The Press.
London, England, 1857-12-05 00:00:00

PERIODICAL LITERATURE.

Ix the December number of Blackwood more than
a third of the magazine is occupied by the leading
topic of the day—and worthily occupied. In two
papers, forming the first and last of the number, we
have the political and religious history of India
treated with as much fulness as magazine limits
admit of, with a temperate spirit and in an eloquent
style. If the writer cf the latter article fulfils his
intention of reviewing the philosophic creeds which
have been built upon the religion of India, we trust
the series may be reprinted. They will be a valuable
boon to the public. " What will he do with it ?"
continues to display all Sir Bulwer Lytton's leading
merits. "Afoot," is a good genial article on Paris;
and " Boscobel " is a spirited sketch of the events
and circumstances of Charles's escape from Worcester,
written in a style of free and masculine 'Toryism
which is very delightful.
We have seen many better numbers of Fraser
than the December one. But then their standard
of excellence is a high one. The review of "Water-
ton's Essays" is silly ; " Rece:it Metaphysical
Works" is not more than middling; and even the
concluding part of " The Interpreter," as if from
sympathy, is scarcely up to the mark. We have,
however, a pungent and pertinent article upon the
organ nuisance, and what is, at all events, a very
readable review of Lord Normanby's book. A rather
caustic notice of Lord John Russell's edition of "Fox's
Letters " would probably have attracted considerable
attention in times of less public excitement. The
paper on India is not much.

We have this month an excellent number of the
Dublin University Magazine. In the opening article,
Professor Creasy gives us a very lively sketch of the
Seven Years' War; and as he confines himself to facts
and keeps clear of "reflections," this paper is above the
average of the series. The review of " Torn Brown's
School Days" is able and discriminative. Mr.
Shirley Brooks gives us the best instalment of "The
Partners " we have yet seen. " The Student " is an
interesting tale, with a moral, perhaps, more fre-
quently applicable than we imagine.
In Bentley, " The Millionaire of Mincing-lane " is
concluded. " Moat Grange" is continued under the
title of "Midnight Doings." "The Calcutta Pe-
t.tion " is a good paper, supporting the views gene-
rally put forward by the Conservative party. And
here we may take the opportunity of stating that in
our quotation from this magazine last month we had
not the remotest intention of charging the contributor
with plagiarism, but were naturally gratified to see
our own views so thoroughly adopted by a magazin
of high-standing and repute. We think it necessary
to make this statement in consequence of a remon-
strance which has reached us on the subject.

In the New Monthly we have two very good
articles—" The Press in America," and " Sugges.
tions for the Reestablishment of Posting"; tho
latter especially, written with a degree of humour
that we suspect must be indicative of a new band.
We are sorry we have no space for an extract.
[Owing to the great press of matter this week, the
notice of several other magazines and serials is un-
avoidably postponed.]

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED—DEcemazn i.
BOOKS.

British Bide in India. ity---Harriet Martineau. Smith
and Elder.
British Almanac and Companion. Knight and Co.
The History of Henry Osmond, a Colonel in the Service of
her Majesty Qucen Anne. Written by Himself. Smith
and Elder.
.4 Concise Grammar. Simpkin and Marshall.
On Eucharistical Adoration. By the Bev. John pebble,
M.A. J. H. and J. Parker.

Parker's Church ialendar and Almanack, IttsB. J. H. and

J. Parker.

Curiosities of Nalural History. By Francis T. Buekland,
M.A. R. Bentley.
The Handwriting on the Wall. By Edwin Atherstone.
Three Vols. R. Bentley.
On the Right (se of the Early Fathers. By the Rev. J. J.
Blunt, B.D. J. Murray.
Remarks on Secular and Domestic Architecture, Present and
Future. By George Gilbert Scott, A.B. A. J. Murray.