The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-06 00:00:00

LITER /17'UILE.

The White Doe of Rylstone. By William Words-
worth. Illustrated by Birket Foster and H. N.
Humphreys. Longman and Co.
Wordsworth's popular poem of " The White Doe
of Rylstone" is now offered to the public in the
form of a very elegant Christmas gift book. It is
a highly praiseworthy system which is now adopted
by publishers, who combine the graces of the
artists' pencil with the charm of immortal verse,
and employ the skill of the designer to illustrate
some standard work instead of those superficial and
transitory publications which were often written
to suit the pictures. Wordsworth's rank among
poets is the subject of fierce dispute—some regard-
ing him as second to none but Shakspeare, while
others resent his assumption of the title of poet.
Perhaps, a middle 'course in this, as in so many
other disputes, would be the wisest, but at any rate
the bard of Rysdal Mount has a very large
class of admirers who will gladly welcome such a
volume as the present. Birket Foster lends the
aid of his ever graceful pencil, and as usual his
landscapes excel his groups of figures. EL N.
Humphreys has drawn all the canto titles and tail.
pieces with singular success. The introductory
pages are beautiful, the binding is gorgeous, and
the paper is especially fine. All the ladscape sub-
jects have been drawn, we are told, from original
and authentic sketches, and they certainly bear
testimony to the loveliness of our English wood-
lands. All the designs have been skilfully en-
graved by Mr. Henry Woods. Altogether, the
volume is most suitable for a gift-book at the fes-
tive season forthcoming, and will always be accept-
able to the lovers of art and elegance.

Dublin University Magazine.

" Gerald Fitzgerald, the Chevalier," is continued,
and in the somewhat lengthened portion that we
meet with in this number, very great vicissitudes
befal the hero. He narrowly escapes from a violent
death in consequence of being seized by sonic of
the reckless devotOes of revolt and carnage. He
scarcely passes from this danger to fall into
Another, and is imprisoned. Finally, through one
of the phases of the strange events then occurring,
he is taken to Rome, in order to carry out some
important plan devised by persons in authority.
This story is very entertaining, with its several
momentous details and descriptions. There is
an excellent article, entitled " Remonstrances of a
Radical," which discusses Mr. Bright's speeches.
There is a great deal of common sense in the obser-
vations, and a few appropriate quotations from
different sources demonstrate the mistakes that
were made in that violent address. After stating
that there were many worthy mechanics at the
Town-hall of Birmingham, it is said, " We do re-
pudiate the attempt to lower those minds, to
heat those brains, to poison those hearts, by such
unstatesmanlike, unmbrotherly, unmanly diatrites
as those which Mr. Bright thew launched against
the peers and landed gentry of the realm of
Britain. We cannot bear to see the understanding
of our working men insulted, and their passions
roused, by statements which vanish when cast for
one earnest moment into the crucible of sound
historical, political, moral, social criticism." The
paper on " Recent Novels" gives a fair summary
of many works of fiction, which will be entertain-
ing to those who have read them, and prove instruc-
tive to those who have not met with the subjects
under criticism. " Chronicles of Castle Cornet"
is a very ingenious story, which must attract at-
tention from its peculiar style. There is something
very original about it, and the dark mystery that
hangs over it will invest it with an additional fasci-
nation for many. Some verses on " The Memorial
Church at Constantinople " are written in an appro-
priate manner, the style is solemn, and yet there is
a calm trnst evinced that befits the record of the
Christian soldier's rest, when, his warfare o'er, he
sleeps the sleep that knows not waking. " Rides
upon Mules and Donkeys " continue the series of
travels previously recounted ; in this part the
journey is among the granite boulder. of Syenc.
" The Black Chamber is a German ghost story,
suited to the lovers of horror, but it is not calcu-
lated to please the general reader. " Recent
Cambridge Literature' is a clever article, which
is worthy of perusal, as it enters fully into the
subject, without prejudice. After some specimens
of recent works, it is said that with Whewell and
Herschell, and many others, Cambridge may rest
content, for her men " stand in the front rank of
the march of intellect."

The Art Journal—The first of tho three plates in
this number of the Art Journal, is from a painting
by G. Metzu, in the Royal Collection. It repre-
sents a German girl gathering a bunch of grapes
from the outside of her window. The light and
shade is skilfully contrasted, but the plain round
face and clumsy figure of the lady mars the effect.
" The Waterfall," by Zuccherclli, also in the Royal
Collection, is a graceful landscape, with a town and
bridge in the background. The groups about the
waterfall, which is not of alarming height, are
prettily arranged. The third plate represents the
statue of George Stephenson, by E. H. Baily, R.A.
His fine head and dignified bearing are eminently
characteristic. One of the most attractive articles
in the Art Journal has long been the " The Book
of the Thames," by Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Hall.
The present instalment, which concludes it, is
more than usually attractive. The illustrations
are numerous, and those of " Shells" and " The
Thames and Medway" are especially
successful.
" Botany, as, adapted to the Arts and, Art Manu-
facture" is another remarkable paper, and merits
the attention of designers. The usual variety of
essays on artistic subjects, and art criticism, is
given' and are full of interest. One of the most
remarkable features in the number before us is the
completion of the twenty-first volume of the Art
Journal, thus testifying the ability and success
with which it has been conducted, and also the
general development of artistic and cultivated
taste during late years. We trust this public
favourite will continue for many years to celebrate
its anniversary, and to improve and refine the
popular taste in art.