572 Fine Arls' Publications. [^Nov. 



from a picture by the celebrated Girard ; and the Greek Girl, by Pickersgill, are 

 interesting alike in subject and in style ; while the Rising of the Nile, and Ve- 

 nice, will lose no lustre in a comparison with the loveliest of the landscapes that 

 are scattered through the numerous annuals around us. A little moon-light 

 view of Boxall's terminates a series of embellishments, that equals, to say the least 

 of it, any single collection that we have yet seen annualized. We now come to 

 the literature, respecting which we quote the editor, who tells us that he " has 

 endeavoured to fill the present volume with a larger proportion of articles of 

 permanent interest and value than heretofore ; so as to avoid, as far as possible, 

 a very general complaint against the annual works — that they are merely butter- 

 flies of a season, and lose their attraction when that season is past." We con- 

 cur with him, and with the manner in which he has carried his design into effect. 

 The character of the Amulet's prose and poetry will not be lessened by any- 

 thing that appears in this volume. It comprises several sterling articles, as well 

 as some of a lighter and livelier description. Of this class we may point to Miss 

 Mitford's amusing Day of Distress, and to the Chapter on Flowers, by the 

 author of "Atherton." Mrs. Hall's tale of theMosspits is beautifully written ; 

 the story well told, the characters admirably sketched, and the moral perfect. 

 The Betrothed, brief as it is, is a convincing evidence that L. E. L.'s pen is not 

 limited to verse, but that it can pour out its treasures in prose with undiminished 

 grace. Dr. Walsh's Visit to Niccea is interesting to the last letter ; several others 

 deserve almost an equal amount of praise. Mrs. Hemans, Miss Jewsbury, Mrs. 

 Norton, Barry Cornwall, Mr. Willmott, and others of a list rather rich than 

 numerous, have contributed poems, of various degrees of merit ; some of them, 

 for our own sake as well as for the reader's, we should extract, but that there are 

 nearly a dozen of the Amulet's rivals already demanding our attention, and 

 pleading with all the charm of beauty to be heard. Upon the whole, the Amulet 

 unquestionably deserves the place we have here given it— ^at the head of the 

 list. 



The Friendship's Offering opens like the Amulet, with a portrait from Law- 

 rence ; it is less successful, though a pleasant and elegant composition. The 

 Fairy of the Lake, by Richter and E. Finden, is not fanciful, but fantastic. 

 Milton asleep is prettily engraved, but it wants feeling. The Embarkation is 

 one of the loveliest in the volume. Stothard's Dismal Tale has its pretensions 

 to character, though wanting force ; and Wood's Myrrhina and Myrto, though 

 the ladies are a little of the tallest, has as much beauty and poetry as any of its 

 companions. The other plates are little behind these either in interest of sub- 

 ject or in execution ; but we pass to the literary department, where we meet 

 Miss Mitford telling a story of an Incendiary, and describing in her own way 

 her consternation at the machine-breaking in Berkshire. The Substitute, and 

 particularly The Church-yard Watch, are in Mr. Banim's intense way and not 

 entirely to our taste. Mrs. Norton's Orphan is a touching tale of humble 

 life. Mr. St. John's Athenian tale of the Golden Basket Bearer is unquestion- 

 ably one of the most beautiful in the volume, which contains, besides several 

 other excellent prose contributions, its full share of good poetry. The Editor's 

 Dream of Fairyland is certainly in far too many " fyttes ;" but it has its touches 

 of grace and fancy that redeem it. The Poet's Dream introduces a portion of 

 Mr. Bulwer's fine poem of " Milton," a distinction which it well deserves. 

 Barry Cornwall's contributions are distinguished, in several instances, by ex- 

 ceeding sweetness and beauty ; and Montgomery (James, of course) adds a few 

 things to the poetical treasures of the Offering. We regret that we cannot de- 

 scribe, or even enumerate, all the pieces that we have been pleased with. There 

 is a great variety, " bearing many names ;" and thus, to sum up our brief notice, 

 we are of opinion, that whether in prose, poetry, or pictures, the Editor has 

 reason to be satisfied with the Offering for 1832. 



We last month introduced the annuals for 1832, by paying proper tribute 

 to the embellishments of the Winter's Wreath. We have now to glance at its 

 literature. The German Jew, by Mr. Howitt, is a potent sketch. "The Jew had 

 barely escaped being buried alive — his family and friends fled from him, believing 



