The Express.
London, England, 1846-11-24 00:00:00

NEW WEEKLY PERIODICAL 07;ORIOLNAL MUM.

THE MUSIC 8008, price Sixpence, printed
from engraved pletes, ce mar tho mad mode sine, published
every SATURDAY, price Cd., or to Moodily Pests.
The high price at which original music ls. sold. pieces it out
of the reach of many who would otherwise elegy pieselose it sad it
Is therefore thought that an attempt to bang ea works of the moat
esteem coymposers within o more remamble cad, TM be favourably
resstved b the public. With thls *ow it to Wooded to publish,
maw the We ci "The Mode Beek." atedaal=.lad at eora-
medams. by malmat aompsoms. mom mod mad
petaled M the bat amsmor, la Ohs mod muds eloa sal= Biz-
peso, ; thus aisehlalse this greats* ansolleass el omageoltisa sad
demos tesamanome with lbs lowest lamilie piss.
lo motor *dr tateedloas the pimpetelms me able to moth& the
mums or lam Booked, M. W.Vellta Itessiet. J. L. Hatton, Edward
ahmimits Lee, T. G. Paell.Proklionor, J. C. Tully, Yin.
oat who, with otherimpolor Composers, bare already eca-
trttlded to TILE MUSIC BOOS
-- •

NODE OF PUBLICATION.
THE IPIEIC nOOK will be a Weekly Publication. A number
published ems gasehtv. Each number will contain an Original
Song.~ engrave' and piked ua 'he best manner, and in the usual
male size. me wads will be ;Mem f't selected (by Permission)
from the works of liaa lase wales writers.
Each Number sal ba aminsal in an Elegant Wrapper (deggilet; by
Done), and the prim tall be Misplace.
A part will be puldithol en the let of every month, containing four
K are seem price N. sr ha.id. Instremental and Sacred Music will
also be published, bat at hops intervals, and forming separateseries.
The work will be sold by ail booksellers, newsmen, and dealers is
periodicals, to whom Mdereshould be immediately given.
Part ' following

1., (=tabling the
price 24.6 d. Each Soag may be
I. SING, MAIDEN, SING. By
M. W. BALM
11. THE FALSE FRIEND. By

Songs, is Just punshed,
serwrately. price 6d.:
IV. MY HOME MUST BE
WHERE'ER THOU ART.
By Mn. G. h Brcurre.
V. IN A DREAR-NIOIITED
DECEMBER. By E. Lone.
e published In November •
VIII. LOVE ME IF I LIVE.
The words by BARRY Coax.
WALL. The Music by Mn.
0. 1 B►caarr.
IX. THE VOYAGE OF FANCY
(Duet). The words by Mum
LEMON. The MUSIC byreAsu
ROMML

VINCINT WALLACE.
111. A SONG FOR TEIE SEA-
SONS. By J. H. TULLY.
The following Songs will t
ST. SERENADE. The words by
Nosexros Mu.yyss. The
Mu.ie by H. W. RAVE.
vn. 0, HOW HARD IT IS TO
FIND. The words by CAMP.
nem. The music by T. G.

