The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-12-27 00:00:00

f sheen on the face of t

While all the clond
Was

learning like arger
Though earthward still sullen ar

ark was

I knew that towards heaven

g,litnesa was given—

A lining of silver spread over the cloud l

Then my soul rose in glad
And shook off its sadnes,

I felt God can turn all c

Make j(

Dry tears that are bid

,n the morrow—
His smiles from

I looked up, confessing
That Trial is Blessing,

each grief be spread out and avc

What fr

God above is ill

"There's a lining of sil

REVIEWS OF

BOOKS

a Life of
Lon-

The Works of William Cowper, -
the Author by Robert Southey, LL.D.
don: Henry G. Bohn.
To the English reading public this edition of
Cowper's life, poems, and letters, got up under the
careful supervision of the late Dr. Southey, cannot
fail to be a great boon. By general consent,
Cowper is admitted to hold the foremost rank as a
Christian poet, his works abounding in the spirit of
Christian love, set forth with simple and impres-
sive earnestnes‘yet embellished and enrichc
the finest touches of poetic beauty; his lette._
by most judges 'held to be models of epistolary
ease and gracefulness ; while his subdued and
melancholy life and history afford rare teachings of
that humility which it becomes children of the
dust to observe and practise in all their thoughts
and actions. The publication of Cowper's poetry
has been justly acknowledged to form an epoch in
the history. of English literature, and its beauties
to have exercised a purifying influence not alone
upon the poetry of England but upon the tone of
morals which pervades the higher class of intellec-
tual labour. To select and arrange and superin-
tend the publication of the works of such an author
was a task so peculiarly within the range of Dr.
Southey's taste and powers; while his aptitude in
the minute delicacies and broad pencillings of bio-
graphical delineation, so well fitted him for an un-
exceptionable execution of the task, that not fewer
than three publishing firms of celebrity solicited
him to engage in the arduous and responsible ope-
ration of producing a complete edition of Cowper's
works. Once embarked in the enterprise, Southey's
reputation secured him willing aid from all who
could assist him in his labour, and ready access to
every source whence information could be gleaned,
his own industry and clear judgment supplying
the only other intellectual requirements to com-
plete the undertaking. The felicitous combination
of these almost fortuito* advantages resulted in
the preparation of an edition of Cowper's Works
which reflected, as in a faultless mirror, " the form
and pressure" of the poet's intellect, the tender
aspirations of his benevolent hopes, the manly sim-
tlaiity of his gentle yet ennobling piety, and the
ssing anxieties to which his susceptible nature
rendered him so completely a prey. The poet, in
short, was made to show himself in native and
undisguised fidelity of thought and feeling; his
biographer and editor contenting himself with
merely holding the lamp, whose rays he directed
with artistic skill, so concentrating the ligt# and
massing the shadows, as to present a truthfiti yet
interesting and uuoffending picture, spirited as the
vigorous offspring of genius—elaborated with the
broad fidelity of truth—refined, chastened, sub-
dued by the discrimination of an artist, and
polished by the fastidious hand of regulated cul-
ture. Such a work, so produced, met with a
hearty welcome among the affluent admirers of
intellectual grace and beauty, but its cost, neces-
sarily, liMited the possession of such a treasure to
those whose circumstances place them above the
harrowing task of making " three guineas do the
work of five ;" and to bring the work within reach
of the pecuniary means of the middle and even
humbler classes, has in the present instance been
the kindly and self-imposed duty of Mr. Bohn ; in
he performance of which he has displayed his
usual liberality. Instead of abridging the original
to meet the income derivable from a low price, he
has amplified it by a considerable and valuable
amount of additional correspondence by Cowper,
andother interesting matter,trusting to an extensive
sale forhischance of re-imbursement. The edition is
to consist of eight volumes, the first of which has
only as yet been published; it is handsomely
printed and beautifully embellished by illustrative
engravings, and when completed it will form a
valuable ldition to the library of peer or peasant

