The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-15 00:00:00

character of the works to be produced, we have no
doubt the project will be immediately successful.

Homely Ballads for the Working Man's Firoeide.
By Mary Sewell. Smith and Elder.

This little volume is simple and pleasing in style,
and its purpose is excellent. During many years
of friendly intercourse with her poorer neighbours,
the authoress tells us she has often observed the
poetry in a book to be the first part which draws
their attention, and that she believes that there
exists among the working classes, generally, an
instinctive love and appreciation of simple descrip-
tive poetry. She justly considers the cultivation
of this taste as of great importance to those whose
lives are passed in constant drudgery and unrefin-
ing toil. She therefore offers her contribution to
the working man's store, and no doubt it will prove
very acceptable. The moral is excellent, without
being brought too prominently forward, and the
ballads tell of the joys and troubles of everyday
life. The only fault that can be found with them
is that the transition is occasionally too abrupt from
poetic expression to almost ludicrous simplicity.
This does not often occur, and we hope the authoress
will give us more of these Homely Ballads, which
are likely to afford both gratification and profit to
the class for whom they are intended.

The Art Journal. No. XLVII.

The three plates in the November number are of
average merit, and pleasing, though not unusually
impressive. The first is " The Jager's Wife," from
a picture from F. Foltz, in the Royal collection ;
the second is a pretty landscape, from a picture by
Berghem, also in the Royal collection ; and the last
is an engaving of Mr. Baily's- statue of the late J.
W. Turner, R.A. The prose part of the work is as
interesting as usual. Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall
continue their " Book of the Thames," taking us
this month past Greenwich and Woolwich, and
giving us graceful little vignettes of the Dockyard,
the Hospital, and the Naval School. A paper on
" Windsor and its Historic Associations," com-
mences a series which affords full scope to the
talents of the writer and the artist. The engrav-
ings are very pleasing, especially those of Win-
chester Tower and Dewer Meadows. The series
on " British Artists" devotes the fortieth number
to Frederick Tayler, and gives an interesting
account of his works, with numerous illustrations.
There are several other illustrated articles, and all
the variety of artistic information usually afforded
to the readers of the Art Journal.

The Amateur's Magazine. Fryer, Bouverie-street,
This serial is published with the intention of
supplying a medium for bringing before the public
the works of non-professional writers. Many am-
bitious aspirants for literary distinction will wel-
come the appearance of such a magazine, which
will no doubt be quite equal in ability to many
older and more limited publications. It contains
stories, sketches, poetry, reviews, and satires ; and,
considering that the number before us is only the
second, we may anticipate with confidence that the
Amateur's Magazine will be an acquisition both to
authors and readers.

The Wild Flowers of England. Houlston and

Wright.

This charming little serial will be completed in
twelve numbers, and will form a most attractive
volume. It is written by the Rev. R. Tyas, M.A.,
and each part is illustrated with a coloured group
of flowers, by J. Andrews, F.R.S. Our old friends
and simple favourites appear in all the dignity. of
Latin names and Linnean classes, but the descrip-
tions are more comprehensible, and the poetical
quotations apt and graceful. All who love the
flowers of the field, as well as their more elaborate
brethren of the garden and the conservatory, should.
secure this little work.