4 JANUARY 1845, Page 19

THE NEW MAGAZINES FOR 'FORTY-FIVE. THE commencement of the year

has introduced three new candidates for public favour of the magazine character; two of a purely literary cast, and one in which art is a prominent if not a predominant feature.

1. Douglas Jerrold's Shilling Magazine.

2. Parker's London Magazine.

3. George Cruikshank's Table-Book.

1. Douglas Terrol d 's Shilling Magazine promises much better for large and permanent success than the mass of new periodicals ; because it has distinct features, an animating spirit, and a purpose. Its first phase is material ; but as it affects the pocket and meets a fashion, the formal becomes essential. The character of the articles given for a shilling ill quite as good as that presented in the dearer magazines, and better than in some of them, as being more earnest and real : the difference is, they are shorter,—which, in these times of length and verbosity, is an advantage. There is, too, a more earnest spirit in the work than is often found in the larger monthlies, where the litteratenr or article-monger predominates ; and though the spirit is perhaps rather too obvious in its "humanity," verging upon the theatrical claptrap, still it shows itself only as a fault of manner, and the heart feels sound. "Purpose" is promised by the editor in every article : it is, he says, "by a defined purpose alone, whether significant in twenty pages or in twenty lines, that the sympathies of the world are to be engaged and its support in= mired." This promise may be found difficult to always fulfil; nor is it perhaps always kept to in this number : but the work has a pervading purpose—that of urging the claims and cultivating the good feelings of humanity, and exposing mere convention and humbug.

The formal variety of the papers is admirably managed in the first number ; their spirit less so, because one purpose too obviously obtrndeli throughout. "St. Giles and St. James," the opening article, by Jerrold himself; is a novel—something after the general form of those novels in magazines which the example of Dickens, or rather perhaps of Marryat, have made a standing monthly dish. So far as a plan can be divined from a few opening chapters, "St. Giles and St. James" is to represent the influence of circumstances on the two extremes of lift: for we see the St. Giles hero lent out in infancy to a beggar-woman, and all but frozen to death on a door-step ; whilst we hear of the birth of a son at a mansion in St. James's Square. It must be left to time to determine how the denouement is to be managed : whether extremes are to meet— whether the want of proper self-control in high station, and the tempta. tions which beset wealth, are to turn out as bad and base a man as the training of the streets, or even a baser—or whether troops of servants, Eton or Westminster, an University education the Court, the Senate, and the "world," are to give us the beau ideal of an honest man.

The few opening chapters exhibit a knowledge of London life, London antiquities, and London doings in the days of the old watchmen. The writing is powerful and effective ; perhaps over muCh so, as the writer shows too prominent, and the composition rather reminds one of Boz---1unless, indeed, Boa ought to remind us of Jerrold. This picture, for example, is not in its general style unknown to the readers of Dickens.

A WHITER'S NIGHT: LONDON.

The streets were empty. Pitiless cold had driven all who had the shelter of a roof to their homes; and the North-east blast seemed to howl in triumph above the untrodden snow. Winter was at the heart of all things. The wretched, dumb with excess of misery, suffered in stupid resignation the tyranny of the season. Human blood stagnated in the breast of want; and death, in that despairing hour losing its terrors, looked in the eyes of many a wretch a sweet deliverer. It was a time when the very poor, barred from the commonest things of earth, take strange counsel with themselves, and, in the deep humility of destitution, believe they are the burden and the offal of the world.

It was a time when the easy, comfortable man, touched with finest sense of human suffering., gives from his abundance; and, whilst bestowing, feels almost a shame that with such wide-spread misery circled round him, he has all things fitting, all things grateful. The smitten spirit asks wherefore he is not of the multitude of wretchedness; demands to know for what especial excellence he is promoted above the thousand, thousand starving creatures; m his very tenderness for misery, tests his privilege of exemption from a wo that withers manhood in man, bowing him downward to the brute. And so questioned, this man gives in modesty of spirit—in very thankfulness of soul. Ifis alms am not cold formal charities, but reverent sacrifices to his suffering brother. It was a time when selfishness hugs itself in its own warmth, with no-other thoughts than of its many pleasant gifts—all made pleasanter, sweeter, by the desolation around; when the mere worldling rejoices the more in his warm chamber because it is so bitter cold without; When he eats and drinks with whetted appetite, because he hears of destitution prowling like a wolf around his house ; when, in fine, he bears his every comfort about him with the 'de of a conqueror. A time when such a man sees in the misery. of his fellow, beings nothing save his own victory of fortune—his own successes In a suffering To such a man the poor are bat the tattered slaves that grace his triam. It was a time too, when human nature often shows its true divinity, and 'with Misery like a garment clinging to it, forgets its wretchedness in sympathy with Suffering; a time when in the cellars and garrets of the poor are acted scenes which make the noblest heroism of life—which prove the immortal texture of the human heart, not to be wholly seared by the branding-iron of the torturing hours; A time when, in want, in anguish, in throes of mortal agony, some seed is sown that bears a flower in heaven.

