MORE SEPTEMBER MAGAZINES.

"Erema

The accession of Frederick the Great, in 1 740, may be said to mark the turning THE Cornhill Magazine is strong in fiction this point when the old Pietism began month. to decline, and the new type of is vigorously sustained, and "The Princess Paolini" Illuminism to take its place. is a charming little Our sketch. "For Percival" is a new story, opening space will not permit us to enter on this with much brightness. A classical paper on interesting topic, much less to enlarge on "Lucian," which is both learned and readable, the rise of a great national literature and a critical article, evincing considerable taste, under that galaxy of genius which shone form "On some French Writers of Verse, 1830-1870," stronger portions of the contents. with such brightness at the Court of "Betsinda and her Bun" gives, in a rather Weimar, dating from 1775. It is singular, fanciful way, some account of the Metropolitan as Scherr remarks, that Frederick the Society for Befriending Young Servants, in Great, who did so much for Germany in leading part. "Meditations of a Hindu, Prince originating which the late Mrs. Senior took a arms, remained to the last indifferent to and Sceptic," is a spirited and suggestive poem the true source of German greatness in by A. C. Lyall. Those given to indulging in the revival of a national literature. It autumnal musings will read with pleasure the is probable that the brutality with which dreamy essay on "The Poetry of September." he was treated by that untutored old its contents. The Sunday Magazine is pleasantly varied in The story of Roman Carthage, Teuton, his father, may have had much "Lapsed, but not Lost," is continued in her best to say to his indifference to German lite-style by the author of the Schönberg-Cotta rature in any shape. When Gotz von Family." In "The Postman's Daughter," by Berlichingen appeared, he could only rather laboured account is given of a simple inci the author of "John Halifax, Gentleman," a say of it that it was a detestable imitation dent. Dr. Blakie's "In the Heart of Hungary," of one of those abominable plays of is a travel paper, taking us into tracts not so wellShakespeare, but not only had Klopstock beaten as those over which ordinary tourists take and Wieland no charms for him, but tive, and written in a truly Catholic spirit. Of The account of Mrs. Chisholm is appreciaeven Lessing, with his tone of philoso- the rest of the magazine, it is enough to say that phic Deism, which was quite to Frede- it is quite up to the usual standard of this first of rick's mind, suggested to him no beau- religious magazines. ties. The blind way in which he put down Gellert, when introduced to him in 1760, and the remark that Germany had no literature because it had no Augusts as France had in Louis XV., may give us the measure of Frederick's critical acumen, which we certainly cannot rank highly.

But Our space warns us that we must conclud e before we have even glanced at the many interesting topics which Scherr's book suggests. The only fault which we can find with such a work is that it covers too much ground, and touches on so many topics as only to confuse the ordinary reader, who is given a glimpse at an epoch of German history, and then hastened on to another with the sense that he is fatigued before he is informed. The book in that respect is as interesting as Vehse's "Memoirs of the House of Prussia," or Fischer's "Pictures of German Life; "but it has this disadvantage, that it covers more ground then these volumes of light sketches, and consequently leaves a still fainter impression on the reader's mind. As academical lectures delivered in German-Switzerland to an audience familiar with German life and manners, but desiring to have their provincial impressions of the Fatherland corrected by one who was himself a German, we can understand their acceptance and popularity. But we could not commend the book to the English reader as answering the purposes of a handbook, and if an English publisher were to put it forth with this object as the firm of Dentu have done in Paris, they would only disappoint their readers.

us.

cially noticeable, fairly maintains its reputation.
Good Words, without containing anything spe-
Dr. Maclaren's "Sunday Evening Readings"
are full of spiritual power and fine thought,
Canon Tristram continues his "Story of the Isles
of the Sea, told by the Fowls of the Air," this
time dealing with Australia. Principal Tulloch's
ception of the great Jesuit leader. Among other
paper on "Ignatius Loyola gives a just con-
articles, more or less readable, the sketch of
Commodore Goodenough is a worthy tribute to
a noble man.,

