The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-06-09 00:00:00

LITERARY NOTICES.

Blackwood and Sons

215, Regent-street.

Curry, jun. and Co.

Liam Tait.

Painter.

burgh : William Blackwood and Sons.

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The British and Foreign Review; or European Quarterly
Journal. No. 20. London : R. and J. E. Taylor, Red
Lion-court, Fleet-street.
This number opens with a masterly article on " Our Re-
lations with China, and the Opium Question." Some of its
views, however, appear to us too favourable towards the pre-
sent degraded crew in office. The writer has evidently a
leaning towards Whiggery, he would not denounce Sir
James Graham's motion as factious and unwarrantable. The
article on " Belgian Literature" displays considerable his-
torical research. The account of " Lapland and the Lap-
landers" is exceedingly interesting, and furnishes us with
many curious particulars respecting the habits and customs
of the inhabitants of that inhospitable region. We cannot
avoid expressing our utter repugnance to the opinions in-
sinuated in the article on " Niebuhr's Life and Opinions."
The Neologian, half-infidel sentiments of Niebuhr have done
much harm. The less that is known of his works in England
the better. There are many valuable truths and important
suggestions in the remarks on " The Progress and Prospects
of the Self-supporting Emigration System." The analysis of
" Tocqueville on Democracy" is a very able article. The re-
maining articles are " The Recent Occurrences in Cracow,"
" Pulpit Eloquence in America," and " Austria in Italy,"
the last of which possesses much interest.

Blackwood's Magazine, June, 1840. Edinburgh : W.

The first article in the present number is an elaborate and
powerfully written article on " The Opium and the China
Question," in which this delicate and difficult subject is tem-
perately and ably discussed. This topic is also handled with
much judgment in a " Postscript," written in consequence
of the speech of the Duke of Wellington on this question.
The writer's opinions are concurrent with those of the noble
Duke. The story of " Carlo Sebastian, the Aid-de-camp"
is brought to a happy conclusion. The continuation of
" Ten Thousand a Year" possesses an absorbing degree of
interest. The close of the trial is extremely well wrought
out, and winds up the feelings to an almost painful degree of
excitement. " Wild Oats—a new Species," contains many
valuable truths. We especially recommend to the notice of
our readers the excellent article on " The Progress of Pro-
testantism in France." The information which it embodies
will be new to most of them. "My Old School" is a well
written sketch. The poetical contributions in this number
possess a very high degree of merit. The essay on " Per-
sonification" displays great originality of thought. On the
Whole, this is one of the best numbers of Blackwood, both as
to the variety and the excellence of its articles, that we have
ever perused.

Fraser's Magazine. June, 1840. London; James Fraser,

This number commences with an elaborate and well-
reasoned article on " Milman's History of Christianity."
The writer is exceedingly severe in his criticisms, but not
more so, in our opinion, than the occasion justifies. He
very justly remarks that the above work " in style, in tone,
and in method, is stamped with the Gibbon mark." The
account of " Modern Greece" embraces much that is at
once novel and interesting. The writer is evidently a man of
accurate observation. The article on " Eloquence" displays
a sound judgment and great power of discrimination. " A
Shabby Genteel Story" is amusingly rich in its humour.
We promise ourselves many a hearty laugh from the sequel
of this tale. " Woman and the Social System" is a splendid
article, and one which, for the sake of the salutary truths
which it contains, ought to be most extensively circulated.
The " Extracts from my Journal between Chili and Jamaica"
furnish us with some very interesting and authentic particu-
lars respecting the state of South America. The " Pictorial
Rhapsody of Michael Angelo Titmarsh" abounds in quaint
humour. The able examination of Lord Stanley's bill de-
serves a careful perusal. It forms a complete resume of the
whole subject.

