19 OCTOBER 1895, Page 26

The Universal Portrait Gallery. (Cassell and Co.) — Here we have some

two hundred and fifty portraits of monarchs, states- men, men of letters, painters, singers, actors and actresses, and of other personages whom it is not necessary and, possibly not easy, to classify. Each portrait is accompanied with a brief memoir. We have no complaint to make of the selection. Those who contribute to the business of the world preponderate, as doubtless they ought, but in some of such collections do not, over those who contribute to its pleasures. We should like to see more of the poets. Will the publishers be enterprising enough to give us a "Poets' Portrait Gallery "? They could hardly muster so many names as we have here, but a century would not be difficult.