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Leader (1850-1860), 5th November 1859, Edition 2 of 2, Page 20

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      1232 The Leaderr [Flo. 502, Nov. 5; 1859...

      1232 THE LEADERr [ flo . 502 , Nov . 5 ; 1859 ,

      The Wise Saws And Modern Instances Op Mb...

      THE WISE SAWS AND MODERN INSTANCES OP MB . SAM SUCK OF SLJCKVILLE . _ Hurst and Blacketi . We need only mention that Messrs . Hurst and Blackett have added to their series of standard works for this month " , Judge Haliburton ' s " Wise Saws of Sam Slick . " It only requires to be known that the public can get this most humorous work very handsomely printed and bound for five shillings , to ensure it ajjreat sale . Reader , if you have not read the work do so at once . THE PKOS ' E-WORKS OF HENRY WORDSWORTH iLONGFELLOW . Parts I . and II . —Dean and Son . This is a new and illustrated edition of the American poet ' s prose works , beautifully printed on toned paper , and " illustrated by Birket Foster , from drawings made on the spot in which the writer of the fiction has laid the incidents ^ of his story . " "H yperion" will be completed in five one shilling numbers , which , when bound , will make a very handsome Christmas volume . BE BIG LOW TAPERS . By James Russell Lowell . JSTewly Edited , with a Preface . By the author of " Tom Brown ' s School Days . "—Trubner & Co . We have often wondered why some enterprising Epglish publisher did riot bring out an edition of the " Biglow Papers . " We had only just received one , and as usual we find that there are two Biglows in the field by receiving a second . With this we have nothing to do , nor can we see the injustice , remembering , as we do , how long it is since the woi-k appeared ^ nearly ten years ago —quite time enough , one would think , for publishers to nave decided about reprinting it . It cannot be that there has been no call for the work . The

      case is different with the writer of a popular work when republished on either side of the Atlantic immediately it is out , without the writer getting any recompense . The "Biglow Papers" are the most humorous things of the kind ever written ; if , indeed , there is any of the same class . The dialect will appear to most refined readers in the same light as that spoken in Yorkshire to the Londoner ; but those who master its peculiarities , and appreciate genial , though broad humour , will be sure , as Mr . Hughes remarks , to swear eternal friendship to the writer of them .

      The Adventures Of Gil Blas. Translated F...

      THE ADVENTURES OF GIL BLAS . Translated from the French of Lesage by Tobias Smollett . —H . G . Bohn . " Gn . Bx . as" is the new vplunle of Mr . Bonn ' s illustrated library . This is a new edition carefully revised , with the twenty-four line engravings by Smirke and Cruikshank .

      Everybody's Journal Office, 332, Strand....

      EVERYBODY'S JOURNAL Office , 332 , Strand . " Evjebyboi > t ' s Jotjihsal" supplies a great want long felt . We must not be understood to depreciate the old-established penny journals , that would be sacrificing one to the other . 2 STo ; they created a -want for themselves , i . e ., they created readers in every village thi-oughout the United Kingdom , and these readers' tastes have advanced m ore rapidly than the papers that first taught them that it was better to spend one penny in reading than two in beer- In order to supply this want , andgive the whole public a journal that an educated people ,

      as well as the cottager , might read , "Everybod y ' s Journal , " has been started , and most heartily ¦ we wish it success : —to ensure that , it only requires to be known , if indeed it is not a success already . The first part contains upwards of fifty articles and twenty illustrations , principally by people of established literary reputations . Among the former we may mention Captain Sherard Osborn , Gerald Massey , Samuel Lover , Dudley Oostello , Mrs . 8 . O . Hall , and Albany Fonblanque . The artists are John Gilbert , Harrison Weir , Charles Bennett , and T . R . M acquoid .

      It is rather difficult to find any fault . But an article called tho *' Book World" is very badly done . This should be one of the features of the journal , seeing how deeply interested the public ore in -what authors and publishers arc doing . By this Xneans , author , publisher , and the , public nught be greatly benefittcd . The news departwont should bo cut down , and each event given in two or three lines , that the reader may see at a gUrace what has taken place—he can get the particulars from newspapers . ft may be that these we only minor defects in n work that should bo on vmtopdy ' B , table ; if bo , they will the more « ftcay be altered .

      Serials. Blackwood Contains A Rather Dep...

