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" It ar ) T > ears Mr . Monk has taken the entire risk aSS ^^* . «^ his reward .
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THE MAGAZINES FOR OCTOBER . Fraser ' s gives the reader thirteen pieces—large and small , prose and poetry—but none of superlative , though all of respectable merit , lne most pretentious contribution is entitled the " Cruise ot the Betsey , " which is in fact an overwrought eulo-« num on the late Hugh Miller , evidently from the pen of an enthusiastic Scotchman . " Recent Travellers in Central America , " is a review of Tempsky ' s " Narrative of Incidents and Personal Adventures on a Journey in Mexico , Guatemala , and Salvador , in 1853-5 . Edited by J . S . Bell . fo form an idea of the perils that await the traveller in those regions traversed by Ton Tempsky we make the following extract , premising ; that Von Tempsky and his party had first crossed the ridge of the Sierra Madre * when they came upon the traces of the Comanehe Indians : —
We have but short measure in this number ; title page and contents taking up a portion of the letter-press . Mr . Henry Warrington is conveyed , like the heroes of all such histories formerly , to a sponging-house , and finds out that fine ladies and gentlemen make many professions of friendship , which they do not care to fulfil . There is one'thing that strikes us in this work , which is , that whilst " it reveals a succession of the meanest and most sordid ' actions as the common conduct of persons of conditionit yet shows a wonderful veneration for rank .
, We might enter into a further criticism of this strange book , but it is not timely to do so on thirty pages taken out of the centre of a book . Whether an elaborate Jnoerraphy of so common-place a person as Mr . Henry \\ arrington appears at present to be was required , may admit of question , if we did not expect another arid much better phase of his existence to be portrayed in the volume to come , we should undoubtedly say that he might very well have gone to his family grave with the other millions , without any special record . \ 33 This
. Knight ' s History of England , No . . — part forms a new division of the history , commencing with the triumph of the revolution of 1688 . Mr . Knight s plan of giving an idea of the manners and feelings of the nation as well as the political events , renders his History entertaining as well as instructive . The material for such a narrative is abundant , and the author has made good use of it , and the aid of woodcuts further lightens the page , so that the most tender literary stomachs may take this historic food , which will be found , we should imagine , as entertaining as fictitious narrative , even by those diseased minds that can scarcely relish anything else .
Routledge ' s Shaksjieare . Tart XXIX . This number concludes Measure for Measure , a long play , but not one of the finest of the great dramatist , though containing so many fine passages . The illustrations , by Gilbert , which are the chief attractions of this edition , are numerous and pretty ; but that is hardly sufficient to illustrate the first of dramatists . They are certainly not theatrical , which is a mercy , but they smack of the studio , and have too set and manufactured a look . Indeed , they convince us that the many-coloured scenes and infinite individualities of Skakspeare can never be fully expressed by one artist . The verbal comments call for little remark ' , the best consist of quotations from the acknowledged critics . John
The Veterinarian ' s Vade Mecum . By Gamgee , M . R . C . V . S . ( Edinburgh : Sutherland and Knox . )—The cockney who , on seeing the skeleton of a donkey , exclaimed , " We are fearfully and wonderfully made !" was not so far out after all . The structure of bipeds and quadrupeds may somewhat differ , but there is a striking analogy between their ailments and modes of cure . Tlie divisions of the work are four : 1 . Veterinary Pharmacopoeia ^ -2 . Formularium Veterinarium—3 . Memoranda Toxicologia . —and , 4 . MemorandaTherapeutica . The work will pot only be found of importance to veterinary surgeons , but may be consulted with advantage by those who keep animals of any kind . Farmers may profit by the information conveyed in clear and concise language , and professional men will find to their hands and known in the
a compendium of all that is useful yterinary art . Handy Booh on the Law of Bills , Cheques , Notes , and I . O . U . ' s . By J . W . Smith , LL . D . ( Eftlngham Wilson . )—We wish lawj-ers would learn to write English intelligible to the commercial mind , especially on commercial subjects . This little book contains a mass of valuable information , but it is somewhat too technically s « t forth to be universally acceptable . The preface " commences with a little puzzle to common men of business—that the work is a " chenp and compendious cqde of the law of inland negotiable inHtrurnonta . " If we admit that the technical style ia best suited to the subjects , In that case we shall have to give unqualified praise to the care and completeness of this little , compilation .