;rs are

The Universal Library, Nos. 25 and 26. London

N: Cooke.
These two numbers of this excellent collection of
the works of our best authors, are devoted, the one
to our poetical literature, the other to didactic lore.
The first, the poetical number, contains " The
Canterbury Tales" of Geofrey Chaucer, deservedly
considered the father of our English poetry. The
tales are introduced by an explanatory notice from
the pen of Mr. T. Wright, in which, with unob-
trusive and characteristic modesty, he confines his
remarks to the general excellence and admitted
popularity which have been accorded to the " Can-
terbury Tales" for nearly four centuries. This is
succeeded by a short historical sketch of the poet.
The text has been carefully collated with the best
MSS., and is furnished with illustrative notes ; in
addition to all which there is a copious and well-
digested glossary. In short, neither expense nor
pains have been spared in the endeavour to
render this edition of Chaucer worthy of public
confidence and esteem, and a fit companion of the
beautiful, though cheap series, of which it forms a
part. The other number is devoted to the miscel-
laneous prose efforts of Oliver Goldsmith, whose
literary wisdom formed so striking a contrast to
his worldly and personal folly and improvidence.
Of these essays it is only a repetition of the public
sentiment, recorded in an extensive and still increas-
inc, popularity, to say, they are admirable models
of English composition, and that they are distin-
guished by the alluring display of practical dis-
crimination and sagacity, the want of which formed
the characteristic of Goldsmith's walk and conver-
sation through life. Several volumes of this hand-
some classical series being now ready for delivery,
they willform, sinoiyorcollectively,admirable Christ-

mas presents
got up, and, fro
come-at-able by all

Thiy a

in all respects beautifully
Ire readily

its Treatment.
London : *John

)ted to the study of

h the humane view of

t must be ad

m which to
launted

wrestle with this subtle foe. We regret to think
so much devotion, and so great a tear and wear 'of
intellect, should have been as yet productive of so
limited a benefit. In the work before us we find
the manifestation of deep and acute preliminary
research, unwearied application of resources, and
anxious watchfulness of results, added to sound
inductive reasoning, all leading to an indulgence
of golden hope ; but alas ! we fear, like those of
his predecessors and compeers, the harvest of suc-
cess to be reaped by Dr. Burslem will be but trivial
compared with his exertions ; and naught if mea-
sured by his expectations. His pathological
views of the disease are admitted to be correct,
inasmuch as they coincide with those of the
greatest authorities on the subject ; his diagnoses
appear to be equally accurate, and his mode of
treatment, as indicated by the cases he records, is
in an eminent degree. satisfactory ; still we are
constrained to admit, that after the acknowledged
failure of many modes of treatment which, in the

estimation of their advocates, at first seemed to

warrant an indulgence in hopes as flattering as
those which inspire our author, we feel that we
must pause for a more protracted proof of efficacy
ere we can unhesitatingly commit ourselves to a full
reliance on his conclusions. His industry, talents,
and assiduity of labour in the cause of suffering
humanity entitle him to public thanks and regard;
that he may reap the full fruit of success in those
labours ought to be the wish of every friend to the

The Evangelicals and The Edinburgh." By
the Rev. Samuel Minton, M.A. Liverpool:
Deighton and Laughton.
Under the above title, we have a smartly-written
pamphlet, levelled with good effect in contraven-
tion oc., the aspersions cast upon the Evangelical
party in the Church by "The Edinburgh Review."
Mr. Minton having buckled on his armour, pro-
ceeds valiantly in his warfare against the assailants
of his party. In the opening of his campaign,
Mr. Minton, with obvious alacrity, and no small
amount of skill, undertakes a defence of the Rev.