      SERIALS . Blackwood contains a rather depreciatory criticism , of Mr . Tennyson ' s " Idylls , " parts of which show a most defective taste on the part of the critic . He is all for hard , metallic , mechanic versifications , and will not permit to the poet any variety of numbers . Thus he says , that "the accent falls perforce on the least important word" in the following line : — - " The Prince , without a word , from his horse fell .. " Now , no good elocutionist would place the accent on the pronoun : his , but on the noun horse ; and this slight variation in the accent serves the poet ' s purpose breaking up , by an occasional irregularity , the monotony of his verse . All our great blank verse writers claim this privilege . Thus Sliakspere ' s Emilia says : — " 'Tis not a year or two shews us a man . " Only a very bad actress would read this , " shews us a man . " '

      Againi he says that a verse from Vivian is still worse . Judge , reader , for yourself . " Her eyes and neck , glittering , went and came . " Who sees not that the . alteration of the accent here makes the sound an echo to the sense , and was so designed by the poet ? Let the reviewer know that such lines are not owing to the poet ' s negligence , but to his skill : let him learn more reverence , and he will become more accurate . The best criticism is affirmative—the columns of ebony might have been better filled . The political articles are on India and China—safer ground than Italy for a " Blackwood " politician . The leading article is on M . J . M . Dargaiid ' s " Histoirede Marie Stuart , " which deserve attention . The remaining papers are chiefly continuations ; one on Dr . Vauglian ' s " lie volutions in English History" being an exception . . Frasek contains a paper on " Our Religious and Philosophical Guides—Mansel and Maurice , " which is , of great importance in these times , when theology and philosophy seem inclined to meet in a sympathetic embrace . The quarrel betwee . n the rival logicians is-adroitly managed . The political articles are not quite so satisfactory . " Sword and Gown " is concluded . " Holmby House " ¦ continued . The miscellaneous papers are interesting . Eclectic starts with an article on the Rev . Baden Powell , whom it calls " Iconoclast o the English Church . " Mary IIowlu's Sun Pictures continue to be as faithful as ever . Garibaldi and the Italians also command a spirited paper . The number on the whole is decidedly good . . Macmiixan ' s Magazine ( No . I . ) . —This is a new periodical , published at Cambridge , aud starts with a political article , the creed of which is , that England will best fulfil the most essential part of her duty to the rest of the world by attending diligently to her own affairs . The author of " Tom Brown ' s School Days " contributes a readable article under the title of " Tom Brown at Oxford . " A specimen of the " Joint Compositions" of . Mr . Venables and the late Henry Lushington is given in a reprint of " Cobbett ; or a Rural Ride . " Mr . FrankinLushington also contributes a paper on " The Crisis of Italian Freedom . " It is excellently well argued . A criticism on Tennyson , also , has much merit . In a word , the new magazine promises well . Dublin University . — " The Season Ticket" is continued , and is as humorous as ever . It is now known that Judge Haliburton is the author of these articles , which are altogether worthy of Sam Slide . There is likewise an appreciative article on Heine , the political poet of Germany , as recently translated by Mr . J . Jiowriqg ; and another on Mr . Thackeray , as a satirist and humorist . The remainder of the number ia of average merit .

      Titan .- —Being " a son of Heaven and earth , " true publication is theological as well ns logical , and starts this , month with an article on sermon-making , very sensible , and containing excellent suggestions . The residue of the papers arc of the usual kind . Universal Rjevimw ( No . IX . ) has also an article on sermon-making , which may bo aidant in the improvement of pulpit compositions . More ia evidently now required in this lino of art than its professors have hitherto accorded . Tho rest of tho articles are partly political and partly social . Part III . of" A Great Mistake , " proceeds pleasantly enough . Aux Journal . — The illustrations consist this month of Sir Thomas Lawrence ' s portrait of tho Princess Charlotte , G . Chamber ' s picture of Greenwich Hoflpital , and Park ' s example "from tho moors , " which agreeably substitutes the uaual Bculpturo flpeclmen . The illustrated article consists of specimens from Sir T . Lawrence ' s work , and . an essay on Us merit . National Magazine ( Part XXXVII . ) is embellished with large and bold engravings of I-Iaydon ' s Don tutus , Charlemagne and the Saxons , and tho Slupwrcclc of Slnbad . Tho literature has too much this month of an utilitarian air . A now story 1 *

      commenced , entitled " Sundown , " by Edward Conping , which shows talent . Mr . J , Ewing Ritchie also exhibits a lively vein , which will probabl v improve in the working . But on the whole the number is , we fear , inferior to former ones . Once a Week ( Part IV . ) continues its usual excellent arrangements , both in regard to its embellishments and literature . They are of remarkable excellence . A paper on toadstool eating vindicates by experience the edible nature of various funguses

      which are usually avoided as non-esculent . There is a large variety of amusing and instructive articles . Constitutional Press ( No . VIIL ) is not very bright this month ; but " Hopes and Fears " is continued , and there is an attempt at a philosophical paper under the title of " The Shams of the Day and the Latent Truth they represent . " Popular science and popular preaching are the two shams so elaborately exposed ; but we cannot congratulate the writer on his-success .