Macmillan's Magazine opens with a very able tory," suggested by the "Memoirs of Prince Harpaper by Professor Seeley on "Prussian His. denberg," edited by Leopold von Ranke. Mrs. Oliphant's "Young Musgrave" has reached the twenty-eighth chapter. One of the most interesting and valuable papers is that on "The Colours of Animals and Plants," by A. R. Wallace. Ani. mals are dealt with in the present article, plants being reserved for the next. Lady Duff Gordon chats pleasantly about "German Society Forty Years Since.' The poetry this month is of average merit. In the article on "The Italian Drama," we are made acquainted with tragedy and comedy during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

"

The Leisure Hour for this month is full of inthe Colorado beetle, with coloured illustrations, teresting papers, amongst which the account of is not the least timely. The engravings generally strike us as unusually good. The paper on "Yorkshire Abbeys," by Mrs. Macqucid, the author of those delightful books, Through for a pleasant ramble through the ruins of Jervaux Normandy," and "Through Brittany," takes us Abbey.

66

The Sunday at Home will not be less welcome
than usual. Its articles are fresh and striking,
The coloured engraving this month represents
and the tone of them thoroughly wholesome.
the Cathedral of St. Asaph, of which a very fairly
written account is given. We should like to see
a little more thought thrown into "The Pulpit
in the Family."

The Christian World Magazine continues its
the Rev. H. H. Dobney.
two serial stories, one by the editor, the other by
Mr. Dobney's tale,
called "Brookfield Rectory," deals, as may be
supposed from the title, mainly with clerical cha-
racters and ecclesiastical questions.
The spirit
manifested is kindly and genial, although there are
a good many caustic and shrewd observations and
criticisms written from the Nonconformist stand-

point. The writer has a quick eye for the weak places of his opponents' armour; but he fights so

fairly, and even generously, that no "foeman worthy of his steel" would take offence; while he besprinkles his pages with so much lively humour that every reader will be disposed to in dulge at least in a comfortable chuckle, if not a hearty laugh. The Rev. W. Dorling writes, very gracefully and sympathetically, according to his wont, of "John Clare: a Tale of Struggling Genius." It is a sad story of one who, in a lowly sphere, possessed the instincts and capabilities of a true poet, but who lacked backbone, and was his own worst enemy. Mr. Ritchie is at home in Rotterdam, or, as he calls it, "The City of Drawhis genial, observant way amongst the Dutch in bridges." The Rev. R. Best gives the first chapter of some papers on "The Wonders and Treasures of the Vatican," which will be read with much interest. By familiar comparisons and lively description Mr. Best gives a capital idea of the home of the Pope and the centre of the Papal world. There is also a brief and thoughtful paper on "The Duration of Human Life." Altogether the number is very good, and well worth reading.

Charing Cross is really such a curious mixture that we scarcely know how to characterise it. It has a pleasant cover, and a well-printed open page, and a curious trick of mixing up very light jects. For instance, we have before us about stories with would-be light articles on grave subfifteen pages ch "The Churches of Great Britain at the time of the Saxon Invasion." What possible interest the readers of the two serials of the imagine. magazine can have in such a subject we cannot

Golden Hours is a pleasant domestic magazine which does not often get noticed. It has some fair stories and readable articles. Mr. Martin F. Tupper, we observe, concludes in the present number a series of three papers on his recent visit to America. His prose is almost worse than

his poetry, and the jargon descriptive of his ex-
periences is interspersed with lengthy quotations
from verses composed by himself; but Mr.
Tupper's name is so universally known, that even
these quotations from his diary have a certain
magazine are very readable.
kind of interest. Several of the papers in the

The Christian World Pulpit is well filled, prominence being given to the leading divines of the Old and New World. Here side by side stand men whose names are a recognised power in moulding the religious thought of the nineteen h century-Canon Liddou, Dean Stanley, C. H. Spurgeon, Baldwin Brown, Theodore L. Cuyler, and Henry Ward Beecher.

