grams and sphinx-like puzzles which usually fill this department of our current literature, and should commend the production to parents. We hope the new organ will enjoy a longer term of existence than some of its predecessors.-Namoi Independent. THIS serial contains well written papers "The Public and sketches, entitled Health," "Muff Cricketing," "Best Dog in the colony," and a general summary of the Russo-Turkish War. Altogether Once a Week promises well; and without country readers (who will probably support it best), the 170,000 residents of Sydney should keep it going-but we doubt it. The prize is 6d., and the office 279 George-street, publishing Sydney.-Molong Express. ONCE A WEEK.-This is the title of a'new pamphlet, edited by Mr. C. H. Barlee, of Sydney. We have received a copy and were highly amused, as well as entertained, with the writings; there is such a versatility about them that all must be pleased. It is notified that a summary of the events of the present war will be given for the accommodation of its readers, and so do away with the tedious task of perusing the complications daily appearing in our metropolitan journals. Among numerous articles, in various strains, there is a very humorous writing, entitled "My Balloon Adventure;" but to our fancy, the most amusing is one called "The best dog in the colony." There is a very good article, termed "Et cetera," which gives an abstract of the events of the week. In next issue a story will be commenced, under the impressive heading of "The Mystery of the Wiseman's Ferry Road." It is a useful, handy, little book, and well worth patronage. The price is sixpence.—The Australian. THE Moruya Examiner says:-We have looked the book carefully through and can confidently recommend it to readers and predict its success. our THE new candidate for public favour contains a number of smartly written original articles and some well-selected extract matter. It is got up in good style, and well printed, containing twenty-four demy octavo pages.— Albury Banner. THE new publication is both instructive and entertaining: it is deserving of a good circulation. -Border Post (Albury.) THE new publication is both well got Post readable.-Western very up and (Mudgee). THE Bathurst Free Press says :-It contains a large quantity of interesting reading matter-grave, gay, ponderous, and light. The editorship is evidently in good hands, and if the editor's hopes are realized the paper will take its place with "The pleasant books that silently among Our household treasures take familiar places, And are to us as if a living tongue Spake from the printed leaves or pictured faces." For he makes his bold assertion: "We shall do our best to force ourselves into Once a notice, and to compel attention." Week is well worth the sixpence that is charged for the single copy. Another attempt has been made to establish a literary magazine in Sydney. The new venture takes the title of the Sydney "Once a Week." Its type dress is admirable, but then the printers are Messrs. Gibbs, Shallard, and Co. The number before us very fairly sustains the aim stated, and we shall be glad to see the magazine prosper.-Maitland Mercury. SYDNEY ONCE A WEEK. EDITED BY C. H. BARLEE. and some very original, from all parts of the colony. On every side has been expressed a strong interest in the new venture, and a hope that it will be a commercial success. We have also received a large amount of advice as to the conduct of the magazine, which would have been invaluable only for its singular contrariety. It is well that there should be a diversity of opinion upon matters of this kind, or the field of literary pursuits would be cramped and uninviting. Readers of weekly publications, of the "ONCE A WEEK" type, certainly appear to hold very different views as to the style and contents of such works. One gen tleman, who was asked to become a subscriber, expressed his willingness to join if we would bring it out "twice a week;" but he was evidently a wag. Another is of opinion that we are attempting too much, and that "once a month" would be an appropriate issue. One intending subscriber objected that the type was too small, whilst the next person applied to thought it was too large, and that we should have made more of it. One thinks that the pamphlet should have a brighter and more ornamental cover; another that, in a work of this kind, anything like display should be carefully avoided. There are those who think we should have enlarged it, and charged one shilling; and about the same number have strongly recommended us to reduce its size, and sell it for threepence. These persons think it is too dry and too respectable, and not sufficiently racy; others, again, condemn it for containing too much wit and frivolity. What can an unfortunate editor do under these circumstances? We cannot allow our Pegasus to be placed in the undignified position of the donkey mentioned in Esop's fables, by attempting to meet all requirements, and must, therefore, trudge along the high road without, in any material degree, altering our course of procedure, or to return to our first simile-we must "paddle our own canoe as best we may, and endeavour to steer a straight course into the haven of success. Our little bark will leave her moorings, opposite Hunter-street, every Saturday morning at nine o clock, when our agents can obtain their supplies. We invite all those who have not yet embarked to make a trial trip to-day into the regions of humor, fancy, and romance, and, if they are satisfied with the bill of fare we have provided for them, to take a season ticket-or, in other words, to enter their names on the subscription list, and thus give the enterprise substantial encouragement. VICIOUS LITERATURE, THE "scrofulous French novel" is a debasing institution, but nevertheless it is one which, as it finds numerous supporters, pays. There are dozens upon dozens of people who, like Saxe's "charming woman," read authors of whom they never talk, quite as often as they talk of authors they never read. But then it must be owned that the majority of those authors of whom one never talks are clever fellows; their very worst betises are redeemed by flashes of wit, and it is not without a charm that they unfold the tales which strict decorum would fain have left untold. We grant great license to genius, and, for the sake of