The Press. — London, England, 1857-03-07 00:00:00

MARCH 7, 185 Y. haps he did not observe) whether the gale was abaft the canoe. If so, a boat forty feet long, and five feet deep (like one of our small canal boats, only more buoyantly built), could have easily live:l in a very high wind. On the genealogy of man the New Zea landers have the following tradition : In the beginning of time was Ts Po (the night or darkness). In the generations that followed 'fe Po, came Te Ao (the light), Te Ao-tu-roa (light standing-long), Te AO-111911111311 (clear light of day), Te Kore (nothingness), Te Kore-te•whiwhia (nothingness-the-possessed), Te Kore-te-rawea (nothingness-the-made-excellent), Te Korti• tc-tamaua (nothingness•the-fast-bound), Te Kore-matua (nothingness-the-first), Maku (moisture). !deka slept with Mahora-nui-atea (the straight—the vast--the clear); their offspring was Rangi (the sky). Rangi slept with Papatnanuku (the wide extending plane) ; their children were Rehu (the mist), Tane (male), and Pala. From Tane and Paia sprung Te Tangata (man). The different families of the animal kingdom, instead of being viewed as distinct creations, are derived in the mythology of the New Zealanders from some of the early dwellers on earth, who are represented as having super human powers : Thus the tuna (eel) and the koiro (conger eel) are said to have been the offspring of one of those ancient worthies, named hiarmte•whareaitu. The ngarara (lizard) and mango (shark) era said to have been brothers. The sea was their native element; but wishing to separate after a quarrel, the former, who was the elder, went to live on the land, while the latter remained in the sea. The lizard, at parting, thus cursed his brother—" Remain in the open sea, to be served up on a dish of cooked food for man to eat !" "As for you," replied the shark, "go ashore. and be smoked out of your hole with burning fern leaves! " These parting words of the lizard and shark are now preserved as proverbs. The former alludes to the custom of se►ving up a piece of dried shark on the top of a dish of potatoes or kumara for a relish. The latter to the mode of catching the ngarara by lighting a fire at the entrance of its hole. The volume by Sir George Grey (late Gover nor-in-Chief of New Zealand) deals with much of the subject-matter of this work, and both observers supplement and corroborate each other. Lord Cranworth, in discussing his Divorce Bill, could scarcely appeal to the custom in New Zealand in the class of cases for which his measure is intended : When the paramour is a gentleman, the regular mode of proceeding is for the husband to go with a party of his friends, each armed with a light spear, called a lintata, to the residence of the offender, who, having notice of his coming, awaits him supported by a party of his relations similarly armed. The tirnata is the legitimate weapon for deciding affairs of this sort. It is, in fact, to them what the small•sword was some years ago to European gentle men, and they are very dexterous in using it. It is gene rally well understood beforehand how the affair is to be settled, whether by giving and receiving compensation in property, or by single combat. In the former case, even the amount of compensation, or, at least, the more con siderable items have probably been agreed on beforehand, through the assistance of mutual friends going between the two parties, to learn and report the nature of the terms likely to be demanded by one, or likely to be accepted by the other. The preliminaries having been thus arranged, the husband and his friends are politely received, and the terms of compromise publicly discussed, as if no under standing had been previously come to. The payment esteemed the moat honourable to receive on such occasions is land. " Laud," say they, "is the only treasure of equal value to a woman. Most other treasures are perishable, but women and land arc treasures which last for ever : women produce children, and land produces food to sus tain life." It is with great reluctance, however, that the piece of land asked fur is yielded, though canoes, guns, pigs, and every other sort of valuable property are given with apparent readiness. If compensation of this sort be refused by one or both of the parties, the quarrel must be decided by single combat with the spear. The husband is then always the attacking party. His adversary receives him in a position between sitting and standing, having one knee touching the ground, but ready to spring on his feet in an instant. In front of him he holds his spear erect in both hands, prepared to ward off a thrust. His friends arrange themselves behind him in similar postures. The injured husband, supported by his friends, advances spear in hand, and when near enough makes a thrust at the breast of his foe. If it be parried, he may thrust a second and a third time. lint after the third thrust the debt of honour is con sidered to be paid, and should he still persist, his adversary springs on his feet, and both continue the fight on equal terms. The first wound generally terminates the contest ; but if one or other is mortally wounded some relative starts up immediately to seek satisfaction ; and soon the fray becomes general, ceasing only when one party. is beaten. This volume is more suitable for those in terested in purely colonial subjects, than for general readers. It is a valuable addition to the New Zealand library, and it has receive:l the honour of " a second edition." The state of the emigrant English in