THE 'UNIVERSAL REVIEW.*
THIS is a new monthly magazine that brings itself modestly into the world without any flourishing announcement of the wonders it intends to do. It does not assign to itself any raison d'être ex- \ cept the desire to create on the part of its authors. We are glad to see in this first number a quality which gives it a full title to existence, viz., good sense—as opposed to the ordinary affecta- tion of omniscience, superciliousness or an unflagging via comics. These three cardinal sins of critical reviewers in our day are be- coming a pestilent nuisance ; and we welcome any novelty in li- terature which promises to be sensible, well informed, and gentle- manlike. To be sufficiently clever and up to the mark in knowledge is no distinction in these days. Everybody is clever of course, and knows a vast deal more Addison, Steele and Goldsmith. But if any knot of gentlemen in our time will contrive to write as much good sense in as good English, for a monthly ma- gazine, we feel sure that there are thousands who will forgive them for not being as witty or as graceful as the greatest masters of their craft. There are several articles of great merit in this number. That on " Literature and Life " is perhaps the best. Its remarks on Mr. Beresford Hope's notion of making Literature a profession are perfectly sound. The very clever and much wanted article against the silliness of our present Christmas pieces for the stage should be read by all who fancy they like going to see such things—for the reason that " the stars in heaven are brightly shining" " because they've nothing else to do." The article on Parliamentary Reform we have had occasion to no- tice elsewhere ; that on Indian Finance deserves attention, and that on " Hallam " is sure to get it without deserving it so much.
• The Universal Review. March 1859. No. I. W. H. Allen and Co.
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