Dublin University Magazine. June, 1840. Dublin : W

We have seldom opened a more attractive number of this
excellent magazine than the one before us. The first article
to which we instinctively turned was the continuation of the
laughable adventures of " Charles O'Malley, the Irish
Dragoon." The incidents related in the four last chapters
are of the most mirth-provoking character. The remarks on
"The Irish Municipal Reform, and Lord Stanley's Regis-
tration Bills" are highly pertinent and instructive. The
" Portrait Gallery" contains a capital likeness and a well
written memoir of Sir Philip Crampton, the Irish Surgeon-
General. The facts disclosed in Dr. Walsh's paper on
" Our Fellow Lodgers" are of the most startling and extraor-
dinary character. There arc some beautiful specimens of
poetry in the " Stray Leaflets from the German Oak." The
concluding part of the memoir of Swift has afforded us
a rich treat. " Romish misquotation exposed" is a slashing
article, giving us but a very indifferent opinion of Father
Maguire's honesty. " Birch's Faust," Rough notes on a
Ride from the East," and " The Pope's Bull," are all well
written articles, ant! worthy of the character of this periodical.

Tait's Edinburgh Magazine, June, 1810. Edinburgh : V

This number opens with an exquisite sketch, under the
title of " The Green Lane," in which the exclusive natural
beauties of Old England are graphically and eloquently de- '
picted. The " Sketches of Life and Manners, from the
Autobiography of an English Opium Eater," appear to be as
interesting as ever, front the cursory perusal which we have
been enabled to bestow upon them. They abound with
beautiful imagery. The " Memoirs of Jeremy Bentham"
contain some curious anecdotes, as do also the " Memoirs of
Sir Samuel Ron►illy ;" but both these articles are pervaded
by a spirit of democratic philosophisin against which we must
enter our protest. "Isit a Revolt or a Revolution?"
breathes a revolutionary spirit throughout. It is the produc-
tion of a political dreamer, whose idol is " change," whether
for good or for ctil it is immaterial. The review of Lady
Morgan's new work, " Woman and her Master," is very
ably executed, though we cannot assent to all the views of
the writer. He is too much of a Benthamite for our taste.
" The Whig and Tory Veto Measures" will be chiefly inter-
esting to our friends of the Church of Scotland. The mis-
cellaneous contents of Tail's Magazine are highly interesting.

_ .
The Churchman. June, 1840. London: W. E. Painter,

342, Strand.
This is an excellent number. The introductory article on
" Prejudice" is calculated to effect much good. It has been
very seasonably introduced. The remarks on " The Charac-
ter of Stephen Gardiner" are extremely curious ; but we
think that they are much too favourable to that prelate. The
continuation of •` Continental Literature" contains some
striking and original observations on the works of Bouterwek.
" The only Daughter".is an affecting narrative, and might be
converted into an excellent tract. " Popular Superstitions"
promises to be a very interesting, series. Under the head of
" Divines of the Romish Church" we have some pertinent
remarks on the eloquence of Bossuet. The casuistical cases
answered by the editor of the Churchman will probably set
many a troubled mind at rest.

The Village Churchman. Jnne, 1840. London : W. E

We are always glad to receive this little publication. It
breathes a truly_ piou.4 and catholic spirit in every article.
The confirmation of " The Pious Churchman's Sunday,"
in the number before ❑s, must do much good, if carefully
perused. The article on " Popular Objections to an Esta-
blished Church" is cell written, and furnishes satisfactory
replies to the most prevalent of those objections. " Hints
on Popery" are also good. The aecouPt of the " Church of
England Societies," the " Village Churchman's Sab-
bath Meditations," and the miscellaneous articles in this ex-
cellent periodical are .well adapted for popular perusal.

The New Statistical Account of Scotland. No. 26. Edin-

The mass of information respecting the antiquities, topo-
graphy, natural history, statistics, parochial economy, agri-
culture, &c., of Scotland, which has been collected together
in this work is truly a.stonishing. We cannot avoid once
more expressing a wish that we possessed such a work de-
scriptive of England and Wales. The part before us con-
tains a beautifully engraved map of A rgyleshire, and a copious
description of the county of Lanark, including the several
parishes of Carmichael, Pettinain, Carstairs, Carluke,

mumsock, Cam 3usnethan, Bertram Shotts, Old or West
Monkland, Govan, Dalserf, and Botherell.

