The Press. — London, England, 1858-06-05 00:00:00

538 Nor did Miss Gushing altogether fail in her object. When a clergyman's daily audience consists of but one person, and that person is a young lady, it is hardly pos sible that he should not become personally intimate with her; hardly possible that he should not be in some measure grateful. Miss Gushing's responses came fr.im her with such fervour, and she begged for ghostly advice with such eager longing to have her scruples satisfied, that Mr. Oriel had nothing for it but to give way to a certain mount of civilization. Ily degrees it came to pass that Miss Gushing could never get her final prayer said, her shawl and boa adjusted, and stow away her nice new prayer-hook with the red letters inside, and the cross on the back, till Mr. Oriel had been into his vestry and got rid of his surplice. And then they met at the church-porch, and naturally walked together till Mr. Oriel's cruel gateway separated them. The young thing did sometimes think that, as the parson's civilization progressed, he might have taken the trouble to walk with her as far as Mr. Yates Umbleby's hall-door; but she had hope to sustain her, and a firm resolve to merit success, even though she might not attain it. " Is it not ten thousand pities," she once said to him, " that none here should avail themselves of the inestimable privilege which your coming has conferred upon us ? Oh, Mr. Oriel, I do so wonder at it ! To me it is so de lightful ! The morning service in the dark church is so beautiful, so touching!" " I suppose they think it is a bore getting up so early," said Mr. Oriel. " Ah, a bore !" said Miss Gushing, in an enthusiastic tone of depreciation. " How insensate they must be! To me it gives a new charm to life. It quiets one for the day ; makes one so much fitter for one's daily trials and daily troubles. Does it not,Mr. Oriel:" " + I look upon morning-prayer as an imperative duty, certainly." - . . . . . . " Oh, certainly,a most imperative duty; but so delicious at the same time. I spoke to Mrs. Umbleby about it., but she said she could not leave the children." ' No ; I dare say not," said Mr. Oriel. " And Mr. Umbleby said his business kept him up so late at night." " Very probably. I hardly expect the attendance of men of business." " But the servants might come, mightn't they, Mr. Oriel?" " I fear that servants seldom can have time for daily prayers in church." " Oh, ah, uo ; pe-haps not." And then Miss Gashing began to bethink herself of whom should be composed the congregation which it must be presumed Mr. Oriel wished to see around him. But ou this matter he did not enlighten her. Then Miss Gushing took to fasting on Fridays, and made some futile attempts to induce her priest to give her the comfort of confessional absolution. But, unfortunately, the zeal of the master waxed cool as that of the pupil waxed hot ; and, at last, when the young thing returned to Greshamsbury from an autumn excursion which she had made with Mrs. Cuibleby to Weston-super-Mare, she found that the delicious morning•services had died a natural death. Miss Gushing did not on that account give up the fie, but she was found to tight with no particu!ar ad vantage in her favour. of demarcation drawn between things sacred and thing% profane ; but we doubt whether the miscellaneoui appli cation of our Maker's name be the right way to cure this, or tc induce a simple r , or more constant and reverent re- ' cognition of that Divine life in which we live, and move, and have our being. But is not this " criticism "? The political article is, on the whole, less inuatured than might have been expected in Fraser; the milder tone is no itsignifi cant symptom of the improved position which Go vernment now occupies in public estimation. The " Mutiny of Provincial Troops ; from Tacitus," is singularly opportune and interesting. In the minds of the Roman conquerors, " 1 icit ratio parcendi ne sublata spe venire pertinacia accendereutur. Alli ciendos potius in societatem." The three most noticeable articles in the Dublin Uni versity Magazine are " Richard Savage," " The State of Donegal," and "Trinity College, Dublin." Although the first. has nothing very original, it is a readable paper on a very interesting subject; and when these two great qualities are united, the reader has all that he had any right to demand from the regular maga. zine-writer. The second is a paper containing some apparently important facts. And the third is a bold reiteration of all those charges which created such a sensation in the May number, and which cost the Magazine its publisher, coupled with some useful suggestions for the improvement of the University, of which some principal ones are the following :- 1. We would restore to the " common chest " the per. tion of the degree fees now paid to the provost and senior fellows, including among these the fees of the senior proctor. 