The Express.
London, England, 1846-11-10 00:00:00

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.

The public is deeply indebted to We erudite author of this new
Pictorial History of Eng and. Having formerly translated Blackstone
into a style that may be read without a yawn, be has in the
number of his History done the same good service for the stilletnier
dlesertatione with which Arehzeological journals, and the Archtoologi.
cal Societies are laboriously stuffed. —Daily News.
"That Indefatigable wit and humourist, Gilbert k Beckett, has
commenced a new labour of drollery. Having transmogrified that
grave and learned personage, Blackstone, into the merriest mad wag
on earth, he rows take Hame, Lingard Rapin, Tacitos, and theother
very venerable high priests of Clio in hand, and by the force of comic
genius converts them into the pleasantest punsters, and meet gro.
tesque spirits in creation. Ile is ably assisted in his work by the ima-
ginative Leech, who gives a form and substance to the airy crotchets
of it Beckett's brain. • The Landing of Julius Casar' is • glorious
conception. The illustrious Roman stands on the paddle-box of his
steamer, and there surveys the invincible tenth legion whipping the
Sandwich Flat, in the mart orthodox manner. To do our ancestors
every justice, they w. re, aocording to G. A. k Beckett and his inter.
meter Leech, as fine a set of savages as ever dined off their enemies
without either salt or mustard. This History of England will, doubt-
less, be a much greater favourite with ' Young England' than the
fables which go by that name, composed by Home, Goldsmith, and the
rest."—Morning Post.
"We predict for this work almost unexampled popularity. In is
historic truth and wit of fine polish and easy flow are blended without
apparent effort. Instruction and amusement walk arm.in-erm,
laughing, mumbling, teachinthe pleasantest of modern perlpste.
Ilea. As the author mays, !nen is not the smallest intention to
sacrifice fidelity to fun, the design being to show that the Wile et ant
are not inseparable. Mr. / Beckett, as far as tbe first part of hie
charming history goes, has fulfilled his design, and proved that ' there
is an end to the once favourite fallacy that food for the mind requires
the uninviting devour of physic.' The book is copiously and cleverly
Plustrated by John leech Should the succeeding monthly harts
equal the first, the author Will harepermanently fixed his place in the
first rank of our wittiest writers,"— Ira Life London.
This is one of the hpint efforts of Mr. i Beckett's pen. It Is a
most amusing serial, and promises to become a general favourite. It
la effectively Macerated by Leech."—Observer.
"A capitol ides. Mr. 1 Beckelt baa at lace found a canvass large
enough for his broad bold car'catseeq and he appears to reve' in the
freedom It permits him. And John h's admirable ceekirg of his
friend Is worthy of the latter's merits. The history dries not let you
off with a smile, but forces you into a roar worthy of the British
Lion, who is most unceremoniously Mined up by author and artist.
We are glad to enliven our peva with some estracts."—Court
Journal.
" There were•not wanting many grave persons who considered a
COMIC Blackstone' a species of sacrilege ; what then shall be said of
a ' Comic History of England ? ' We are almost inclined ourselves to
shake our heeds at the incorrigible jester, but, not being able to make
up a serious face, he has the laugh of us, end new a castigation.
The first part of the work t, now before us—thirty-two lieges of fins,
graphic and literary, Leech being the artist who partidpstes In the
sport,; fairly dividing the applause.' —Weekly Chronicle.
narrative of the grave events of English history, in
which Jocular
are tared for as well as fun, and dates are not disregarded
for drolleries. Mr. Leech's burlesque illustrations are in the spirit of
this facetious history, but more outrageous!: absurd • and both text
and cuts are laughable."—Speciator.
1
"No. 3 hi as comic as were the two previous numbers. one Ot
the hapOest of Mr. k Beckett's happy effusions, and when completed is
sure to b: ,te popular volume. Observer.
We are not sure that the exhibition of a series of historical Inci-
dents, in the grotesque style, may not do much to strip many royal
and legislative infamies of that robs of eoleinnity in which historians
have dressed them, thereby misleading and imposing upon public

_ _ _ _
"If Mr. Wirer a iamlosa no titbit k is the province of Mr.
k Beckett to make se laugh over the lishaory of Enabled, there are
ridiculous points enough in all histories for so whimsical a genius to
extract laughter from, and Mr. h Beckett makes the meat at them in
this instance. But there is a purpose under his jokes; he always
makes his readers laugh in the right place."—Atlas.
" U laughter is good for health, we only know that k Beckett's His.
tory of England in • style tomake us English the healthiest
people on the face o the earth."—Hood's Magazine.
" Mildly does Mr. I Beckett in the present number rattle through
the History of England from the days of Ethelred to those of William
the Conqueror; but albeit, merrily, not the leis truthfully. The
Illustrative wood.cuts are laughter-moving exceedingly."—tun.
"If Mr. I Beckett and his graphic coadjutor proceed as they have
begun, the 'Comic Ilistory of England' will be as permanently valuable
as it is irresistibly humorous. '—Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper.
London: Published at the Punch Mee, 85, Fleet-street; J. Mac-
gbahan, Dublin; J. Meanies, Edinburgh ; J.

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