The Press.
London, England, 1858-11-20 00:00:00

composer for the pianoforte, on which instrument
he is himself a highly-honoured performer. The
most admired themes have been selected, and are
allowed to speak for themselves, to appear in all
their native worth, before being subjected to any
fantastic treatment.

Unlike many other writers of similar pieces,
Mr. Richards' does not disfigure his chosen
" motivi," or disguise them at the very outset, so
that their best friends would not be able to re-
cognize them. Our respected author would
simply say of the object of his musical solicitude
and experiments, " Here it is in its inte-
grity. Now see what I will do with it."
And then he does not, like inferior spirits of his
order, abuse the powers which fashion has con-
ferred upon him by making all the members of
his subject fly suddenly asunder like the limbs of
the " fantocmi," only to bring them together
again in an equally extraordinary manner, nor
bedizen his themes with very tawdry and ridi-
culously inappropriate decorations ; but, without
carrying out any further than the nature of his
undertaking absolutely demands futile attempts
to convert lead into gold, to paint the lilies, or
throw perfume on the violets of song, Mr.
Richards simply strives to make up an agreeable
bouquet of melodic flowers, in which the sweetest
shall predominate, connecting them by such links
in the shape of transitional passages as his fancy
or taste may sugest, and varying them by tints
derived from their primary fundamental colour.
Briefly, Mr. Richards has acquitted himself very
creditably of his not particularly difficult tasks,
and his praises will probably be sung before long
in every drawing-room throughout the United
Kingdom.

Let Me Whisper in Thine Ear. Ballad. Writ-
ten by Jessica Rankin ; Composed expressly
for Mr. Sims Reeves by M. W. Balfe. London:
Cramer and Beale, and Chappell.

THE prolific composer of The Bohemian Girl
never produced a more tuneful or " catching "
ballad than this, and we shall be much astonished
if it be not presently ground upon every barrel-
organ in England.
Composed expressly for Mr. Sims Reeves, it
suits that distinguished gentleman's style exactly,
and he will, of course, make a great effect in it ;
but " Let Me Whisper in Thine Ear" may also
be successfully sung by less gifted vocalists, lying
as it does within the compass of most voices.
Amateurs must not be frightened by the aspect
of the key, which looks uncommonly " sharp,"
for there is nothing at all difficult in the song.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.
Doom
Mid day Thoughts for the If.ary.—llatehard.
Help to District Visitors. By the Rev. W. Maswell Smitb.

—Hatehanl.
Henry 111., King of France and Poland. By Martha
Walker Freer. Three Vole —Hurst and Blackett.
A Handy Book on Criminal Law. By W. Campbell
Sleigh, Egq.—G. Routledge.
The School for Fathers. By Talbot Gwynne.—Smith,

Elder, Ana Co.
Cecil and Mary; or, Phases of Lore and ble. By Joseph

Edmond Jackson.—J. W. Parker and S.M. -
Three risits to Madagascar during the years 1653, 1854,
1855. By the Rev. William Ellis. F.H.S.—John
Mnmy.
De La Rue's Pocket Diaries.—De La Rue.
The Derby Ministry. By Mark Rocheater.—Routledge.
A Handbook for Tracellers in Surrey, Hampshire, and the
Isle of Wight.—J. Murray.
On Colours, and on the Necessity fora General Diffusion of
Taste among all clarets. By Sir J. Gardner ViiUtinaou.
—J. Murray.
History of the Afghans. By J. P. Fertier.—J. Murray.

PAMPHLETS.
The Testimony of the Two Anointed Ones.
A Debate on India in the English Parliament. By M. Le
Comte de Montalembert.

The Irish Quarierly.—Kelly and Co.

xtstc.

Nine Choral Songs. Set to Maio by Eliribeth Stirling.--

Novella.
Mindelssohn's Open Air Music for Voices Alone.—Novello.
Chappell's One-Hundred Dances for the Violin. Arranged
by Edward F. Rimbault.—Chappell and Co.
Chappell's One-Hundred Dances for the Cornet d Piste's.
Arranged by Frans Nam—Chappell and Co.
Chappell's Popular Instruction Book for the Flute. By
Edward F. Rimbanit.--Chappell and Co.
Chappell's Popular Instruction Book for the Violin. By
Edward F. Rimbault.—Chappell and Co.
The Three Favourite Masses of Morart, Haydn, and
Beethoven. Edited by Vincent Novello.—Novello.
Novello's School Round• Book. Parts I. and IL—Novae.
Mesart's Requiem. Edited by Vincent