The Press. — London, England, 1853-07-23 00:00:00

him all law as well as decency, when he declared that Strafford must be bunted like a beast of prey. It was with respect to a large number of those who were present in that division a must cowardly vote ; the excited people drove many into that majority, and the fear of Straf ford, even when in bonds, induced others who were loud in their railings against arbitrary tyranny to become tyrants themselves in order to destroy him. The cruel force put upon the King was not the least candalous part of this transaction ; Charles said with truth that Strafford was less to be pitied than he was ; and the King's participation in the crime may the more easily be forgiven when it is recollected that, for the share he tuck in it, he had never had his own forgiveness. We expected to find more of the early his tory of Corfe Castle in this volume ; but the archaeologists and topographers, and the le gion of manufacturers of books similar to " Britton's Beauties of England and Wales," have occupied that part of the subject long since. From his thmily papers (and the author has " a parliamentary name of two centuries," as we recollect to have seen stated elsewhere) Mr. Bunker has taken sonic valu able original documents—too lengthy for our extracts ; but -- characterise them in saying ; we that they enable him to confute some of the haphazard assertions of " plain John" in his references to Lord Chief Justice Bankes, in what the author of " The Story of Cork Castle" mils, with justice, " that very amuidny " publication, ' The Lives of the Lord Chan " cellors"—a book that has always seemed to us like a " Bioginhia Britimnica" inter leaved with Joe Miller. In narrating the story of his ancestors in the Civil War, the author heaves a generous sigh for the dispos sessed proprietors of his own day ; and his connection of the name of Lord Strafford with Sir Robert Peers pet measure of the " Encumbered Estates Court" is very cu rious : A measure very lately adopted by the Imperial Perlin milt for the relief of Ireland, called " The Encumbered Estates Act," was one of Strafford'a plans. Nothing could he more arbitrary in principle, more opposite to every re eogniaed rule of established law—nothing more unfit for atoption, unless the plea of necessity were admitted as decisive in its favour ; and, if success attends this measure, Stnifford's memory may stand relieved from at least. a portion of the obloquy which has been heaped upon hint. The history of the heroine Lady Bankes and her gallant defence of Corfe Castle are familiar to every reader of English history. The ac count of her bravery in the " Mercurius Rusticus" is given hero at length but we wish to extract from what has not already appeared in print. The visit of the Princess Charlotte to Corfu Castle is thus described : The last carriage which is known to have passed over this bridge was the carriage of the Princess Charlotte of Wales, in the month of October, 1514 : and this was per haps the first which had !Homed since the day when the widowed lady, the defender of these walls, was driven from them in MI6. At other times the bridge has always had a barrier across it, preventing the entry of wheeled carriages. An impreasien that danger may is- incurred here wiU very justly arise upon the survey of a causeway so elevated, narrow, and without parapets. The writer of these pages had the honour of being pre sent when her Royal Highness reached the castle : she had already quitted her carriage, but, as he knew the walk through its walls was a long one, he requested permission to direct that the carriage should follow, and this being graciously acceded to, the barrier was thrown down, and the spirited horses brought the carriage safely over the bridge and as far up the hill as the steep nature of its ac clivity would permit. There was no portion of this exten sive ruin that the princess omitted to visit, en that the car rier was a welcome accommodation fur her n•turn; and, as it passed the narrow bridge at the gateway, it was im possible for those who eneompamed the caniage, ready to act in case of any alarm, to avoid perceiving the infinite diversion of the Princess at the mend countenances of the ladies, her attendants, who, to do them justice, had op posed to the very utmost of their power the introduction of the carriage within the walls of the castle. The Princess was still diverted with this incident when she sat down to partake of the humble but ample protn• Pion of a country inn, the Ship, which still holds a well earned pre-eminenee in the borough. The '29th of October is the day on which the fair an nually takes place at Corfe Castle—a circumstance not known to her Royal Highness or to her attendants whets that day was chosen for the excursion ; this proved to he a new source of amusement for the Princess. as from the window of the little inn she saw the lively traffic of the gay throng, taking part herself in the festival by extensive pur chases of fairings from the little booths which stoed thickly Arranged