2. We would reduce the provostahip, vice-provostship, senior lectureship, registrarship, and bnrsarship, by 40W., 1501., 3001, 1001., and 1,2001., respectively. These sums, together with 1,8501., the estimated value of the degree fees, would place 3,8001. in the common chest, available for educational purposes. . . 3. We would appropriate 1,0001. of this snm to raising the incomes of the six non•tutor fellows to 2001. each, and that of the tutors not in full classes to 3001. 4. The salaries of the aub•lecturers and honour lecturers in classics, and the doubling of the fees for conducting honour examinations, woula absorb about 5001. more. This whole question, as our readers know, has lately been undergoing an investigation, and it has now been decided by the Visitors that the usage of sixty years is sufficient to decide the legality of the present distribution of fees by the Provost and Senior Fellows. One number of either Bentley or the New Monthly is so like another that we find it difficult to say any thing new about them each month. tales by the clever writer who, during . years, has added much to their attraction—t'.. three notices of foreign literature—and generall (though not this month) a couple of political Conservative in Bentley and Whig in Coil , up the staple of their contents. Most are well done, but may dispense with close The Irish Metropolitan contains a good matter, including a fair article on Sir Charles dison, and the commencement of a tale of " Whitefriars," which does not promise called "The Irish Brigadeaman." Tait and Titan are much as usual—the containing, of course, a ridiculous article English Universities. In a table professing, the number of first-clessmen turned college between the years 1831 and 1856, the following gross blunder —he Lincoln College, none, whereas, even the latest calendar we have by us, Lincoln no less than twelve; and yet this man able to write on University subjects. 11.1.1111111 7 22—...."1"..". cred and things :ellaneou d way to cure this, and reverent re- live, and move, tical article is, ght have been is no itsignifi. on which Go- imalion• The Tacitus," is In the minds o parcendi ne srentur. Alli- -3e Dublin Uni- ' " The State of In." Although is a readable nd when these er has all that regular maga. ntaining some third is a bold :reated such a rhich cost the some useful he University, oilowing : chest " the per. west and senior p of the senior rice-provestship, srship, by 400 r., estimated value in the common sum to raising 2001. each, and I. ionour lecturers for conducting ,001. more. era know, has in, and it has tat the usage .he legality of s Provost and s New Monthly tit to say any- Two or three the last two ction—two or .and generally ilitical articles, !oiburn—make of the articles 1 :lose criticism. rood variety of 3harles Gran- s by the author promise badly, al—the latter Wide on the essing to give out by each 50, he makes assigns to n up to 1852, ieoln obtained in is thought !,eived Mervyn Gordian Knot. ■ I, and wn hope it at greater tl ncrease in in• JC(E 3. and Commercial a f. Allen and Co. G. Routledge. Blackwood , . IS W. Saunders. aw ot a s w ri me,m.. A d s ilts sLi ssey of se kett. va Englishwoman s C )press in )rea S. V i npie—rp , ire. Henry v 1 AI 1111 THE PRESS, JUNE 5, 1858. We see that Mr. Trollope in one or two places makes a half-defiant apology for his bad law. This might be well enough it he had tripped over some slippery ground ; but Mr. Trollope's errors are such as any one with the ordinary knowledge of a middle-aged man of the world might be ex pected to avoid. They occur, at least, in cases which are so frequently subjects of common con versation, that his carelessness has very much the appearance of being wilful. For instance, it is tolerably well known that the law does not favour illegitimate children, but if possible ex cludes them from inheriting where they are not positively identified as objects of a bequest. Yet Mr. Troilope describes property as passing to an illegitimate child by a will which is made simply in favour of " the eldest child" of the testator's sister ; and on this error the interest of his book hinges from first to last. Again, he speaks of an estate being " entailed" on a son after say ing a little before that it is -at the absolute dis posal" of his father. Of the language of "Dr. Thorne," we may may safely say that it has all Mr. Trollopes force and liveliness in an undiminished degree ; and of the general tone of the book that it is free from that flavour to which very sensitive readers have objected in some of his other works as