EMBELLISHED PERIODICALS.
THE First Part of " The Monastic Annals of Teviotdale," by the Reverend JAMES MORTON, is embellished with two beautiful views, and a plan of Jedburgh Abbey, engraved in a style of first-rate excellence, by W. H. LIZARS, by whom also the drawings are made and the work pub- lished. It corresponds in size and appearance, as well as in the excel- lence of the plates, with the "Border Antiquities ;" and to the ad- mirers of good prints, as well as to the antiquary, and those interested in the localities of the neighbourhood, it will prove an acquisition. The letterpress consists of an historical and architectural account of the Abbey of Jedburgh, thus rendering the First Part complete in itself; a good arrangement, and one that is not likely to be prejudicial to the sale of the work,—whatever some publishers may think to the con- trary, who are studiously careful that the plates in any number of a work shall not illustrate the text, in order to render it imperative on the sub- scribers to take in the whole work ; a sordid expedient, and only neces- sary to a publication that stands in need of so shabby an inducement to its completion. The short-sighted speculators who adopt this plan, for. get that while they thus deprive their subscribers of some of the advan- tages of purchasing a book in numbers, they also deter others from buy- ing it at all. The Second Part of Mr. MARTIN'S " Illustrations of the Bible" con- tains the sentence and expulsion of our First Parents. Those who admire Mr. MARTIN'S works will perhaps not object to a repetition of what they consider embodied representations of the sublime and beautiful. We must, however, protest against the similarity which exists between these plates and those illustrating MIL.rox, not only in the style and general character, but in the choice of subjects, and the mode of treatment, as well as in the effects and details; a similarity which in one instance, if not more, amounts to identity. As we have before expressed our opi- nion of Mr. MARTIN'S talents, we feel the less need to reiterate it on this occasion.
Part II. of the series of twelve coloured "Views of the Liverpool and Manchester Rail-road," presents us with several, striking points of this grand undertaking. The bridges, tunnels, sunk-ways, via-ducts, and the various stations on the line of road, are not only novel and pictur- esque, but excite admiration at the triumph of locomotive machinery over distance and natural obstacles.
The First Number of " Picturesque Gleanings of the North," by C. TERRY, lithographed by O'NEILL, is creditable to both artist and draughtsman ; though there is a want of keeping in one or two of the plates. The subjects, consisting of lake and mountain scenery, are well chosen, and, with the exception before named, cleverly treated.
In the Fifth Part of his " Sketches of Italy," Mr. LINTON displays con- siderable improvement in the force of his effects and the handling of the lithographic material. The views of Florence, Paestum, Lago d' Orta, &c. are among the best in the number. There is a blackness in some of the plates, however which produces too violent contrasts, and gives an appearance of crudeness to the style, in 'which the same flatness and mannerism prevail of which we have before complained.
The new series of Sir WILLIAM GELL's "Pompeialia' is drawing to a close. Part XI. the last but one, contains a double quantity of plates and letterpress, as will also the concluding part, and without any increase of price ; the publiiheis being desirous to redeem the pledge which they made to the subscribers at the outset of the work, that it should not extend beyond twelve or thirteen parts. This honourable and liberal conduct will be appreciated as it deserves. The mixture of barbarism and refinement remarkable in the arrangements, the architecture, and interior decorations of the dwellings of Pompeii, affords imw13 matter for
observation, upon which we have not space to enter. The small cell- like apartments have a gloomy and cold appearance, which all the wealth
of ornament cannot dispel. The baths seem to have been their greatest domestic luxury ; which, for an out-door people, is natural enough—we indwellers, with our snug firesides, and spacious suites of light rooms, cannot fancy their dungeon-like lodgings to have been comfortable. Part IV. of the " Watering Places" contains three plates, one of Torquay, from a beautifully effective drawing by D. Cox, and two very clever views of Dover and Rottingdean, by BARTLETT. The engravings, by ROGERS, are by no means worthy of the originals, being feeble and indistinct.
Part XXIX. of the "National Portrait Gallery" contains portraits of Lord Bexley, Sir Ralph Abercromby, and :fir. Gifford, the Quarterly Reviewer, with his indolent air and peevish expression. The engravings are all excellent.
The First Number of a cheap little series of " Illustrations of American Ornithology," reduced .from the plates in the original work of WI esox, and intended to bind up with the small edition of that valuable and in- teresting book, published in ConstaUe's Miscellany, has just appeared. The plates are eight in number, and though not to be judged of as works of art, are got up neatly, and with tolerable accuracy, as regards their general appearance, considering their small size and the low price of the work. The gay colours of the plumage render the plates attractive to the eye, and gloss over the defects of their execution ; in which, how- ever, we would fain see an improvement.
