choicest perfume, which no art can emulate. and displaying a bloom and glow unrivalled by all the united efforts of the most exquisite artistes, beautiful as their productions often are. These remarks have, however, been suggested by some specimens lately submitted to us of a new style of bouquet, either for the hand, the hair, or the bosom, invented by Mons. Ragonot. They are really surprisingly beautiful in their effect. The flowers are arranged with such regularity, the colours of all harmonise so well, the united perfume is so delicious, that one cannot fain to admire the taste of the inventor. The principal novelty, however, of this style of bouquet consists in the fact that, instead of fading, as most of them do, the instant they are exposed to the confined atmosphere of a ball-room or theatre, they preserve their freshness unimpaired during the whole evening. The secret of their preservation lies, of course, with Mous. Ragonot, but on examination we discovered each leaf to be actually threaded, as it were, upon a wire, which is connected again with a stalk or branch. But the whole is so delicately contrived that so far from betraying the mechanism which supports it, we seem to gaze upon a nosegay which had sprung into existence of itself as it were. We trust that the bouquets will meet with the patronage they deserve, since the idea does infinite credit to the taste and imagination of the inventor, Mons. Ragonot. PERSIAN PAINTING. We have just made another visit to the studio of Mr. T. R. King, of Islington, the inventor of a new and highly interesting style of painting; and as we are frequently asked what is meant by "Persian Painting," we think it right to lay before our readers some of the observations we made. Mr. King's invention is one of the greatest importance to those who wish to embody their ideas on canvas or paper; he has succeeded in simplifying the art of colouring to such a degree, that any one with a taste for the art, seeing him produce one of his beautiful pictures, can have no difficulty in reproducing a fac simile. His paintings in this style possess all the depth of oil, with the clearness, brilliancy, and transparent peculiarity of water colours, without the dirt and disagreeable smell of the one, and the difficulty of execution inseparable from both. Some of the subjects we said were of large dimensions, others so small as to be enclosed in lockets and brooches; and the perfect success which is manifest in both extremes, proved to us that Mr. King's invention is not only adapted to large works when effect only is required, but is capable of the most minute and elaborate finish. In short, the Persian Painting secures that which in art has long been a desideratum, viz., breadth of light and shadow with perfect smoothness. We saw also many specimens which had been produced by Mr. King's pupils of great merit, which fairly convinced us that he could in three lessons teach the art of colouring fairly and legitimately without any mechanical process. Before we went we had our doubts on this point, but after seeing what has been done by those who have been under his instruction, we can no longer retain our scepticism. As we have not space to go into more lengthy description, we can only refer our readers to Mr. King himself, who, we have no doubt, will be happy to give them every information on the subject. MADAME TUSSAUD. Pope Pius IX.-Madame Tussaud is, almost without exception, the most indefatigable manager we remember. No sooner does any person come before the public, and engage its attention, than she instantly gives us a representation of the man. The curiosity of the whole civilised world is at present excited by the conduct of Pope Pius, and all enlightened men are looking forward with anxiety to the ultimate result of his reforms. For ages Rome has groaned beneath a terrible ecclesiastical tyranny, and few have been the moments of enlightenment. Now, however, a brighter era appears to be opening, and we sincerely hope that we may not be disappointed in the character of the new reformer. The movement has commenced, which, if judiciously supported, may ultimately place Italy in its right position, and enable her to rank in the scale of nations. Every reform must tend to weaken the withering influence of Austria. These remarks have been suggested by a visit to Madame Tussaud's exhibition, which is certainly one of the most interesting in the metropolis. The figure which particularly interested us was Pope Pius; his face exhibits much of his character; there is so much ingenuousness and firmness expressed in his countenance-he almost looks him. self. His dress is of the most magnificent description. The lace drapery is of the most exquisite quality; indeed, his whole appearance is striking, and cannot fail to arrest the attention of the visitors. The best time to visit the exhibition is in the evening, when the brilliancy of the lights sheds a lustre round the figures, and shows to advantage the noble dimensions of the vast hall. Those who have often visited the exhibition will agree with us, that every time there is something to interest, some feature which we did not before observe, or something new to attract our attention. INDEX. A Story of Reval, 166 Caged Bird, the, by D. E. Jerrold, 225 Stuart Farquharson, 103 Adelphi Theatre, 76, 277 Advertising, American, 340 Ancient