It would be unjust to ignore a very popular penny magazine because of its purely philanthropic purpose. For from the first it recognised the importance of good illustrations as its great attraction, and enlisted some of the best draughtsmen to fulfil its didactic aim. We cannot help admiring its pluck, and congratulating the cause it championed (and still supports), and its fortune in securing coadjutors. The first number, issued in February 1855, has a design, the _Loaf Lecture_, by George Cruikshank on its first page; for some time H. Anelay and L. Huard were the most frequent contributors; then came John Gilbert and Harrison Weir, the earliest important Gilbert being _The Last Moments of Thomas Paine_ (January 1862). As a sample of white-line engraving, a block after a medallion of the _Prince Consort_, by L. C. Wyon, and another of _H.M. The Queen_, would be hard to beat. Among these more frequent contributors, we find drawings by J. D. Watson, _My account with Her Majesty_ (August 1864) and _Parley and Flatterwell_ (December 1865) being the most notable; and others by A. W. Cooper, and lastly many by R. Barnes, whose studies of humble life yet await the full appreciation they deserve. These large and vigorous engravings maintain a singularly high level of excellence, and, if not impeccable, are yet distinctly of art, and far above the ephemeral padding of more pretentious magazines. THE BAND OF HOPE REVIEW Of all unlikely publications to interest artist or collector a halfpenny monthly devoted to teetotalism might take first place. Not because of its price, nor because it was a monthly with a mission, for many cheap serials have attracted the support of artists who gave liberally of their best for the sake of the cause the publications championed. _The Band of Hope Review_ is no esoteric pamphlet, but a perfect instance of a popular venture unconcerned, one would think, with art. It would be easy to claim too much for it; still the good work in its pages merits attention. It was started in 1861 as a folio sheet about the size of _The Sketch_, its front page being always filled by a large wood-engraving. The first full page, by H. Anelay, a draughtsman whose speciality was the good little boy and girl of the most commonplace religious periodicals, promises little enough. A series of really fine drawings of animals and birds by Harrison Weir commenced in No. 2. The third issue included a page by L. Huard, whose work occasionally found its way to the shilling magazines, although the bulk of it appeared in the mass of journals of the type of the _London Journal_, _Bow Bells_, etc. In the fifth number John Gilbert (not then knighted) appears with a fine drawing, _The Golden Star_; J. Wolf, honourably distinguished as an illustrator of animals, is also represented. For December 1862 John Gilbert provided a decorative composition of _The Ten Virgins_, that is somewhat unlike his usual type.