The Press.
London, England, 1857-04-04 00:00:00

PERIODICAL LITERATURE.

THE Westminster Review for this quarter is redeemed
from heaviness by a very pleasant article on
" Literature and Society." This paper, however, errs
on the opposite side. It is in our opinion too light ;
that is to say, had it been in sixty pages instead of
twenty, the writer would have had more chance of
doing justice to the subject. One image made use
of in this article struck us as peculiarly felicitous.
Speaking of the French literateurs before the Revo-
lution, the writer says :
Yet men like these, and men of rank too, who had far
more to risk, went on criticising and laughing at the old
system ; scattered sparks of wit about, which set the de-
cayed dry parts of it on tire.

The extraordinary recklessness of the men of the old
regime, engendered by its long impunity, has often
been noticed; but the metaphor here used strikes us
as original and very happy. " China and the
Chinese " is a good, plain account of those people,
their agriculture, internal organisation, and the
features of the country. " Gunpowder and its

(4) Marguerite's Legacy. By Mrs. steward. Three Vols.
London: Hurst and lilarkett.
(5) The Err iJ St. Mark. By T. Doubleday, Esq. Two Vols.
London: Smith and Elder.
(5) Still Waters Run Deep. Two Vole. London: Parker
and don.

THE PRESS.

Effect on Civilisation " is also a good résumé of
the progress of invention in firearms, and a well•put
argument against neglecting the question of national
defences.

Blackwood this month is good. " Mr. Gilfil's love
story" deepens in interest, and is very prettily writteu.
In this in.talment of "The Athelings " Charley
returns home with the much-desired information be
had been sent out to obtain. The concluding por-
tion of the story promises to be highly exciting.
" Remonst:ance with Dickens " is a critique of that
gentleman's later works, and a comparison of them
with " Pickwick," "Nicholas Nickleby," and "Martin
Chuzzlewit." With every syllable of this essay we
cordially agree. After quoting that horrible bit
from " Little Dorrit " in which the joke about prunes
and prism is introduced, the critic says :

Will it be believed that the Dickens whom we remember
of yore (eheu, quantum mutable!), instead of being ashamed
of this puerility, becomes positively enamoured of it, as an
excellent joke worthy of frequent repetition ? Little Dorrit,
to whom the maxim is addressed, presently afterwards
fixes " her loving eyes upon her father, whom she had very
nearly addressed as poultry, if not prunes and prism too,
in her desire to submit herself to Mrs. General, and please
him." Then " Mrs. General made a sweeping obeisance,
and retired with an expression of mouth indicative of
prunes and prism." Next she is said to have infused a
wholesome amount of prunes and prism into the family life."
This gibberish goes on acquiring importance, till, in the
author's mind, it means something, though what, we don't
know. " Prunes and prism, in a thousand combinations,
having been wearily in the ascendant all day," till at last
we hear of the " prunes and prism school," then " prunes
and prism get the upper hand," and so on through many
chapters—indeed, we fear we haven't done with the joke,
whatever it is, yet. It is difficult to perceive by what steps
a humour so true and rich as Dickens's could descend to
this, and revel in it.

In "Letters from a Lighthouse " the political events
of the day are discussed with more or less humour
and ability. There is very great truth in the following
remark :

That public servants should be supported in the execution
of their duty is a proposition which ought to receive uni-
versal approval ; but to stretch it further, and to maintain
that such servants ought to be supported when they exceed
or transgress their duty, would be to establish a practice,
hostile to good faith and general morality, and most
dangerous indeed to the welfare of the country. And yet
that is precisely whit Palmerston, in the present case, is
attempting to do. Whether heedlessly or deliberately, he
is striking a deadly blow at the principles of the British
constitution ; for he is trying by every possible means to
elevate the executive anti to depress the legislative body—
to arrogate despotic power to the Government, and to de-
prive the Parliament of control.

There is more possibility than ever of such designs
being successful at the present day. Fur England
just now (with shame be it spoken) has capriciously
chosen to look coldly on representative government
—that old servant by whose aid she has won all
her glory—and to cast a longing eye towards the
unity and rapidity of those Governments where the
Executive is unfettered, forgetful at what a price
this so-called vigour has been purchased,—nothing
less than the emasculation of national character.

The April number of Fraser is an attractive one.
" The Laird's Seam " is a capital tale. " The In-
terpreter " is continued with great spirit and ele-
ganu. "Literary Style" (No. II.) takes up Messrs.
Carlyle, Emerson, Ruskin, Do Quincey, John
Henry Newman, and, of all people in the world,
Paterfamilias. The author of "Everybody's Tour "
is stated to be a"we I l• known popular author." We
should scarcely have thought it. The jocose school,
from which emanate " From Piccadilly to Pera,"
" Knights and their Days," and the like, is severely
hamiled. " The Raven" is an interesting naturalist
article : we suppose by the author of " Rooks " in
the last number. "Some Talk about Food" is a
pleasant sketch of the history of gourmandism from
the beginning of the world to the last Lord Mayor's
dinner.—' rhe Monks of Old,' as might be expected,
come in for a fair share of satire.