The Sunday-school Times has two serial stories running through its pages, which, however, only

form one feature of the number. Lessons and
suggestive matter for teachers and taught occupy
considerable space, and the general reading for
the class and home circle cannot fail to have a
pub ication falls.
beneficial effect upon those into whose hands the

its own. Light literature without being frivolous is
Happy Hours strikes out into a path exclusively
required to frame aright the minds of young
people. This the part before us supplies in
abundance, a healthy tone pervading the whole.

We have also received the Atlantic Monthly, the Gardener's Magazine, Myra's Journal, the Christian Family, Onward, the Young Men's Magazine, the Sword and Trowel, the East Central Review, the Little Boy's Friend, the others. Christian Observer, the Woman's Gazette, and

Picturesque Europe (Casseli and Co.) has some charming pictures of the scenery of "The West Coast of Wales," and commences a chapter on

Cambridge," giving a stoking view by moon. light of the bridge at Queen's College. The frontispiece is a charming bit of engraving, of a scene "On the Lynn."

The National Portrait Gallery, Part 69 (Cassell and Co.), has an excellent likeness of Sir Charles Reed, which many friends of Sunday-schools and of elementary education will be glad to possess,

A Pocket of Pebbles.

By William Philpot. (London: Macmillan and Co.) The author of this little collection of remarks, observations, and reflections upon morals and religion, quaintly describes himself as "Vicar in the Holy Orders of the Church of Christ and of England." What are holy orders in the Church of Christ, and whether Mr. Philpot regards that as something distinct from his position in the Church of England, or would confine the Church of Christ to the limits of the Episcopal communion in this country, are not very clear. But the effort to put something in an original way, resulting, after all, in a very feeble and confused utterance, which marks this description of himself, pervades the whole book. A more pretentious and yet poorer literary performance we have seldom seen. Resembling in form the "Guesses at Truth" of the brothers Hare, it is in thought at an immense distance from the often suggestive and generally acute reflections contained in that well-known work. We are told that "a worthy friend, whose praise is in the presses," urged the author to put some of his "thinkings" together. All we can say is, that the "presses" which praise the gentleman who could honestly advise the publication of these sorry, commonplace, and at times pedantic remarks, must be inspired by genius akin to that of Mr. Philpot: We rather incline to the belief that the "worthy friend" was playing a practical joke upon the "Vicar in the Holy Orders," &c. One or two examples of the kind of pebbles which the author has so carefully preserved in his pocket will suffice for our readers. The first one he offers us is "Love and Let Love," a ridiculous parody on the terse proverb, "Live and let live." Here is one of a more laboured character. "Those who are aggressive are commonly retrogressive, and not progressive. Progress is indeed aggress, but it is aggressive only upon ignorance and darkness. All time spent in aggressiveness upon our honest fellow-men is ost to progress, and, as we cannot stand still, we are at such times retrogressive." This cumbersome, round-about way of making very ordinary reflections is in Mr. Philpot's best manner. We acquit the author of conscious vanity, and recognise the generally sound Christian sentiment which animates his "thinkings," but we really must assure him that his pebbles were not worth picking up, and that it was a positively cruel act to throw them at the head of the public. History of the Middle Ages.

illustrative of " every Christian's duty," grouping | sion that he is making a valuable addition to the
them according to subject-matter. We like the historical and philological knowledge of his public.
idea and the way in which it has been carried out. He honestly thinks that English is a Celtic dia-
It serves to show the unity of teaching which lect; there is no mistake about it.
pervades the New Testament, and serves as a
concordance so far as its range extends, with the
advantage that the texts are given in full. For
devotional and practical reading also, we doubt
not that it will be esteemed.

A new work on table decoration is in the press. Messrs. Wyman and Sons, publishers, Great Queen-street, London, announce early in October "Floral Designs for the Table," being plain directions for its ornamentation with cut flowers and fruit, with classified lists of suitable plants, berries, and leaves. The work will be in folio size, and will contain twenty-four original coloured designs (executed in the highest style of chromo-lithography), showing the best and most attractive method of decorating the break. fast, luncheon, dinner, and supper table at a moderate cost. Descriptive letterpress will accompany the plates.

