22 OCTOBER 1831, Page 21

ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE ANNUALS.

TIIE Amulet is not behind any of its fellows in the quality of its ern. bellishments. Here are three Countesses, after LAWRENCE, to begin with,—the Ladies Londonderry (and her son), Blessington, and Cawdor. The original of the first is one of the finest pictures LAWRENCE ever painted ; and we do not wonder, though we regret, that the engraving is not at all worthy of the original. The line engraving of Lady Blessing. ton is elaborate, and in parts beautiful, but not equal throughout. The likeness and the pictorial effect are extremely well preserved. There are two historical pictures in miniature,—" The Death of the first-born," a theatrical composition by GEORGE HATTER; and HstynoN's fine picture of " Endes," which looks all confusion in the engraving, though other- wise it is rendered with fidelity and spirit by SANGSTER. " Venice—the Embarkation," by 57'as:emus, is a scene full of grandeur, beauty, and poetry, yet simple and true to nature. "Time Rising of the Nile," by ROBERTS, is an architectural composition it-la-Martin, colonnades as common as iron palisades, and a profusion of pyramids. There is also a French classical "Corinna," by Baron GERARD ; a well-drawn statue, in an attitude and with an expression worthy of the " Theihre Francais." The embellishments of the two Juvenile Forget Me Not: are very little inferior to some of their adult rivals. The subjects are appropriate to their object; and as picture-books, they will be very attractive to their possessors. We have not space to examine them more particu- larly. The cuts of the Humorist are of the caricature order,—more broad than brilliant, and remarkable for vigour rather than delicacy. Some of them depend for their humour entirely upon their punning titles ; many of which are far-fetched and strained, and more ingenious than lively. But there is drollery of some sort ; and when people are amused, they are not curious to inquire by what means.