In the Dublin University "The Fortunes of Glen-
core " is concluded. We shall take another oppor-
tunity of expressing our opinion upon this story.
The memoir of Dr. Fitzgerald, the new Bishop of
Cork, is highly favourable to that prelate. " Ruth "
is a very pretty set of verses on the old Bible story,
above the average of magazine contributions.
"Victor Cousin and the Illustrious Ladies of the
Seventeenth Century " is a good subject and well
treated. But we are sorry to see a sentiment ex-
pressed in the beginning of the paper directly con-
trary to what has been asserted on the same point in
previous numbers of this magazine—i.e., a prefer.
ence of the democratic despotism of modern times to
the old national absolute monarchies which have
been handed down from the past. The latter always
contain within themselves the elements of constitu-
tional government, though for the time in abeyance.
But the latter owe their very existence to the
complete destruction of those elements. The
second number of " Tutors of the Young Idea "
is, in our opinion, spoiled by the undisguised
personalities in which Mr. Jerrold indulges at the

SATURDAY,

expense of men celebrated for their generosity and
indefatigable perseverance in the cause of juvenile
reformation, and whose experience extends over
more years than Mr. Jerrold has been born. The
last article in the number, " Who Wrote the Earlier
Waverley Novels," is a vigorous and brilliant
exposure of Mr. Fitzpatrick's absurdities. In point
of style this paper is the best thing in the periodical
literature of the month—at once clear, muscular,
and polished. We give a short specimen ; it is
apropos of the little time that Scott devoted to his
literary labours :
But the phenomenon which appears so marvellous to
critics of a certain stamp is, after all, only in strict accor-
dance with the general analogy of genius. It is scarcely
going too far to say that the greatest. triumphs of contem.
plation have been effected by men who have been immersed
in the distractions of active life. Take for instance,
" Rome's least mortal mind," the consul Cicero. No
sooner had his education been completed under the
philosophers of Athens, than he was at once precipitated
into the vortex of the politics of Rome. As jurisconsult
and advocate, no plodding lawyer had a more extensive
practice at the bar. Step after step, each in its own pe-
culiar year, he attained the highest offices in the common-
wealth. He conducted State prosecutions that rivalled that
of Hastings; he was tho soul of debates that exceeded the
stormiest discussions in the British Parliament. He had
been the chief magistrate of Rome; he had quelled a great
conspiracy against the State ; he had been hailed as the
father of his country. During the whole of his mature
manhood he had been the organ of a great political party,
and finally he fell a victim to political revenge. No man
in short ever lived a more active or a stormier existence ;
yet what secluded man of letters ever bequeathed to pos-
terity a prouder monument of contemplative genius ? All
that ancient philosophy can boast of lofty or profound is
to be discovered in his philosophical remains. Not only
did he reduce his own great masterpieces of political and
forensic eloquence to writing—he developed the theory of
eloquence in his " Dialogues on the Orator." He composed
a treatise on the philosophy of politics ; he composed a
work on natural religion. Even poetry and criticism in
turn engaged the energies of his ever•active mind, and a
history of his own times was one of hie multifarious
literary projects.
This is really admirable.
Bentley is brisk and sparkling. Mr. Dudley
Costello's story goes on in capital style. " Dumas
the Younger," " Historical Anecdotes of the Opera,"
and the life of Mrs. Jord'in, are all attractive papers
of about the same calibre. The tales this month are
" Scoring the King," " The Silversmith of Acre,"
and "Robert Hunter's Ghost"—all good—the last
the best. " A Fisherman's Letter to his Chum in
India" is a lively sporting article, detailing the cap-
ture of two salmon with much spirit and lifelike
effect. Altogether, it is as pleasant a number for
easy-chair reading as we have for• some time had the
pleasure to receive.
We have not had time to do more than glance
through the remaining magazines on our table, and
some we must delay noticing till next week. The
New Monthly contains two tolerably amusing
tales—" The Lawyer's Servants," to be continued,
and " Only a Cousin," by Mr. Wraxhall. "Alder-
shott and its Environs" is a good subject for an
article. " The History of the Newspaper Press,"
continued by Mr. Andrews, cannot fail to interest all
literary readers. On the whole, the number seems
rather above the average.
In Tait the best article is the conclusion of a tale
entitled " A Romance of Valencia." "Broken
Memories " is another fair magazine story—perhaps
a sketch from life—but the incidents are scarcely
uncommon enough to be very exciting. The
"Political Narrative" is what it usually is—a decent
summary ; and the " Literary Register " is rather
flat. The magazine, as usual, presents considerable
variety, and hat something for each sort of reader.
The Train still keeps up the steam. The present
number, as far as we can judge, is rather faster than
usual. "At Home in Paris" is quite good enough ;
as also "A Dramatic Collaborateur." Of the other
stories—and this number is almost wholly made up
of stories—we can't say much. But the memoir of
William Russell is really a very interesting paper,
and would do credit to a different style of magazine.
The Irish Metropolitan Magazine. This is the
first number of a new periodical. We ate bound by
th 3 forms of courtesy to wish success to every such
literary adventure ; yet we cannot help observing
that the market is already somewhat overstocked,
and that nothing but literature of extraordinary
merit can hope for success among the crowd of
periodicals which every month issues from the press.
During the last twelvemonth several new magazines
have been started, of which none have for a moment
seemed likely to rival the three or four leading ones,
and some are already dead. Although the Irish
Metropolitan Magazine contains nothing to lead us
to anticipate that it will prove an exception to these,
the articles are by no means without merit.
"Life's Foreshadowinp," "Duck Shooting at
Loughnagal," and "A Few Words on Novels," are
three papers in widely different styles, which denote
that considerable and various ability is employed on
the magazine. The last-mentioned paper, if it did
not terminate so abruptly, would deserve great

