Two more of the Annual tribe are on our table-
1. Portraits of the Children of the Nobility, edited by Mrs. FAIRLIE. 2. Gems of Beauty, with Fanciful Illustrations in I'erse, by the Countess of BLESSINGTON.
I. To criticize the effusions of friendly feeling that were in- tended to please the fond parents of the "Children of the Nobility," would seem like invading the priraey of an album : at any rate, the most accomplished versifier may be excused if a miniature of a pet daughter, or a group of children tricked out in the approved style of modern limners, fail to inspire him with very imaginative ideas. We were reminded of the couplet in Hudibras,
" Rhymes the rudders are of verses,
IVith which, like ships, they steer their courses," in reading Dr. BEATTIE'S lines on the portrait of the little Princess Mary of Cambridge : if we quotes few "tags," BUTLER'S sarcasm will be seen to apply as forcibly as ever— "loveliness" " written "
" Reese" " Britain " "trace" " evinces " "face" "Princes."
The plates are not so attractive, in a pictorial point of view, as those of the first series; though they are of a more mixed character. EDWIN LANDSEER'S portrait of the daughter of Lord Francis Egerton, standing in a niche, with her long dark tresses stream- ing about her, and a cockatoo perched on her shoulder, is the most striking picture : the rest are interesting in proportion to the correctness of the likenesses ; and they are all tinctured more or less with affectation of manner,—a fault that destroys the unconscious simplicity that is the charm of childhood. We have a parcel of precocious urchins—premature men and women in little —looking very intense, with no definite expression. How dif- ferent from VANDYKE'S portraits of the children of Charles the First, or the Royal Infants of Spain by VELASQUEZ !
2. Lady BLESSINGTON'S verse settings of the " Gems " are quite good enough for the purpose; but we shall best consult the fame of the lady poetess by not further characterizing them. As for the plates, the Spanish costumes are the best part of them ; and they are taken from LEW is's Sketches. The only two real women—those by DYCE and BosTocx—are not Spanish ; and the rest have no mortal attributes. We are sorry to see such names as CATTERMOLE awl HERBERT in the class of "Beauty 'S manufac- turers : they are fit for better things.
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