According to the writer of a clever biography of M. Thiers in the Daily News he has left, it is said, memoirs too sincere to come out for many years. His work " On Philosophy," so far as it is completed, shows that, if his mind did not grow much after 1821, it became mellow with time. In a noteworthy chapter he amplifies the theses set forth with masterly vigour and eloquence in the pamphlet, " On Property," namely, that there are evils inherent in human existence with which science will be eternally impotent to deal. From them he deduces that life is a preparatory school for a higher phase of existence. Thus, in the crown of thorns that man is doomed to wear, he finds a proof of continued progress, and of those consoling doctrines that have enabled Christianity to weather the storms of twenty centuries. It is said that his " "History "1 brought M. Thiers in 2,000,000 of francs.

Publishing a daily paper is perilous work. Mr. Howe, the late proprietor of the Daily Ex. press, has found this out by this time. At Bow. street last week, he was summoned before Mr. Vaughan, under the Master and Servants Act, for wages due to Thomas Evans, a compositor in the employ of the printer of that paper. The case was really a test case, as there were a number of other compositors who alleged that money was due to them under similar circumstances. Mr. Beswick appeared for the complainant, and Mr. Lickfold for the defendant. The complainant's case was that the paper having been carried on by a company, which was wound up on the 28th July, it was then taken over by the defendant on the old arrangement, which was, according to the usage of the “ companionship,' "that the compositors were entitled to a fortnight's notice. The paper was carried on until the 25th August. The 24th concluded a fortnight, and by a special arrangement, in order that the paper should be brought out the next day, one night's pay was given to the men. It was understood that the payment of the night's money should not in any way prejudice the claim to a fortnight's notice. Mr. Abrahams, the printer of the paper, gave evidence to the effect that it was customary to

give a fortnight's notice to the compositors, and he also denied that any arrangement to carry on

By Sutherland Menzies. (London and Glasgow: W. Collins, Sons, and Co.) The full title of this useful addition to Messrs. Collins' school series is the "History of Europe from the De. Q.C., was proved on the 25th ult. by Mrs. Louisa the paper from day to day had been made with

The Illustrated London News states that the will (dated August 9, 1872) of Mr. Samuel Warren, cadence of the Western Empire to the Refor. Warren, the widow, and the Rev. Samuel Lilckmation." Within the compass of some 300 endey Warren, and the Rev. Edward Walpole pages an admirable summary is given of the Warren, the sons, the executors, the personal chief events in the above period. The style is estate being sworn under £12,000. The testator, clear and vigorous, and the arrangement of facts such as will be found helpful to students pre-of his novel of "Ten Thousand a Year" to his among other legacies, bequeathes the manuscript paring for examination. A coloured map illustrations add to the value of the manual. Ulysses in Phœacia.

and

By James Pearce. (London: A. H. Moxon.) This is a narrative of the adventures of Ulysses, adapted from the "Odyssey," Books v. to xii. There is much promise in this early poetical effort. The simple strength, the deep passion, the nature hues of Homer, are in a large measure caught and reproduced in Mr. Pearce's verse. The proem, if not containing much that is fresh in conception, is exceedingly musical, and throughout the poem considerable mastery of language is shown. Of course, marks of immaturity are not wanting, but there are sufficient indications of true poetical feeling and power to lead us to express the hope that Mr. Pearce will continue to translate the "mighty incantation" of nature and life.

The Light of Life.

Compiled by R. J. Ellis. (London: E. Stock.) Mr. Ellis, who is a missionary in Bengal, has arranged in this little work a large number of passages from the New Testament,

eldest son, "trusting he will retain it as an heir-
loom as long as possible," and makes provision for
his wife and younger children. The residue of his
property he also leaves to his eldest son.

