PERIODICALS. * THE three numbers of the Journal of Classical and

Sacred Phi- lology, published at Cambridge, which lie before us, testify not only to its continued existence, but its unimpaired vitality during the past twelvemonth. Appearing so seldom, of small bulk, and comparatively high price, it forms no bad type of the English learning which, Dr. Donaldson tells us, bears an honourable com- parison with that of Germany, but which, after all, seems not to take kindly root among us, demanding the care and cost of an exotic, and affecting for good or evil a very limited class. How is it that, notwithstandin6 the enormous sacrifice of time, effort, and money, made in this country to classical learning, not a single journal devoted to this wide range of subjects has been able to support itself? The answer is obviously, that there is no public for discussions on classical learning and scholarship ; for it cannot be pretended, in the face of convincing evidence to the contrary, that there are no men capable of maintaining such discussions with ability. Germany supports many such jour- nals, and, we make bold to -say, journals that cannot possibly display more knowledge and ability than the journal- before us has hitherto displayed. It is found impossible to sup- 'The Journal of Classical and Sacred Philology. Numbers V., VI., and VII. "Printed at the Cambridge University Press."

The Westminster Review. Published by Chapman.

The British Quarterly Review. Published by Jackson and Walford. The National Review. Published by Theobald. The New Quarterly Review. Published by Bosworth and Harrison. Blacktvood's Magazine. Published by Blackwood and Sons. Fraser's Magazine. Published by Parker and Son.

The Dublin University Magazine. Published by Hurst and Blackett. The United Service Magazine. Published by Hurst and Blackett.

port even this journal as a commercial speculation in the usual way. We believe that no contributor has been paid for any article; • that the services of the editors are gratui- tous; and that it has been published at the risk of a small number of gentlemen interested in classical learning. "Under these circumstances, it resembles more the journal of the pro- ceedings of a learned society than an ordinary magazine or re- view; and we cannot help thi • g this a disadvantage in every respect, as tending to give it even a more special and technical character than it necessary, and thereby to prevent many- persons from buying it who would compound for its criticism and minute learning, if, without departing from its allotted limits, it ad- mitted a larger infusion of what we may call the literary and philosophical element involved in the word "philology." We are quite aware that to do this effectually, the number ought to be enlarged, or published much oftener, or both; and that money is necessary for this purpose, while even then the chance of pe- cuniary success would be small, unless indeed a foreign circula- tion could be made to supply the absence of an English public. However that might be, at present the work apt:Ise:elusively to persons who are professionally classical scholars—critics ritics and grammarians—and presupposes a very familiar acquaintance with ancient literature and with modern comments.

But with this qualification of being too special and technical—a limit probably due more to necessity than to the inclination of the conductors—the papers show great knowledge and power. Mr. Cope's series of papers on the Greek Sophists forms indeed an ex- ception in some measure to our previous remarks, and though learned, as it must be to be worth anything, is interesting and intelligible to all students of Greek philosophy. This series when completed will be a valuable contribution to the standard litera- ture on the subject, and a necessary counterpoise to Mr. Grote's strong statement of the other side of the particular question dis- cussed.. Another series of papers carries on a still unfinished controversy between Mr. Ellis and Mr. Law on Hannibal's passage of the Alps ; in which Mr. Ellis of course defends his own treatise on the subject, and argues for Mont Cenis, while Mr. Law criti- cizes the treatise, and stands up for Little St. Bernard. Mr. John Grote discusses Roman proper names with an acuteness and learning which make us wish for frequent essays from his pen. Any one that is curious as to why St. Mark was called " stump- fingered " may also have his curiositygratified ; and, generally speaking, the department of the journal devoted to what may be called Notes and Queries is well filled, though it bears too large a proportion to the essays and longer critical papers. Of these latter, Mr. Lightfoot's criticism on the editions of St. Paul's Epistles by Stanley and Jewett would be nufficient to establish the high scholarship of the journal. These gentle- men are handled with a severity that should warn amateurs for some time to come off the domain of grammatical criticism and exegesis, while their many eminent qualities are cordially ad- mitted. The reviewer, however, is prevented from entering upon doctrinal questions by the original limitation of the journal; a limitation of which one may understand the motive, but which materially interferes with the adequate treatment of theological books. In conclusion, we can but wish success to the Journal of Classical and Sacred Philology ; and we cannot but think that a larger development and a freer scope would be one means towards success. Within its present limits it does credit to Eng- lish learning, but has little interest except for professional scholars.

Reviews and Magazines for April.

The Westminster Review contains an article on "The Eng- lish Law of Divorce," well worth reading, were it only for the contrast it draws between the law of Scotland and that of England on this important subject. After showing that while the latter throws every difficulty that ingenuity can devise in the way of proving facts and investigating truth, the Scotch law proceeds to the inquiry in the mode which experience and common sense have shown to be most efficient in other ana- logous cases, the writer says- ' We should be fully satisfied with a short act of Parliament which should call into existence, South of the Tweed, a tribunal and a mode of procedure in divorce cases similar to that which exists at the present mo- ment on the North.

