The Sun.
London, England, 1828-10-29 00:00:00

THE ANNUALS.

FORGET-ME-NOT-AMULET-JUVENILE SOU-
VENIR-JUVENILE FORGET-ME-NOT:

Lox Dort, 1829.
It was a graceful and classical idea to mark
the approach of winter, and smooth away No-
umber's frown, by such delightful little gifts as
the present. It alMost makes us long for the .
coming on of the season of gloom, when we
feel that it is to be heralded by such Annuals.
To attempt, however, any minute analysis of their
various styles of excellence, whether pictorial,
literary, or typographical, is beyond our power ;
as much so as if in a garden of a thousand sweets,
we were to attempt to inhale the perfume of each
individual flower. All that we can pretend to
do, in the present very circumscribed state of
our columns, is to convey in few but impartial
words, a tolerable idea of their nature. Of the ones
we have yet seen, wegive with some hesitation the
preference to Ackermann's " Forget-me-not."
It has one transcendently beautiful print, which,
with much judgment, is placed ad captandum
opposite the title-page. We refer to the en-
graving taken from one of Martin's paintings,
entitled " Marcus Curtius leaping into the
Gulph." The finish of this master-piece of the
art is really perfect in its way, and though in
miniature, the engraving possesses an air of int-
pressive, not to say thrilling, majesty. The
architectural portion, as usual, is replete with all
Martin's acknowledged power, transferred by an
artist of kindred talent to his engraving. Of the
rest of the illustrations, as we have mentioned
them before, we shall merely add that they are
worthy of Mr. Ackermaun's well-known taste
and enterprise. With regard to the literary de-
partment of the '' Forget-me-not," it is pass-
able ; the verses by James Montgomery, en-
titled the " Retreat," are the best.
The " Amulet" deserves also high praise for
the -very superior character of its illustrations.
Who can see the engraving by Graves, of Mu-
rillo's sweet " Spanish Peasant Girl," and not
feel struck by its extraordinary beauty ? Next
perhaps in merit comes the " Moutain Daisy,"
being the sketch of a lovely girl from a painting
by Sir T. Lawrence (to which Mrs: Hall has
appended a simple and elegant tale.) The eyes
of this rustic beauty alone are worth a good half-
hour's rapture. The " Temple of Victory" is
splendid and imposing in the extreme. In his
editorial capacity Mr. ;Hall has done every jus-
tice to his Amulet, he has absolutely left us no-
thing to carp at, nothing that may enable us to
show off our powers of condemnation. Now
this is really a grievance, and not to be thought
of without pain. Having thus despatched the
gentleman, we proceed—a more welcome task—
to the lady. Mrs. Hall has striVen hard from a
generous principle of rivalry to outstrip her hus-
band in the race. She hal brought forward the
" Juvenile Forget-me-not," in opposition to
his " Amulet." Can the polite reader think of
asking us which of the two we prefer ? Suffice
to say, that tenderness, elegance, and a refined
feminine polish distinguish the contributions of
the one ; energy tempered, but not injured, a
grave devotional spirit, the other. Of the engraN-
iegs, we prefer that admirable one of the " Prin-
cess Victoria," from a bust by Behnes. What
eyes I what lips ! what a sweet dimpled chin
The Juvenile Souvenir does as much credit
to Mrs. A. Watts, as the Juvenile Forget-me-
not, to Mrs. Hall. Both ladies have shed over
their respective works the most attractive charms
of juvenility. Its ease, its sprightliness, its arch
innocence, its perfect freedom from cant or cun-
ning. Assuredly, if the rising generation do
not become perfect patterns of taste, devotion,
and morality, they have only themselves to blame;
though (so much of the old school still clings,
in spite of our most strenuous efforts to shake it
off, to our judgment), we must confess, that in
our view of the case, that invaluable " Diurnal,"
the " Birch," is far more effective than the most
faultless " Annual." That scientific Professor
of flagellation, Dr. Keate, is, we are convinced,
of the same opinion.