The Press.
London, England, 1857-08-22 00:00:00

The Bombay Quarterly &Hew. Smith and Elder.

The Crisis is India : its Causes and Remedies, R Bentley—
Tcalltory Rviertion. Stiaioll I. and 11. By L.M.S.,
I)lpr,re —Crumbs fur the Manchester School of Politicians
to Digest, J. R. Taylor—Address at the Anniversary Meeting
of the Royal Geographical society—The Eclogues of Virgil,
Lord Brougham's Speech on Parliamentary
Beforiss, J. Ridgway.

($) Essays ert Natural History. By Charles Waterton, Esq.
London : Longmans.
(6) Remarks on the Differences in Shakespeare's Versitkagion
Difertni VAw Mfe. 1.4.1a10a; Juba W. Parker and
Boa.

THE WELLINGTON MONUMENT.

THE exhibition of models for the Wellington Monu-
ment would not inspire an observer with a high idea
of English sculpture. We are ready to admit the
difficulties of producing a monument, and especially
a monument to one whose achievements were so
many, so various, and so glorious, as were those of
Arthur Duke of Wellington. Bat the mission of
genius is to overcome difficulties, and to a sculptor
of genius the temptations to mediocrity are no more
an obstacle than the obstructions of first invention.
A poor sculptor might well consider it impossible to
conceive any other idea than the British Lion crown-
ing the Duke of Wellington amid the applause of
the East India Company and the British Greoadiers.
But, to judge from the former productions of oar
sculptors, we should have supposed that there were
few whom utter lack of originality would have driven
to fix on such inane allegories. In this expectation
we must confess we were entirely disappointed.
Going through the rows of models with an earnest
desire to find something fit for a hero's tomb, some-
thing worthy of Gibson, Bailey, Macdonald, Bell, or
Westmacott, we found nothing that might seem
appropriate for the site selected, or for the person to
be commemorated. Some would suit a public square,
or the corner of a street, being architectural rather
than statuesque. Bat, take them all in all, there
was not one fit for a Christian church—for an
English church. We decline to particularise any of
the designs, as the best are but comparative suc-
cesses. If we were not reassured by the belief that
many of our young artists are absent from the ex-
hibition, we should form a very low opinion of the
state of sculpture among us. Bat we are firmly
convinced that some who have not exhibited could
concesse more original ideas, and could execute
them better than any of the eighty-three whose
models form such an unsightly assemblage in West-
minster-hall.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—MIIe. Piccolomini and
Signor Giuglini will appear again at Her Majesty's
Theatre during the ensuing month. The operas of
La Traviata and Don Giovanni will be performed
with the same unprecedented cast as during the
opera season.
PRINCESS'S THEATRE.—The dramatic season at
this theatre has closed, after, we believe, a very sue •
cessful season. We are not in general admirers of
Mt. Lean's Shakesperian upholstery, but we must do
him the justice to say that, in his representation of
The Tempest, he displayed greater good taste, and
achieved more beautiful effects, than in any of his
previous decorated revivals. Of his lavish liberality
in the "setting up" of these plays it is needless to
speak. We trust that the past season has well re•
munerated him, and that the rumour of his retire-
ment is unfounded in fact. The Royal Italian
Opera, about to be given at this theatre under the
direction of Mr. Beale, will commence on Monday
with the performance of La Traviata, the character
of the heroine being sustained by Mine. Gassier,
supported by Signor Mario and Signor Dragone, and
an efficient band and chorus selected from those of
Her Majesty's Theatre and the Royal Italian Opera.
Signor Dragone, the new baritone, who will make
his debut on the occasion, was the original repre-
sentative in his own country of the character of Ger-
most, in which he is now to appear before a London
audience, and by his performance of which he has
achieved a high reputation. He possesses a voice
resembling in a remarkable degree that of Graziani,
both in quality and power, and his abilities as an
actor are such as to justify the belief that he will be
heartily welcomed by the opera-goers of London.
MR. CHARLES MATHEWS.—This distinguished co-
median having completed a most successful engage-
ment at the Haymarket, will sail to-day for
the United States, where he is about vto make a pro-
fessional tour.

SOME. EXCELLENT MAPS of India and Delhi have
been this week published by Messrs. Stanford, and
Mr. Wyld, and by Messrs. M'Clute. The maps
of Delhi are extremely valuable at the present
moment.