... THE Winter Exhibition of the Society of British Artists is now open at the gallery in Suffolk Street, some seven hundred works in oil and water colours by members of the corporation and by outside contributors, being contained in the collection. The walls of the exhibition wear thus a well-covered aspect, and vacant spaces are hard to find; at the same time it must be said that mediocrity ...

... LONDON: A Pilgrimage, by Gustave Dor6 and Blanchard Jerrold (Grant and Co.). In this work M. Gustave Dord has given us a collection of drawings, good always, or nearly always -for some few of them show signs of that over-haste and quast carelessness which occasionally mar his workmanship-and often of marked excellence and beauty ; and the accompanying letter- press of Mr. Blanchard Jerrold, ...

... TIIE rHEA TRES AN American actot, who has just made his first appearance in this country at the ADELPHI Theatre, is likely to become a favourite with English playgoers. Mr. J. K. Emmett, whose name indicates an Irish origin, is already very well known in the United States, where he has recently completed a professional tour, extending to one thousand nights ; but what is more re- markable the ...

... FOREMOST amongst the unselfish enjoyments of Christmastide are penny readings and parish tea parties. What shall we wear? is so often asked on these occasions that we intend to commence our fashion article with a few words of advice on the subject in question. Take for the foundation a moderately long, well-gored dress of black silk, and the variations which can be made thereon are manifold. ...

... * SucH is the title of a shilling pamphlet by Mr. T. B. Sprague, M. A., the Senior Wrangler of 1853, now a Vice-President of the Institute of Actuaries, and occupying a foremost position in the actuarial profession. This pamphlet is the first part of a summary and analysis of the accounts of the Life Insurance Companies of Great Britain and Ireland, as now for the first time exhibited by the ...

... GREAT Battles of the British Navy, by Lieut. C. R. Low, R.N. (R'outledge). This interesting work will be especially valuable to all young students of naval history, to whom more ponderous books on the subject are unattainable. Though the volume bristles throughout wvitls minute statistical particulars, and such politico-historical information as will enable the reader to understand the cause ...

... 5fUSIC THERE seems to be a revival of interest in Mendelssohn's first oratorio, St. Paul. It was performed last week at Oxford, last Saturday at the Crystal Palace, and next Friday it will be heard in Exeter Hall. On every account this is matter for congratula- tion. Less dramatic than Elfiah, and, therefore less adapted to excite popular interest, St. Paul is, even morethan Elijak, an ...