The Press. — London, England, 1854-07-22 00:00:00

688 is, let us study them. They can help to cure us of what is, it seems to me, the great vice of our intellect, manifesting itself in our incredible vagaries in literature, in art, in religion, in morals ; namely, that it is fantastic, and wants sanity. Sanity—that is the great virtue of the ancient literature : the want of that is the great defect of the modern, in spite of all its variety and power. It is im possible to read carefully the great ancients without losing something of our caprice and eccentricity ; and to emulate them we must at least read them. We need not add to our former remarks upon Mr. Arnold's theory of poetry, but, with reference to his notions about " sanity " being the necessary consequence of classical models, wo might inquire how far Burns, Scott, and Crabbe were indebted to ancient literature ; and, on the other hand, allowing full credit to his genius, we may doubt whether Mr. Arnold himself would say that " sanity " was a spe cial feature in the poetry of Coleridge, who probably was more familiar with classical literature, than any of our eminent poets since Milton and Cowley. History of Europe from the Fall of Napoleon in 1815 to the Accession of Louis Napoleon in 1852. By Sir Archibald Alison, Bart., D.C.L. London : Blackwood and Suns. [second Notice.) Oisx-eaLT of Sir Archibald's last volume deals with the Greek insurrection, and the invasion of Turkey by the Russian armies in 1827-8 — events to which those of the last two years have given an especial interest, and which are nowhere more fully or more lucidly detailed. Of his narrative, interesting as it is, we give no abridgment here, partly by reason of its length, partly also because it has already be come familiar to readers through the medium of innumerable publications. The historian's survey of the Turkish empire, his summary of its position and prospects, and his views on the Eastern question generally—expressed as these are with the impartiality of one who writes for future time—deserve all the space we can afford them. The peculiarity of the Ottoman Government consists in the variety of nations over which it extends. From earliest ages Turkey has been a seat of war. Persians, Romans, Goths, Vandals, Russians, Arabs, with many more of less note, have fought, conquered, and colo nised within its limits. The Greek, the Alba nian, the Wallachian, the Servian, and the Egyptian, all own a different origin, and dis play a peculiar character. None of these races, even at the present day, is wholly merged in any other; and diversity of descent and customs is thus found superadded to what in other countries has been found the great difficulty of statesmen—contrariety of religious belief among the governed. But, though to rule well a people whose component parts have so little in common be difficult, their very want of homogeneity makes it easier to govern them in some fashion ; while the very physical nature of the country they inhabit, divided by mountain ranges, and un traversed by roads, adds to this facility. Under such circumstances, a ruling class com paratively small in number, but occupying all the fortresses, exclusively trained to use arms, imposing tribute on their fellow-subjects, and strongly impressed both with religious zeal and a sense of the necessity of co-operation for their common security, may, without any extraordinary display of either courage or skill, retain its power long, and exercise it boldly. Such seems to be actually the posi tion of Turkey. Until lately, no standing army worthy the name existed ; for it was held that every Mahometan ought to be a sol dier, and the boast has been made good on many trying occasions. The Romans relied on their disciplined legions, and the prestige of their name, to keep remote provinces iu subjection; the East India Company wisely represses all tendencies towards Christian fanaticism, keeps religious questions as much as possible in the background, and trusts to - -wer of military training, and the absence - the people, for the fide- Osmanli system, purely from both, resembling, .ibald, the Norman rule sixty thousand horsemen at Winchester to overawe In Turkey, to fight, and the power of military tr of patriotism among 1 ri• lit -ofliFT tepoft; the Ip l / 4 differs . n ...y'` %,.,"`..; 11 , -)"'• -z r rch] iw.. 4- IP -. -1 • ..7 - t 011 1 ""h4r , H i. (r. , *?-••' - 'ir f- 11 4 , at , ,0 5 i - i......... • I .... ~ • J X , • ' li e 4-. '. liaava-_ - -; 1 / 4 1 r ' THE PRESS. to fight only, is the duty of the Mahometan. Industrial pursuits are left to the Christian races ; and so far does the intellectual ad vancement of these exceed that of their mas ters, that the arts of commerce, navigation, manufactures, and even the functions of civil administration, depend for their development mainly on the former. Of this unequal parti tion of duties the result is manifest. The Ma hometan population of European Turkey does not exceed now three millions; it was formerly threefold greater; while the Greek Christians are increasing both in numerical and political importance. Property is held even by Mus sulmen on an uncertain tenure; a heavy tax, of fluctuating amount, is imposed on succes sions ; perpetual settlement is only possible by the legal evasion of bequeathing the estate to a mosque, which allows the heirs to enjoy it on payment of a reasonable rent. It is reckoned that these " ecclesiastical trustees," as they are fitly designated, hold two-thirds of the land ; and since the real owner is legally a mere tenant, while the proprietor in law has no interest in an increase of the value, this system is fatal to agricultural improvement. A similar effect has been produced in an even greater degree by the laws which, in name at least, precluded Christians from becoming owners of the soil. But while the interest of the producer, and the increase of consump tion, are little cared for, peculiar anxiety is shown to guard against a rise of prices in the towns, which, by causing discontent, might endanger public tranquillity. At ene time the principalities were not allowed to export grain elswhere than to Constantinople. At all times the export duties are higher than those on imports. The great cities are fed not by the adjoining provinces, but from beyond the sea. This policy may, as matters stand, be prudent, for government is weak in Turkey, and a riot may speedily swell into a rebellion. Of the character of the Turks our author thinks highly. Bravery in war is conceded to them on all hands, and has been lately proved : they are singularly trustworthy, honest except whore public affairs are concerned (a distinction not unknown in Western Europe), and, though cruel when under the influence of military or religious excitement, at other times gentle