between the most of the castle and the inn. The perfection of English climate is found in a fine October day: such wanting which welcomed the royal visit, and of those yet alive who were present on this occasion there is not one who will forget the lasting charm im ported by the grae return of kind acknowledgment for the estreered acclamations of loyal hearts and the tenders brasitk median. THE PRESS. In reading the following letters—written at the time of Napoleon's expected invasion— the mind travels back to the beacon-tires in the days of Elizabeth : Private Milton Abbey, Blandford, October 12, 10903. My dear Bankes,—The spring-tides take place next Sa turday, and the information U, t lovernment is so precise that the Isle of Wight is the enemy's object, that it is nut improbable they may avail themselves of this ensuing spring-tide •if they do not, their attempt must be post poned anot her month. Under these circumstances 1 would nut fail of giving you this notice in confidence that you will keep it to yourself, and only so far prepare Mrs. Bunke% and your family as to be able to remove them upon the first intelligence of the enemy's being oft' the coast. I have to beg of you that you will give directions for an as semblage of fagots, furze, and other fuel, also of straw, to be stacked and piled on the summit of litulbury Rings, so an the whole may take fire instantly, and the tire be main tained for two hours. The general direction, if you will take the trouble of ordering the execution, is that this bea con may be fired whenever the beacon otf St. Catharine 's (Christ Church) is tired to the eastward. or whenever the beacons on Lytchet-heath or Woodbury-hill are tired to the westward, but not from the demonstration of any coast signal.--1 urn, my dear 'Wilkes, yours must sincerely, Donut ESTEU. Milton Abbey, lllandford, October 18, IMO 3. My dear Bankes,-31 any thanks for your cure of the beacon on Itailimy, and generally for the contents of your letter on the 10th instant. As to the first, I have thought a watch and guard necessary for the two I have erected — one above Chizlebourne-common, in my grounds, and the other upon Ilullbarrow ; but the guard, to say the truth, is more against the wanton than against any other descrip tion of persons. The expense of them, no great object indeed, will be defrayed by Government; and I am author ised to send in my charges to the Commissary-General. As to the other part of your letter, it is very handsome, and I shall be glad to avail myself of your services. At the pre sent it only occurs to me that, if, upon the alarm of an ene my's being ott'the coast, you should be disposed to transport yourself to this house, 1 should receive you with great se tisfaction ; and something might occur to one of us in which you might find employment.-1 any ever, my dear liankes, must sincerely yours, The historian of the seventeenth century will know how to use the materials in this attractive volume, which we recommend to all persons interested in the domestic history of the " Great Rebellion." We hope that its author will be tempted to give further extracts from his family papers. " Mr. Bankes of Dorsetshire" was looked on as the most inde pendent member of the House of Commons in the days of the younger Pitt ; and we conjec ture that his letters and correspondence would cast much light upon his times. Russian Turkey ; or, a Greek Empire the Inevitable Solution ty' the "Eastern Question." A Letter to Lord John Russell, by G. D. P. London : Saunders and Stanford. THE author of this pamphlet is a Greek, who, as might be expected, takes the Russian side of the question. He argues that the expulsion of the Turks from Europe, as a governing body, is neces sary ; that the demands of Russia are justified by the treaty of Kainiukji ; that the Greek Church is degraded by the power now vested in the Court of Constantinople of appointing its patriarchs and bishops ; that the toleration of Greek Christians rests on no surer basis than a tirman or declaration of the Porte, which is at any time liable to be revoked; that they are consequently exposed to persecution whenever a reactionary policy may prevail in the Divan; that to remedy this evil a convention is necessary ; that Russia, say and do what we may, will not recede from her claims ; and lastly, that the integrity of Turkey, so much dwelt upon by poli ticians, was not recognised either at Verona or at Aix-la-Chapelle, and has been repeatedly violated when it suited the convenience of European powers. The chief value of this pamphlet is the proof which it of of internal disaffection in the Turkish empire, and of the influence which Russia has acquired there in her character of protectress of the Greek faith. The language, mutatig mutandis, is such as might have been used by an " United Irishman " or 9s, relative to the menaced invasion of Ireland by France. Beatrice; or, the Unknown Relatireg. By Cathetine Sinclair, Author of " Modern Accomplishments," 1-e. Fourth Edition. New York : De Witt and Davenport. WE are