The Press. — London, England, 1854-12-09 00:00:00

1170 " The Lord Mayor's Show," " The Fate of Sir John Franklin," "Sudden Death," "The Water Cure," "Songs from the Dramatists," "Charles Kemble," " Adventures in Switzerland," are subjects all touched upon in this number, added to which is a rambling anecdotic paper, "The Paris Viveur," containing some amusing recollections of the literary men in Paris. Of Balzac we are told : Balzac, for example, was Bohemian by nature. No one paid his debts better than he, when he was in funds, but at the same time few persons incurred such strange debts. A friend met him at Ville d'Avray, and invited him to breakfast at the Restaurant de la Grille. " I am at loggerheads with the establishment," answered Balzac. "Why so ? " " Because I am in debt to it for eight hundred francs of coteleltes." A story is then told of Dumas, which is very well known of Sheridan. We allude to his " wine bill," which, amounting to 2501., and his wine merchant dunning him, Sheridan agreed to give him a guinea every time he met him. The wine merchant, who was a clever fellow, soon found out Sheridan's ]taunts, and managed to meet him some days three or four times in the twenty-four hours. This went on to such a length that Sheridan declared he had paid the bill twice over, and cried off his bargain. This is evidently the origin of the story of Dumas and the bootmaker : One fine morning a bootmaker arrived at Monte Christo to ask payment of a bill which had been run up to three hundrea francs. " I have no money to-day," said M. Dumas. "No money ! " replied the bourgeoi4," that is soon said ; but I lose my time running to and fro." " True," said M. Dumas, " here are ten francs to indemnify you for your expenses ; and let it be understood that these ten francs do not count in the hundred crowns that I owe you." The creditor withdrew, satisfied for the time being ; but made his appearance again in three days. M. Dumas gave him ten francs more to quiet him. By the time three months had elapsed M. Alexander Dumas had paid in sums of ten francs his three hundred francs to the bootmaker, but he still owed him the hundred crowns. The New Monthly Magazine has two long articles devoted to the war, but the letters in the newspapers have forestalled their interest. As is usual in this periodical, Italian subjects receive attention in two articles. The tirat, called " Doing our Vesuvius," is light, sketchy, and readable, and the same can be affirmed of "A Diary of a First Winter in Rome." M. Hue's Chinese travels are reviewed and com mented on at full length, but the subject is rather too late, as the work has for some time been trans lated into English, a fact apparently not known to the reviewer. We agree with his estimate of M. Hue's remarkable book. "The Sister of the Hotel Dieu" is one of those agreeable papers for which Mr. Dudley Costello's pen has long been noted. " Sir Nathaniel" treats us to another of his " Literary Leaflets," under the title of " Light Read ings in Alison." He starts by praising some of the acknowledged merits of Sir Archibald, but he then collects together a number of Scotticisms and literary blemishes indicative of hasty composition. " Sir Nathaniel," however, should have admitted more candidly that Sir A. Alison's work is of great length, and it would be possible even from Hume to make a formidable catalogue of incorrect expressions. The first four volumes of Sir Archibald are his best, because his most careful, compositions. It could be wished that he had given more closeness to his narrative, but he has great merits from which even censorious critics like " Sir Nathaniel " cannot detract. The other articles in the New Monthly require no particular notice. Altogether the present is a fair number, though we have seen better. Double articles on Italy and on the seat of war ought to be avoided in a magazine. The Dublin University gives us a leading paper upon the late events in the Climes. It is to be re gretted that the magazines have not paid more re gard to the political rather than the military incidents of the war. In the " Biographical Sketches and Anecdotes " we have, in the present chapters, Anne of Austria, and Voltaire. In the sketch of Anne of Austria we have a little anecdote of Court gossip, in which, perhaps, the real truth of Riche lieu's hatred of the Queen may be disceined : Oardinal Richelieu hated the Queen, did all in his power to ruin her, and for a series of years subjected her to a harrassing and unmanly persecution. If we could believe secret anecdotes, and the Court gossip of the day, he had been treated with contempt, and exposed to ridicule in a manner which a haughty and vindictive spirit, such as he possessed, was not likely to forgive The king-minister—who, as he said himself, covered all scruples of conscience with his cardinal's robe—fell in love with the Queen, and committed himself so far as unequivocally to declare his passion. Anne appeared to encourage