GIFT-B00 KS..
THE waning year is prodnoing its memorials of the season in the
form of gift-books ; • one`of the best of which, after all, is the sole survivor of the genuine Annuals—the old Keepsake. What though a generation has passed since first the combination of " high " art (as it was said) and the productions of names (at least) eminent in literature combined to form a memorial worthy of the fair ? What though many writers and painters too, whose names lent a lustre to the page and the advertisement, have passed away with the fashion they contributed to foster? What though the aristocratic Keepsake has lost "the mob of gentlemen who wrote with ease" while Lady Blessington lived to edit its pages and re- ceive at home? Still it reappears, more' gorgeous than of yore.in external form, with less sameness in the contributors, and as much quality in the articles.
By the kindness of her literary executrix, the late Mrs. Romer is made to furnish a vivid sketch Cr Naples at night ; extracted, apparently, from a contemplated book of travels. Mrs. Abdy, in "'My Sister'S New Governess," tells a story of modern life; read- able and pleasant, though the leading idea is not new, and rather forced in the present application. Mrs. 0. F. Owen mingles Ger-
man diablerie with a rational explanation in " The Old Heim Haus." In "Only Once a Year," a story of a Christmas eve and a Christ- mas night, Albert Smith makes a pleasant something out of no- thing by dint of clever filling-up. Mr. Charles Hervey has a second paper on autographs, really not devoid of facts and inform- ation, though he rather confounds antiquarian matter with what is usually meant by an autograph—that is, a signature or mere handwriting. The sale at Paris of the late Baron 'de Tremont's collection is the theme on which he speaks. " I was fortunate enough on this occasion to secure several gems for my own collection ; a few of which merit especial notice.
"The most important of these additions is indisputably an authentic sig- nature of Moliere, below his receipt for five hundred livres, dont sa Majeste (Louis XIV.). lui a faict don pour lui dormer moien db supporter lea fans et despences qui lui conveint faire en caste vile de france 00 it est venu par son commandement pour le plaisir et recreation de sa dite Majeste." This docu- ment, which also bears the signature of the Minister, Le Tcllier, is in an ex- cellent state of preservation.
" A deed of considerable dramatic interest, for which I was the successful competitor, is the original transfer by the Sieur Charles Vigarani to Jean Baptiste Lully of the then recently established Academie Royale de Musique ; in virtue of which deed, Lolly became sole manager and, proprietor of the Opera. This transfer, dated August 24, 1680, is signed in seven different places by Lully.
" A very curious petition, addressed in 1790 by Philip Astley to the citizens composing the General Assembly of the district of Nazareth, and re- questing their intercession in support of his newly-opened Circus, sets forth in explicit terms his devotion to the then existing order of things, and de- scribes himself as Le Sieur Astley, stranger republicain.' This manifesto experienced so favourable a reception at the hands cf. those to whom it was addressed, that they unanimously signed a memorial to the Police department in favour of the petitioner, empresses de rendre justice aux preuves des sentiments patriotiques que M. Astley n'a cease de dormer.'
"Briefly enumerating specimens of the handwriting of Bebe, the celebrated dwarf of the King of Poland, of the Siamese Twins, and of Amany, the pearl of the troupe of Bayaderes whose dancing created so great a sensation at the Adelphi under Yates's management, I pass on to an interesting letter addressed by Foote to Garrick from Dublin. In it he alludes to his having been nearly reduced to ashes by reading in bed, that cursed custom ; add- ing, 'So you see, ray dear sir, no man can foresee the great ends for which he was born. Macklin, thougha blockhead in his manhood and youth, turns out a wit and a writer on the brink of his graveand Foote, never very re- markable for his personal graces, in the decline Of his life was very near be- coming a toast.' "This amusing epistle concludes with the following pretty'compliment to his correspondent's wife—' You may assure Mrs. Garrick, that flattery is not one of my failings ; and that she has the merit of making me constant and uniform in perhaps the only part of my life—my esteem and veneration for her.
"There is something to me inexpressibly touching in the subjoined short and simple pens& ; I would hardly .exchange it for the original manuscript of 'Le Mie Prigioni'—' Que ceux qui me font rhonneur de me demander ces deux lignes, prien't Dieu pour moil—Smvio PELLICO.' "
There are other prose productions, but we pass to the principal poets. Bulwer sends "The Modern Wooer"; a song written to be sung in private theatricals, slightly satirical, with a touch of the- " comic. Under the title of " My Kate," Mrs. Elizabeth Barrett Browning has written some lines to the memory of a young friend, simply delineating a simple loveable character, such a one as forms the charm and influence of many a circle, and unless by accident passes away'without memorial ; and though criticism may desire more of spirit and poetical grace, it is possible that the poem would then lose something of its present appropriateness of style to sub- ject. Barry Cornwall contributes "A Phantasy "; lines on a subject—betrayed love—which he has often touched upon before with greater directness and force, though not with more poetical merit. " Nearer, gentle Star, Who doth in the distance shine !
Nearer to the brimming wine !
Beauty ne'er should shine afar.
* The Keepsake, 1855. Edited by Miss Power. With beautifully-finished En- gravings,- from Drawings by the first Artists, Engraved under the Superintendence of air. Frederick A. Heath. The Court Album: a Series of Portraits of the Female Aristocract. Engraved by the best Artiste. The Golden Legend. By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Illustrated with fifty Engravings on Wood, from Designs by Birket Foster and Jane E. Hay. All pub- lished by Bogue. Nearer to my heart, 0 maiden, Beauty-crown'd and sorrow-laden ! What are all these summer sighs ? Bid me look into thine eyes ! Near—more near—
(When was Dian's forehead clear ?) Ha! what see I there, Hiding in those azure skies ? Beneath the shadow of thy hair? Love ? Joy, ? Despair ? Love ? Alas! it still is breathing; Past is Joy's once sunny day : The deceiver hope is wreathing For another, far away, Flowers false, that soon decay. Look again ! What see.you now, Darkening with its coil a brow That still is youog, and once was fair, (So roan whispered,) passing fair, What is't? Wo, ell en we, Such as broken hearts must know,— Clinging, as the serpent clings Round the mute harp's silver strings, Till all the chords are broken ; For a sign and for a token - That all ita tender words are spoken."
The engravinas are rather below the average than above, it. The one contributing artist who may be called distinguished is Cope. His design was recently seen at the Academy in a picture. The same is the case with some others ; and neither the familiar nor the unfamiliar belong to a high stage of art. -
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