brilliancy and keen analysis of character, will pardon a too realistic sketch of a Faustine, of a Wilhelm Meister, or of a Lady with the Camellias; but what are we to say of the scrofulous Holywell-street literature, which, unredeemed by one flash of wit, seeks to win support from the dirty-minded and the careless, for its impudent disregard alike of decency as of art? To the dirtyminded we do not care to address ourselves. He which is filthy let him be filthy still; but to the careless we would say a few words. Why, in these days of cheap books, when the embarras des richesses, like "the litter of the rose-leaves, and the noise of the nightingales," is the sole obstacle to the intending freeselector in the realms of literature, why go out of your way to spend time and money on wretched publications, that can neither entertain nor instruct-works that have not the realism which grimly but truly photographs a social ulcer, nor the fancy which can idealise the voluptuous sensuousness of an erotic poet's day-dream wretched pamphlets, which attempt the description of low pot-house life of the hangers on at tavern bars, of the loafers who are, "As you by their faces see, All silent and all damned." Why think that you can reap any mental titilation of a pleasing kind from the perusal of ill-written accounts of the drunken hours passed by wretched traviatas in the back parlours of dens called cafes, on the lucus a non lucendo principle, that coffee is never called for in them? The streets of the city, during the past few weeks, have been extensively ticketed with notices directing the attention of the lieges to the fact that pamphlets are "just out," hot from the press, with particular accounts of the "pubs" and " cafes," and of their frequenters; and those pamphlets have been sold by the thousand, while the colonial story, "His Natural Life," the best novel ever turned out by an Australian literateur, is not to be had, because never asked for. And yet people wonder that high-toned literature doesn't pay. The truth seems to be that a broadside of libellous personalties will pay a hireling scribe better than many pages of thought-out ideas will pay the writer whose aim is to ply his pen in the service of his fellows. Is this state of things to continue? We hope not, and trust that young Australians will refuse to countenance any publications save those the object of which is to attract the notice of the public by purveying for its healthy, not pandering to its morbid, tastes. Southey has left us, in his "Commonplace Book," an admirable canon by which to test the value of a book, which, as it may prove of service to some of our younger readers in these days, when, of the number of books there is literally no end, we quote entire "Young readers, you whose hearts are open, whose understandings are not yet hardened, and whose feelings are neither exhausted nor encrusted with the world, take from me a better rule than any professors of criticism will teach you! Would you know whether the tendency of a book is good or evil, examine in what state of mind you lay it down. Has it induced you to suspect that what you have been accustomed to think unlawful may after all be innocent, and that may be harmless which you have been taught to think dangerous? Has it tended to make you dissatisfied and impatient under the control of others, and disposed you to relax in that selfgovernment without which both the laws of God and man tell us there can be no virtue, and consequently no happiness? Has it attempted to abate your admiration and reverence for what is great and good, and to diminish in you a love of your country and of your fellow creatures? Has it addressed itself to your pride, your vanity, your selfishness, or any of your evil propensities? Has it defiled the imagination with what is loathsome, and shocked the heart with what is monstrous? Has it disturbed the sense of right and wrong which the soul? If so if you have felt that Creator has implanted in the human such were the effects it was intended to produce-throw the book into the fire, whatever name it may bear upon the title-page! Throw it into the fire, young man, though it should have been the gift of a friend; young lady, throw it away with the whole set, though it should be the prominent furniture in the rosewood bookcase." ILLA CREEK. BY HENRY KENDALL. A STRONG Sea-wind flies up and sings Across the blown-wet border, Whose stormy echo runs and rings Like bells in wild disorder. Fierce breath hath vext the foreland's face It glistens, glooms, and glistens ; Sweet Illa, of the shining sands, And silver summer follows. Far up the naked hills is heard A noise of many waters; Whose wings are wind and thunder. Her fairy hands and floral feet Are brought by bright October; Here, stained with grapes and smit with heat, Comes autumn sweet and sober. Here lovers rest, what time the red And here, from month to month, the time Is kissed by peace and pleasure; While nature sings her woodland rhyme And hoards her woodland treasure. Ah, Illa Creek! ere evening spreads The strength that lives, nor falters, POLITICAL. This WE are glad to notice a strong disposition in the House, as well as out of it, to give the Farnell Ministry fair play, and to allow them ample time to develope their policy. has been unmistakeably evinced in the Legislative Assembly, in two recent divisions on important questions, in which the Government have had a large majority. The determination to give a general support to the new Ministry may be attributed to a tardy consciousness on the part of hon. members of the waste of time which has occurred during previous sessions by frivolous, as well as factious, motions; and the feeling, that however defective, in their opinion, the present holders of office may be in administrative ability, they are actuated by a desire to carry through honestly, and with as little delay as possible, some useful legislation. Again, we have before the country a fairly liberal programme. Again, it rests with the Assembly to determine whether the various important measures it embraces shall be introduced, discussed, and perfected in Committee by a deliberative body, or whether the whole community shall suffer further grievous injury by a repetition of those attempts to embarrass the Government of the day, which have so often afforded theme for reproachful comment. |