IINVIEWS AND MAGAZINES.
The Westminster has eight articles, all of them of great value, but various in character. The first and last, "Ancient Danish Ballads" and "Dante and his English Translators," will please the literary connois- seur. " Alcohol ; what Becomes of it in the Living Body," is a paper wh:ch goes profoundly into the operation of our drinking customs, phy- siologically and socially; it deserves perusal from the vast importance of the subject. Italy is dealt with in two papers, "The Neapolitan and Roman Questions," and "Covens and Garibaldi ;" in the first, the difficulties of the whole question are fairly canvassed, and in the last the claims of Cavour and Garibaldi are temperately discussed, and the meats of both receive generous recognition. In "Bible Infallibility; 'Evan- gelical' Defenders of the Faith," Mr. Ayre's Introduction to the Old Testament is fully criticized, and the treatment of Dr. Davidson con- demned. Perhaps it would be well to let the controversy now rest. Dr. Davidson's reputation as a Biblical scholar is safe, and his sincerity has never been impugned by even his bitterest opponents. " Canada " gives us an admirable account of the colony, but the paper of the quarter is "American Slavery; the Impending Crisis," the writer of which states fairly the difficulties of emancipation ; he deprecates secession, believing that it is only by wise forbearance and assistance from the Northern States that the condition of the slave can be ameliorated. When to this summary of well-timed papers we add that "Contemporary Literature" is ably epitomized, we are justified in regarding this number of the Westminster as much above the average. The National has no less than eleven articles, and some of them are remarkably seasonable. "The Statutes at Large" are examined in a learned and critical spirit, and the necessity for expurgation is amply made out by the writer. Italy is discussed in a paper on "The Growth of Italian Unity," and the writer does not shirk any one of the difficul- ties of the situation, but he does justice to the reputations of all the workers for unity. "The Slave States and the Union," deals with the American crisis in a strong "Republican" sense, and those who wish to see with what force that line of argument can be stated, will be satisfied with the writer's effort. The rest of the papers are all good and read- able—" Chateaubriand," "Frederick the First, King of Italy," "De- mosthenes," "Eugenie de Guerin," "Ethical and Dogmatic Fiction," and "The Autobiography of Dr. Alexander Carlyle," will all advan- tageously fill up the hours of leisure. One paper, "Old Creeds and New Beliefs," demands severe thought; and those who most differ from the writer will admire his candour, even if they dispute his claims to profound thinking. It is one of those articles which provoke inquiry., and compel us to meditate on the issue of that transitional state through which theology in England is now passing. The British Quarterly devotes eighty pages to what is enigmatically headed "The New Move at Oxford." Further investigation Mows that the unhappy title is a learned investigation from the evangelical point of view of "Essays and Reviews," in which Professor Jowett and his literary colleagues receive unsparing criticism ; it is a subject on which the British Quarterly has established a right to be heard, and probably the evangelical argument could not have been stated with more ability than by the writer. "Abortive Legislation" states with great clearness the absurdities of our present mode of law-manufacture. "The Origin of Life" is a searching review of some recent works which venture to dis- pute the Mosaic theory of creation ; the writer skilfully sets off the con- tradictions of the authors against each other, and makes merry with their conclusions. The other papers are also commendable, and furnish in- structive reading, but if we might venture upon a complaint, it would be that the articles refer us to topics somewhat worn by previous discus- sions; and do not include the greater topics of the day, Italy and the United States, The Medical Critic and Psychological Journal makes not exactly a first appearance, because its predecessor, under the same able editorship of Dr. Forbes Winslow, was only more particularly devoted to the reading of the medical profession. That design is abandoned; the papers hence- forth are to be fitted for the general reader. The ;present number has several valuable contributions. "The Marvellous" deals hard blows at the Spirit-rapping professors. "Criminal Lunatics" gives us informs-
tion we much need in the present state of our jurisprudence. "Th Wear and Tear of Medical Life" is a curious paper which will repay perusal, as also will the memoir of Dr. Todd. To the scientific thinker, the _Medical Critic will be a welcome addition.
Blarkwood opens the year with a retrospect of 1860 as "the political year." In the course of the paper, a very severe attack is made upon the financial tactics of Mr. Gladstone. His budget is mercilessly han- dled, and every little discrepancy magnified tenfold. Yet the orator is generously appreciated, and, we fear, the explanation is, that when the Tories look at the Chancellor they only say, "the grapes are very sour." There is an informing paper on "English Embassies to China." "The Purist Prayer-Book" and "Uncivilized Man," are good papers ; but we object to the pages of Maga being soiled with old women's tales, such as "Horror; a true tale." Genial is the paper on "A Merry Christmas," and instructive that on the "Indian Civil Service."
_Fraser gives us the first four chapters of a new story by the author of Digby Grand, which opens well. The criticism on the "Life and Writings of Thomas Be Quincey " is continued. There is an interesting account of Sehleiermacher, the great German preacher, and Shirley has something to say in jest, but with an earnest purpose, "On the Propriety of Abolishing the Writing of Books." There is no political paper, but such topics are dealt with in the "Chronicle of Current History," in which Fraser ex- pounds just and liberal views as to the condition of European affairs. The other papers are all readable, and some of them seasonable.
The Dublin University has two papers on the defences of the country, bath of which deserve attention ; that on "Naval Warfare between France and England," is carefully written. " Manchester ; its Social Aspects," deals with a topic which becomes more noticeable every day, and the writer has evidently sought his information from the best sources. We have also three learned essays on the "Thermal or Vapour Baths of the Ancients," " Hunyadi," and the "History of the Knights of Malta." "Irish and Scots Salmon Fisheries" deals with the supply of a delicacy which is getting dearer than ever, and which stands in dan- ger of being cut off, unless timely precautionary measures are adopted for preservation.
Col:burn' s New Honthly opens with "The Venetian Question," which is elaborately examined. Our "New Colony of Central British America" is also presented to our view, with much accurate geographical and sta- tistical detail. The other papers are nearly all of the order of fiction, and sustain the reputation of the magazine.
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