to seleot ;*
Nature, but to improve on her. We findint any!
such passages as the following:—

I have often thought a sketcher would do well to read
some delightful tale, say in Ovid's "Metamorphoses" or
Spenser, and then, with the diameter of picture vivid in
his mind, go forth to the rocks, the woods, and wilds, and
sketch and paint in, on the spot,objects, Woes, and colours,
as may be most applicable ; and with the poetry in his
heart he will not be afraid to heighten a little, for Nature
will often give him hut a glimpse, where he must imagine
a great deal. He will then have a distinct aim ; and his
genius, become oonsrmed, will learn to reject, and no ,
longer burden itself and the portfolio with unmake ing, vague,
or distracting studies. Ovid's" Metamorphoses" is a delight-
ful book for the landsoape-painter. It takes him back to
the fabulous—it endows his pencil with,,the license to
create—to divest the earth of its everyday, common look,
and cover it with the beauty of a golden tatitiquity, that
defies and forbids the scrutiny of the poor butter/1y
critic that has flattered over his one short Tor4iii minim;
day. b,li • , i 1,. • ' 11,1'0,
iler 11 • • • •
How tehlritre are the spots of real beauty on Its sur-
face of this earth—the greater part of which is wale and
wilderness! At least sketchers find Wealth; and traeallers
who go beyond the range of art 4.4,foir,iltsatioa, do not
present more flattering accounts:,,,,,w ~.,,t , , ~,..,,. i 1:,
In other passages Mr. liaglar.rkows.airuer
perception of the principles which should
guide the artist. At page 345, for example,
there is a description of a natural scene, suffi-
cient of itself to show that. the ' pairiter.,had
much better imitate whp.t'he'sties, than tititftpt
to improve on-jiatiird, and sires,
Wet fortletrhat
he ituagipes Mi*ht 'be Ipii:lioete 'perfect
beautiyptuder otliar conditions'.' ' The exViaite
desorytivie itrifmg of this chapter, the, lirth, -
will convince most writers that natural beauty
should he of- higher service to the artist than
"to enliven or display the. wonders of his
" ideal." Of all painters, ;• Gaspar Poussin
seems tots,' been the favorite of the author.
His churitetaristiaware 'admirably seized,. and ',
described., 1111,11 t t •,.1.7 t••. •
-It
Apart frOPOte art-eritieism, the volum'ti Oi.'
valuahlethro. ita'alyrinili ''notices Of 'hit et(tal
seenerik IliiirtiO.
,ettl4f 1#0..03.10til ;
ease wAAt IF, t lik,oB, pi*, F*4140, # ght ,
(tiit
and 1.4 g, of ia, ig4lx tl* thy',l4e4iiiiitid. ;,)','
Wanderings among ih7,71414 Aftps,7. By Alfred
Wills, of the Middle Temple, Barrister-at-
Law. London : Bentley. ' .art t.
OF all regions for summer tourisittAlps
are decidedly the best "puffed." guide:

