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470 T- BO E / LiEABIB. [No. 8»^g4TPra>AM...
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[Owing to a groat press of matter the Se...
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BURFORD'S PANORAMA OP ST. PETERSBURG. Wh...
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The third annual exhibition of French Pi...
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HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The opening night...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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470 T- Bo E / Lieabib. [No. 8»^G4tpra>Am...
470 T- BO E / LiEABIB . [ No . 8 »^ g 4 TPra > AM ,
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.-: _ .. _ .., -. ' ^^^ p ^ Q ^^^ fj ^ YBQOKS .. Journal xtf ^ idvejtiuresiwith the British Army , from the Commencement of the * W ** Jo the Taking of Sevastopol By George Cavendish Taylor , ^^ * ° * 5 j » Bcgiment- In Two Volumes . , - HlMt ? T ™ wr ™ The Russian Account of the Battle of Inkerman . From the German . John Murray . Memoirs of British Genercds . distinguished during the Peninsular War . By John William Cole , H . P ., 21 st Fusiliers . In Two Volumes . JJentley . Jacob Omnium on Military Education . ¦ S ^?^ ""* ^ J ^ " Portsmouth Protected : a Sequel to the Peril of Portsmouth . With Notes on Sevastopol and other Sieges during the Present War . By James Fergusson , Esq
Lrrriaa can be expected now from that side of the war literature which is represented by books like Mr . Taylor ' s—that is the mere observing side . What we want is a narrative of the campaign by some one who can and who dares to let us into the secret of much that is inexplicable at present . ± o this character Mr . Taylor has not the least pretension . As an observer he has recorded to the best of his ability what he observed If he knew what we want to know , we are sure nothing would prevent him from telling it . But he does not know . Where he ceases to record what he sees , he guesses at truth with more or less of intelligence , and more or less of fault-finding . He is very free with his opinions ; there is a rugged frankness and freshness , and evidence of honest intentions about his pages which make them very welcome ; but we cannot say that there is any grasp of the chief topics
raised by the conduct of the war , or any vivid painting of its characteristic scenes . Mr . Taylor was in the thick of the battle of Inkerman , and he contrives to impart to the reader some idea of that tremendous struggle , not by broad , but by minute touches , and for some of the facts we are thankful . He was also present at the second expedition to Kertch and the first round the Sea of Azof . He likewise saw , if such phrase may be used , the taking of Sebastopol ; and he was one of the first to run in and inspect the yet exploding ruins . During the siege he went over to the coal mines in Asia Minor , and some of the best pages of his volumes are those containing a description of the working of the Turkish coal- field . As an old soldier Mr . Taylor treats his subject with a certain ease not attainable by amateurs ; and on the whole the reader will find this not the least interesting ofishoot of
the Crimean campaign . The Russian account of the battle of Inkerman was written in December , 1854 , and intended , evidently , to counteract the immense impression which that stupendous incident—the like of which , said Kossuth , had not occurred in the world ' s history since Agincourt—had made upon Europe . It is intelligently written , and professes to go into details on authority . It develops the plan , it describes the execution , it arrays the causes of the failure of the enterprise . Its two great aims seem to be to convince Europe that the Russians were not beaten by the English in a fair , stand-up fight ; that , in fact , the victory , ao far as mere fighting lay , went with the Russians ; but that the mistake of the commander of one column deranged the whole plan of the battle , and that the French saved the beaten English from destruction . The second aim is to show that the Russians had fewer men in the battle ,
and lost fewe r than was stated at the time ; and that the English had more men on the ground , and lost more . But taking the figures on the estimate of this Russian writer , the enemy was still upwards of two to one , with all the advantage of a surprise on his side . The little brochure is worth reading . . . Mr- Cole ' s book of memoirs consists of a couple of volumes , containing brief biographies of fourteen generals who distinguished themselves in the late war . The sketches are written with a soldier ' s pen , from which we seldom expect the arts and graces of literature . The novelties of the collection are the very interesting sketch of the life of that hero of a really brilliant and effective cavalry charge , Major-General Le Marchant , for whose early attempts to establish military schools we oug ht to be grateful ; Robert Craufurd , of the Light Division ; Lowry Cole , who led the famous fusilier-brigade in the attack that converted Albuera into a victory ; Ross