Parliamentary Speeches. Session, 1840. Part 2. London :

W. E. Painter, 342, Strand.
Mr. Painter deserves the thanks of every conservative for
his spirited undertaking in thus republishing the most cele-
brated speeches in parliament, in a mode, and at a price,
which places them within the reach of the humblest indi-
vidual. The speeches contain intrinsic evidence of a careful
revision. Any person sending a fourpenny piece, in a pre-
paid letter, may have any of the speeches forwarded in return.
This is a great advantage, of which, we trust, our country-
men will extensively avail themselves. The present part con-
tains the speeches of the Bishop of Exeter on the " Progress
of Socialism," those of Mr. Hume, Mr. Liddell, Sir R. H.
Inglis, Mr. Goulburn, Col. Sibthorpe. Sir James Graham,
and Sir Robert Peel, on the " Provisional Grant for Prince
Albert, and those of Mr. Herries and Mr. Goulburn, on the
" Financial State of the Country."

Party Politics and Political Prospects. A Letter to the
Right Hon. Sir Robert Peel, Bart., M.P. London : W.
E. Painter.

This pamphlet contains an able and eloquent review of
the policy pursued by the two great contending parties in
parliament—the one, comprising her Majesty's ministers ;
the other, the great Conservative party opposed to them.
The author has carefully noted down the progress and fall
of the Whig party, on the one hand, and the progress and
rise of the Conservatives, on the other ; and concludes with
some very sensible practical suggestions, which merit the at-
tention of every true patriot.

Brother Jonathan, or " The Smartest Nation in all erect.
tion." Edited by Paul Patterson. Illustrated by Robert
Cruikshank. Nos. 1 and 2. London : Hugh Cunning.
ham, 1, St. Martin's-place, Trafalgar-square.

This is another capital serial work after the Pickwick
school. Looking at the rich humour which pervades the
numbers before us, and the attractive adjunct of the beauti-
ful coloured aquatint engravings, we have no hesitation in
pronouncing Brother Jonathan a " decided hit." It affords
some very amusing pictures of American habits, fashions,
manners, and morals, which appear to be sketched with fi-
delity. The descriptions of "Liberty Hall" and of "The
Duel" are excellent. If the sequel of this work should con-
tinue to sustain the same character as the numbers before us,
in point of amusing delineation of character, it cannot fail to
become exceedingly popular.

The Illustrated Shakspere. Revised from the best Autho-
rities, with Annotations and Introductory Remarks on
the Plays. Illustrated with nearly One Thousand Engrav-
ings on Wood. Parts 13 and 14 London : R. Tyas. 8, Pa-
ternoster-row.
We have already expressed our warm approbation of the
plan and execution of this admired edition. The illustra-
tions continue to be as attractive as ever. The numbers be-
fore us contain Timon of Athens and Hamlet, the annota-
tions on the former of which are exceedingly interesting. No
Englishman, who feels any pride in the literary character of
his country, should be without this beautiful and unique
edition of Shakspere.

Master Humphrey's Clock. By Boz. Part 2. London
Chapman and Hall, 186, Strand ; Liverpool : W. Webb
Castle-street.

This number of Humphrey's Clock is far more interest-
ing than the first. The introduction of our old friend Pick-
wick as a member of Master Humphrey's club is a capital
stroke of policy. The formation of " Weller's Watch" in the
kitchen of the old mansion promises to afford a rich fund of
amusement. The incidental tales, especially the " Visit to
the Curiosity Shop," are exceedingly well told. The dia-
logue between Mr. Quilp and the ladies is highly charac-
teristic.