The Express.
London, England, 1857-11-13 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

MUSIC.

The Poetical Works of Edgar Alias Poe; silk
o.riginal Memoir. Illustrated by F. R. Pickete-
r% R.A., John Tenniel, Birket Foster, Felix
barley, Jasper Crop..y, F. Duggan, Percival
Skelton, and A. IL Madot. London Sampson
Low, Son, and Co., 47, Ladgete-hill. 1888.
Poems. By WILLIAM COLLIN BRYANT. Collected
and arranged by the Author. Illustrated with 71
engravings by the Brothers Dalziel, from draw-
ings by eminent artists. Loudon : Sampson Low,
Son, and Co., 47, Ludgate-hill. 1868.
A rumour which for some time has been current
through the literary world, and which has recently
received confirmation, tells us that the "Keepsake,"
the lest of the Annuals which for a series of years
made such a glittering and comely appearance about
the commencement of November, la defunct, and that
with it that clam of,literature is gone by for ever. We
frankly confess we are sorry for it ; for though the
pictorial portion of such works was never calculated to
arouse any great admiration, yet in their pages were
to be found many scraps of graceful poetry or telling
prose. Moreover, such books were links with vanished
days, with houses whose doors are closed for ever on
the merry throng mice always welcome within them,
with people the sun of whose prosperity has set,
_or
who themselves have played their part and vanished
bon this earthly stage. Many a man sow
blowy to Isar sad 'Detour with in p Wiwi=
last bow hie Anita were first recognised by that
Oars-house coterie into which he was received with
open arms, his talent being his only herald. Who,
once admitted to that magic circle, does not count
among the most brilliant moments of his life those
evenings when: he sat convulsed with laughter at
the wonderfully improvised ballads of Hook—look-
ing at James Smith, as he leant on his crutch-handled
stick, and caustically commented on the topics of the
day—or listening with delighted ears to the polished
compliments of D'Orsay, or the flattering eulogies of
the hostess herself? With such saeociations m• our
mind is the "Keepsake" indissolubly connected, and
we feel its loss as that of an old friend, who was not
indeed herself the rose, but who had lived in the
closest proximity to her.
With all this affection, however, we are bound to
confess that the new style of gift-book which has
supplanted the Annuals is infinitely superior to
them. For the last few years certain of our
most enterprising publishers have sent forth edi-
tions of the most favourite English poets, clothed
in purple and fine gilding, and embellished with the
most exquisite woodcuts. The first of this class that
we call to mind was Longfellow's " Evangeline,"
in which Mr. Birket Foster first put forth his won-
drous powers, and gave evidence of the possession of
a versatility and an appreciation of the graceful and
picturesque, the farther development of which
qualities has since stamped him as by far the
cleverest landscape wood-draughtsman of the day.
This book seemed to serve as the model for many
that were published by various firma in immediate
succession, nearly all of which were embellished with
landscapes from Mr. Foster's pencil, while the
figure subjects were entrusted to Mr. John Gilbert.
In the figure subjects illustrating the works of the
two American poets now before as, Mr. Foster has
a more genial colluborateur in the person of Mr.
Tenniel ; for Mr. Gilbert, undoubtedly clever though
he be, has a hardness and a mannerism which the
unceasing use of his pencil has increased rather than
diminished, while Mr. Tenniel has great freedom,
great poetic fancy and appreciation, and as a
correct anatomical draughtsman is certainly un-
surpassed. His illustrations to the wild and weirdlike
poem of " The Raven " bear out our remarks : the
strange horror, the " fantastic terrors " felt by the
student when he first hears the mysterious tapping
the quaint, half-tragic, half-ludicrous entrance of the
bird ; the agony felt at the awakened memories et
the " lost Lenore ;" and the final solemn, immovable
pose of the raven on the " pallid bust of Pallas," are
all most fancifully conceived and most elaborately
executed. Of Mr. Foster's landscapes we scarcely
dare trust ounelves to write, lest wo should break
out in ridiculous hyperbole, so deep is our admira-
tion for his talent. - Let the subjects be what they
may, solitary woodland scenes, with the giant' of the
forest standing side by side in solemn grandeur;
English rustic landscapes, fertile fields and teeming
meadows, with their ordinary agricultural accompani-
ments; Italian terraced gardens lying beneath hot
Italian skies; tumbling seas breaking on cliff-bound
shores; or broad sheets of unruffled water, placid
beneath the silver moon—in one and all we find a
perfection in thought, design, and treatment which
W never been arrived at by any other wood
draughtsman. Gar space will not allow us to specify
the works of the other artists who have contributed
illustrations to these volumes, we mart content our-
selves by saying that they have well sustained the
credit of their names, and that their efforts have
been ably seconded by the engravers. Each volume
is perfect in its way, fitted by its binding for the
boudoir of the countess, by its contents foe the book-
shelves of the connoisseur.

JOLLIER'S PROMENADE CONCEITS.

