by Rossetti, with some verbal alterations.  No. 4, “A Venetian Pastoral, by Giorgione”—­the like.  The alterations here are of considerable moment.  Rossetti, in a published letter of October 8, 1849, referred to the Giorgione picture as follows:  “A Pastoral—­at least, a kind of Pastoral—­by Giorgione, which is so intensely fine that I condescended to sit down before it and write a sonnet.  You must have heard me rave about the engraving before, and, I fancy, have seen it yourself.  There is a woman, naked, at one side, who is dipping a glass vessel into a well, and in the centre two men and another naked woman, who seem to have paused for a moment in playing on the musical instruments which they hold.”  Nos. 5 and 6, “Angelica Rescued from the Sea-Monster, by Ingres,” were also reprinted by the author, with scarcely any alteration.  Patmore, on reading these two sonnets, was much struck with their truthfulness of quality, as being descriptive of paintings.  As to some of the other sonnets, Mr. W. M. Hardinge wrote in “Temple Bar,” several years ago, an article containing various pertinent and acute remarks.

By W. M. Rossetti:  “Review of Browning’s Christmas Eve and Easter Day.”  The only observation I need make upon this review—­which was merely intended as introductory to a fuller estimate of the poem, to appear in an ensuing number of “The Germ”—­is that it exemplifies that profound cultus of Robert Browning which, commenced by Dante Rossetti, had permeated the whole of the Praeraphaelite Brotherhood, and formed, not less than some other ideas, a bond of union among them.  It will be readily understood that, in Mr. Stephens’s article, “Modern Giants,” the person spoken of as “the greatest perhaps of modern poets” is Browning.

By W. M. Rossetti:  “The Evil under the Sun:  Sonnet.”  This sonnet was composed in August 1849, when the great cause of the Hungarian insurrection against Austrian tyranny was, like revolutionary movements elsewhere, precipitating towards its fall.  My original title for the sonnet was, “For the General Oppression of the Better by the Worse Cause, Autumn 1849.”  When the verses had to be published in “The Germ,” a magazine which did not aim at taking any side in politics, it was thought that this title was inappropriate, and the other was substituted.  At a much later date the sonnet was reprinted with yet another and more significant title, “Democracy Down-trodden.”

Having now disposed of “The Germ” in general, and singly of most of the articles in it, I have very little to add.  The project of reprinting the magazine was conceived by its present publisher, Mr. Stock, many years ago—­perhaps about 1883.  At that time several contributors assented, but others declined, and considerations of copyright made it impracticable to proceed with the project.  It is only now that lapse of time has disposed of the copyright question, and Mr. Stock is free to act as he likes.  I was from the first one of those (the