Part ILL of the " Biblical Cabinet Atlas " maintains the beauty and clearness of its engraved miniature maps.
Part XVII. of the " Landscape Illustrations of the Waverley Novels," contains a romantic scene of Fowls Castle, by COPLEY FIELDING; a clever view of Tours, by PROVT ; a very pretty and interesting one of the old buildings in Woodstock Park, by W. Weeeem., from a draw- ing in the collection of King George the Third ; and Ben Lomond, by ROBSON. The engravings, by Messrs. Fteaeex, are good.
The Third Volume of " Roscoe's Novelist's Library," containing the First of Peregrine Pickle, is illustrated by four humorous designs by GEORGE CRUIESUANE, which are imbued with the spirit of the story. The frontispiece, representing Commodore Trunnion submitting his chin to the depilatory operations of Mrs. Grizzle and Mrs. Pickle, while Hatchway looks on, is inimitable. Trunnion, terrified by the appari- tion of Davy Jones, is also capital. What increases the value of these plates, is the circumstance of their being etched as well as designed by GEORGE CRIIIKSHANK himself; so that every touch is his own, and as- sists the design, none of the spirit of which is lost in the engraving.
.No. VII. of the "Standard Novels," containing the First Volume of Miss PORTER'S Scottish Chiefs is embellished by two very clever designs, of corresponding excellence with those in the Waverley Novels.
Of the Magazines, the Library of the Fine Arts takes the lead this month in its embellishments ; for it gives us two portraits of artists re- cently deceased,—Jackson and Northeote, the latter in particular an ad- mirable likeness by Wive .I. ; it is a " speaking" portrait, and very cha- racteristic in its expression. There is considerable talent, and more zeal, displayed in this work, which deserves the encouragement of artists es- pecially. It is " open to all parties, and influenced by none." We can- not resist quoting from its pages the following anecdote of Northcote and King William when Duke of Clarence : it is honourable to the in- dependent spirit of the artist, and the good sense and feeling of the Prince.
The Royal Duke, accompanied by a lady of rank, used to bring the celebrated Master Betty to sit to Mr. Northcote for his portrait. One day, the Prince, tired perhaps of doing the looking-on part, began to amuse himself by quizzing the personal appearance of the painter; whose small form, enveloped in a loose patched morning-gown, and crowned with scattered white locks not reach indebted to the comb and Scissors for arrangement, was as singular as the man himself. As the painter pursued his task, the Prince twitched the collar of his robe ; upon which the artist suddenly turned round and signified his displea- sure by a frown. Regardless of this tacit reproof, his Royal Highness lifted up the painter's grey locks with his finger; observing, " You do not devote much time to the toilet—how long may it occupy you ?" Mr. Northcote, turning round, replied calmly, " Sir, I never allow any one to take personal liberties with me. Yea are the first who ever pre- sumed to do so ; and I beg your Royal Highness to recollect that I am in my own house." He then resumed his work. The Prince was silent, and soon after went away, without waiting for his.carriage, though it rained; contenting himself with an umbrella which he borrowed from the painter. When the Duke was gone, the lady observed, "1 fear, Mr. North- cote, you have highly offended his Royal Highness." "Madam," he replied, "I am the offended party." The next day, a tap at the door of the painter's studio was followed by the entrance of the Royal Duke. "Mr. Northcote," he said, " I am come to return the umbrella, which you were so good as to lend me yesterday. I brought it myself, that I might have the opportunity of saying, that I yesterday thoughtlessly ,took a very unbecoming liberty with you, and you properly resented it. I really am angry with myself, and hope you will forgive me, and think no more of it."—" And what did you say ?" inquired the friend to whom he first related the circumstance. "Say ? Gude God ! what would ?ee have me have said ? Why, nothing : I only bowed, and he might see what I felt. I could at that instant have sacrificed my life for him. Such a prince is worthy to be a king." But to the Magazine Embellishments. The New Monthly gives us a &vet: portrait of the Earl of Mulgrave, better known as Lord Nor- manby, author of "Matilda" and "Yes and Noe" Fraser, a full- length pen and ink sketch of Mr. John Wilson Croker ; La Belle As- zemblee, a highly-finished engraving, by Dept, of the Countess Grey; the Royal Lady's, a beautiful "View in Venice," by D. Cox, and a pretty illustration of a poem of Burns's ; and the Diamond Magazine. a design by COBBOULD illustrative of Mrs. Norton's " Undying One:"
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