- A curious problem, says the Daily News, is
suggested by a casual remark in the lively and
ducts. A recent number of the Figaro, discuss-
veracious journal which M. de Villemessant con
ing with perfect good faith and gravity the late
robbery of bonds from a Calais train, gives some
particulars of one M. Martin, a French-English-
man, supposed to be implicated. M. Martin, it
seems, was born in Brittany, and "in consequence

probably of the connection between the Breton
and English languages speaks the latter as cor-
rectly as any native of London." The first
thought which occurs to the reader after he has
perused this enormous and astounding sample of
Parisian scholarship is of course that it is a joke.
But it is evidently nothing of the kind, and is, on
the contrary, obviously introduced by the writer
in perfect seriousness, and under the impres-

hams, the head printer, through the sub-editor, Mr. Marsh, that if he could prevail on the men to work on from day to day he could carry on the bility of the old arrangement. Mr. Abrahams paper; but he could not undertake the responsi told Mr. Marsh that the daily arrangement had been made, and this statement he afterwards confirmed to witness. Mr. John Brown Marsh, subeditor of the late Daily Express, said that at the request of Mr. Howe, he spoke to Mr. Abrahams about making a daily arrangement. Mr. Abra

Mr. Howe. Mr. Howe said he told Mr. Abra.

agreed to the terms. When the pay-sheet of the hams took time to consult with the men, and then last night was drawn up, Mr. Abrahams not only put himself down for a week's money, but said that if Mr. Howe would give him a month's salary (£24) he would guarantee him against all claims of the men to a fortnight's notice. Mr. H. T. Humphreys, assistant sub-editor, and Mr. W. Hill, assistant publisher, said they both understood and agreed to the arrangement to work by the day. Mr. Vaughan said he could quite understand that the men thought themselves entitled to a fortnight's notice. It was quite clear that Mr. Abrahams did not thoroughly communicate to the men what had taken place between him and Mr. Howe. When it was proved that in other branches of the

The Cathedral's Shadow. By Mari-song-writers. We hope Mr. Bennett will give the world

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THE

LITERARY WORLD.

No. 412.-VOL. XVI.
NEW SERIES.

Choice Readings from the Best New Books, and Critical Reviews.

LONDON, SEPTEMBER 21, 1877.

A RIDE THROUGH ISLAM.* CAPTAIN MARSH is not to be congratulated so much on writing a successful book as on making his way in the performance of a long and successful journey through Persia to India-a region at no time pleasant to travel in, and at all times full of danger. It is not to be presumed that many will follow him. Most of us moderns, when we travel, like our creature comforts around us. We must have first-class carriages, plenty of newspapers to read, good beds to lie on, excellent table d'hôtes, civil landlords, obliging servants, and charges moderate; if not, as we depart we shake the dust off our feet-in other words, write letters to the Times. Primitive living is not certainly in accordance with the spirit of our age, and it is consequently a thing creditable to a man's pluck and power of endurance and love of adventure when he takes a ride like that of Captain Marsh-a ride not, however, to be compared either as a peril or as a literary record with that celebrated ride which created no little sensation in English circles not many years ago. We are not exactly charmed with our Captain's title. In the present state of the public mind we should consider anything about Islam to be another book about Turkey. As we have indicated, this new publication is nothing of the kind. And if the reader consequently is disappointed he is not alone to blame. The first notes of the journey appeared in the Allahabad Pioneer in 1873. They are written from the journal kept en route. Although they contain very little if any addition to geographical knowledge owing to the author's not having been able to carry any instruments, he hopes they may be received by all brother travellers, notwithstanding all defects, with the indulgence due to the first effort to add to the knowledge of a country interesting to most Englishmen. A glance at the map shows what an interesting route our author pursued, commencing at Constantinople, touching at Tiflis, Teheran, Meshed, Herat, Candahar, and terminating at Jacobabad. The ride appears to have commenced at Enzali, two hundred miles this side of Teheran, and was mea

A Ride Through Islam, being a Journey Through Afghanistan to India via Meshed Herat and Kandahar. By Hippisley Cunliffe Marsh, Captain of the 18th Bengal Cavalry. London: Tinsley Brothers, Catherinestreet, Strand. Price 145.