OPINIONS OF Tin PRESS.
"This is a new Weekly Periodical of Original Music, the first number
of which has just appeared. The exorbitant price of music has long
been a subject of just and general complaint, and yet little or nothing
be been done to remove it. While every clam of literary publication
Me been brought more and more within the reach of the whole read-
ing public, musical works continue to be sold as wetly luxuries, be-
yond the means et thousands who, from taste and education, are yer-
fedi, able to use, appreciate, and enjoy them. To remedy this great
evil, and to render the supply of music of a high class more propor-
tionate to the daily increase in the demand for it, caused by the grow-
ing love and knowledge of the art among the educated classes of
eaciety, is the profs ssed object of this new periodical. the com-
plete fulfilment of this object, the first number, just blurpuhed, fur-
Mshes an ample pledge. It consists of a song, ' Sing, Maiden, Sing,'
the poetry by Barry Cornwall, and the music by Melte ; whioh, printed
in the same style of elegance, would have been sold at a music-a Lop
for live times the price. Balk's melody is in his best manner--well
suited to the poet's imaginative verses, exceedingly flowing, graceful,
and singable, with some happy touches of novelty, particularly the
roloeged note on the h:st bar but one, forming a beautiful close. The
Instrumentals accompaniment, In arpeggico of triplets, is very ele-
gant."—Daily News.
" We hail this number aa the find instalment of a debt long due to
the music-loving millions. The exorbitant price of all musical pub-
lications has hitherto hail the effect of confining to the privileged few
as enjoyment intended by Nature for the many. The present under-
taking is therefore entitled to the mat. unqualified praise of those
who love the art, and are desirous that others should love it also. We
bare, in the number before ue, an original, and exceedingly pretty
sang by Balk, accompanied in a simple and unaffected style. The
melody is one which is destined to haunt us in our quiet hours. The
work is beautifully got up and, although issued at so low a price, the
engraving of the music is fully equal to that printed by the first music
publishers in the metropolis. We cordially ream:emend The Musk
Book' to all who would wish to form a valuable modern musical
library at an exceedingly small outlay."—Doughts Jerrold's News.
Paper.
"This new lyrical publication will be most extensively popular. It
contains a delightful song, Sing, Maiden, Sing,' by Barry Cornwall,
the mimic, original, by Palk. The names of the best modern musicians
and poets are mentioned as contributors to the work. The specimen
before Wt is faultless. The designs on the wrapper, by Richard Doyle,
are chefs-ileitis-re of artistis invenuon and execution. —Ben's Life in
London
" A New Weekly Original Periodical has just been commenced
under the above title, and it promises to be a most interesting and
spirited undertaking. The first number, now be`ore us (published in
a loose and very cleverly designed wrapper, exhibiting mu-ie under
all circumstances, and in every shape, from 'old Orpheus,' with ah
lute, 'string with poets' sinews,' to the modern organ-grinder),
contains a new song, by Balfe, with words from the works of Berg
Cornwall. Judging from the first number of the work, extensive
popularity. and support must, in all probability, attend its progresa
The promises, too, held out of future compositions which are to appear
in The Music Book' are admirably varied and attractive."—Man.
ing Advertiser.
" This seems to W. one of the most novel and pleasing extensions of
the now prevailing system of cheapness. Excellent on music is
here proposed to be presented to us. with no abatement even in the
elegance of its setting forth, at one-fifth of its usual cost. Both songs
in the numbers before us are pretty, and likely to be popular; and the
named actually announced as contributors to the work carry with
them the best promise. We shall see the success of an undertaking
like this with peculiar satisfaction. It is the wider diffusion of an ele-
gant and huniamiung luxury, hitherto for mere trade purposes most
absurdly limited. If the public second such an effo,rt, they will gain
I by it much more than its immediate advantages.' —Examiner.
" This is another of the lendable endeavours which are now made
to reduce the extravagant price of musical publications, and to bring
the works of our best composers, which are at present one of the ex.
passive luxuries et the rich, within the reach of the great body of the
edoested public. The first number, now before us, is a satif factory
epotiatea of the work. Printed in the same handsome manner, its
Woe at a music-shop, instead of sixpence, would be half-a-crown;
sod moreover the wrapper, designed by Doyle, is ro full of fancy that
it baa no small value as a work of art.—John Bull.
" The First Number of this Work contains a new song, ' Sing,
Maiden, Sing,' the words by Barry Cornwall, and the music by Balfe.
This snag will proven great favourite, and if all the mimic published
in the work is equal to it, it will find a very prominent place in public
favour.".—Weeldy
London: Publish at fie office of The Music nook, No. 1, St.
Bride's Avenue, Fleet-street (leading to St. Bride's Church), andsold
by nil Booksellers, Newsmen, and Dealers in Periodicals, who will
regularly supply the work.