( • SOURDAY,

books are numerous, works for the drawing-
room with views 'of Switzerland :are plentiful,
and a noted resort in Piccadilly acts as a
standing advertising van for " the monarch of
mountains." The author of the volume before
us thinks that some more literary gleanings
are to be gathered in so rich a field* for the
picturesque. So there might be, if the writer
had a special talent for description; but Mr.
Alfred Wills is sod too matter of
feet. , }JO cannot paint fit
.ittords, he only par-
ticularises ; he gives us inventory, not to
lively representation. Yet. he saw enough to
excite the mind of one with a flue sense of
the novel and the grand, and a fair power of re-
cording his sensations. His volume has value
as a guide-book, fur some of less accessible
parts of the Alps wevii Vi 11044 by Mr. Wills,
Accompanied by his wife, the author traversed
parts not usually visited by ladies; and he
has also gone over iii'' some interesting
excursions which lieirlAitliuniediate neigh-
bourhood of Chamount ,A444,iititerlaken, and
which will repay tomistao In this respect
the work will have a utility of its own.
Mr. Wills has several tithes visited the Alps,
and he may be accepted aii44l,,Sythority for
the best mode of walking thin/Ugh an elevated
district. His remarks on the knapsack, are
excellent.:— ,!;
The first necessary fle'i light, durable, waterproof knap-
iack. Those commonly sold in England are fox too cum-
bersome and heavy, and are furnished with too many
strings and straps. The best material is either cloth or
canvas, waterproofed with a solution of Indian rubber,
or light varnished leather ; but the fattier' is less heating.
A knapsack about fifteen inches long;_tna inches browl, and
three and a half filches deep, is quitsiarge enough for any
reasonable man. The frsinework,llvuoild
.he as light as
possible ; every Ounce tells in a long day's 'journey. The
top, bottom, and sides or the kimplack, wit stands upright
and ftirtened, should be stiff—stw -light as you please, but
stiff—the back and front, limp; as it thus- Gia better, sad is
more comfortable to Barry ; thefrout.; i.e., the face which
outside, When on the batik, 'Whoa &' be fastened down
',With two or three strong, tali itght, straps and buckles.
'When these are undone, the flusicilritioh now terns bask,
',Will prose t6' be ilidaket, with a- nap, buttoning well aver
;the opening?! Ty, sag top opens and lies bank,, in the
'hall Ode wt. • poekev-4liowing the body ef the
' • cif a Slab 'blase, seemed -by . a flap,
coming Weil over the opening, ,mid fastsaedi, dbwk- -by a
light strap running across through -ring* passiag,thssugh
' button-Nibs Hi the flap. This iii the German plan ; and
puch a Back is far more convenient, and less liable So.get
"but of repair, and opens and shuts more easily*. tionlaione
'ffirrushed with strings or buckles. ' - • •
~/4. knapsack for pedestrian:}; Fk44 i:, 4.,
1,-*
for a single season, it atuauta,,siseia ' ~mf
being manufactured as if meantfor.st. .
pack, whitth is too generally the oast 1,430 the
straps /itr:,VMii clOServes q-"g 'u '
..14.
The straps le which it is fastened oil the imolr should be
strong, but light ; above all, they should be broad enough
—a narrow strap cuts the arms and shoulders most un-
comfortably. They must not be too long, or the knapsack
drops half way down the back, in which position the burden
is far more fatiguing than if it were up to the shoulders. A
strap across the breast, such as our soldiers used to wear,
is a great miateke ;. it itontraots the chest, gnd interferes
materially
.with.the play, of the lungs. One of the shoulder
strap 91144 end in a ring, and a hook should be sown on
to the'l6Weit e.dge c(f the knapsack, to receive it. The
krispiack is !huh' put tin Wad thken off without the slightest
difficulty. The wholtappeatos ought noitto weigh above
itWo pounds. :,114.110 ,f)lVit 1,-
e recommendsll44..shoOki,4og-• lierriAteonle
mountain boots, eistioning against hard new
'shoes ; 'and he says the best walking-socks are
made at Chamouni.or Interlaken. , Susists
upon flannel or silk next the skinitAnd wo
,think the following remarks worth the notice
.of those who .traverse on foot lass .sohlione
districts •

The most
waistcoat, r

shepherd's

oseti, however,

esonot, be

and in others

sad waistcoat,,.
,vanience of beings,
'being too cold in the
,olf pockets. A shoottni
ithe beat adapted P-
leat head-gear.

,be blown away
often found the
over the head, necessary.. t,. /0.. of .411 111 •
A plaid, or waterproof, is 4aspaairailyt
but often a great inconvenience. • 'NOet Wort
of an oceasiotoki4opqpiaing to the trouble of carrying the
extra weight. it,,:ei to f,
For what the lenstsack shoed• contain we
muet refer to the volume,' Contenting our-
selves with the remark that Mr. Wills is a

1116,.

>et comfortable 1144 Or, coat,
sad trousers of Asquisi;,; 1%74, NW"'
a plaid, all woollen,,iitio foo iiqi3Y
ever, . strongly advocate t e or, 1,., e-
hl" WI eta at egiglset. TlieW,a 4904 rt
ud.
Approciated till .you have walked th.,* them
Thera of a different materiaL Both, Oa post
itooat should be double,breaatecit4itiopon-
of being sometimes too warm is acidopg,t,ooMit of
cold in the High Alpa—and ithoul). isawkiginty
a. A shooting-coat, with t44s tills ac 4„ ;hp* is
ulapted for widkixig. A light vply .ik, li the
F
-gear. It moat have Wings, oriit wi . probably
away at the lop of some color
ad the additionalaitalariNig al ,12‘1194fReilllffiiied
1,- ,