The Press. — 1856-09-06 (London, England)

PERIODICAL LITERATURE.  Blackwood continues " The Scot Abroad," with an account of " The Man of Diplomacy," an article embracing Lockhart, Cromwell's ambassador to Paris, Lord Stair, Sir Robert Keith, and Sir Alexander Mitchell. A good story is told of the latter when conversing with Frederick the Great : Discussing the disaster of Port. Mahon, Mitchell remarked in a manner not congenial with the usual conversation of Sans Souci, that Britain ►oust place her trust in God. The King was not aware that Britain had such an ally. "He is the only ally," said Mitchell, " who requires no subsidies from us."  "The Athelings" still continue to stimulate our curiosity and sympathy. The two girl-portraits of Agnes and Marian are very beautiful; but we don't quite like the description of Mrs. Edgerly's party. Her neglect of the two young guests is hardly natural. "A Chapter on Peninsula Dogs" is curious and sprightly. "The Poetry of Christian Art" is a thoughtful and earnest protest against the rigid Romanist theory a. 4 lately put forward by Mr. Pio. The writer claims due weight for the classical and natural as well as for the spiritual element of Christian art. The article on Mr. Macaulay is a humorous and vigorous exposure of that writer's prejudices against Scotland, and his general style of makiug historical facts speak his own language. We can strongly recommend to all our readers this month's number of Fraser. There are five re views,—viz., a sharp flagellation of Mr. Gallen; a nicely written eulogy of Mr. Stanley's "Sinai and Palestine ;" a rather too severe notice of "Bothwell;" a descriptive notice of M. De Tocqueville's recent work; and a most able and valuable examination of Mr. Vaughan's "Hours with the Mystics." Premising that on the whole he agrees with the principle of the writer, the reviewer proceeds to criticise him in detail with great force and knowledge of his subject. Ot the other articles," Maud Viviau," an interesting Magazine tale, and the " Prospects of the Indian Civil Service " are the two best. In the latter N7e are glad to see that stress is laid on the necessity of keeping up a high tone among the members of the service, and a well deserved tribute paid to the excellent education they used to receive at Haileybui y. The Dublin University Magazine for this month is a most attractive atm diversified number. The opening article, on the United States navy, combines a most agreeable style with much solid information. We do not think, however, that Ella writer has treated the question of privateering with perfect candour. "The Irish in Spain," is a readable and interesting paper, though rather too much of it is, in our opinion, devoted to the O'Donnells. There were several Irishmen of distinction at the Court of Spain in the time of Alberoni, of whom some notice would have been acceptable. In the story of " The Darragh" the interest is well sustained. In the present number Kildown gets possession of the old General's property by what will doubtless turn out to be a forged will, and Walter becomes a merchant's clerk. " Sinai and Palestine "is an excellent and impartial review of Mr. Stanley's book. We observe that the reviewer raises the same objection to portions of his work as we ourselves did on its first appearance. "The Italian Question" is a sensible and judicious essay. Of Lord Palmerston the writer well says, " He is in the singular position of owing the greatest part of the consideration he has obtained to nothing higher or nobler than his indiscretion."  We have not seen so good a number of Bentley for some time. "A Month in the Crimea after the Fall of Sevastopol," though dealing with so hacknied a topic, is lively and pleasant reading. The story of the "Joint-stock Banker" proceeds with vigour, though how far such incidents as the Hampstead heath suicide are legitimate subjects of fiction so immediately after their occurrence, may fairly be doubted. This is a very ready-made and slipshod method of writing fiction. A well written memoir of Madame Vestris, a discerning notice of "Bothwell," and some tolerably good prosings by Monkshood about the Quarterly reviewers, are the best remaining articles.  The New Monthly has a first article, on the American Senate, which looks like a plagiarism on the Quarterly article on the House of Commons. The best features of the number are the more purely literary contributions. The paper on Southey's Letters, and " Memoirs cf James Montgomery," are well written. '1 he story of " St. Ouest" is also sufficiently interesting. Tait has a long article on " The Payment of Members u 1 Parliament." If the writer is in earnest, he must have forgotten or never known what the real