15 APRIL 1865, Page 20

Ballads. By the Author of Barbara's History. (Tinsley Brothers.)— These

poems were, the author tells us, nearly all written for music, and the smoothness of the verses admirably adapts them for that pur- pose. They often ponrtray a mood happily, but have, so far as we can see, but little originality either of imagery or thought. Like half the poetry of the day, they are quite unexceptionable, and allied to music. doubtless supplied a popular want but they are hardly worthy a writer whose powers we estimate so highly as the anther of Barbara's History, one of the best novels of the last few years.