LITERARY NEWS.

Professor Browne of King's College, is about to give a series of lec- tures on Homer at Queen's College. The plan as unfolded in the sylla- bus is good, though deductionrd rather than critical. After an estimate of the influence of Homer upon the literature of Europe, the lecturer will discuss the question of his personality, passing in review the various theories upon the subject, and deciding in avour of the man against the

Spectator for 1855, page 74. myth. The history of the poems, with a glance at the life of therp author, will come next ; to be followed by the pictures of the times that may be deduced from them, as regards religion, political and social con- dition, manners, arts, knowledge, &c. The last lecture will in a measure return upon the theme, and that of the story and characters of the Iliad and Odyssey, inferring the individuality of the author from the unity pf the plots.

If the quality of our literature were but equal to its quantity what an age of letters it would be. Even as it is, the quantity alone is something wonderful How many periodicals of various classes does the reader think are published in London only ? By the aid of "The Londim Catalogue of Periodicals, Newspapers," &c., for 1859, we are enabled to answer upwards of six hundred and fifty. Since the appearance of the catalogue for 1858 there have been no less than 150 new publications issued in London; and at least as many discontinued. The numbers ;of the different classes are as follows-

207 Newspapers. 352 Montbhes.

66 Quarterlies.

31 Transactions of Societies.

656 Total of periodicals published in London.

A few of these are less periodicals than serials—that is, works publishia in parts and completed at a definite period ; but as several distirict journals seem to be omitted from the catalogue, this peculiarity can have but slight effect upon the total.

A correspondent of the &lila, who signs "John O'Callaghan," and dates from 'Newpark Glebe, Onterard,' points out an extraordinary parallel between some lines published by Lady Morgan as her own' and lines which he had seen many years ago and which were said to have been written by Lord Byron to Lady Biessington. The poem will be found in Lady Morgan's book, it contains this verse-

YRON. MOIIGAN. B

"My life is not dated by years, "My life is not dated by years,

For Time has drawn lightly his plough, There are moments that act like a

And they say scarce a furrow appears plough, To reveal what I ne'er will avow." And there is not a furrow appears But is deep in my soul as my brow."

illtestrating the Lombardo Veneto.

The EsperO announces within a few days the second volume of Carlo Farini's "History of Italy." It is said to contain very important docu- ments.

A new pamphlet on the Italian question, from the pen of M. Emile po Girardin, is about to appear in Paris. It will be entitled La GUM* ; and will have for object to combat the proposition of establishing An Italian confederation under the presidency of the Pope, a scheme which, it is said, has many advocates in France. The pamphlet begins with the words, "La guerre ? Pourquoi la guerre ? "

The new book on the life of the Duchess of Orleans, which we an- nounced last week, appeared a few days ago at Paris. The authoress does not name herself on the titlepage, but is understood to be Madame de Harcourt, daughter of the well-own statesman Count St. Hilaire. She belongs to the Harcourts of England ; and must not be confounded with the .Duchess of Harcourt, wife of the former French Ambassador at Rome. The book is making a great sensation in Paris ; the Journal des Debats and other papers calling it one of the most remarkable bio- graphies of the age.

The fourth volume of M. Emile do Bonnechose's Histare d'Angleterret has just appeared at Paris. It is, even more than the preceding on,. highly eulogistic of our institutions, and finishes with these apt words,. ce que j'honore dans le peuple Anglais, c'est le respect de in tradition avec le besoin du progres ; c'est Palliance permanent° de l'ordre avee

liberte." • A new and cheap octavo edition of the Correspondence of Napoleon I. is issuing at present from the establishment of M. Henri Plon, printer and publisher to the Emperor, at the price of six francs the volume.

M. Sylvestre de Sacy announces in the Journal des Daats an im- portant historical work by M. de Barante, under the title of "Le Parle- ment et la Fronde. La vie de Mathieu Mole, accompagne de notices sur Ed. Mold, et le Comte Mold." The book is to contain many hitherto unpublished documents about the eventful times of Mazarin and Conde, and those popular outbursts which were the forerunners of the great revolution.

Death is dealing as impartially with those who amused our fathers iWid grandfathers, as with those who have instructed them and us. Farley, in the phraseology of his comates, has passed that " bourne whence to traveller returns.' In his day he was great as a pantomimist, and a melodrainatist, qualified, we suppose, alike by natural gift, and experience of what is called stage-business. He aided in the production of the facile princeps of pantomimes, "Mother Goose"; and his was the glory of the "Miller and his Men," as well as other melodramas where situatiOn did the work of sentiments and passion. His very excellence in this Este perhaps militated against his success as an actor in the "legitimate drama.' Yet he does not seem to have been ill-adapted to a line of parts—the very opposite to his melodramatic, into which stage tradition has infused a spice of buffoonery, whatever the author's intention might have been. His Canton, in the Clandestine Marriage," was unrivalled, and is likely to remain so •' for not only have the manners perished, but even their tradition. He also figured m Shakspeare, as Gratiano in the "Merchant of Venice,' and Geri° in "Hamlet"; the last especially, an effective bit of acting, though addressed fully enough to the galleries. He had reached, if he had not passed, his four score years, and seemsto have provided sufficiently for the winter of life, dying in Ampthill Square.

The Congregation of the Index •renews the prohibitions of the follow- ing works. L'Univers Pittoresque "—a description of all peoples, their religion, manners, customs industry, &c., by M. le Bas ; "Docu- ments relative to a Suppression Of the Jesuits accepted and still in force in Tuscany, with a Pragmatic Decree of Leopold the First" ; and the inedited works of Francesco Guicciardini.

Signor Lunati of Lugano, a man learned in various sciences, is about to publish " L'illustrazione della Svizzera Italians," with an appeals