partaking of vulgarity. This much-abused word is one on which an essay could be written. But, taking it in its conventional sense of coarseness, we do not think the term applicable to Mr. Tmllope. lie describes coarse scenes, but we don't think he loves what is coarse, or has any sympathy with meanness or pretentiousness. To those, however, who think differently, the pre sent volume will afford no ground of complaint. PERIODICAL Blarkwood this month contains two very spirited °lineal articles, entitled " The Cost of Whig Go vernment" and The Defeat of the Factions." The first shows up the sham of "Liberalism " most thoroughly. The second is as graphic a narrative of the origin, progress, and downfall of the " Cabal " as could be desired. The fallowing passage is very just : We cannot conclude the narrative of these remarkable events—a narrative which, we believe, speaks trumpet tongued its own moral—without according a meed of highest praise to Lord Ellenle,rough and Mr. Disraeli, — the two men to whom it is owing that such a battle for political wisdom and humanity against persecution and terribls folly, was fought at all, and that it was fought suc cessfully. The one saved India in this matter, and the other England. Mr. Disraeli has the honour, we believe, of having from the first discerned the strength of the Ministerial position, and boldly resolved to appeal to the country rather than abandon it. And to his consummate leadership it is mainly due that the House of Commons has been saved from committing one of the most terrible errors, as well as deliniuenciea, which ignorance ever prompted, or faction inspired. But our last and best word must be reserved for Lord Eilenborough. Personal connection and the influences of distinguished circles, and still more, the factious iutueste of party, caused the praises of Lord Canning to be sounded throughout the recent dente with a zeal that far overshot the limits of truth. But how few the tributes to that far nobler man, who interposed to save our Indian empire from an act of insanity, and then sacrificed high and honourable office rather than allow faction to obtain a triumph at the expense ■like of British honour and British dominion. Lord Canning had fallen into the greatest and most momentous error ever committed by any Yiceroy of India; and instead of dealing harshly with him, Lord Ellenborough's only error was on the other side. Had he recalled Lord Canning at once, history would have said that never was Governor• General more justly displaced ; and the Factions, compelled to encounter the question purely on the merits of the rival policies, would probably have shrunk from contesting the decision. It was on account of the noble earl's leniency—it was just because lie censured and did not recall—that the Factions were able to find a specious ground of attack ; and it is deeply to be regretted that it has cost the State so dearly to repel an attack so entirely selfish and unjustifiable. The two Indian articles, one being a narrative of events in the Punjaub, the other a chronicle of the doings of the Ist Bengal European Fusiliers after the fall of Delhi, are well written and exciting. " Blood " is a scientific (not a genealogical) article into which we have not dipped. " Religious Memoirs" is an admirable and well-timed essay, in which the still lingering peculiarities of that school of religious (?) writers whose piety consists in elon gated visages, ecstatic attitudes, and perpetual and familiar mention of the Persons of the Trinity is de servedly flagellated. " May-day "is a brief and humorous account of a gentleman newly returned from India who got up early to enjoy an English May morning, of what befell him in consequence, and how he ultimately discovered the May Queen in the barrack stables at Coventry. " What will he do with it ?" is as good as ever. The public will now have the pleasure of reading a monthly serial by an actual Minister, a thing we should think that has hardly happened before. Fraser this month has a preponderance of literary articles. Shelley, Louis Blanc, Matthew Arnold, Mr. Kingsley, sod Fielding, are the principal topics. The first article is by Mr. Peacock, and though giving us little that is new, he corrects some mistake, and writes with that easy command of his subject that his acquaintance with the poet would warrant us in expecting. The estimate of " Merope" does not differ materially from that which we have ourselves expressed. That of Mr. Kingsley is rather more favourable. The latter article, by Shirley, contains a good-humoured depreciation of criticism; but is itself just as much criticism as anything we ordi narily meet with. The fact, however, is not that criticism is a useless art, but that the critic is so rare