New Zealand, and their prospouts, is eutirely gyuitioll by the author. THE PRESS. LITERATURE. Aar, literature, fiction, politics, poetry, and adventure are all ably represented in this month's Blackwood. The article we like best is No. 11. of " Scenes from Clerical Life "—Mr. Gilfil, the old parson, is capital. " Hester Bentield " is a fair average story. " The Athelings " does not get forward ; the writing is all good, but the interest flags for want of incident. The essay on Barry Cornwall is an able and impartial critique, and nicely written. No. 11. of " Letters from a Lighthouse" is lively and smart; but the author ventures on assertions which we think, on mature consideration, he will see to be unfounded. On the subject of military expenditure, he maintains that it was our obvious want of preparation that emboldened Russia to push forward her design against Turkey. Now, says he, let us capitalise the sum which the war has cost us—i. e., 76,000,0001. — and we shall see that the interest of this sum would have kept up an armament to such a point of effi ciency that nobody would have ventured to quarrel with us. The writer of this statement seems to us to have overlooked three most material points,—first, that the war cost a great deal morn than it need have done ; secondly, that efficiency does not depend on the maintenance of a large standing force, and that we could keep ourselves prepared for war at no greatrr outlay than before 1853, if skilful men were intrusted with the arrangement of the army ; and, thirdly, that, as on his own showing the war only cost the same amount as would have been required to pre serve what he calls efficiency, and as war was not certain, and this expenditure would have been, we were right to give ourselves the benefit of the doubt. Fraser this month is a capital number, with one exception. " Literary Style " is a most interesting and well-written paper. Although on so suggestive a subject, one cannot help feeling that more might have been done. We must remark on the pedantic hypercriticism in the note upon Sir A. Alison, who might have known perfectly weil that the a in pravos was long, and yet have said what he did. The article on " Rooks " is to our mind the best in the number. It seems to be written by a gentleman, a scholar, and a naturalist. This is as it should be. And we trust he will favour us again. Boswell's " Letters " are reviewed in a discursive and anec dotical style, which forms a very agreeable paper. " The Interpreter " is, of ',course, all that could be wished. The article on " Public Affairs " is the exception we spoke of, which is full of matter, but singularly void of spirit. The Dublin University for this monthlcontains some powerful and thoughtful writing. We would especially call attention to the articles on " Trans portation," "Newman on University Education," and " Clerical Life in Ireland." We have the misfortune to differ from the first mentioned toto civic); but it is nevertheless treated in the style in which we like to see such subjects treated—searching and philoso phical. But the public will never endure the reten tion of criminals at home while a single square inch of territory remains to which they could be trans ported. The paper on Dr. Newman is eloquent and graphic. The sketch of the Tractarian leader at St. Mary's will awaken long dormant emotions in many English readers. From " Clerical Life," which is a masterly vindication and eulogy of the Irish Church, we quote the following interesting anecdote : It was remarked, that the funeral service [i.e. the Angli can] seemed to make a powerful impression on the Roman Catholics, many of whom were in the habit of attending. The service is unquestionably an admirable compilation, and highly calculated to soften and spiritualise the mind. Its effect on the Irish hearers reminds us of an occurrence during the English Commonwealth. Among the most im perative acts of Presbyterianism, when it had obtained su premacy, was the suppression of the Prayer Book ; thus extinguishing the religions liberty which it had once so haughtily claimed. An old clergyman, in one of the country parishes which had been usurped by a Presbyterian, got the service by heart, and at the funeral of one of his old pa rishioners, recited the entire. The sectarian crowd, in their ignorance, took it for granted that the recital was extempore, listened with strong interest, and applauded the clergyman fcr the readiness of his talent and the beauty of his composi tion. If he had produced his book, they would have de nounced the whole as a relict of idolatry. " The Castle of Dublin " is an interesting antiqua rian paper ; and " Tutors of the Young Idea " is a clever picture of the contrasts between extreme wealth and extreme poverty in London. In the review of Boswell's "Letters" the writer endeavours to strike the balance between Mr. Macaulay and Mr. Carlyle. He gives Boswell more humour and gene ral ability than the former critic, and less of enthu siasm than the latter; and varicus reasons are adduced to show that there was a natural congeniality between Johnson and Boswell sufficient to account for Boswell's attachment to him, without having been actuated either by vanity or hero worship. Bentley gives us two good tales, entitled " The Coroner's Inquest," and "How I Sold my Reverijon." The former Is a ooatinuatlon of "The Red Court," and why it should nut be celled so we cannot understand. it is very env 233 barrassing and distasteful to readers to have continuations headed as if they were new tales—a practice that has been going on for some time in this magazine. Other good articles in this number are, a review of' some French travels, called " Amsterdam, Paris, Venice," " Discoveries in Chuidea," and a memoir of William Dowton, the actor. A paragraph from the latter, on the subject of actors' salaries, may be interesting : It is curious to mark the difference in the salaries paid to dramatic performers during the last hundred years. In the better days of the drama these salaries appear to be em ill ; but there can scarcely be a doubt that a healthy action was then enjoyed, which the " star " system tended to impair. If we look into Garrick's theatre, we find the Roscius himself at the head, with a stipend of 2/. 