not going to review a novel so long published as "Beatrice r but we notice the facts of the Ameri can reprint, and the testimonies of approbation it appears to have received in the " Far West." We have always thought that Brother Jonathan would struggle against ltomanism, as soon as its system began to develop itself fully ; and the success SATURDAY, of "Beatrice" with the American reading public seems to be a symptom of the active Protestant feel ings that exist in the United States. As we have intimated, we will not now criticise " Beatrice," though we have much to say on the general question of what are called " religious novels." The applica tion of fiction to the discussion of the most solemn themes is becoming an interesting question in more senses than one; and when the opportunity presents itself we may consider its probable effects upon novels and their readers. We have exactly copied the American titlepage. Miss Sinclair's Christian name they spell differently from our orthography ; and the Americanism of using " author" for authoress is followed in this "fourth edition." The Quarterly Review for June, No. 185. London : Jahn Murray. WE postpone our notice of this number for the rea son that one of its articles on the Oxford University Commission is so excellent of its kind that it re quires a longer notice than we can afford it in our present number. Edinburgh Review for July, No.CXCIX. London Longman and Co. THE " blue-book " of parliamentary literature is proverbially dull to general readers, though very useful and necessary to those who examine social questions. This current number of the Edinburgh Review is all " blue-book" without any " buff" in it, and it is, we think, the dullest number that has ever appeared of that celebrated journal. The recent editorial change has been decidedly for the worse ; and in the ill-chosen subjects of discussion, and the heavy manner in which they are treated, we see something like the symptoms of " a decline and fall" in this noted party organ. One of the great merits of Lord Jeffrey's editorship was his giving variety to its articles, and infusing a spirit of novelty and fresh ness into the discussion of standing topics. How differently things are managed now Books so long "out" as "The Lives of the Devereuxes," and " Lord Grey's Colonial Policy," are the subjects for three long essays, and there is no literary merit of any kind in the style in which these works are discussed. Nor do the very heavy and inconclusive treatises on " India" and " China" sustain the reputation of the journal. " The Aus trian Court in the Eighteenth Century" offered a good theme to a reviewer, but the essay is as heavy as if it were written by an alderman. There is one very readable article on account of its subject—" The French Navy"—in which the "Enguite Parlementaire sur la Marine Militaire," printed but " not published" by the late National Assembly of France, is examined at great length. In another part of our journal we may discuss this subject, and in the meantime we may express our hopes that the Edinburgh will not decline in talent. We like seeing the standard of literary merit kept high, and we would sooner see the Edinburgh Review cease from publication alto gether than continue to expose itself to contemptuous criticism, us in the present and some recent numbers. How do I kno►n that the Bible ix True? By W. Bramston. London: Wertheim and Macintosh. A TRACT of four pages—plain, sensible, earnest, and likely to do good. ART PUBLICATIONS. The Fairy Library—" Hop o' My Thumb " and "The Seven-league Boots." By George Cruikshank. London: Bogue. Wno says 6. C. is washed out? To our mind 6. C. is stronger than ever; and here, where he works on a smaller canvas with a theme which allows him play for his fancy, he is absolutely unrivalled. Take the row of little night-capped heads on the frontis piece, the grotesque forest in which " Hop o' My Thumb " and his brethren are abandoned by their excellent parents, the visage of the Giant Ogre at the discovery of these small specimens of " fresh meat," the respective locomotion of the giant and Hop o'My Thumb in the " Seven-league Boots," and the respectful obeisance of the said " Boots " when pre sented to his Majesty, a touch of diablerie worthy of Thomas Ingoldsby; and we can say that, taken together, these illustrations are among the happiest services of art to the great nursery interest. We are happy to see that this is but one of a classic series, of which the next specimen will be the immortal "Jack and the Bean-stalk." BOOKS RECEIVED SINCE 01'11 LAST PERLICATION. lAN At liirsog. By tt..l. t'a hy. B. Bentley. One rulitit History 1,, I$Z,2. C. and .1. Adlard. It in the Idol. By the 1• 0 03 es. 1101. Virtue, and Co. .ldrenturtaol a Lady in Tartan,. My Mrs. Hervey. Hope and Co. 11 - ilfroi de Lisle. Hope wad Co. rang/meg /farrow Xrriamm J. W. Parker and Son. t 'hands of SeoHand Mayazate, July. llwll, Virtue, and Co. Series oJ French Literature. No. 1. .1. Croekford. Wallachia and Moldavia. A Pamphlet. A. Ireland and Cv.