2 JANUARY 1858, page 29

Matthew Arnold's Tragedy Of Merope. * " Wilful Man Must Have

his way," much more wilful poet. Mr. Arnold still maintains that a proper subject for poesy is Classi- cal rather than shall we say Christian times, or beyond any doubt our own......

Publications Received.

Tax number of publications keeps up, but the opening week of this year exhibits no greater promise in novelty of subject than did last year's close. Mr. Dyce's " Shakespeare "......