ThanoveltyOi LA night mu hilliest% "Indies
Quadrille, or General Hemlock's Triumphal Witarl." This
piece had ban announced fur mew time, sad It wee a /sappy
coincidence that its performance took pleas on the ersolog
of the day when the public received the am of Havelock%
crowning exploit—the relief of Lucknow. The consequence
of We, ma was excepted, wea an actraomellaary outburst of
patriotic enthusiasm as the pert of the audience. The mud°
la very like that of the MO& Army Quadrille,
and H. Jake% of compositions of that sort; indeed
such attempt' at musitel description mast be according to
certain hyped keens, which edadt of very little variety.
H. Jollies bale availed blamed of the locality of his subject by

introducing some native Indian melodies—qualat,prenY
things—which he Ma treated with remarkable agennitY.
Of this kind are a military march of native troops, a demo
of Bayederes, the call of the Maeda to prayer, and other
Indian subjects. Then the music of Europe cams to be
heard - the gathering of the British troops—the advance of
the Highlanders to the tone of " The Campbell' are
coming," and of the Englblusten to the ebonite
of " Char, boys, chew "—the oonthat—end the grand
triumphal north, followed by " Rule Britanaia " and
"God save the taneen." The music, as usual in wok cases,
deals a implies hotly-burly of drums, trumpets, and
the esattel cis that can be accosaniated la sit avenetza.
i2/sapleas anslndei amid thsvidete of anima, When II
began to subside, M. Jultiea addreseed the endlesee, and
having with some difficulty obtained dime, proceeded to
lay that the wilt of the hero of the time—the lion who had
hunted the ban tiger—had honoured the performance
with her presence ; pointing at the same time to
Lady Havelock, who was seated in a box. He
ailed for three cheers, which were given accord-
ingly, with hearty good will ; and the deafening
Mel of the immense sasemblege had a grandeur—a Bub-
limity even—which all ham's instrumental host could net
approach. The Havelock triumphal march, with the two
national tones, were thee repeated; and the shouts, acclama-
tions, woe* of bate and handkerchiefs, in all parts of the
house were reamed, and continued for some minutes, with
tern vehemence than ever. It was one of the mat
remarkable and gratifying scenes of public excitement that
we have ever witnessed.

Thotnclale : or, The Conflict of Opinions. By
WILLIAM SMITH. Wm. Blackwood and Sons,
Edinburgh and London.
This book is a picture of the mind-and-soul
struggles of a thoughtful, philosophic nature, in a
transition state, earnest in the search for pore truth,
but appearing, perhaps, to the superficial observer,
weak and changeable in the process of development,
and making each day a fresh confession of faith.
Thorndale, the imaginary character, whose psycho-
logical, ethical, and metaphysical revelations are be-
, fore as, is a fair type of that inquiring mind, ever
restless in its sphere of action, taking nothing for
granted, fact, doctrine, or speculation, and wearing
eat by its incessant friction the frail body that it
dwells in. To those of small intellectual activity, who
sink without a struggle into spheres that are allotted
to them, who become what they are in habit and in
faith because their fathers held the same tenets
before them, the development of a mind like
Thorndsle's can appeal with but little chance of sym-
pathy. But to those who ponder much over the
great mysteries of the universe, who try to gain a rea-
son for the faith that is in them, whose very weakness
sad indecision are signs of health and strength, for
they show a mind which is ever progressing and
never stationary—to men of this stamp (and there
are more than the world wots of) books like Thorn-
dale arc always welcome. Mr. Smith carries out
the design of his work with felicity of language, •
scholarly skill, and the command of a wide range in
the schools of philosophy.

A Ln'nAlT CLISOTILUI.—A clerguin in •
coaatry perish sot away mess fives Dods* scranks
the other Sabbath to ilhstasie • pilot to his entmos=a
allusion to the Cowper,. which he did dn. this
" to elf whet I lisre beers goyim, my brethren,
Tensy menthe ths salable sod Christian pest Comp r, with
whose beautiful poems of Paradlar Lest' and 'Paradise
R
' yen mast all b• Imillsr."—Desaies artier, ealattfiaooB Youxo LADT.—Lams week, Mies IL
Rahn', of Chesterfield, being an tree way has Matlock
Bak by the Mose et a Crime at linitilerten, was net by •
women la • lee* part of the rat ewe es letter place,
whoti egad ha if • wonted oil I
N. Oa twolelee
usgays the is
If tend pi
•
homey, law wow by rogeny," eel abed Ilt"Ir
hen, excialsong, "1=76! wank Ned Mbar* esesa."
Ills Badgers, with of mind. ..{d, If
yea will boos soy hands I VI Eyre sae," which
dens, is esabirod to mesh pugs in her dress,
thaw dedintied the wows mem " N..., Mush, if you
ors 111, I insen it too." A elm& sawed, in which weal
lime VIM dale, end the lowa loaf WM** Wzowlf=
...sled in throwing her awn maw tag boap,
with great speed to the howls lfa IMAM la gnat en-
ellesaint. Enquiry was nasicanally us& W the pnbosi
bed It Appears the would-be robber rearearsd, and also edictal
bra assape.—Nottirsydais
1111.11.0vEM Wen ti Fame-MARL—The block of
bow= adoomet to Chilenheina, se the Fiest-strest sad of
DeSksr-hos, le Is be eineresd 'Whig the wens of wit weal.
Thar sir of the Newfol *Mow bowie val Mt to throw
ayekte slaw fan Illooadroot the ere Itewedwflioa aof to
alga MI MP/
(Mow Opplea to Oa Jeeps' awaken mai Oa
wiwonas ownweol yak lira It vill else Wad
eery Nowa to hallorno lAD Wig elm shed Wards most
Insaavohnitionssaim

LONDON, FRIDAY SVSN/NG, NOVFXBRR, 18, 185 T.