The Press.
London, England, 1856-09-06 00:00:00

PERIODICAL LITERATURE.

Blackwood continues " The Scot Abroad," with an
account of " The Man of Diplomacy," an article em-
bracing Lockhart, Cromwell's ambassador to Paris,
Lord Stair, Sir Robert Keith, and Sir Alexander
Mitchell. A good story is told of the latter when
conversing with Frederick the Great :
Discussing the disaster of Port. Mahon, Mitchell re-
marked in a manner not congenial with the usual conver-
sation of Sans Souci, that Britain ►oust place her trust in
God. The King was not aware that Britain had such an
ally. "He is the only ally," said Mitchell, " who requires
no subsidies from us."

"The Athelings" still continue to stimulate our
curiosity and sympathy. The two girl-portraits of
Agnes and Marian are very beautiful; but we don't
quite like the description of Mrs. Edgerly's party.
Her neglect of the two young guests is hardly natural.
"A Chapter on Peninsula Dogs" is curious and
sprightly. "The Poetry of Christian Art" is a thought-
ful and earnest protest against the rigid Romanist
theory a. 4 lately put forward by Mr. Pio. The writer
claims due weight for the classical and natural as
well as for the spiritual element of Christian art.
The article on Mr. Macaulay is a humorous and
vigorous exposure of that writer's prejudices against
Scotland, and his general style of makiug historical
facts speak his own language.
We can strongly recommend to all our readers
this month's number of Fraser. There are five re
views,—viz., a sharp flagellation of Mr. Gallen; a
nicely written eulogy of Mr. Stanley's "Sinai and
Palestine ;" a rather too severe notice of "Both-
well;" a descriptive notice of M. De Tocqueville's
recent work; and a most able and valuable examina-
tion of Mr. Vaughan's "Hours with the Mystics."
Premising that on the whole he agrees with the
principle of the writer, the reviewer proceeds to cri-
ticise him in detail with great force and knowledge
of his subject. Ot the other articles," Maud Viviau,"
an interesting Magazine tale, and the " Prospects of
the Indian Civil Service " are the two best. In the
latter N7e are glad to see that stress is laid on the ne-
cessity of keeping up a high tone among the members
of the service, and a well deserved tribute paid to
the excellent education they used to receive at
Haileybui y.
The Dublin University Magazine for this month
is a most attractive atm diversified number. The
opening article, on the United States navy, combines
a most agreeable style with much solid information.
We do not think, however, that Ella writer has treated
the question of privateering with perfect candour.
"The Irish in Spain," is a readable and interesting
paper, though rather too much of it is, in our
opinion, devoted to the O'Donnells. There were
several Irishmen of distinction at the Court of Spain
in the time of Alberoni, of whom some notice would
have been acceptable. In the story of " The
Darragh" the interest is well sustained. In the
present number Kildown gets possession of the old
General's property by what will doubtless turn out to
be a forged will, and Walter becomes a merchant's
clerk. " Sinai and Palestine "is an excellent and
impartial review of Mr. Stanley's book. We observe
that the reviewer raises the same objection to por-
tions of his work as we ourselves did on its first
appearance. "The Italian Question" is a sensible
and judicious essay. Of Lord Palmerston the writer
well says, " He is in the singular position of owing
the greatest part of the consideration he has obtained
to nothing higher or nobler than his indiscretion."

We have not seen so good a number of Bentley for
some time. "A Month in the Crimea after the Fall
of Sevastopol," though dealing with so hacknied a
topic, is lively and pleasant reading. The story of
the "Joint-stock Banker" proceeds with vigour,
though how far such incidents as the Hampstead
heath suicide are legitimate subjects of fiction so
immediately after their occurrence, may fairly be
doubted. This is a very ready-made and slipshod
method of writing fiction. A well written memoir of
Madame Vestris, a discerning notice of "Bothwell,"
and some tolerably good prosings by Monkshood
about the Quarterly reviewers, are the best remain-
ing articles.

The New Monthly has a first article, on the Ame-
rican Senate, which looks like a plagiarism on the
Quarterly article on the House of Commons. The
best features of the number are the more purely
literary contributions. The paper on Southey's
Letters, and " Memoirs cf James Montgomery," are
well written. '1 he story of " St. Ouest" is also suffi-
ciently interesting.
Tait has a long article on " The Payment of Mem-
bers u 1 Parliament." If the writer is in earnest, he
must have forgotten or never known what the real