The Medal Struck in England, in Honour of Mehemet Ali.

THE advantages of medal engraving over painting and sculpture are, upon slight reflection, obvious. A painting or a statue can only be in one locality; and, if executed by a superior artist, can only be bought at a price far beyond that at the command of the many. The medal can be multiplied to any extent and at a comparatively trifling cost, and combines most of the advantages peculiar to sculpture and painting. In durability it has a wonderful advantage over both. None of the paintings of the great masters of antiquity have come down to us; and but few, if any, of the sculptures, while coins, the precursors of medals, abound; giving us, doubtless, in many instances, copies of the statues and pictorial compositions of the first artists, and executed very frequently in a style of surpassing force and beauty.

Medals are comparatively of modern invention. The ancients did not strike medals to private individuals; the coinage with them served to record all events deemed worth preserving, and extension of space, such as modern medals seem to require, was apparently avoided on the principle, that, to make a thing beautiful it is not necessary to make it large; and thus the Greeks and Romans seemed, in their coins, to have studied how to produce the greatest effect and most laboured execution in the smallest possible compass.

Our modern medals have the fault of immense size. Napoleon, indeed, improved the taste and style by copying closely the antique, and therefore the series engraved under his auspices is by far the most effective of modern times, and has not been surpassed or equalled by that of any country.

In England medal engraving has been but little encouraged. Personal vanity now and then induces an individual to employ an artist to strike a medal to perpetuate his portrait; but we seldom hear of medals being sought for the mere good moral qualities and virtues of a man whose memory and lineaments are worth preserving. We have several artists-for instance, Wyon, Stothard, and Taylor-who might be made eminent as medal engravers, were the public taste such as to foster their abilities; but it is lamentable to see men of talent employed to make such coins as we have in England, possessing nothing beyond the mere head of the Sovereign to delight and instruct; and such medals as this before us-fine as regards the obverse, but a plain inscription on the reverse, instead of a design such as the artist is unquestionably able to execute, but, we suspect, such as the committee had not taste or money enough to order.

Waiving our objection to the dimensions of the medal, we with pleasure give Mr. Stothard praise for his success in producing one of the best engraved portraits we have ever seen, whether we regard the style or likeness. The Pacha is represented with a full face, and wearing the tasseled cap which he adopted some years since, in place of the more cumbersome although more orthodox turban. Round the head are the words " MEHEMET ALI PACHA," and on the reverse, THE FRIEND OF SCIENCE, COMMERCE, AND ORDER; WHO PROTECTED THE SVBJECTS AND PROPERTY OF ADVERSE POWERS AND KEPT OPEN THE OVER

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LAND ROVTE TO INDIA. 1840. From the Committee." Now, as the medal is the gift of the subscribers as well as the committee, the latter part of the inscription is at least objectionable.

But there is something in this medal which calls for the attention and respect of all who welcome virtuous deeds wherever found, whether abroad or at home, in friend or in foe, in Christian or Mohamedan. The noble-minded conduct of the Pacha during the late unhappy war, recorded in the above sententious inscription, stands without precedent, and is a victory gained over his enemies, infinitely beyond what brute force and the fortune of war obtained for them in Syria and at Acre, and the medal exemplifies the moral victory as it springs from the grateful hearts of some of the very men who, in their seats in Parliament, countenanced the war which destroyed seventy thousand of the subjects of Mehemet Ali.

The gold medal and a brief address, to which subscribers names are appended, were for some time at Mr. Waghorn's offices, preparatory to being forwarded to Egypt. Subscriptions were limited to one guinea, for which the value of the subscription was given in a fine bronze copy of the gold medal. This is as such matters should be done; but we hope so liberal and disinterested a return of the quid pro quo will not be permitted by the committee to infringe on the claims of the artist or on the pockets of the secretaries.

Theotokos, or the Mother of our Lord. A Sermon on the Song of the Blessed Virgin. By CHARLES AUGUSTUS HULBERT, M.A. London: Washbourne. 1843.

THE term OEOTOKOZ, or Mother of God, was one which, though arising from right ideas concerning the Blessed Virgin, was soon perverted. The discourse of Mr. Hulbert is a very able and learned account of the mode in which the term arose and the degree to which it was perverted. It abounds with sound and judicious reflections.

The Psalmists of Britain. Records, Biographical and Literary, of upwards of one hundred and fifty Authors, who have rendered the whole or parts of the Book of Psalms into English verse, with specimens of the different versions, and a general Introduction. By JOHN HOLLand. London:

Groombridge. 1843.