APRIL 4, 185''

praise. The comparative criticism on Mr. Disraeli,
Sir E. B. Lytton, Dickens, and Thackeray, is
remarkably well written, though we do not entirely
agree with it.
The Art Journal contains a great variety of matter.
We have only had time to look through Part IV. of
" The Book of the Thames," which takes in the part
between Bablock Hithe and Godstow. We can say
from personal experience that this portion is accu-
rately described, and the illustrations on the whole
exceedingly good, especially Ensham-bridge and
Godstow-bridge. The ruins of Godstow Nunnery,
the burial-place of Fair Rosamond, are not quite so
lifelike. The engraving conveys the impression of
there being many more trees round the old walls
than there really are. We doubt also whether it has
been taken from the best point of view. " Osney
Lock " forms a very pretty sketch. The principal
illustrations are " The Ministering Angels," "The
Harvest Field," and "Beatrice Cenci."
The Eclectic contains a very good paper upon
"Dutch History and Literature," and a very bad one
upon " Liturgies and Free Prayer." A review of
Mr. Thornbury's translation of the " Wandering Jew,"
and " Travels in Australasia," are average articles;
but the number is deficient in light literature.
The Churchman's Magazine. The principal at-
traction of this ably conducted magazine continues
to be the biography of Bishop Blomfied. But all
the other papers will be found useful and interesting
to Churchmen. A curious case of sharp practice on
the part of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester
towards the parish of Goudhurst will be found at
p. 232.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.—APRIL '2.
nanxs.

The Adventures of a Cat. Alfred Elwes. Addey and Co.

A Twine of Wayside Ivy. Moxon
The Balance of Beauty. Jane Kennedy. Kent and Co.
Principles of Natural Theology. ltimington
The Metaphysicians—?llemoi►s of Franz Carve! and Harold
Fremdliny. Longmana
_ _ .

The Election Manual for Ewjland and Wales. Shaw and
Sons
Songs of!& Jaimliers and Roundheads, Jacobite Ballads, 4c.
G. W. Thornbury. Hurst and Blackett
Conversations on Topics of Interest Between Two Friends.
Saunders and Otley
The Eve of SI. Mark. A Romance of Venice. Thomas
I)oubleday. Two vols. Smith and Elder
The Principles of Currency and Banking. Groombridge
Modern English Literature, its Blemishes and Defects. H.
H. Green, Esq., F.S.A. Longman:
Kansas ; or, Squatter Life anu Border Warfare in the Far
West. Thomas H. Gladstone. Routledge
. .

Oliver Cromwell's Letters and Speeches. Thomas Carlyle.—
Chapman and Hall
Lives of the Lord Chancellors and Keepers of the Great Seal.
By John Lord Campbell, LL.D., F.R.S.E. Murray
The Annotated Edition of the English Poets. Robert Bell.

Alma Theresa. David M'Culluch.

U5Zt.

John W. Parker
Hall and Virtue

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.