15s. Bd. per night ; Barry and his wife, 31. Cs. WI.; John Palmer and his wife, 21. ; King, the unrivalled Sir Peter Teazle and Lord Ogleby, 11. 6s. Bd. ; Parsons, 11. fis. Bd. ; Mrs. Pritchard, 21. 6s. 81; Mrs. Cibber, 2/. dos.; Miss Pope, 13s. 41; and Signor Guestinelli, the principal singer, U. 13s. 4d. Succeeding the days of Garrick came a host of distinguished performers, including Lewis, Quick, Ban nister, Muntlen, Mrs. Jordan, Miss Farren, cum mulas u/iis, not one of whom ever received " star" salaries. John Kemble, as actor and manager, was content with 501. 14a. per week ; George Frederick Cooke received 251. ; and Mrs. Jordan, in her zenith, an average of 311. 10s. Drury Lane, in season 1812-13. boasted of an excellent company, including John Johnstone, who was retained at 151. per week, and Dowton, who received 161. Covent Garden, at the same period, numbered among its mem bers Emery ( whose highest salary during his career was but 141. per week ), Mathews, Fawcett, Blanchard, Liston, and Simmons, and their united receipts from the treasury were less than has since been paid to one actor at a metropolitan minor theatre ! Edmund Kean's first en gagement at Drury Lane, in 1814, was for three years, ranging from 81. to 101. per week. This was subsequently converted into a contract at 501. per night. Eight years prior to this great change in the fortunes of Kean—in the year 1800--he was playing at the Haymarket, unnoticed and unknown, his salary at that time being 21. per week. Twenty years later, when wrung in heart and fame, phy sically and mentally weak, he received at the same house 501. per night. Who will say that he was a better actor then than he was in 1800? As a contrast to the sums paid during the nest century, we may state that at Drury Lane, when under the management of the late Stephen Price, the nightly salary of Edtound Kean was 601., and that of Mme. Yes tris and Liston, 251. each ; whilst Farren received 351. weekly, Jones 351., James Wallack 35/., and Harley 301. In 1838, Tyrone Power was receiving 961. weekly from the Adelphi, and Farren 40/. from the Olympic. It was once remarked, in reference to the enormous sums lavished upon "stars," that the President of America was not so highly paid as Ellen Tree ; whilst the Premier of Great Britain had a less salary than Mr. Macready. Mme. Malibran was said by the same writer to draw Sve times as much money as the Colonial Secretary, and Mr. Farren nearly twice as much as the representative of the Home office. Part V. of the National Magazine, for March, is, without doubt, the cheapest literary entertainment extant. We have sixty large closely-printed pages of excellent matter for tenpence. Some of the best tale-writers of the day contribute to its columns ; and " The Lost Diamonds," " The Diamond Studs," and "John Pike Yap," are of the highest order of light magazine sketches. " Life in Cheap Lodg ings " is a truly humorous essay, and contains pictures which most London bachelors not born with silver spoons in their mouths must recognise. There are many serious articles of great merit, and the engravings are well chosen and well executed. Boy Princes; or, Scions of Royalty Cut Off in Youth. By John G. Edgar. London : Bogue. THE subject of this• little work is as well chosen as the execution is elegant and lively. The style is thoroughly well adapted to arrest the attention of children ; and the idea of thus converting biography into an instrument of historical instruction is one of great merit. The author has the art of selecting such salient points in the careers of his young herces as are likely to be most attractive to juvenile readers, without at the same time lowering his work purely to the level of children's minds, or failing to write, when the occasion demands it, with real dignity and eloquence. Mr. Edgar is a sworn champion of the Plantagenets, and far be it from us to underrate their splendid qualities. At the same time it is but justice to other dynasties that their struggles with (the Barons should ue estimated im partially. Mr. Edgar calls them the people's kings, and in a general sense justly —at least we are willing to concede the point. But then comes the question why were they the people's kings? Was it from some innate nobility and generosity which other royal races have not possessed, or was it because such was the line of conduct which the political situations of the period demanded? Edward I. was the people's king, because the aristocracy was the people's tyrant. What would he have been in an age when the relative position of these two was in process of reversal It was easy for the Crown to be the champion of the people, when both had a common enemy. But what would havo been the fate of any independent brewer in the fourteenth