THIS is a very important work, and one to which, in a future number, we hope to return. Mr. Holland has, it appears, been a long time collecting the materials for this book; he has examined carefully, he says, and it appears that he states no more than the truth, the works of upwards of one hundred and fifty authors who have turned their attention to the Psalms of David, and translated, either entirely or in part, those inspired compositions. We still hope for the time when, throughout the many thousand congregations of the Anglican Church, we shall have but one authorized metrical version of the Psalms, and that one worthy both of the Psalmist and the Church. As it is we could show Mr. Holland, if he felt at all curious about such statistics, more than one hundred and fifty selections; from the huge dropsical volume of Carus Wilson to the neat little selection made by the vicar of Blackburn, for the use of his many churches. In turning over the pages of Mr. Holland's work, we have met with many names to which we were entirely strangers, who have yet evinced considerable fitness for their work; but we find it quite impossible to judge the merits of a version by a single Psalm. And, on the other hand, Mr. Holland could not, without very much enlarging a work which already extends to two volumes, adopt any other plan than that which he has done. We have, however, before us a great boon to any future historian of English poetry, and a not less valuable aid, should steps be ever taken to give us an exclusively authorized metrical version of the Psalms. This we hope to see; for, after all, chanting is widely different from singing, and a mixture of both is, we believe, both most agreeable and most profitable.

A Short Account of the Fasts and Festivals of the Church of England. By THOMAS STEPHEN. London: Lendrum. THIS little manual is intended to be a companion to two small works on the Morning and Evening Services by the same author, to whom we owe also "The Life and Times of Archbishop Laud." The present volume is devout and pleasantly written, and well adapted to the purpose for which it is intended, to induce-viz., a greater respect for the fasts and festivals appointed by the Church.

1. Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book. 1843. London: Fisher.

2. Fisher's Juvenile Scrap Book. 1843. London: Fisher. THESE really elegant works are "got up" on a principle which deserves commendation. The Messrs. Fishers are publishers of many magnificently illustrated productions: and, by employing the beautiful plates used for those works, they are enabled to give the public, at a low price, books, in the way of annuals, which are not only fine specimens of art, but altogether of a far higher order than those with which we generally meet. The Drawing Room Scrap Book" is decidedly the most splendid annual of our time; and it is none the worse for the fact, that the plates form the staple, and the literature the illustrations, of the book. The "Juvenile Scrap Book," too, is worthy of high praise. Mrs. Ellis has edited it with great ability; and we do not know a more acceptable present for a favourite child than that which is here offered to the notice of godpapas, and grandpapas, and uncles, and aunts.

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Chronological Pictures of English History, from William the Conqueror to Queen Victoria. By JOHN GILBERT. Part III. London: Roake and Varty. 1843.

THIS splendid production goes on favourably; the illustrations rather increase than decline in interest; and it has the great advantage of bringing before the eyes of the youthful student, at one glance, the chronology, costume, manners, and architecture of the time. We know of no work better calculated to impress on the mind the gradual march of English refinement and civilization. We see the rude architecture and rough arms of the Saxons contrasted with the more stately product of Norman institutions. We trace these, in their gradual amalgamation, till we come to the days of fully developed chivalry, and of fect ecclesiastical architecture. We shall watch with delight the future progress of a plan which promises so well, and which, as far as it has yet gone, has been so well conducted. It will make our youth somewhat better acquainted than their fathers with British antiquities.

per

The Nursery Rhymes of England. Obtained principally from oral tradition. Collected and Edited by JAMES ORCHARD HALLIWELL, Esq. London: Russell Smith. 1843.

WE Congratulate Mr. Halliwell on this collection, which, though not always correct, as his version of the "Man in the Moon" will testify, will yet preserve from oblivion many relics which we should be sorry to see forgotten.

1. The Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland. Parts 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. London: Virtue.

1843.

2. Cumming's Foxe's Book of Martyrs. London: Virtue. 1843.

Parts 15, 16, 17, 18.

1843.

3. Canadian Scenery. London: Virtue. THE "Canadian Scenery" has now reached its triumphant termination; and so beautiful is the work, that we are afraid lest its circulation should tempt some to risk their fortunes in a country which looks so exquisite when hot-pressed. Would that the beauties of Ireland, which were never so well brought before the reading public till now, might induce some of her absentee sons to return and "dwell among their own people." Mr. Cumming's edition of Foxe goes on as usual; and if, by means of beautiful type, fine portraits, and interesting landscapes, any persons be induced to look into the pages of the old martyrologist, they will find what will well repay them for their pains. We will not expatiate on the faults of this edition, as it is not intended for reference.

The History of the Church of Christ, from the Diet of Augsburg, 1530, to the Eighteenth Century. Originally designed as a continuation of Milner's History. By Henry STEBBING, D.D. In three volumes. Vol. III. London: Cadell; Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh. 1842. 8vo.

THIS truly valuable work was completed a short time before the publication of the present number of our journal; it is characterised by the same research and ability which we have noticed in the preceding volumes. Though "originally designed as a continuation of Milner's History" of the Church of Christ, it is, in fact, an independent ecclesiastical history, which the possessors of Milner will of course purchase, in order to complete their copies, but which readers of every class will be glad to deposit in their libraries. Now that the work is completed, we propose to review it at length in an early number of our journal.

The Christian's Sunday Companion: being Reflections, in Prose and Verse, on the Collect, Epistle, Gospel, and Proper Lessons, for each Sunday, with a view to their immediate connection. By Mrs. J. A. SARGANT. London: Smith, Elder, and Co. 1843.

MRS. SARGANT has shown in this volume the connection of the Collect, Lessons, Epistle, and Gospel, used by the Church on each Sunday, and she has done this well.