Mn. GvE has issued his prospectus for the eleventh
season of the Royal Italian Opera, the opening night
of which will be Tuesday, the 14th inst., at the
Lyceum. The director thus refers to the rebuilding
of Coventgarden Theatre :

Mr. Gye trusts, however, that for the season 1858, he
will be able to restore to the Royal Italion Opera a home
equal, if not superior, to that of which it has been de-
prived ; in the meant►me, he begs most respectfully to
entreat the continuance of that warm and generous support
which has so long been accorded to him, and without
which he would scarcely have had the fortitude to battle
with the consequences of the calamity of last year.

The engagements have already been noticed in
THE PRE39 ; they include the old favourites, Grist,
Marai, Devries, as sopranos and contralto;
Mario, Baraldi, Soldi, and Gardoni, tenors ; Ron-
coni, Graziani, Formes, Zelger, Polonini, Tegliafico,
and Lablache, baritones and basses. The new
corners will be Mlle. Parer', a grand-daughter of
Seguin, so many years at Her Majesty's Theatre,
and Mlle. Victoire Belie, a daughter of the well-
known composer of that name. Cerito anti Plunkett
are the principal dancers, and a new one is specified,
Mdle. Delechaux. As already announced in these
columns, Auber's Fra Diavolo and Herold's Zampa
will be the novelties, and Cimarosa's Il Matrimonio,
and Donizetti's Don Pasquale will be revived for
Lablache. Verdi's Traviata is to be introduced for
Bosio, who has created a sensation at St. Petersburg
in that work, and for Graziani and Mario, who so
materially aided Piccolomini, in Paris, in the cast.
Costa has the satne orchestral and choral force at
his disposal as last year, and the revival of La Nozze
di Figaro and Don Giovanni will afford him the
best opportunities of developing their finest attri-
butes. With Ristori's tragic delineations, and the
Crystal Palace Concerts, Mr. Gye will be enabled to
make his season, until he can pitch his tent defini-
tively on the site of the old establishment.

THE PRESS.

Choral singing is making rapid strides in the
metropolis. Last Tuesday night there were two
grand demonstrations, the one at Exeter-hall, under
the directio❑ of Mr. Hickson, and the other at the
Music.liall, in Store-street, under the guidance of
Mr. Benedict. The somewhat affected title of " Tonic
Sol-Fa Association "is given to Mr. Hick4on's choral
forces, who study under a very ancient system,
turned t,) popular account by Miss Glover, of Nor-
wich, and the Rev. Mr. Curwen, of Plaistow. Mr.
Benedict's choir is called "The Vocal Association,"
and the notion is to employ the fine voices,
which undoubtedly exist in this country, in the same
way as the " Liedertufel" societies in Germany.
From the displays made by the association, at the
private hearing, it was palpable that Teutonic ama
tours must look to their laurels—our amateurs will
run them hard in part singing. The "Association"
counts about 270 members. The intonation was
generally good; and if the male altos could be en-
tirely dispensed with, 4. would be a great gain.
Finer accent, greater p Mon, and better colouring
than had ever before been attained, were the un-
deniable attributes of this novel combination. The
trio in A, op. '27, by Silas, for pianoforte (Bauer),
violin (Ernst), and violoncello (Piatti), was the
event at the final Musical Union soiree. This
fine work fully confirms every previous expression as
to the abilities of Silas. Mr. Aguilar has been
delighting his admirers with a pianoforte soiree, and
Madame Oury has held another "seance musicale,"
in which she introduced a well-arranged fantasia on
the popular Trovatore themes. A concert on a large
scale at the Surrey Gardens, by Mr. G. Tedder, the
tenor; an evening concert by the charming ballad
singer, Miss Poole, at the Hanover•square•rooms,
and the first of Dr. Wylde's New Philharmonic
concerts, have been the other musical events of the
week. A rococo serenade for wind instruments, by
Mozart, exquisitely executed, was introduced in the
New Philharmonic programme—it had nothing but
the name to recommend it. Mr. Barnett's per-
formance of Mendelssohn's pianoforte concerto in G
minor, in place of a Mlle. Staudach, from Vienna,
who was prevented from playing by illness, was a
most attractive item. Mme. Gassier was the vocalist,
and was out of voice; and gymnastic variations with
the vocal organ, unless done with perfect intonation
and precision, are unbearable.

HER MAJESTY. 3 THEATRE opens on Tuesday the
14th of Apiil. The inaugural p=rformances will be
Donizetti's opera of La Favorita, in which Spezia
and Giuglini have taken by storm the connoisseurs
of the Imperial Court of Austria during its recent
sojourn iu Milan. Mile. Pocchini will also make
her debut on the opening night as an aspirant for
Terpsichorean fame, and, with a courage which is
said to be fully justified by her beauty and accom-
plishments, she has selected for her first appearance
the character of La Esmei &do.