No. 1.
It is seldom that we "turn critics;" but our very bile rises at the
ill-timed dedication of this work to the King, as the "first fruits of
the combined exertions of a few of your majesty's subjects, educated
within the GROSSLY misrepresented UNIVERSITY of LONDON." It is quite
unnecessary for us to explain _why_ this Dedication deserves the epithet
we have chosen: it stands with the signature of "the Proprietors," and
we hope is not the act of the editors; but for the credit of the
University, the publishers, the proprietors, and editors, we recommend
their friends to cancel the leaf bearing this very offensive
inscription, whether they care or not for the golden opinions of all
sorts of people.
If the present Number be a fair sample of the _London University
Magazine_, we can promise the reader but little amusement in our "Notes"
from its pages. It may prove useful enough to the students of the
University, but it wofully lacks the attractive features of a Magazine
for the public; it may suit the library-table, but not the "excellent
coffee room," or the "retired cigar room" of the University Hotel. "On a
general Judgment--A new System of communicating Scientific Information
in a Tabular form--On the Study of the Law and Medicine--On Apoplexy,"
and the general business of the University, are very grave matters for
little more than 100 pages. "On the Metamorphosis of Plants," by Goethe,
is more attractive; but Magazine readers do not want the lumber of law
and medicine--the dry material of parchment, or the blood and filth of
the physiological chair. How different too, is all this from the
pleasantry and attic wit of "_The Etonian_," into whose volumes we still
dip with undiminished gratification.
As we have enumerated the least attractive of the papers in the London
University Magazine, we ought also to run over the lighter portions of
its pages. These are "A young head, and, what is still better, a young
heart,"--discursive enough--"A Tale of the Irish Rebellion--the Guerilla
Bride, a Poem," beginning
"It is a tale of Spain--Romantic Spain!"
--and a Sketch of the Irish Exchequer Court. A description of the
University, with a Vignette view, and ground plan, is perhaps, the most
interesting of the whole Number; but as dramatic critics sometimes say
of a new performer, we had rather see him in another character before we
form an estimate of his talents--so we wait for better things from the
London University Magazine.
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THE EDINBURGH JOURNAL OF NATURAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCE, No. 1.
We expected much from the announcement of this work, and are not
disappointed in its first Number. It contains original
papers--scientific Reviews--geographical and natural History
Collections--and an abundance of scientific intelligence--somewhat on
the plan of Mr. Loudon's excellent Magazines. We have not at present
room for extract; but the Number before us will furnish several
interesting Notes for a portion of our next publication. _A Tour in the
Island of Jersey_ is one of the most amusing articles we have read for
some time, and we hope to abridge it for our columns.
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