and Pakenham , meritorious officers , who were killed in A merica ; and Sir Thomas Graham , Lord Lynedoch . Mr . Cole tells an anecdote of Le Marchant that illustrates a whole class of military absurdities . He served in early life in Germany , with the British forces co-operating with the Austrians . Here it was he first engaged in actual warfare , at that time captain in the Queen ' s Bays . On the occasion of an intended coup cle main against the French camp , the troops were ordered to begin their march before sunrise . Captain Le Marchant visited his men during the nig ht to see whether their accoutrements were in proper condition fdr the expected day ' s work . He was surprised to find them all turned over on their faces . On inquiring the reason , he was informed that they had just dressed their queues for the lest it should
morrow , and they were afraid of lying in any other position , become necessary to dress them again . Such was the appliance of what was then considered discipline in the British army ! " Queues have ceased to exist , and soldiers no longer repose on their faces ; but while we laugh at this anecdote , let us remember that wo have still sonic military institutions equally absurd . If any one wishes to certify himself on the point , let him read the letters of Jacob Omnium . Mr . Fergusson ' s pamphlet is also deserving of attention , and for the same reason . If our science of fortification be not so useless as Mr . Fergusson would have us believe , at all events it is not perfect , and no mere prejudices of profession should be suffered to burke a reasonable proposal for the strengthening of its weak places .
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[ Owing to a groat press of matter the Second Notice of tlio Royal Academy Exhibition is postponed until next week . ]] IiUSKIN'S NOTES ON THE EXHIBITION . Mr . Raaicm publishes the second fasciculus of " Notes on tho Principal Pictures exhibited in tho Booms of tho Royal Academy and Society of Painters iu Water Colours , " for tho present year : with an intimation that these Notes are to form
an annual . We shall probably examine them more in . detail , next week * we only notice them now because we believe that several of our readers will be glad of so interesting a companion to the exhibition . We differ from Mr . Ruskm at almost every turn ; bat he has knowledge , observation , command of language , distinctness of meaning , earnestness , and sincerity ; and his little bundle of conversation on . the pictures is worth a ton of ordinary " criticism "
Burford's Panorama Op St. Petersburg. Wh...
BURFORD'S PANORAMA OP ST . PETERSBURG . When Mr . Burford's right hand shall forget its cunning—long hence may the time be !—no other painter will arise in his place . His pencil is a " barren sceptr 6 in his gripe "—at least , inasmuch as he cannot bequeath it 3 power . When th king is dead , we shall not cry , L , ong live the king J Painters of landscape city , ocean , Jake , and river , there will always be ; painters , too , who will not disdain to carry their art beyond the circle of the schools , and to employ it in producing " scenic effects . " But no painter , after Buhfoed , will stand between the artist whose well-finished works in oil attract our notice on the walls of an exhibition , and the rapid worker in distemper colours , who paints eno rmous " flats" for the backgrounds of theatrical groupings , and divides with the stagecarpenter the task of " set-pieces ; " or who rolls out Mississippi panoramas by
the mile . Even before the days of those stupendous exhibitions , Mr . Burford ' s public was limited to a class . There was no room for rivalry when he alone pretended to give representations , on a large and comprehensive scale , of distant places of note . The rolling diorama , with its theatrical effects , arrangem ents of artificial light , accompanying music , and other adjuncts , is so much more to the taste of miscellaneous visitors , that the constant visitors of Burford ' s panoramic scenes ( exhibited by daylight , and with no adventitious aid ) are more than ever reduced to a class . The conscientious labour bestowed by Mr . Bdrford on each of his paintings can only be appreciated by persons of educated taste . Those who go again and again will generally be found to have some practical knowledge of art , and often to have an interest in the scene from having visited the actual locality .