NEW WORK by G. A. a BECKETT & JOHN LEECH.
Now published, price One Shilling, No. V. of
THE
COMIC HISTORY of ENGLAND.
BY GILBERT ABBOTT a BECKL'TY.
Wrtu A COW.IED ETCHING
ON STALL AND NUTIMOVA 'ULTIMA.
• moss us JOILN LEECH.
Paommertia.
In announcing a Comic History of England it may be necessary to
observe that the levity implied in the title will relate to the manner,
brit by no menus to the mutter of the work, which will be collected
with the gravest regard to the truth and accuracy that the subject
requires. The aim of the writer will be to present a faithful narative,
for which the best authorities will be the pivot carefully consulted, and
to serve it up to the reader in a more palatable form than Ma hitherto
been thought compatible with the dignity of history. There is not
the smallest intention to sacrifice fidelity 'a tun in the forthcoming
production, which Is designed to show that the utile et dulce are not
mseparabie. The advantages of blending amusement with instruc-
tion are universally allowed; and there Is an end to the once favourite
fallacy that food for the mind requires the uninviting flavour of physic.
The COMIC nisal qty of ENGLAND will not be a mere abridgment
of any other work, nor will it follow servilely in the steps of any former
historian. The author does not aspire to walk In the gigantic Ahnc, of
Hume, the easy alippers of Smitten, the goloshes of Goldsmith, or the
pumps ,f rinisock. In literature the shoes of another are too apt to
prove clogs to the party attempting to make his way in a ehauasnre
for which he was never fitted. The Comic History of England will,
therefore, be an entirely original composition, the materials for which
will be deriveal from a emanation of all the beat histories already in
existence, whose accuracy will be tested by dinet reference to the
• most undoubted authorities.
The chief purpose of
co preliminary announcement is to guard
wok üblic against any misconception of the intended character of the
ork on account of its title. A narrative may, it is hoped, be correct
as well as comic; for, as "truth is stranger than fiction," history is
sometimes much more ludicrous than the fancies of the humorist.
The purpose of the work being explained, it remains only to
announce the form of publication. It will appear in Monthly Parte.
price One Shilling each, handsomely piloted in avo., and copiously
Illustrated be Jona Liam, with One large Etching and from Ten
to Fifteen WOod Engravings.
The COMIC IiLiTORY of ENGLAND will comprise from Twelve
to Twenty Part., and will appear regularly with the monthly maga-
zines until its completion.

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
.' The public to deeply indebted to the 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 opening
number of bin History dice the tame good service for the AM drier
dissertations with which Archaeological journals, and the Archaeologi-
cal Societies are laboriously stuffed."—Daily News.
"That indefatigable wit and humourist, Gilbert k Beckett, has
commenced a new labour of drollery. Having tranamogrilled that
grave anti learned personage, Blackstone, into the merriest mad wag
on earth, be news Like flume, Lingard, Rapin, Tacitus, and the other
very venerable high priests oClio in hand, and by the force of comic
genius converts them into the pleasantest punsters, end Mgt gro-
ttuque spirits in creation. He is ably assisted in his work by the has-
gutsily° Leech, who gives a form and substance to the airy crotchets
of b Beckett's br.iin. The Landing of Julius Caner' is a glorious
conception. The illustrious Roman stands on the paddle-box of his
Ammer, and there surveys the invincible tenth legion whipping the
Sandwich Flats in the most orthodox manner. To do our ancestors
every justice, they w. re, according to G. A. h. Beckett and his inter-
preter Leech, as fine tof 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, compoeed by Hume, Goldsmith, and the
rest."—Morning Yost.
"We predict fur this work almost unexampled popularity. In it
historic truth and wit of fine polish and easy flow are blended without
apparent effort. Instruction and amusement walk armdnarm,
laughing, moralising, teaching—the pleaaantest of modern peripatc-
tics. As the author says, There is not the smallest intention to
sacrifice fidelity to fun, the design being to show that the rade et dal
are not inseparable. Mr. is Beckett, as far as the first part of his
charming history goes, has fulfilled his design, and provedthat there
Is an end to the once favourite fallacy that food for the mind requires
the uninviting flavour of physic' The book is copiously and cleverly
illustrated by John leech. Should the suceeedMe monthly ports
equal the first, the author will have permanently fixed his place in the
first rank of our wittiest writenh"—Bell's Life In London.
"A alpital idea. Mr. 1 Beckett has at last found a canvass large
enough (orbit; broad bold caricatures, and he aps to revel in the
freedom it permits him. And John Leech's admirable backing of his
friend is worthy of the latter's merits. The history dies not let you
off with a smile, but forces you into • roar worthy of the British
Lion, who is most unceremoniously stirred op by authorts an"—Coart
d artist.
We are glad to enliven our pages with some extrac.
_ _

" There were not wanting many ftTlJournal. VC pCIIOII6 who considered a
Comic Phickstone' a species of sacrilege what then shall be said of
n Comic Bistory of England 1' We are almost inclined ourselves to
shake our beads at the incorrigible jester, but, not being able to make
• RAMO bee, he has the laugh of us, and escapes castigation.
Ibe first port of the work is now before us—thirty-two pages of fun,
graphic and literary, Leech being the artist who participates in the
sport, fairly dividing the applause."—Wcekly Chronicle.
London: Published at Punch Office, SS Fleet-street; J. Mac-
&than, Dublin ;J. Meuzles, Edinburgh ;J. ll'Leod, Glasgow.