The article entitled "'Shadows' of Coming Events" deals rather with the past or present than the future; unless the present heavings of society are to be considered as "shadows." It is a review of our social system, chiefly in its economical and condition-of-the-poor phases. "The Finery of War" is a graphic picture of a review, with its external splendours, to hide the real misery produced by war itself. There is, of course, some of the usual claptrap about war, without allowing for the belligerent propensities of the animal man; • and we think the writer does not allow for the wonderful effects that discipline produces on the habits and the character, and which might be applied to so many peaceful purposes: but the essay has no wildness, and is distinguished by a good deal of sound judgment and keen perception. "A History of Young England" is an attack upon the weak points of the party, with some criticism upon the falsehood of history in general. It is intended as an introduction to a true History of England that will be continued in subsequent numbers, perhaps a chapter to each reign. "The Hedgehog Letters" are supposed to be written by a struggler to be genteel broken down to a cabman, and are designed as a vehicle for covert satire on passing events. Here is a fair hit at the dissensions in the Church.

A HINT FOR THE TRACTARIANS.

Folks are in a mighty stir about the matter; but I think Exeter and London might bring all the people of their own minds, if they only knew how to go about the business. I've just been reading /ffiss Martineau about mesmerism; and she says this—" It is almost an established opinion among some of the wisest students of mesmerism, that the mind of the somnambule [you must ask somebody about these words] mirrors that of the mesmerist." And then she goes on to say—" It certainly is true to a considerable extent, as is pretty clearly proved when an ignorant child—ignorant, especially, of the Bible—discourses of the Scriptures and divinity when mesmerized by a clergyman." Now the Bishops have nothing to do but to mesmerize the people—I'm sure I've known parsons who've done wonders with sleepy congregations—have only to get 'em "to mirror their minds," and they may do as they please with crosses, and surplices, and saints, and offertory, and all that. " A Few Words on Early Shop-shutting" is a bit of clever advocacy for the linendrapers' assistants : and besides a few notices of new books, .there are some papers of a more literary character than those we have mentioned. The most ambitious of these is the commencement of a series of articles entitled "Personal Recollections of the late William Hazlitt." The subject and the plan are well designed for variety ; the execution is indifferent. The reminiscent makes himself a more conspicuous and important person than poor Hazlitt, who is damned with depreciating praise; and the article is tainted by a perking and flippant mannerism.

2. Parker's London Magazine also possesses some distinctive purpose, though of a different character from Douglas Jerrold's ; "the inculnation of sound doctrine and spiritual knowledge" (in conformity with the views of the Church of England) being one of its main objects. The Iwrialical, in fact, is a successor to the Saturday Magazine, upon a larger scale, and with more comprehensive objects ; controversial topics having been eschewed in that publication. The purpose of the work naturally imparts to it a grave character ; and perhaps there is Soo much of a professional cast—a sad colour pervading it ; though this feeling will of course depend upon the taste and temperament of the .reader. There is no lack of choice or variety in its original articles, its controversial reviews, and shorter notices of books.

3. George Cruikshank, after having used his pencil in the service of _others for many years, has started for himself: not by-himself, however, for le has secured the cooperation of Mr. G. A. a Beckett as the editor of his Table-Book. The literary faced.% in his first ntunber are clever and smart in a verbal sense ; but they smack of the forcing-house, and have not the full flavour of native mother-wit : they seem written to order, though well written. Cruikshank's own "reverie," "The Triumph of Cupid," is in his best vein: the legions of captives of all classes, from the sweep to the -Sultan, dragged at the chariot-wheels of the God of Love—and the troops of women, white and black, old and young, heralding the approach of the mighty conqueror of hearts—are humorously sketched without caricature, each individual a type of his class. The etching of this plate is admirable for the discrimination of character in the minute physioftnomies. The wood-cuts have more of caricature. Those are the best which are taken from lift; such as "The Waits," and "The TowingPath," with the Cockney pulled down by the rope of a barge : the fresh daylight effect of this scene is rendered by a few lines.