an animal. We believe that no kind of literary ability is less common. In the meantime literature is over run by a herd of writers who gain a livElihood by telling people what they knew already, or by substi tuting their own crude fancies for those laws of taste which they never learned. But true criticism, such as that of Johnson or Coleridge, though, of course, it does not " make" a poet, contributes very greatly to the reader's enjoyment of him. To track our emotions to their source is an additional pleasure, which the man unacquainted with criticism is unable to taste: and, if for no other reason, the art should be encouraged and improved. We quite agree with Shirley in the following:-- A most vigorous discourse—with the exceptien, indeed, of the last line, which we do not like -- blow, thou wind of God! Why, in preference t the winds which come from the other points of the comport', the north-easter should be more particularly under Divine guidance, we confess we do not understand ; except, indeed, that the poet is thereby assisted to a fitting rhj me and a forcible finish. We notice what is obviously a very subordinate blemish, because we think that Mr. Kingsley is prone to make use of this and similar forms of expression. In the poem rm.-it " The Outlaw," a poacher, for instance. justifies his occupation— I Jo but hunt Gol's cattle upon God's sin hills. No doubt there has been, alike in our literature and in the other forms of vur social intercourse, too marked a line Of the monthly serials, we have receiv, Clitheroe, Davenport Dunn, and The Gordial The tirst mentioned is now concluded, r to have an opportunity of reviewing length. The other two continue to increase terest. PUBLICATIONS RCCEIVED.-J1 The Indus and its Procinces, their Political and Importance. W. P. Andrew. W. Will He Marry Her? Sermons. Rev. John CairJ, MA. The Practice of Magistrates' Courts. Thomas Second Edition. Law Preachers and Preaching. Henry Christmas, The Boltedly Virarium ; or, Insect Hume. Humphreys. . . PAMPHLET. Self help by Me People. Hurst and Blackett. PERIODIC U.S. Le Folkt. Siropkin and Marshall—The Englishi Junneal. Piper and Co.—Hittory of Progress Britain. Holliston—The Art Journal. J. S. Vii Money Bag. Oakey—Bortkdge's Shakespeare. Henry VI Routledge. us seg ...a., so is In ICI sou Greshamsbury from an autumn excursion which s h e h a d humorous account of a gentleman new ly returne d is so like another that we find it difficult to say any- thing new about them each month. Two or three made with Mrs. Cuibleby to Weston-super-Mare, she found from India who got up early to enjoy an English that the delicious morning-services had died a natural May morning, of what befell him in consequence, tales by the clever writer who, during the last two death. Miss Gushing did not on that account give up the and how he ultimately discovered the , May Queen it 1 11 pule, but she was found to fight with no particular ad- the barrack stables at Coventry. " W hat will he do years, has added much to their attraction—two or three notices of foreign literature—and generally voltage in her favour. ( though not this month) a couple of political articles, with it ?" is as good as ever. The public will now We see that Mr. Trollope in one or two places have the pleasure of reading a monthly serial by an Conservative in Bentley and Whig in Coiburn—make up the staple of their contents. Most of the articles makes a half-defiant apology for his bad law. actual Minister, a thing we should think that has This might be well enough it he had tripped over hardly happened before. are well done, but may dispense with close criticism. some slippery ground ; but Mr. Trollope's errors Fraser this month has a preponderance of literary The Irish Metropolitan contains a good variety of are such as any one with the ordinary knowledge articles. Shelley, 'Joni . ; Blanc, Matthew Arnold, matter, including a fair article on Sir Charles Gran- of a middle-aged man of the world might be ex- Mr. Kingsley, sod Fielding, are the principal topics. dison, and the commencement of a tale by the author _ - pected to avoid. They occur, at least, in cases The first article is by Mr. P e aco c k, an d th oug h o f " Whitefriars," which does not promise badly, which are so frequently subjects of common con - giving us little that is i i ew, he correc t s some mistake, called "The Irish Brigadesman." versation, that his carelessness has very m uc h and writes with that easy command o f hi s su bj ect - • that his acquaintance with the poet would warrant the appearance of being wilful. For instance, it us in expecting. The estimate of "Herope" does not Tait and Titan are much as usual — the letter containing, of course, a ridiculous ar ticle . is tolerably well known that the law does not English Universities. In a table professing to give differ materially from that which we have ourselves favour illegitimate children, but if possible ex- expressed. That of Mr. Kingsley is rather more eludes them from inheriting where they are not favourable. The latter article, by Shirley, contains a the number of fi rst-classrn lB e 3 n l t a u n rn d e;l Bs o o r h b e y m e n ac ke h s college between the years the following gross blunder —he assigns to 4 positively identified as objects of a bequest. Yet good-humoured depreciation of criticism; but is Lincoln College, none, whereas, even up to ►1 . 