Darkness sank slowly on our road , yet we had to go on , as our task for the day was not ended . The moon rose and guided our footsteps over a road that began to be rugged and broken . All at once my friend stops and points to an object , half in shade , lying crouched on the Toad- We make a sign to our followers to stop , and , cocking our rifles-we carefully advance on one side of the road , from tree to tree . Opposite to the object we bait to reconnoitre and await some movement . The
form is human and naked , consequently an Indian ; the attitude , as much as is discernible , crouching , like some -one with his ear to the ground . It is no doubt an outpost to some larger detachment . To dispose of him with a shot would therefore be imprudent . I unsheath my knife , put my rifle down , cautiously measure my distance , and with a spr ing have his throat in my grasp . My knifeis descend ing , when , to my horror , I feel , by the clamminess of his throat , that the hand of Death has forestalled mine . In that moment the moon , for
some time shrouded , breaks through the clouds and glitters on the scalpless skull of a body perforated with lance-wounds . The face is contracted and rigid , and I see we have mistaken a Mexican victim for his Indian murderer . With a shudder we go onward , and find another and another in the same state , and so on until we 'Count twenty-nine bodies ! At last we recognised in one the features of the Mexican lawyer who invited us . at Mazatlan to accompany him ! The heap of corpses was his party ; they had all perished except one , who : at least was not to be found . It seemed to us that they ¦ were killed without much resistance on their part , as
¦ many of them had carbines still loaded in their cold . grasp ; and the Indians had so left them , ammunition being most wanted . " Hanwbrth , " a novel , progresses four chapters ; "Hints for Vagabonds " is another amusing chapter of the pilgrimages of an observant traveller . " The Political Pulpit of the Civil War " has many points of interest , and the further recommendation ¦ of something rather novel . " Sylvester ' s ' Du Bartaa '" deals with the works and genius of an old JTrench poet , and is one of the most readable pieces in the number .
Titan . —The " Story of an Exile , " winch opens the present number , is a memoir of M , Alexandra 'Thomas , a French writer of some celebrity in a ¦ special circle , but we fear as little known to the ruck of general readers as the bodily presentiments of Brown , Jones , or Robinson . Nevertheless , the author of the article , who has evidently set himself down to the task as a labour of love , has shed much pleasant light round a subject of limited interest , and liis style and illustration will doubtless induce many
to go steadily through , an article from whoso length -or merely to pick out the plums . " My First Lockup" i 3 throughout vulgar and utterly without relia-• bflity as a picture of police life and habits . It is ¦ written in the worst style of the penny publication ischool , ' makes pretensions to smartness which a penny-a-liner would repudiate , and libels without tasto or truth the ponce force and police magistrates . We should recommend Titan to leave such contributions to that walk of literature which aims
at cheapness rather than quality , "Lovita Logenda , Part 3 , " finishes with unabated vivacity . This lively and clever writer we hope to meet again . " Behind the Scenes in Paris" improves on further acquaintance . The previews are good and important . The Virginians . No . 12 . —This number brings us to the conclusion of Volume I ., and , as a * novelist Ought , the author has concluded the half of his work with a startling event , which , however , It would bo broaklngtho tacit understanding between reviewer aqd author to reveal ,
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Literary Intet ^ woknck . — Messrs . Hurnt and Blackett have just issued their Liafc of Nw Works for the forthcoming season . Among their other announcement * of more than usual interest are th « following : ' — A new serial publication en tit-fort " Hurst and Blackctt ' a Standard Library of Cheap Editions of Popular Modern Works , " each to bo comprised in a ninglo volume , elegantly printed , bound , and illustrated , price 5 s . The First Volume is to contain " Nature and Human Nature , " by the Author of " Sam Slick ;"— " A Summer and Winter in the Two Sicilies , " by Miss Knvanaghj" Henry the Third , King of France , his Court and
Times , " by Miss Freer;—The Genealogical Volumo of 11 Lodge ' s Peerage , " Improved and Enlarged , and containing for the first time the AncoHtral History of the Baronets , as well as Poors of the Itoalm ;— " Episodes of French History , " by Mias Purcloo . Among the Works of Fiction announced by Messrs . Hurst and Hlaukett are ; —A Now Story by the Author of " John Hulifax ;" - — " Stephen Langton , " by Martin F . Tuppor , Author of " Proverbial Philosophy ;" - — « ' The Laird of Norlaw , " a Scottish Story , 1 W the Author df ^ 'Mtirgaret MaHland ;" — "Two Hearts , " ' a Tale , Edited by Mi ' s . Groy;—¦ " Fellow Travellers , " by the Author of " Murgarot , or Prejudice at Homo s "— -The Muator ° f the Hounds , " by Scrutator , Author of " The Squire of ISoccUwood , " &c .