"And what are the evils to be apprehended from such a change ? Is the marriage-vow held less sacred in Edinburgh than in London ? Are wives less faithful or husbands more apt to be a little profligate' in Glasgow than in Dublin ? in Edinburgh than in London ? We apprehend not; and did we apprehend and express a contrary belief, we should feel some un- easiness as to our personal safety the next time we walk down Princes Street."

"Scandinavia, Past and Present," is a clever sketch of the his- tory of the three Northern states, written mainly with a view to warn England against the danger that is looming in the Gulf of Finland. Russia, we are told, is snaking gigantic preparations in that quarter, which are not likely to be given up because peace is proclaimed. All that she wants is a better system of internal communication' in order that she may be able to bring her troops across her vast territory in a few days. "Let Russia, then, complete her railways : let her be able to bring down in a few days her countless hordes from Tartary, Siberia, and the borders of China : let her once possess Denmark, command Hamburg, Lubeck, and Bremen the Ryder, the Weser, and the Elbe, backed and supported by sympathizing Prussia and the lesser German states, and Europe will be prostrated at her feet."

This may seem " a chimerical idea" to many persons, but the writer contends that " everything in the history of Russia for the country. e contends that it is among our sportsmen—that class lass hundred years warrants us in believing that it may become a terrible reality." Let us hope that the Anglo-French alliance and vigilance will continue powerful and active enough to prevent such a consummation.

The opening article in the British Quarterly, on "The Art of History;" Mr. T. B. Macaulay being taken as the great artist of the day, is more laudatory than we expected to find in the organ of the Independents. Upon the whole' however, it is discrimi- nate in its praise, although here and there the writer seems to have been carried away by admiration. The editor has added a postscript to the article, drawing attention to the fact, that throughout the whole of his History of England, in which religious questions form so prominent a feature, Mr. Macaulay does not seem to have concerned himself in any way to inquire whether this on was in any sense a rftlity, or a something as factitious as e political schemings of the =1)4s of the hour." The article on " The Industrial Classes of Europe" is not without interest, es- pecially in that portion of it relating to M. le Play's work on the subject, and his careful researches into "La Vie Domestique et la Condition Morale des Populations Ouvrieres." Unfortunately, the writer views the question more in a speculative than a prac- tical light, and lays more stress on what governments can do for the mass of the people than on what they are doing for them- selves. Of the lighter articles in the number, the one on "Lewes's Life of Goethe " and that on " Beaumarchais and his Times" are the two best.

The only one of the four Quarterlies, now before us, which takes

up the great political question of the day is the National Review. In an article on "The Austrian Peace," as it is called, the hopes

and fears of those who praise and those who condemn the present settlement of the quarrel with Russia, arc discussed by one who seems much more inclined to fear the worst than hope for any- thing good from a peace promoted as this has been. "Charac- teristics of Goethe " is a masterly analysis of Mr. Lewes's bio- graphy of the German artist,—for he really was more of a mere artist than a philosopher or a poet. The following passage will show that the writer has detected the cardinal defect in Goethe's nature.

"He has been held up as the wisest man of modern days, and by some half-worshiped as a demigod. And, in truth, his was a light and spacious mind. Let us grant that he was the wisest man of modern days who ever lacked the wisdom of a child ; the deepest who never knew what it was to kneel in the dust with bowed head and broken heart. And he was a demi- god, if a demigod be a being at once more and less than ordinary men, hav- ing a power which few attain, and owing it in part to a deficiency in qua- lities in which few are so deficient; a being who puts forth a stronger fasci- nation over the earth because expending none of his strength in yearnings towards heaven. In this sense Goethe was a demigod :

" He took the suffering human race ; He read each wound, each weakness clear; He struck his finger on the place. And said, • Thou attest here, and here.

He knew all symptoms of disease, a few alleviations, no remedies. The earth was eloquent to him, but the skies were silent. Next to Luther he was the greatest of the Germans : next—but what a gulph between ! Ade- quate to himself,' was written on that broad calm forehead ; and therefore men thronged eagerly about him to learn the incommunicable secret. It was not told, and will not be told. For man it is a weary way to God, but a wearier far to any demigod."

The article on Mr. Macaulay is by far the ablest and most searching criticism we have seen on the subject. In the main, the writer seems to be praising the brilliant essayist, yet every now and then a remark occurs from which we infer that he would like him much better as an historian if he were not so much of a doctrinaire. The impression left on the mind is that here is a writer who can weigh and gauge Macaulay's intellect much better than Macaulay could take the intellectual measure of his reviewer. "The Political Tendencies of America" is well worth special notice, had our limits permitted : we can only direct attention to it as a thoughtful examination of the actual state of things in the United States, giving rise to very ominous reflections.