and humane. Nor have they been persecutors in general—their rule is to tolerate all sects, while admitting none to participate in power : thus the Greek clergy are held in honour, although they have occasionally suffered martyrdom at the hands of a mob when foreign aggression or internal revolt had stimulated its latent fanaticism. The revenue varies from 6,000,0001. to 7,000,0001., less than a seventh part of that raised in Great Britain; yet even this small amount is not collected without trouble, the land in particular paying ten per cent. on pro duce, besides seventeen per cent. on income of every description. In many of the provinces a village-system exists, not unlike that of India, and originating in the same cause,—the necessity of combination for self protection against the agents of an arbitrary Government. It works well, and is probably found conve nient by the Turks themselves, since it enables them to apportion and collect taxes with little difficulty. Sir Archibald, as may be inferred from the tendency of the evidence which he has amassed, looks with distrust on the sta bility of Turkey as an Ottoman monarchy. A Byzantine empire is his solution of the Eastern problem. He denies, we think rather too con fidently, that an extensive intermixture of races interposes any real obstacle to this re sult, instancing Greece before the Persian war, Italy before the conquest of Carthage, England in Saxon times, and France during her civil wars, as proofs that a powerful and prosperous community may arise out of an amalgamation of heterogeneous elements. The kingdom of Greece is not in his eyes a failure. Since her independence was declared the population has doubled ; commerce has increased ; Athens contains four times as many inhabitants as it did under Turkish rule ; and the popular cha racter, though defaced by some servile vices, manifests signs of improvement. If honesty and patriotism appear wanting in Greek poli tics, it must yet be remembered that, in the national struggle for independence, acts of heroism were performed which would do honour to any country. Witness the defence SATURDAY, of Missolonghi, than which a more gallant re sistance is not recorded in military annals. It is the intelligence and ambition of the Greek race, contrasted with the degraded position which they occupy under the Turks, that com plicates the Eastern question. Its ultimate solution no man can foresee, and the historian who deals with the past and present wisely abstains from predicting the future. Transmutation; or, the . Lord and the Lout. By N. or M. London : Chapman and Hall. NOVELS in a single volume are rarely success ful. Dramatic play of character must have adequate space for its exhibition, and short fictions read like mere " tales " for a maga zine. By a peculiar style of execution, the author of " Peg Woffington" and " Christie Johnston" succeeded in producing consider able effect with a limited space, but Mr. Reade's talent for describing in dialogue falls to few authors. In "Transmutation " the writer has crowded a startling variety of incidents into one volume, evidently modelled on the con densed plan adopted by Mr. Reade. "The Lord and the Lout " is the history of a couple of changelings. Between the old Earl of Rycot, and Harston (a neighbouring miller) there has existed a feud. Lord Rycot is a pattern of " the wicked old peer " who so often appears iu works of fiction, and he mar ries, late in life, a heartless beauty. Their offspring is a ricketty child, whose body is frail and feeble. Simultaneously with the birth of Lord Rycot's heir, the miller has a vigorous child born to him, and a village doc tor, one Peter Prosset, out of pure good na ture (as the story . runs in the novel), changes . the children, putting the "lord" in the place of the "lout; and vice versa, and the pseudo Lord Hilton grows up to be heir to Lord Rycot. The real lord lives on at the mill a capricious weakling, prone to vindittive passions, in the gratification of which he slays a gamekeeper of Lord Rycot. By a combination of circum stances, there are strong suspicions that Lord Hilton himself murdered the gamekeeper, and the young peer is committed to gaol, amidst popular execration, but, as the author inartis• tically shows us his innocence, we aro not harrowed by the noble's lord's sufferings. Prosset at last resolves to disclose the facts of the whole ease, under the pressure of con science, but, just as the magistrate is at hand to take his deposition, the old doctor is struck with paralysis, so as to enable the author to conclude his story by leaving the pseudo peer in possession of his title and estates. Such a story is too unreal to excite deep in terest, and it exhibits too many of the stale artifices of novelists, besides failing in moral purpose. Portions of it are pleasingly written. There is a striking scene between the young lord and his confidential legal adviser, who firmly believes that his client is guilty of the murder ; and with a more natural plot the writer might have been successful in rousing our interest. The process of " transmutation " by which Peter Prosset puts " the lout " in the place of " the lord " is thus described : " 'Twill be dead before morning," muttered the doctor, raising it in his bony hand, and examining it as a naturalist would an insect : " and then what will become of Rycot and its castle ?—Yonder whimsical fool, under her silken hangings, has not stamina to become again a mother; and disappointment and disgust will drive the earl from the spot. The tyranny of Brownsell will be renewed; the village return to its wallowing in the mire. As to myself--" But to do Peter Prosset justice, it was by no means him self who figured highest in his list of victims to arise from the death of Lord Hilton. And they were more than he well knew how to count. The old man's mind was shaken by the rapid incidents of that eventful night. His heart was opened ; the impulses of his officious nature were astir ; and Satan was of course at hand to whisper that, by the exercise of his own ingenuity and adroitness, he might, perhaps, still repair the injuries inflicted by Provi dence upon the neighbourhood. "To do a great right, do a little wrong," insinuated the Evil one. "Supply at once an heir to Ilycot Castle, and relieve the poor widower of an additional charge on his helpless household. A good act—a great act—an set worthy of Peter Prosset,—at once a good Samaritan and an enlightened philosopher." He listened—who does not ?—to the suggestion of the tempter ! Not a moment was to be lost. The room con taining the children was utterly deserted. So scanty was the primitive apparel of both infants, that there was little difficulty in effecting a change of raiment ; and having with tremulous hands accomplished the tranamuuition, and t