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THEATRES AND PUBLIC ENTERTAIN MENTS . P \ ne and Harrison Opeka Company , Drcry . Lane . —Dramatic ani musical reporters , though as a general rule good-naturedly reluctant to be committed to flut censure * are also too apt , it is to be feared , to take refuge in faint praise and safe deceitful generalities , rather than be caught tripping into enthusiasm , or into unreserved praise of first representations or appearances . This habit , the usual restriction of newspaper columns to tlie record of novelties , the haste with which such reports are necessarily prepared , and the anxiety of managers and others concerned for immediate notice , must
often cause . mortification ,- if not injustice , to managers , authors , composers , and artists , who can hardly lock to journalists for the amendment of imperfect criticisms , or the reversal of hasty- opinions delivered under tlie pressure of such conditions . Having , however , space at our disposal , wo wish to say a few words in addition to our former remarks upon Mr , Balfc ' s ftose of Cast Uh , for which , however , our excuse must be more the importance of the attempt to naturalise English opera oh the stage of the national theatre , than the correction of any error in our recorded judgment . We . have certainly , as critics , to note the extreme vapidity and incoherence of the tale as unworthv of the author and of
the composer whose honeyed strains are so misalhed to it ; but as reporters , we must add that , like other actor-authors , tlie manufacturer of this libretto seems to have at his command a mysterious sauce , labelled " Stage Fitness , " we will suppose , for want of a better name . With a dash of thia he contrives to season up for the public taste the most absurd lay figures of characters , the most improbable and inartistic situations , and , in line , to produce what , seeming to be rather than bciiig a dni-mn , afflicts the connoisseur , but delights the general public . The hundredth representation of the Hose of Castilh-, on Wednesday night , which drew a more enthusiastic and more
closely-packed audience into . Drury-lane Theatre than did its first to the little Lyceum , proves the truth of our position ; for it is impossible that Mr . Balfe ' s music , clever though it be , could otherwise have carried so far " the weight of a plot which the public condemned as no plot , and of a libretto which the same public considered trash . We hope that the composer may have for his next opera the far better framework wo have fair right to expect from the same hand . music
We arc glad to own our impressibn that the of the Hose improves upon acquaintance . Wo ' > ov j notice passages of mark and beauty , which escaneu us when directhig . our attention also to the beautnui scenery , tlie evolution of the incidents , and tne study of the ensemble . The choral acconinammom of Elvira ' s schozo , for instance , has much improveu in delicacy , and the old-style passage in the preceding duct seems more captivating on each occasion , as , indeed , docs Miss l ' ync ' a execution ot xw schesso itself . Of the passage , " Yes , when near me . &c , " in the duct between Manuel and Elvoy , t » u /• lorw
refrain in tho trio between / Jons Pedro , , »< " * Md / uat , of tlie quartet between theso characters nnd Elvira , and of the final chorus to Act I ., ^" more delay , " wo niny any tho same . In l l 0 80 t "" net wo enjoy , as before , tho trio fur tho liuiica ui Manuel , " I ' m not tho queen—ha ! ha ! " nnd on our law visit found Mr . Harrison in better voice lor A" « mnid I mot , " which we thought very littU < <>« ° »" first performance . Wo have , on a previous ottft sion , notieod all the ronmining morwaiu- w . n ' worthy of praise , but wo are glad to renew oiu ton incnclHtion of Mr'O lover , the /* w /'«//• € > , vlnim *« " »» hardly heliovo to have -wilfully neglouiu . l tl » o ««" mous « caU" with which ho was lionuuroil ai •'" conclusion of tlio porfoinnitnoo on \ VethiemuV ) " , Mr . Bulfo has , -vro understand , far advanced u >\\ " « tho completion of n now work founde . I upon u i Diablerie , of which littlo lias tranflpirod sa \ u » v is expected to bo tho composer ' s choj d ' wtwro , anu
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BOOKS RECEIVED THIS WEEK . My Lady : A Tale of Modern Life . 2 vols nost S ™ Smith , Elder , and Co . P St bvo Hills and Hollows . A Novel . 3 vols . post Svo T n New by . I - C < The New El Dorado . Post 8 vo . T . C . Newby The Curiosities of Literature . New Edition . " Vol II foolscap 8 vo . Routledge and Co : ' Tlie . Secret of a Life . 1 ' oolscap 8 vb : Routled ge and Co . ¦ . . ¦ ' !• ' . . . Magazinks . —Tilaclwood—Eraser— Titan Eclect ' —Psycological—JJnblin University —Ei ,, jlish ) l ' onian ' s—Mechanics ' - — Le Follet — Journal . Reviews . — The Westminster— The National— The London — The Dritish .
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¦ . THE . LEADER - - -1034 ¦ . : ¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦ . - m
'— - O [ No . 445 , ctober 2 , 1858 .
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Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 2, 1858, page 1034, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2262/page/18/
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