      : Recreative Science presents a variety of useful articles properly illustrated . Englishwoman ' s Journal ( No . XXI . ) maintains its reputation . Farmer ' s Almanac for I 860 . —This calendar , edited by Cuthbcrt W . Johnson , Esq ., F . R . S ., and William Shaw , Esq ., is now published at Ridgw ' ' s , and maintains its character for the appropriateness of its information , in regard to the class for which it is expressly designed . Kingston ' s Magazine poa Boys ( No . IX . ) has eight articles of the usual nieri t . .

      The Welcome Guest , New Scries , edited by Robert . B . Bvough . The .. . illustrations- to this first part are first-rate , and the literary matter excellent . Cassell ' s Illustrated Family Bible ( Part VI . ) , Popular Natural History ( Part VIIL ) , and Illustrated Family Paper ( Part XXIII . ) , respectively maintain their reputation for admirable geUing-up and pictorial embellishment . Gallery of Nature ( Part Xril . ) continues still to do credit to the care and knowledge of Mr . Milner and Messrs . Chambers . CiiAiiUs Ksioht ' s Popular History of England , and English Cyclopedia , maintain their relative superiority among publications of their class .

      Tim " Quay of the Dioscuri , " by Macarius , forms the ninth number of J . H . and J . Parker ' s Historical Tales , in relation to Church matters . It professes to bu trsin .-sl . ite ' iVom tvo Alexandria ;! manuscripts .

      Works Of Francis Bacon. Collected And Ed...

      WORKS OF FRANCIS BACON . Collected and Edited by James Spoddiog , M . A ., Robert Lcalie Ellie , M . A ., and Douglas Denoa -Heath . Vol . VII . —Literary and Professional Work . Vol . II . This volume completes the collection of Lord Bacon ' s Literary and Professional works . Among others , it contains his metrical version of certain psahns , and another poem or two * We have now an opportunity of reconsidering the merits of hitherto been the

      these productions . It has custom to condemn them utterly , as worthless , and as showing Bacon ' s inaptitude for verse and rhyme . In our opinion , they testily to the master ' s hand : they are not unworthy ot Shakespeare—nay , not unfrequen tly have his turn ot thought and expression . The present editor appears npt tobu willing to go to this extent in their favour ; but he goes very I ' m in l » te desire to rescue them from the prejudice by which they art ot

      have been misjudged . He Buds that m the metrical paraphrase Bacon ' is remarkably skilful ; and instances his very fine management ot tao X 37 th . Psalm , in which Baoou has contrived to compensate the inevitable loss of lyno lire ana force by the development of meaning * which ore implied ; or suggested by the original . iue translation , " ha adds , " serves , indeed , . lor ¦ , a Kinu of poetical commentary , and holds up . a light t > y which to road the original . He likewise confesses that , " deeply pathetic as the 137 th Psalm huu always seemed to him , ho had found it much more afteotina sinoc lie road Bacon ' s paraphrase oi it . Now tins is going fur ; it is testifying , indeed , to poetic power , so far as tlio translator ana we paraphrast can exhibit the sumo . The editor illustrates his meaning by the following excerpt ,

      italicised as we give it :- — . " Whon fts wg auto , nil Had and doaolato , liy linbylou upon the river ' h blue , MtwwlJYom the Upaka which In our captive nUiCc Wo uwro onforood daily to abulu , „ ,, Our Imrps wo \\ wl brought with us to tho floltf , t ioma homoq . tQ our heavy uouIh to [/ Ma . " Kut Boon wo found wo failed o ( our noo 0 " . "''/ ,. Kor when our minds some freedomdid «««'"» eirftliyhtwuya tho memory of Wlou Mount DldT oiiubo ftfroah our wounds to blood iitf « l » \ So tlint with proBonfc ffrioftj aud fiituro loin * Our oyoa burst forth Futo n Htrouia ot tum'rt . A » ftrour harps , ainco sorrow atrnoh them < 'M / WJ « n * . Wo lx « nffod th « m on tho wHIow troos wero nour , •»

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 5, 1859, page 20, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_05111859/page/20/