The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1838-12-18 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

LITERARY NOTICES.  Blackwood's Magazine. Dec. 1838. In this number of Blackwood the opening paper is one of great and vital importance, involving as it does the commercial and maritime interests of Great Britain, in some of their most important relations. It is a powerful essay on the " War in Disguise," at present carried on by France against Mexico and Buenos Ayres. "The Liberalism of Popery is a striking exposure of the trickery resorted to by the Popish agitators for the purpose of securing their own ends, and aiding the cause of Popish ascendency. "Legendary Lore" contains a continuation of the romance of the "Onyx King." The moral of this tale remains still in obscurity. The article on " Affairs in the East" will be perused with great interest. It abounds with information of the greatest ability respecting the aggressive moments of Russia, and the internal condition of Turkey, Persia, &c. The review of "Poems by John Kenyon" is in the very best style of criticism— judicious and discriminating, calm and unprejudiced. The specimens extr. cted are possessed of great beauty and originality. The paper on "Tranquillity in Ireland" deals another formidable blow at the absurd pretensions of the Marquis of Normanby and the Whigs. " Extracts without comment from our Two Vases," are extremely beautiful—some of them perfect gems. " The Murdering Banker," is a tale of great interest. The Review of " Tupper's Geraldine," while it does justice to the intrinsic merits of that composition, points out its blemishes with fidelity.  The Churchman. Enlarged Series. December, 1838  London : W. E. Painter.  We are glad to have it in our power to bear our testimony to the improved character of this excellent periodical. The contents of the present number are particularly interesting. The remarks "On the rumoured marriage of Queen Victoria with the Duke of Nemours," are, we trust, unnecessary. Such an incongruous union cannot surely be seriously contemplated in any quarter. At all events it would never be tolerated by the Protestant people of England. We are happy to find the Churchman arrayed in opposition to the "Oxford Tracts," the dangerous tendency of which it exposes with much ability. The article on " British Marriages" proves that our ancestors have been unjustly slandered by modern historians. It is impossible that justice should be done to the ancient history of Great Britain without a thorough acquaintance with the Welsh language. The article on the "Natural Peculiarities of Palestine," embodies much interesting geographical information. The paper on " Unitarian Misrepresentations of the Scriptures" contains a masterly exposure of the philological trickery of this heretical sect. The remaining articles on "Dublin University" —" The Present Aspect of Religious Affairs"—" Absolution"— "Sayings and Doings of Old Time," &c., &c., are highly deserving of a careful perusal. We sincerely wish the Churchman every success, and that it may long continue its praiseworthy career as the able and uncompromising advocate of the venerable church and constitution of England.  Political Discourses. By G-eorge Ramsay, 8.M., author of "An Essay on the Wstribution of Wealth." Edinburgh: Adam and Charlas Black ; London: Longman and Co.-1838.  We have already introduced into our columns several quotations from this admirable: work. We are now glad of having an opportunity of recommending it to the notice of our readers. The topics discussed in these discourses are of the mpst moment °us description, and they are handled by one who is evidently a master of pis subject, Tlir views 4evelopvd throughout are ,