The New Quarterly Review, which has reached its 18th num- ber, does not rank itself, apparently, among the other bimestrial periodicals. Instead of elaborate articles on current literary and political topics it aims mainly at giving a "digest of current lite- rature." One ;Aide in the present number—" The Military Forces and Finances of Russia Austria, Prussia, Turkey, France, and England, by John MacGregor, Esq., M.P."—is an exception. The Member for Glasgow is not very felicitous in his mode of marshal- ling facts and figures : while he has gathered together a good deal of material, he leaves to the reader the more important task of selection and arrangement.

M. De Bazancourt's Narrative of the Campaign in rimea

has obtained some notice by the English: press, but clever dissection of it in Blackwood's Magazine is likely to cause the work to be much more spoken of than it has been hitherto. The writer is evidently well up in recent military affairs- " we will yield," he says, "to no Frenchman living in accu- rate knowledge of the operations of the English army" ; and the mode in which he follows the Baron through his narra- tive, pointing out his errors and supplying his deficiencies, proves that this is no empty boast. "War and 'Woodcraft" is a pleasant epistle from TIqolemus, on a subject which that writer has touched upon before—the importance of cultivat- ing mid nreservmnn a martial spirit in the people of this against whom Carlyle launches his bitterest sarcasms, as there "preservers of game "—that the martial spirit of this country almost exclusively resides. In a pleasant bantering style, he de- fends the science of woodcraft from the charges brought against it by sentimentalists and utilitarians, and proves from Xenophon's treatise on the subject, that a thorough sportsman must not only be asoldier but a good citizen in every respect. "The In- dian wd Civil Service" makes out a strong case against the new regu- lations for the examination of candidates. "The Scot Abroad" brings out some curious information relating to a numerous class of learned Scotahmen who have spent their lives on the Continent in bygone centuries. The article on "The Laws concerning Wo- men" is an able piece of special-pleading in favour of leaving things as they are. What the writer says is true enough: many of the worst evils connected with married life are incurable by any process of legislation—therein the patients must minister to themselves. But, after all that has been or that may be said on this side, the question still recurs, are there not evils arising from the present state of the laws relating to women which might be remedied by judicious legislation ?

"Friends in Council Abroad" has given place in this month's Fraser to a brace of "Imaginary Conversations" by Walter Savage Lander. The first is between Alfieri and Metastasio, on Italy, on Methodism as it manifested itself about the time of Al- fieri.7:5 visit to England, and on a great many other topics, which are treated in Landor's characteristic style. Speaking of the un- happy condition of Italy at that time, he says, with reference to certain theological disputes—" We shall presently have more than shadows to contend. against : the monkey-tiger is about to spring over the Alps." "The Table-Talk of Samuel Rogers" furnishes •a splenetic contributor with an excuse for making some ilbiatured remarks on the late poet. The writer seems dubious as to whether Rogers had any claim to the name of poet ; indeed, he questions whether anything better can be said of him than that he gave "excellent breakfasts and more recherché din- ners to the amateur literati of distinction, who were exceedingly happy to partake of his cookery and wine." There is a pretty general impression that Rogers was a kindhearted man, who per- formed many generous acts in the course of his long life. This appears to have been a mistake, however : we are now told, that although "he could now and then play the patron with striking effect," "tradition has not recorded many acts of striking generosity and munificence upon his part." Those who knew Mr. Rogers most intimately will know how to appreciate such criticism as this.

The Dublin University Magazine, which has once more become "Irish property," as we are informed, opens this month with a very good article on "Kars," in which the conduct of our Go- vernment is rather severely handled. A lively notice of the "Memoirs of Mrs. Fitzherbert " winds up with some reflections on the Royal Marriage-law. The writer has not altogether made up his mind as to whether the law ought to be repealed or al- tered; but he holds, that "were the younger branches of the Royal House permitted to intermarry with our nobility, the throne would become nationalized, and would rest on much wider and deeper foundations than it does at present." The causes which have led to the deterioration of the military character in this country are carefully analyzed in an article on "The Gentle- man-Soldier " ; which contains some excellent hints touching va- rious measures for improving the condition and elevating the so- cial status of the private soldier.

The best article in the United Service Magazine this month is a description of "The Charge of the British Cavalry at Bala- klava, by one who was in it." After all that has been said and written on that terrible exhibition of English bravery, this nar- rative of the affair will still be read with interest. An article on General Walker, and his successful raid in Nicaragua, calls at- tention to the fact, that the United States Government, while de- nouncing the "lawless irruptions" into that republic, seems unable to prevent them, and suggests that "Great Britain should lend a little assistance in checking the lawless proceedings."