85 7 , Mr. Troilope describes property as passing to an itself just as much criticism as anything we ordi the latest calendar we have by us, Lincoln . o t b h tai on ntti t . illegitimate child by a will which is made simply narily meet with. The fact, however, is not that no less than tweive; and yet this man is though t :, in favour of " the eldest child" of the testators criticism is a useless art, but that the critic is so rare sister ; and on this error the interest of his an animal. We believe that no kind of literary ability able to write on University subjects. book hinges from first to last. Again, he speaks is less common. In the meantime literature is over- . run by a herd of writers who gain a livelihood by of an estate being " entailed" on a son after sa ci O ither f thoee,mo Davenport thleri Duran s, w a h n a d v erhere Gordian ved M bunt. n ing a little before that it is “at the absolute di' s.-- telling people what they knew already, or by substi- 'l' he fi rst mentioned is now concluded, and wn hope tuting their own crude fancies for those laws of taste to lase an opportunity of reviewing it at greater p ox of his father. which they never learned. But true criticism, such length. The other two continue to increase in in• Of the language of " Dr. Thorne," we may as that of Johnson or Coleridge, though, of course, terest. may safely say that it has all Mr. Trollope's it does not “ make" a poet, contributes very greatly force and liveliness in an undiminished degree; to the reader's enjoyment of him. To track our and of the general tone of the book that it is free emotions to their source is an additional pleasure, PUBLICATIONS RCCEIVED.--Joie 3. from that flavour to which very sensitive readers which the man unacquainted w ith cr i t i c i sm i s una bl e • B OOKS. have objected in some of h r other works as to taste: and, if for no other reason, the art should is partaking of vulgarity. This much-abused word be . encouraged and improved. We quite agree with Shirley in the followi ng:- - The Jades m a c n e dits W P . ro p. ci A nc n e ti s re , their w. Political vi a .n G. . Allen Cßo : a lai d r c cg i n oe l . Will He Marry H er . is one on which an essay could be written. But,Blackwood , . A most vigorous discourse—with the exception, indeed, Sermons. Rev. John Cainl, MA. taking it in its conventional sense of coarseness, The Practice of Magistrates' Courts. Thomas W. Saunders. of the last line, which we do not like : Law Titus Office. we do not think the term applicable to Mr. Second Edition. Blow, thou wind of God! • Tmllope. lie describes coarse scenes, but we Why, in preference ts the winds which come from the don't think he loves what is coarse, or has any ot h er po i nts of the compass, the north-easter should be Preachers and Preaching. Henry Christmas , M• A w • .. . } 'L l ' e S 3 .: sympathy with meanness or pretentiousness. To more particularly under Divine gui.lance, we confess we do not understand ; except, indeed, that the poet is thereby The H am ßle p t h te re rfl yc y Virarium; or, Insect Home. B. noel those, however, who think differently, the pre- PAMPHLET. assisted to a fitting rhy me an d a f orc ibl e fi n i s h . W e not i ce sent volume will afford no groun p dof comlaint. what is obviously a very subordinate blemish, because we Self-help by the People. Burst and Blacke tt. think that Mr. Kingsley is prone to make use of this and PERIODIC U.S. PERIODICAL LITERATURE. similar forms of expression. In the poem ramPd " The Ir°,T r 4 ea 4 S t Outlaw," a poacher, for instance. justifies his occupation— o f Progress in ../..,‘. Blarkwood this month contains two vely spirited j./4.Fa/Ikl. PiperSiainpnkdio Co.—History mi:toryl Jo but hunt Gol's cattle upon God's ain hills. i °lomat articles, entitled " The Cost of Whig Go- No doubt there has been , alike in our literature and in I verntaent " and - The Defeat of the Factions." The the other forms of our social : intercourse, too marked a line 11 - outl Y edge g .. Byruitnaein.BaHonolsatkory_TßokeNAtkrtaieJo.i:rsnhal.atespJ ea . S r . , ir t H a: l - 1 --- u i .vl . Marshall — The English.