The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-06-25 00:00:00

LITERARY NOTICES.

The Works of Mrs. Hemans, with a Memoir
,of her
Life. By her Sister. Edinburgh : Blackwood and
Sons. London : Cadell.

We have received the first volume of this truly in-
teresting work, which, we feel confident, is destined to
become exceedingly popular. Independently of the
intrinsic value of the memoir, as an affectionate tribute
from a talented sister, the prose and poetry of Mrs.
Hemans will render the series a favourite with the pub-
lic. Our townsman, Mr. Chorley, has already issued
an admirable memoir of Mrs. Hemans, in which he has
favoured the public with a large portion of her corres-
pondence ; but, although that work has been appreci-
ated on account of the enthusiastic ardour by which it
is pervaded, it is evident that many incidents connected
with the private history of Mrs. Hemans remained to
be supplied by some member of her own family. On
none could that task devolve with more propriety than
upon her sister, the principal part of whose life was
spent under the same roof as Mrs. Hemans,,and de-
voted to her society. We therefore hail with delight
the appearance of the volume before us, which contains
the most minute and circumstantial biography of Mrs.
Hemans that is likely to be presented to the public. Of
the incidents in Mrs. Hemans's life •it is unnecessary
for us to say anything. Mrs. Hughes's memoir fur-
nishes as much information on this topic as can be ge-
nerally interesting. Of her character we cannot do
better than repeat the eloquent tribute of the Dublin
University Magazine :—•" 'render and enthusiastic, she
fed her heart on all things noble, and would tolerate
no others as the aliment of her imagination. She
created for herself a world of high-souled men and
women, whose love had no outward glitter, no surface-
sparkle, but was a deep, o'ermastering stream, strong,
steady, and unbroken." This volume forms the first
of a series of six, and contains, in addition to the me-
moir, " Wallace's Invocation to Bruce," and " Eng-
land and Spain, or Valour and Patriotism."

Gray's Elegy Written in a Country Church-Yard.
With Versions in the Greek, Latin, German, Italian,
and French Languages. Illustrated with numerous
Engravings. London : John Van Voorst. 1839.
This is, without the slightest exaggeration one of
the most splendid books we have ever seen. Whether
we look on the beauty of the typography or the exqui-
site delicacy of the illustrative engravings, we can
scarcely find terms to express our admiration. The
engravings are on wood, and there are thirty-three in
number, each of which may rank among the most
beautiful and elaborate specimens of the day. The
translations, as far as we are capable of judging, do
justice to the transcendant merits of a composition
which the highest critical authority in our own coun-
try has declared it would be idle to praise. As a book
for presentation we know of few so attractive as the
volume before us.

A General Outline of the Animal Kingdom, and Manual
of Comparative Anatomy. By Thos. Rymer Jones,
F.Z.S. Illustrated by numerous Engravings on
Wood. Part 6. London : John Van Voorst.

We have already had occasion to speak in the most
favourable terms of this excellent work, which com-
bines the strictest accuracy of scientific classification with
great plainness of style and illustration. The present
number fully justifies the opinion which we have hi-
therto expressed of its value. It contains a minute
description of the anatomical structure of the Insecta.
The engravings are executed with great care and fide-
lity, and considerably enhance the value of the work.
The spirited publisher has evidently spared no expense
in order to render it both useful and ornamental as a
manual of natural history.