Some of the monthly Picture Periodicals, as each succe3sive volume
is completed, are put into handsome bindings, to tempt fresh purchasers in their " Annual" shape. Among these, we have before us the First Volumes of the Landscappe-Historical Illustrations of Scotland and the Waverley Novels, and of Fistisat's Views (by BARTLETT,) of Syria, the Holy Land, Asia Minor, 4-c.; and the third of the Landscape Illustrations of the Bible, bound in a smaller size, and named The Biblical Annual. We have had frequent opportunities of noticing each in the course of publication. The volume of Syrian views, however, contains some striking examples, that we have not before seen, of wild and wonder- ful scenery, which Mr. BARTLETT appears to have sketched with fidelity, and under beautiful effects of nature that greatly aid their picturesque character and local truth. The rifted summits of Lebanon, with its famed groves of cedars, the mountain passes of Antioch, vari- ous coast scenes and views of modern palaces, have been added since our last notice of this interesting work.
The historical landscapes of TURNER, MELVILLE, and others, are among the best pictorial illustrations of the Waverley Novels ; and GEORGE CRUIRSHANK'S etchings stifle in laughter any objection to their too near approach to caricature. TURNER has represented the perilous situation of the Antiquary and his daughter on the beach under the cliff, with a vividness heightened by the poetic beauty of the scene. Dirk Hatteraick's lugger chased by the sloop of war, by BAL- MER ; the appearance of Rob Roy's wife at the Pass of Aberfoil, by BENTLEY ; the Festival of the Popinjay, by R. B. Davis ; the Battle of Bothwell Bridge, by HARVEY; Madge Wildfire and Jeanie Deans, by LINNEI.L—are the happiest instances of the conjunction of action and human interest with local scenery by the other artists. The suc- cess of modern painters in this class of illustrations, will, we hope, lead to their general adoption.
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