Dr. MWeile, from the attack, and a justification of
him from the aspersions of the Edinburgh Re-
viewer. The reverend doctor having in so satis-
factory and triumphant a manner vindicated his
own position, and rebutted the accusations made
against him, this vicarious defence might probably
have been spared; more particularly so as the
controversial powers of Mr. Minton, being hus-
banded, could have been more efficaciously ap-
plied in justification of points which had not met
with so competent a defender. This unnecessary
expenditure of power is the more to be regretted
from the success of its application in other re-
spects • witness the felicity with which he casti-
gates ihe Reviewer, for his sneers in respect to the
religious observances with which secular parties
are occasionally closed in the private dwellings of
pious families. The sacred privacy of the domestic
circle is generally understood to exempt it from
the intrusion of public remark, and a departure
from this wholesome practice, if excusable at all,
is probably less out of character in the pages of
The Edinburgh Review than in any other publi-
cation, when that organ of religious latitudina-
rianism so far diverges from its usual course as to
essay a vindication of anything connected with the
Church. In the pamphlet before us, Mr. Minton
,is also happy in showing up and exploding the
Reviewer's assertion that the Evangelical preacher
inculcates "predestinarian fatalism ; ' and he ridi-
cules and denounces, with much severity and force,
the objectionable epithets which the Reviewer,
with a greater display of willingness than good
taste, bestows on the different parties into which,
it may be unfortunately, the adherents of the
Church are divided. In these and various other
respects, Mr. Minton, by his brochure, has done
good service to the cause he has so courageously
espoused.

Cassell's Illustrated Family Paper.
It is a circumstance worthy of note, evon in these
days of cheap publications, that a weekly paper of
eight folio pages is published for one penny. The
engravings are of good size, very well executed,
and of number sufficient to gratify the most ardent
admirer of picttires. The reading matter is very
entertaining, and, upon the whole, it is one of the
cheapest periodicals which has yet been sent forth
View of Liverpool, from the River,

W. Thomson,

Liverpool

In this large and beautiful lithographed view of
the town and port of Liverpool, as these are to be
seen from the river, much interest is naturally
concentrated. It is taken from a picture in which
the talents of two artists of repute have been com-
bined, the town portion having been executed by
Mr. J. Butler, while the shipping has been sur-
rendered into the hands of Mr. T. Walters ; and
these two gentlemen have succeeded in the produc-
tion of a picture replete with local interest, and full
of fine artistic feeling. The foreground, or what,
for want of a better name, is called the foreground
of the picture, is diversified by telling portraits of
particular and well-known crafts ; and the various
points of interest in the town are delineated with
truth and interest. In transferring the subject to
the stone, Mr. T. Picken has displayed fine taste
and aptitude. The general effect is soft and
pleasing ; the atmospheric indication tender, aerial,
and breezy. The print is dedicated to Mr. S.
Holme, the late mayor, who may be proud of the
compliment in which so pleasing and rare a com-
bination
of local talent is brought to bear upon a
subject endeared to the inhabitants by many and
gratifying associations. As a work of art, it is highly
creditable to all concerned in the production of it.

NEW

MUSIC.

Passed away to Heaven"—" The Spring and
Summer both are past"—" Joyful, joyful
' Say, my heart, can this be love?"

Ll7-ing"—l

.randon : Cranier , Ileale, and Co.
Ar this festive season, when the strains of music
and the poetry of action are the charms which
have a general attraction amidst all ranks and de-
grees, these contributions of the lyric music will
be welcoined, by all who can appreciate sweetness
of melody, in preference to mereli elaborateness
of construction. The composer is W. Vincent
Wallace, and the first-named especially, the words
of which are by Anson G. Chester, is an exquisite
ballad, and will be sure to become a general

favourite. The words of the others are by Henry
C. Watson, to whose poetry the composer has
done ample justice, and we may confidently predict
for them a very prominent place in popular favour.
They are peculiarly appropriate to the present
season, and not the least recommendation is, that
they may easily be played by amateurs on the
piano-forte.

CHAMBERS'S EDINBURGH JOURNAL:2IIUB popular
periodical will close the "second series" with the year
1853. But the public will not lose the benefits which they
have, for so many years, derived from the spirited efforts
of the Messrs. Chambers. They commence, on the 7th
of January, a new periodical, to be entitled, " Chambers's
Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art." This
will enable the rising generation to commence a series of
profitable and entertaining reading, for such, from the
past efforts of Messrs. Chambers, we are sure the new
periodical will afford.