The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-08 00:00:00

LONDON,

READINGS FOR TBE RAIL.

„Reprinted

S T "TT,:I_IES."
by kermisson.
THE " FORTY-FIVE." By Lord Mahon.
271 E CHASE. By Nimrod. John Murray.
Encouraged by the brilliant success attendant upon
many recent adventures in the way of supplying the
masses with cheap and standard literature, Mr Murray
has commenced the issue of a new series, destined, we
are satisfied, to occupy a very distinguished position
among this remarkable class of periodicals. This cir-
cumstance is perhaps not the less deserving of public
consideration when it is coupled with the appearance
of another admirable list of works of a similar charac-
ter, given to the world almost simultaneously by the
eminent house of the Messrs. Longman. When it is
observed that efforts of this popular description are
being mode by those who were aptly described on the
lit a July, by Sir Edward Bul wer Lytton, as the
" Medici of Publishers," it must be allowed that the
aspirants for national education have ample reason to
exult in the prospects of a rapid spread of know-
ledge throughout the population. Formerly
this endeavour to supply the multitude with
valuable books at a reasonable price was restricted to
a very small number of adventurous and intelligent
men ; but the merits of their undertakings have for-
.tunately of late years excited a generous emulation
among their contemporaries. The Lengmans are
bringing out the Travellers' Library, as the Cham-
bers brought out their Information for the People;
and Murray is now issuing from the press successive
portions of Readings for the Rail just as, of old,
Knight printed from week to week instalments of the
Penny Magazine. Elsewhere in the publishing world
a like emulation is being manifested, but at present
our remarks must be confined to the example of the
enterprise now lying before us for consideration. In
the first of the three volumes above mentioned we re-
cognise, we feel assured, the opening of a new epoch
in the progress of periodical literature. It will
be perceived that the book comprises alto-
gether eleven essays, very judiciously selected
from literary criticisms which have appeared in
the columns of our morning contemporary. By thus
grouping these papers together, and reproduc-
ing them in the form of a separate work, apart
from the more ephemeral materials of a news-
paper, the. writer has rescued them from the
gradually increasing obscurity in which they
must necessarily have been ultimately involved.
Many of the reading public will be rejoiced we doubt
not at the fact of this re-issue—more especially when
subjectsit is tin eemntbitelreeddtothsacteuthree
taortticles in
hemselvqesueasltaiorn rgeaelate to
amount
of popularity. It is scarcely requisite, we believe, to
say more to the majority in regard to these subjects
than that they will, most of them, be at once recog-
nised. For example, one essay relates to the fortune,
or rather, perhaps, we might more correctly say, the
misfortune, which has associated together the names of
" Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton." Another ar-
ticle is a well-known argument in reference to " Rail-
way Novels ; " and a third has allusion to the calamities
attendant on " Louis Philippe and his Family." As,
so to speak, supplementary curiosities of literature, we
find also among the essays here collected together,
those relating to the genius of " John Keats," and the
intellectual industry of "Robert Southey." Auto-
biographical works will be found recriticised in the
essays on " Cottle's Reminiscences," and on " Lord
Holland's Reminiscences." Historical chapters will
be discovered in the articles relating respectively to
" Grote's History of Greece," and to the " Drama of
the French Revolution ;" while estimates of two very
extraordinary persons will be perceived in other por-
tions of the volume, those persons being men no less
dissimilar than " Dean Swift " and " Howard, the
Philanthropist." Perhaps the most masterly essay in
the whole collection is that relating to the memorable
loves of Stella and Vanessa. We consider, we repeat,
the issue of the book containing these remarkable
papers as inaugurative of a new era in periodical
literature. For inasmuch as Mr. Murray has
had the courage to adventure upon what
many might have presumed to be a hazardous experi-
ment, but what is already proving to be a brilliant
triumph in republication, he is entitled to the ap-
plause of the press, and we cannot but think, also, in
a very great measure to the gratitude of the general
community. It is satisfactory, of course, to witness
the re-issue of such a production as the narrative of
the insurrection of 1745, extracted from Lord Mahon's
" History of England." Equally gratifying again, in
its way, is the announcement of the re-appearance, in
an accessible shape, of the celebrated " Chase by
Nimrod," one of the most delightful and graphic
among all the exhilarating effusions of Mr. Apperley.
Yet, notwithstanding the value of these very inte-
resting specimens of Readings for the Rail, we regard
the collection of "Essays from the Times" as a work
altogether too remarkable of its kind not to eclipse
the popularity which might otherwise have been
more directly lavished upon its companion re-
publications. Speaking modestly, but emphati-
cally, upon the peculiar circumstances mark-
ing the reprint of those papers from our con-
temporary, the publisher observes in a notice prefixed
to the volume :—" It has long been a subject of gene-
ral regret that literary productions of the highest order,
and referring to matters of lasting interest, should be
doomed, through the peculiar medium of their publi-
cation, to an ephemeral existence; and the acknow-
ledged frequency with which such compositions have
been extracted from the paper for preservation in the
reader's common-place book, affords the best possible
proof of a wide-spread desire to possess the interesting
and instructive records which it is the object of the
present volumes to perpetuate." The accuracy of these
eulogistic words is sufficiently evidenced by the papers
comprised in the very book referred to, and the truth-
fulness of the remarks of Mr. Murray are in conse-
quence thereby most decidedly and satisfactorily vin-
dicated. Whoever is interested in the diffusion of
really wholesome knowledge among the masses, in the
development of the system of journalism, and in the
cultivation of a pure literary taste by the multitude,
will exult with ourselves in the appearance of a work
like the one here particularised, a work which must
ultimately and very materially tend to secure the ad-
vancement of periodical literature.

CCU►RT CIRCULAR.

BALMORAL, MONDAY.

Her Mlijosty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert
attended divine service yesterday in the parish
church of Crathi2.
The service was performed by the Rev. A. Anderson.
The Viscountess Canning, the Hon. Beatrice Byng,
Earl Grey, and the Gentlemen of the Household
were in attendance.

A meeting of the Finance Committee of the Royal
Commission for the Exhibition of 1861 was held
yeSterday at the Exhibition Building. There were
present, Earl Granville (Chairman), Mr. Baring,
M.l' , Mr. Cubitt, Coloncl Reid, and Mr. Bowing
(Secretary).
Mr. Cole, Mr. Dinie, and Mr. Carpenter, were also
present.
The Oxford University Commission had a meeting
yesterday at the ofticial residence of the First Lord
of the Treasury, in Downing-street. Present—The
Bishop of Norwich, the Dean of Carlisle, the Rev.
H. G. Liddell, J. L. Dampier, Esq., the Rev. Profes-
sor Powell, the Rev. G. H. S. Johnson, and the Rev.
A. P. Stanley (secretary).
The Marquis of Lansdowne has arrived at the
Grove, the seat of the Earl of Clarendon.
Dispatches Office from
the
Governor
were received
of Canada.
yesterdayanaa. at the Colonial