Messrs. D. Appleton, of New York, requested us to provide a set of illustrations to the Poetical Works of William Cullen Bryant. They wished for a large number by Birket Foster, who at that time was at the very height of his popularity for black and white work. Out of something like one hundred pictures he gave us thirty-six, all of which are beautiful examples; many of them exquisite little vignettes. William Harvey supplied some graceful pictures; Sir John Tenniel, J. R. Clayton, and F. R. Pickersgill were responsible for several of the figure subjects; while Edward Duncan drew some very delicate little sea pieces.
"Once this soft turf, this rivulet sands,
Were trampled by a hurrying crowd,
And fiery hearts, and armed hands,
Encountered in the battle cloud.
* * * * * * *
"Now all is calm, and fresh and still,
Alone the chirp of flitting bird,
And talk of children on the hill,
And bell of wandering kine are heard."
"The Battle-field."—W. Cullen Bryant.
By Edward Dalziel.
Published by Messrs. D. Appleton & Co., New York.
There are many of our own drawings in this book, of which we make mention—"The Battle-field"; "An Indian Girl's Lament"; "Life"; "A Northern Legend"; "The Lady of Castle Windeck"; and "An Evening Reverie."
Harrison Weir sent us some good pictures of animals, notably "The Maiden's Sorrow." Weir, one of our earliest connections, is a gifted and brilliant conversationalist, brimful of anecdote—humorous and otherwise, a genial companion and an old friend.