Greece, Education in, 19 duate, 366 Carthage, Ruins of, 265 Castle of Ehrenstein, by G. P. R. James, 210 Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slip per, by Arethusa, Pilgrimage to the Fountain of, City of Westminster Literary and Scienti- 297 Astley's Theatre, 76, 279 Azores, Lava Cultivation of, 309 Bard's Imagery, the, 338 Barnard Castle, 157 Bath Fifty Years Ago, by William Wise, 250 Battle of Life, by Charles Dickens, 53 Bells of the New Year, the, by Fanny E. Better Times, by Frances Brown, 92 Black Prince, Tomb of, by Stuart Farqu- Black Prophet, 269 Blind Man's Banquet, the, 118 Book of the Dead, a Legend of All Hal- Borneo, or Kalamantan, 341 Boulogne-sur-Mer, by Capt. H. B., 384 fic Institution, 213 Charter of the Society of British Artists, 277 Christmas Books and New Year's Gifts: "Battle of Life," by Charles Dickens, 53 "Christmas in the Olden Time," by John "The Musical Almanac," 58 Chronicles of the Fleet, by Charles Row- Cochrane, Lord (now Lord Dundonald) College of Preceptors, 69 Concerning Sir Hugh Asham's Disbelief Chap. 1. The Plot, 257 99 2. The Summer House, and what 3. A Retrospect, 328 4. Night of October 20, 1707, 330 Byways of History, by Mrs. Percy Sinnet, Cosmorama, Regent Street, 343 Counsels to Young Men, 65 Curiosities of the Azores, 309 Death Watch, the, a Fantastic Tale, by Deeds of Darkness; a Sweeping of a By- Diorama, Regent's Park, 343 Disagreeable Lodger, the, by Fanny E. Discussion Societies of London, the, 150 Dundonald, Lord (the famous Lord Coch- Female Education, by J. A. Heraud, 225 Fireside, the, by P. B. St. John, 55 General Kalerges, Memoir of, 46 Gossip about Patent Medicines, Old and Sketch 1. Empirical Remedies of our Sketch 2. Quackery in the Seventeenth 263 Great Fire at Manilla, 342 Habakkuk Sallenbacha, or the Merchant 281 History of Philosophy, the, 36 Hope, Duty of, by J. A. Heraud, 172 Idolatry of the Voice, 345 Illustrated Musical Almanac, 58 Irish Famine, Evils and Benefits of, 235 Japan, latest from, 341 Jenny Lind; or, the Idolatry of the Voice, 345 Jerusalem, model of, 342 Judith and Holofernes, by F. E. Lacy, 224 King's Persian Painting, 214 King Charles I, by Arthur Gurney, 332 Lady's Guide to Epistolary Correspon- Lava Agriculture of the Azores, 309 Lilly Dawson, Story of, by Mrs. Crowe, 270 Life and Writings of Hewlett, 254 Gentleman of the Old School, the, by G. Life Assurance, 190 Life Assurance, by Jenkin Jones, 65, 141 Lloyd's Coffee House, by John A. Heraud, Nabob's Arrival, the, by Fanny E. Lacy, 109 London, Discussion Societies of, 150 Lyceum, 75 353 New Naval Station and Commercial Em- New Quarterly Review, 337 Madame Tussaud's Exhibition, 152, 261, New Year's Omen, the, by Frances Brown, Memoir of General Demetrius Kalerges, On Old Amyntichus, a Gardener, by John 46 Memoir of a Physician, 236 Edmund Reade, 296 On Pindar, by J. E. Reade, 296 MISER'S WILL; or, Love anD AVARICE, On Sophocles, by J. E. Reade, 296 On the Statue of Alexander the Great, by Our Patron, by Frances Brown, 112 Pagan and Papal Rome, 335 Palace of Fantasy, by J. S. Hardy, 338 Parana, Scenes in, 91 6. Number Seven appears in a new Parliamentary Society of Birmingham, 67 region, 79 7. Frederick Wilson at Home, 82 8. A Bachelor's Breakfast, 86 Book II. Mistakes, by E. M., 238 Model of Ancient Jerusalem, 342 Monetary History of England, by Thomas Money Bag, the, by J. A. St. John, 304 Partners for Life, by Camilla Toulmin, 57 Past, Present, and Future, by Charles S. Patent Medicines, Old and New- Sketch 1. Empirical Remedies of our 2. Quackery in the Seventeenth Pauper Child, by Clara Payne, 308 Pen and Ink Sketches of Poets, Preachers, People of Character, by J. A. Heraud, 317 No. 1. The Crime of Poverty, 107 Philosophy, History of, 36 Pilgrimage to the Fountain of Arethusa, 297 Poacher's Wife, the, by Charlton Carew, 206 Mother Goose and the Golden Egg, by F. Polytechnic Institution, 343 E. Lacy, 116 Mr. M'Quilhen, by Frances Brown, 49 Polytechnic Institution of Birmingham, 68 Princess's Theatre, 76, 151 Public Education, Progress of, 65 Queen's Theatre, 279 Ranthorpe, 405 Recollections of a Tour in France, Italy, Tennyson, Poems of, 392 The One Hundred and Nineteenth Psalm, Chap. 1. Oliver Cromwell, 387 2. The Puritan's Daughter, 388 3. The Puritan's Capture, 389 The Young Maid, the Young Flower, 371 Three Cousins, the, by Mrs. Trollope, 403 Rough Recollections of Rambles Abroad, Three Suitors, the, 313 Ruins of Carthage, a fragment from an Sacred Philharmonic Society, 75 Sadler's Wells, 151 Satyric Drama, 160. Severn's Concert, 75 Song, 366 Spanish Armada, 233 Doubleday, 333 To a Father on the Death of his Daughter, Tomb of the Black Prince, the, by Stuart Treatise on the Human Teeth and Gums, Two Huts on the Rock, by E. Ollier, 93 Use of Flowers, 407 Statistical History of England, by Thomas Vandenhoff at Belfast, 277 Ventriloquism, 342 Story of Little Red Riding Hood, by Fanny Virginian, the, by Frances Brown, 183 Story of Lilly Dawson, by Mrs. Crowe, 270 Stout Hereward and the Lady Artfrud, by Studio, the, and other Poems, 147 "Tancred," or, the High-Nosed Jews and Vision of the Night, by John Edmund Visitation of Woe, by C. T. Browne, 132 Wanderer, the, by Charlton Carew, 228 Waterloo, 181 What is Life Assurance? by Jenkin Jones, Whittington Club and Metropolitan Athe- Winter, Ode on, by Charles Middleton, 46 Works of G. P. R. James, 145, 335 |