The picture of St . Petersburg is one of the best that Mr . Bdrford has ever painted . Its elaborate finish is amazing . The panorama is taken from the observatory of the Academy of Science , on the island of Vasiiiefskoi , and the immediate foreground , looking south , is occupied by the main stream of the Neva . The artist has a special celebrity for his manner of painting water ; and he has here done much to increase that celebrity , for a more natural piece oE art we never saw . Directly across the river is the immense yard of the Admiralty , with several launches near completion . To the left stretches the Court Quay , along which stand , first the Winter Palace , then the Hermitage , then the Theatre , and then the Marble Palace Beyond are the Champ de Mars , the barracks of the Pauloffski regiment , the Summer Gardens , and lastly , in the far
east of the magnificent perspective , the Taurida Palace . Working round towards the north-west we see the graceful yachfc of the Imperial family—a model of English design and skill . The Neva—in this direction as straight as a canal—shows a long range of quays and warehouses . Still moving to the right , we gain a fine view of the great square , with the Exchange and long line of buildings appropriated to the archives of the Assembly of Directors . A curiously perfect illusion is caused by the straight lines intersecting the circular picture , and crossing it everywhere at right angles . Of course the secret of this illusion lies in the skilful management of the perspective , which quite puzzles the spectator who tries to carry with him his preconceptions of a picture painted on the inside of a hoop .
Where the life of St . Petersburg may be hidden away we were not told ; but that its five hundred thousand souls were not fairly represented by the groups in the broad open streets we are as sure as that the broad open streets themselves were not a type of the whole city . The pervading brightness may be partially accounted for by a short sentence towards the end of tlie Guide-book . It is this : " Poverty and smoking are both strictly prohibited in the streets of St . Petersburg . "
The Third Annual Exhibition Of French Pi...
The third annual exhibition of French Pictures is now open at the Gallery , 121 , Pall Mall . It is very strong in works , of a miniature size , concerning which the best that can generally be said is that they are better than spurious high art . But there is a want of dignity and earnestness in this exhibition . We shall report on it next week , and will only now add that there is a total absence ot the characteristic badness to be found at all our national displays ot new pictures .
Her Majesty's Theatre. The Opening Night...
HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE . The opening night waa , on the whole , not unpropitious , although there may be said to have been wanting something of the old tradition of the place , andot tne old dclat . To the opera-goers of ten years ago who were present last Saturday it was a spectucle full of such mingled associations , as a lapse of ten years must bring back to any man who has long lived that saddest of nil lives , the hie oi London , to gaze once more on those familiar amber-curtained boxes . Ihrougliout the house there was it pleased look of mutual congratulation at being there once more . We dare say it was a satisfaction to many to find that the old liouso had risen again unglorifiecl by new decoration and upholstery , although the etteco was undoubtedly a little dingy and faded , like Grosvenor-square or Belgravm in September . It must be said , too , that the audience bore small reseinuiam-u to the brilliant array of other years , and Mr . Snoh ( in the pit ) was lam to avow that it was miscellaneous , and looked as if it had been sent for . for the
The opern , La Ccncrmtola , was selected not injudiciously reappearance of Ai . noNi , but , without Aluoni , it must be confessed that the CcncrentoKh »» spite of its prodigality of fine music , enough to make the reputation ot nan » dozen ordinary composers , is fatiguing . The libretto is absurd » uld . p ' '" action is dull , and the recitatives are positively boring . Madame A' . nONj . -w . very heartily welcomed as she discovered herself sitting at the old mini "' : fireplace , with the dear old bellows in her hand . She sang her " « t a with delicious expression ; and if to the h ypercritical sho may have « " - » in the course of the evening to have lost something ot tlic «««/ and luscious fruitineas of that voico which has been called a huji > nightingales , it was imperceptible to the general audience , who were cnan into content . The Mm jrin mesta , sung to perfection , was of course encorcu re-cncoicd . It is impossible to conceive tho art of singing in more ox « l " J " : * faction . Lot us add that Madame Ai . honi is looking delightfully . x l 0 C J , tlin sion of her faco was always moat winning , and sho has now acquired n cxi distinction and grace of manner , and has lost what wan , perhaps , oxccbHiv
figure . Tho opera was , generally speaking , verj' fairly performed . n Calzouaui was always a finished singer , but hio timbre was sickly aim
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), May 17, 1856, page 20, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_17051856/page/20/
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