a volume containing twelve such embellishments as are here given,—an expense which has lately been increased by the unusual demand for the talent employed in their production,--can only be covered by a sale which, to the ordinary observer, would appear to promise a large and certain remuneration. When, however, it is stated, that a circulation of less than from eight to nine thousand copies of the LITERARY SOUVENIR would entail a serious loss upon its proprietors, it will readily be believed that they have been excited to no ordinary exertions. * Their object has been to enable it to compete, advantageously, not merely with annual works published at a similar price, but with others of higher pretensions, and of nearly double its cost. It will be for the public to If the copyright and copper-plate printing be taken into consideration, only two of the engravings in the present volume will have cost less than a hundred guineas; and some from one hundred and fifty to one hundred and seventy guineas each, before they meet the eye of the public. determine, after a careful examination of their respective merits, how far this object has been achieved. One assertion, however, may be hazarded, without fear of contradiction; and that is, that no production of modern art can exceed in beauty, either of subject or execution, several of the engravings with which the present volume is adorned. The Portrait of the Author of Waverley, cannot fail of proving of the highest interest to the public. It is engraved from a painting by Mr. Leslie, formerly in the possession of Mr. Constable of Edinburgh; and is, the Editor has reason to know, considered by Sir Walter Scott's family, and many of his most intimate friends, to be by far the best likeness of him that has yet appeared. The print, as a work of art, will speak for itself. It is from the burin of a young American engraver, hitherto unknown to the British public, who, to judge from this specimen of his talents, is entitled to take a much higher rank in his art, than his modesty has yet allowed him to aspire to. It is due to Messrs. Moon, Boys, and Graves, the proprietors of one of the most beautiful paintings in the range of modern art," May-day in the reign of Queen Elizabeth," by Mr. Leslie,-to mention that the Proposal is little more than a repetition of the two most prominent and striking figures in that enchanting composition; namely, the Euphuist and the Queen of May. This acknowledgment is the more necessary, as an engraving of the entire group, on a larger scale, is already in progress. copy of the The Departure of Mary Queen of Scots from France, is merely a principal group of a large entitled, by Mr. E. D. Leahy. painting, so The original picture contains two more figures than will be found in Mr. Goodyear's engraving. This fact is mentioned at the request of the painter, with whose sanction, however, the omission was made. The alteration in the form of the Work will it is hoped be regarded as a considerable addition to its value. It will be seen, at a glance, that whilst the pages have been enlarged sufficiently to admit of the intro- duction of engravings of a more important size than heretofore, the general appearance of the book has been greatly improved by a slight diminution of its bulk. A richer and more durable style of binding has also been Of the Literary Contents of the following pages, it merely remains to be observed that The SOUVENIR LITTERAIRE DE FRANCE, with original contributions from a great ten of the illustrations of the English SOUVENIR, will be published in a few weeks, both in Paris and in London. |