Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-12-27
Literary Notices.

BRIrIsH PERIoDIcALs--We are in re-
ceipt of the London Quarterly RerieaO
for the quarter beginning with October
1866. 1t contains eight articles, viz:
Cathedrals of England; The Mariners
Compass; The Resources, Condition,
and Prospects of Italy; The Poetry of
Praed and Lord Houghton %Blind
People; Field Sports of the Ancient
Greeks and Romans; The Gallican
Church; The Russians in Central Asia.
These articles were well worthy the
attention Of every literary man and
student. All possess more or less in
terest, and the latter gives some facts in
regard to the rapid advance of Russian
arms toward the British settlements in
India which cannot fail to excite feel
ing of anxiety in England.
EcLEoT1o MAGAZINE FOR JANUARY
With the first number of new volume
and q new year, the publishers offer a
finely engraved family scene of the
Prince of Poets, the renowned Shak-
speare, with his wife, daughters and son,
rehearsing to them the tragedy of Ham
let, in the retirement of their country
home at Stratford.on.a 1t is rare
print. An explanation sketch will be
found in the letter-press. The leading
article on the Grant Commemoration of
Dante's Six Hundredth Anniversary
win certainly be read with interest. Mr..
and Mrs. Hall contribute racy and
genial sketch of Leigh Hunt. The
translation from the French introduces
to us q new writer, who has produced o
sensation in the French capital The
scientific article on "Lake Basins ia
valuable as well as readable. ''The
y English Bible,'' setting forth the literary
beauty and value of the common trans
lation, is written with decided ability.
"The Fall of Clarendon" the "Writings
of Bolingbroke, "Lord Palmerston, 7
and "Reminiscences of Hartley Cole
ridge" should not be passed over. And
"Witty and Pretty Women" "Royal
Favorites," and faithful and True
as specimens of light reading, are full
of gossip and sentiment. Sure we are
that there is something here to suit
every taste, and much to interest the
a man of culture. The best of the Eng.
lish periodicals, say nothing of the
French, have been laid under contribn-
ton to furnish this bill of fare.
TEE ATLANTIC MoETHLY.--An ex-
change expresses our views in the fol
lowing complimentary notice of the At
IGntic:
II The Atlantic for January has been re
ceived. The Boston Transcript does i
no more than justice in saying it begins
a new year under the most promising
and brilliant circumstances The sec
ond part of Charles Reade's serial move
of "Grifith Gaunt," keeps the reader in
that state sof perpetual expectancy anC
surprise, which Reade's method %
developing character through the quicl
presentation of throng of tantahzins
The first number of Passages from
Hawthorn's Note Book" conducts u
into the very literary worship of tha
eminent romancer, and shows us out o
what scattered meditations and observa
tions this consummate artist wrough
his elaborate works. There are many
sentences in the collection, giving the
ideas of stories, which might furnish tht
capital for writer of magazine tales
though the ideas, as carried out, woulc
lack the masters subtlety and grace o
treatment. One passage in the Not
Book sheds light on Hawthorn's owl
method as novelist, and enables us t
understand why he did not take tn
romancer's privilege of subordinating
his characters to his own will and pleas
ure. "a person, he says, ''to be writing
a tale, and to 6nd that it shapes itsel
against his intentions; that the charac
ters act otherwise than he thought; tina
unforeseen events occur; and oatastrc
uhe comes which he strives in vain I.
avert. 1t might shadow forth his owl
fate--bs having made himself one G
the personages."
Both Bryant and Longfellow have pc
ems in the present number. We wisi
10 view Of this conjunction, that Long
fellow had q more adequate specimen {
:, his power than " The Bells of Lynn, al
j In spite of the solemnity, sonorousnei
md swing Of the verse, and the perfet
sion with which it embodies mood, th
niece does not exhibit him at his bes
thila that of Bryant, " Castles in th
inr," is one Of the most exquisite thing
~ ever wrote, fine equally in melod
and matter, thoroughly instinct gith th
most beautiful qualities Of his geniu