The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-02-18
Gbs 8sbieh.

has been freshened by again turning over its
pages. Mrs. Jameson has now an established
iame. Numerous more elaborate and more
matured productions of her pen have followed,
and received high appreciation; but perhaps no
one OF them has been more popular than this
OF an earlier day. The form and method, the
intermingling of literary and artistic anecdotes
with criticism, with the dramatic style of dia.
logue, are adapted to enlist the attention and
excite interest far more than q mere didactic
plan would have been. Some of the incidents
depicted take deep hold on the feelings-as, for
instance, that of Henry Ambos, and the heroic
selfdenial of his devoted sister. A number of
The most distinguished of the artists meLtioned-
as Schwauthaler and Rsuch, 1.-THE latter quite
recently -hsve gone from the living since her
Sketches were written. Mrs. Jameson is gen.
orally allowed, we believe, by those competent
to speak on such subjects, to be fair Judge in
matters of taste and art; and With all allow.
ance for her individual preferences, her crit
cisms are regarded as discriminating, and
marked by nice perception of the true and
the false. New questions of art and new wri.
ters have occupied and are engaging the artist.
ic mind. Mr.. Ruskin, with his theory of Pre-.
Raphaelitism, and splendid volumes and essays
in support of his views, the hot debate of the
controversies, and numerous elaborate reviews
and discussions of all the principles of the
aesthetics, may seem to leave little room for
these earlier Sketches to find favor. But we
are glad that Messrs. Ticknor & Fields have
included them in their number of little blue
and gold volumes, so neat and handy for pop
ular use. The admirers of Mrs. Jameson's
writings are not few, and they will hail with
pleasure the call to reperuse work which has
ever been a favorite one, especially in so con-
venient and attractive a form of reprint
The Poetical Works of James r. Lowell. Complete in
Two Volumes. Boston: Tcknor Fields. 1858.
These two l6mo volumes, in blue and gold,
contain genuine poetry, as we'll as keen and
scathing rebuke of political corruption, and
manly defence of human rights. Mr.. Lowell is
too we'll known as a poet of Freedom, and he
stamps his lines with too deep An impress of
the spirit that is stirring within him, to render
it necessary for US to point him out to our read.
ers as one whose productions have claim on
their notice. He often writes carelessly, sacri-
6cing beauty to strength and sound sense but
among his minor poems may be found passages
that seem thrown off like gems by one who
knows the wealth of which he is master, and
fears not to exhaust his store. His satirical
pieces, like The Fable for Critics." and espe.
cislly the "Biglow Papers" are amusing speci-
mems of talent that few possess in an equal
degree. The little piece in which, under the
image of a farm belonging to the North and
South, he sets forth the Compromise, might not
be inappropriate, if published in the journals of
the present day, especially if he would add
few stsnzas in relation to the aspect of the ques
ton as affected by the history of Kansas Terri
tory.
The portrait of the author is most strikingly
like to that of Col. Fremont, and might be taken
for him. We are bound to mention one draw.
hack to our pleasure, in looking over these vol
umes-au occasional irreverence for sacred
things, and bordering on denial of revealed
truth, as where, in Bibbiolatics," be says:
"SIowly the Bible of the race is writ,
And not paper leaves, nor leaves of stone, ;" &c.
Language and sentiments we are panied to find
in the writings of any one who Otherwise COM
mands 80 much of our admiration, and which
even poetical license or thoughtless compost
ton cannot excuse.
The Eclectic Magazine of Foreige Literature. By w.
H. Bidwell. For February, 1858 New York
A noble head Sir William Hamilton, the
prince of Scottish philosophers. That high,
clear forehead, those bold, overarehing brows,
penetrating eyes, the fnely-cut mouth and chin,
indicating 6rmness, decision, and the whole
complex combination of features, on which in.
tellect of no common order is stamped; it is a
portrait for one to study. We are glad to meet
with it here, as we open this number, as well as
to find the selected article from the North Brit
ish Review, entitled "Life and Metaphysics of
Sir William Hamilton" He was one of Scot
lands great minds, and his history deserves the
scholars attention, for he was scholar of no
mean fame. The remainder of the heavier arti-
cles are from the great leading Reviews of Great
Britain, the Edinburgh, London Quarterly, while
there are q variety of well.chosen lesser ones,
from the Titan, the Dublin University, Fra.
ser's, Tait's Edinburgh, and Chambers Maya
zines, the Leisure Hour, and from work we
have not before noticed as embraced in the list,
the National Review. There is pleasing paper
on Popular Legends and Fairy Tales. The
whole number of articles, longer and shorter, is
thirty. FIVE, and they combine the usual proper
tons Of papers adapted to the different classes
of readers.
The Knickerbocker, or New York Monthly Magazine.
February, 1855. John A. Gray. Vol 81, No.2.
1t may seem like carrying Goals to New
CASTLE" to commend this congratulated and |
well-known magazine. 1t is one of the oldest,
and We believe indeed the very oldest, of the
monthly periodicals devoted to lighter literature,
in existence among MS. It's reputation is fixed, |
and it has continued to maintain its character |
from year TO year, the variety and style of its
contents rendering it sort of unique in its |
magazine articles. 1t is peculiarly distinguished
too, for its quiet, sly humor, and easy wit Espe-
cially is this q characteristic of its Editors |
Tsble-and We believe this now almost universal |
feature of magazine literature in our country in |
q great measure owes its origin to successful |
achievements in this line of the earlier editors
Of this periodical. The present number has
sixteen articles, besides the Literary Notices
and Editors Table-presenting suitable min.
Cling to meet the varied tastes of readers, and
the prose and poetry of its contrib.
utors in such a way as to make an agreeable
dish, into which all may cut and carve, and
81 l. |