[PRICE ONE PENNY.

sured at 1,680 miles, the last 900 of to the care of those who are not Eng-
which were performed on the same lishmen. Any small local merchant-
horse. The idea of the author in taking very often not even a British subject—
it was to become acquainted with a road is now thought capable of representing
which may before long be of the utmost us and protecting our trade and the per-
importance to us. He maintains that the sons of British-born subjects." In some
Eastern Question will not be settled by quarters it has been suggested that we
the taking of Khiva by the Russians, should have a regular Consular College
and no neutral zone will protect us from to train Englishmen for these important
at least the inconvenience of intrigues posts, but, be that as it may, it is mani-
between Russia and Afghanistan. This fest, trained or untrained, our represen-
kind of language is unpopular in certain tatives should be Englishmen. In these
circles, we own. Russia is an angel of days we have far too much of cosmopoli-
light and love, and they who oppose her tan feeling. Our fortresses, our dock-
"manifest destiny," or doubt her disin-yards, our last discoveries in the science
terestedness in "her holy war," are sup- of offence and defence we throw open to
posed to be little better than the Turks the world. Distinguished Frenchmen,
themselves, and, as we all know, there Germans, Russians, are asked to inspect
can be nothing worse than that. The our arsenals, and to worm out all our
Captain appears to be desirous that we secrets, they, at the same time, taking
should be stronger in Central Asia. He good care to let us into none of theirs.
writes: "Our commerce is very poor, Such one-sided reciprocity, we fear, is
and not till the personal influence of of little avail.
our agents and politicals at Herat, Kan-
dahar, Balkh, and Cabul, also in Yar-
kund, is felt, will our former prestige
revive, and that of Russia dimi-
nish." Little by little we have been
pushed out of the way, he tells us, by
the aggression of a gigantic State. Our
prestige and position with respect to
Central Asian affairs has slowly but
surely been dimmed and driven back,
and he argues that as our policy has
allowed Russia to approach and nearly
surround us, we ought to be more jealous
of the only two countries left us to ex-
pand in Afghanistan and Yarkund.
Thanks to Sir Douglas Forsyth's energy
and tact, Yarkund has been opened to

us.

"When," the Captain asks, "will Afghan exclusion be a thing of the past ?" Surely we ought to be allowed a free passage after having given Shere Ali since 1868 some fourteen lakhs of money, twelve guns, thirteen to fourteen thousand stand of arms, besides elephants and ammunition.

In one thing we anticipate all readers, whatever be their political opinions or their Russian proclivities, will agree with our author, and that is as to the desirability of reform in our Consular service. In this respect we believe England has suffered much. In a note the Captain writes, Considering how large a stake British capitalists have in most of the ports of the Levant and Black Sea, also in the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and other parts of Asia, I am surprised that our interests are so often, as a rule, entrusted

It is also well to be reminded of the high-handed manner in which Russia acts when she has the chance. One instance referred to by our author is specially worth remembering. In the year 1836 the whole of the Caspian Sea was by treaty closed to Persia, her boatmen, and her trade. About the same time Russia first set her eyes on Ashurade, an island situated at the end of a spot of land jutting out of the Mazenderan coasts, and sheltering the only safe and deep harbour on the south-east of the Caspian, but it was not till 1841-3 that the island was regularly seized, and the foundation laid for the formation of a naval station. In consequence, at the request of Persia, the British Government remonstrated with that of Russia on the subject, but, of course in vain. In 1854, equally in vain, Persia officially demanded its evacuation-a demand which the Russians seem to have met by forcing her Consuls on Persia, and establishing them at Resht and Astrabad. In like manner in 1869 Krasnovodsk, and in 1871 Chikishlar and the neighbouring coasts, were served, Persia protesting and we calmly looking on. According to our author, the outlook for us is not pleasant as regards our hold on India. The followers of the Prophet may unite against us as they are now uniting against Russia. Who can tell? And then what is to become of British rule? As the Captain remarks, "India can hardly afford to keep the present force of 60,000 British bayonets, and if more have to be