his hopes, merely to turn him into ridicule. Such was her as cendancy over that strong mind, and the influence of the passion which be suffered to obscure his reason, that he was persuaded to appear in the presence of her Majesty, add dame a unbend in the costume of ficaraniouch. At THE PRESS. the appointed time, he caused himself to be conveyed secretly to the palace in a sedan-chair, masked, and en veloped in a large cloak. The exhibition was to be per fectly private, and the Queen the only spectator; but when the infatuated politician was executing one of his happiest pirouettes, and the Queen imperfectly endeavoured to suppress her laughter, his quick ears caught an accom panying titter, which proceeded from the ladies in waiting and maids of honour, concealed purposely behind the arras. He saw at once that he had been made adupe and a victim. With unutterable vexation at his heart, and a deep scowl of malignity on his countenance, he rushed from the apart ment to concoct plans of vengeance, from which he never afterwards relented for a moment. Thenceforward the unhappy Queen was constantly exposed to visits of scrutiny from the chancellor, and examinations before the presidents of the Parliament, on the pretence of being concerned in Spanish plots against the existing Administration. These inflictions were enforced with personal rudeness, under the alleged sanction of the King's authority. Her strong-box was broken open ; her presses forced and searched ; the daring insolence was even carried so far as to ransack her pockets and to look under her neckhandkerobief. The most faithful domestics were torn away from her, some im mured in dungeons, and others treated with savage barbarity. On one of these trying occasions, when Richelieu himself superintended the proceedings, she lost her habitual self command and, bursting into an ecstasy of tears, exclaimed, " Monseigneur le Cardinal, Dieu ne paye pas touter lea semaines, mail enfin it paye."—" My Lord Cardinal, God does not settle his accounts with mankind every week, but at last he winds them up effectually." " Recent Tourists in America " is a very lively review of the works of two clever but differently-constitu tioned men—the one methodical and instructive, the other lively and amusing—we refer to Mr. Chambers in his " Things as they are in America," and " Whit lings from the West," by Abel Log. ""Mosses upon Gravestones " is concluded in the present number, and a good memoir commenced of the celebrated Count Brown, the famous Austrian Field Marshal of Maria Teresa's days, which will be read with interest. Fraser's Magazine opens with a careful article on the late Charles Kemble, to whose histrionic talents full justice is rendered. It is stated that in his latter years he applied himself zealously to learning Greek, and it became a sort of passion with him. It ap pears that he has left behind him no personal recol lections, which is much to be regretted, as his con versation abounded in interesting anecdotes. " Gilt and Gingerbread" is a parallel between the Lord Mayor's Day in London, and one of Captain Cart ridge's working days in the Crimea. The object of the writer is to contrast the excess of civic luxury with the neglect of our brave troops. " English Letters of the Eighteenth Century" is the subject of the next article, and we are treated to a disquisition on Pope, Lord Chesterfield, Lady Wortley Montagu, Gray, and Cowper. The subject is too old for fresh ness of thought. Mr. Frederick Tennyson presents its most original contribution to this month's number of Fraser, in the form of a " Legend of Despair." The poem is essentially Tennysonian, and exhibits many of the points of the school; but it is too un real, and wants artistic object. Yet it is suffused with the poetical spirit throughout. " General Bounce " is concluded in rather hurried style, and we cannot help thinking that this clever writer's vein of fiction has been overworked by Mr. Lever and others. He has, however, considerable resources for a sporting novelist. " The Poultry Pentalogue " is a review of the recent work of Mr. Furneaux on the art of breeding fancy fowls. Altogether, the present is a most readable number of Fraser, and we think the largeness of the type recently employed in this magazine a great improvement. " The Perils of Industry," in Tait, is a well written account of the dangers and difficulties to which the industrious classes are exposed, particu larly the " colliers " as a class, though in the present day everything is done by employers to secure the safety, health, and comfort of all those thousands by whose labour they so largely profit. " How I have Lived and Loved" contains some amusing retrospec tions. The " Campaign of D 354 "is a slight sketch of the general operations of the war, for the good results of which we are told to " Wait a little longer," though the writer admits that whatever be the result " we may depend that the Czar will abate nothing of " his pretensions," and that the time has now come for the settlement of the question between the sub jugation of Europe by the Tatar tribes or the predominance of civilisation. The Church of Scotland Magazine and Review of this month will be found to contain much interesting and well-written matter. The principal articles are upon "Sidereal Theorisings," in which Sir David Brewster is very severely handled and condemned for his " More Worlds than One," and " Tractarian Theology," in which Archdeacon Wilberforce's " Doctrine of the Holy Eucharist" is ably re viewed. The Churchman's Magazine appears to contain little but a complimentary notice of the habits and customs of " The Chisholm, M.P," and some recol lections of "My Dancing Master," rather an incon gruous selection for a clerical miscellany. SATURDAY, A new periodical has la9aly appeared from the pe4 of Mr. Lever, The Martins of Cro' Martin. It is im. possible to say much upon the first opening chapters of a new story ; suffice it that the tale is of au Irish family in the Connemara district, that there is g charmingly pretty girl with hazel eyes and long ringlets already upon the stage, with divers other characters, and that the period is about twenty-four years ago. No. 2 of Harry Coverdale's Courtship becomes interesting, but the hero himself is too well accom plished. He is a perfect Crichton already, and we have not yet discovered half his good qualities. Tamerton Church Tower, and other Poema. By Coventry Patmore. London : Parker and Son. " Ma. OBBALDISTON should not whistle his favourite tunes when he wishes to remain unknown," said Di 'Vernon, as she overtook that gentleman making his way to supper and bed at Abertoil. And Mr. Coventry Patmore, when he wishes to try the effect of his poetry published under a feigned name, should avoid repeating favourite rhymes in One of his acknowledged productions. In this little volume, lately issued, we have not only several of the ideas which appeared in the " Angel in the House," noticed at some length in our columns two or three weeks back, but many of the self-same lines, as : " That hymn for which the whole world longs, A worthy hymn in woman's praise." It appears an unmeaning piece of absurdity to place the name of " C. K. Deighton " as the author of a volume which, in another book of poems published at nearly the same time, is plainly avowed to be by Mr. Coventry l'atmore. " The Angel in the House " is a great improvement upon any of Mr. Patmore's previous efforts : it has apparently been composed later than the pieces published in this " Tamerton Church Tower," and is certainly much superior to them. From this decided progress, and from the evident fertility of the author's muse, as well as from the capacity he shows of expanding, elevating, and thoroughly working out his poetic conceptions, we are inclined to augur most favourably of his future career. The principal poem in the present collection is of a dreamy character. The action passes in a haze, so as to leave little impression of distinctnessor reality on the mind, nor can we mark any passages that rise higher than pretty plaintiveness. The poem which pleases us best in the collection is "The River;' but this, with some other of the pieces, we rather think we have seen before. The theme of "The Woodman's Daughter" is too shocking for poetic treatment, and generally the verse of the volume is marked by a dismal tone, which contrasts unfavourably with the light cheerfulness, domestic beauty, and inspiring thought of " The Angel in the House." \ dultsiastial. PREFERMENTS AND APPOINTMENTS. The Rev. John Stone, 8.A., to the Curacy of Barton-le -Clay, near Selao, Bedfordshire. The Rev. John Lyon, WA., to the Incumbency of Holy Trinity Church, Bardsey, near Ulverstoue. The Rev. Wm. G. Arthurs, to the Living of Dysartnos, in the diocese of Leighlin. The Rev. Richard Lowndes , M.A. , t o the Rectory of Poole St. Michael, or Poole Keynes, near Cirencester. The Rev. Janice M.A., to the Vicarage of 13racemeulc , Shropshire. The Rev. John Edmund Jackson, M.A., to be Rural Dean of Mahnesbury. The Rev. J. T. Wrenford, M.A. , to the Vicarage of St. Nicholas , Newport, Monmouthshire. 'the Rev. Benjamin James Bennis, 13. A., to the Incumbency of St. Mar Church, in the parish of Llaudegai. The Rev. R. Rodney Fowler, 8.A., to a Minor Canonry in Worcester Cathedral. The Rev. Thomas Henry Ker sle y , M.A., to the Curacy of St John and St. Mary, Devizes. The Rev. Geo. Wm. Horton, 8.A., to the Curacy of Sher on burne. The Rev. James Webb, 13. A., to the Curacy of Burt, near Crau borne, Dorsetshire. The 11ev. J. Wood, 13.A.,t0 the Curacy of 13erwick-upon-Tweed. the The Rev. George Clarke , M.A., to be a Surrogate fur diocese of St. David's. The Rev. Francis Paul Me thuen, M.A., to the Curacy of Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge. The Rev. Robert Fierinin, M.A., to be a Surrogate for the dio cese of Norwich. The Rev. G. F. Goddard, M.A ., to the Rectory of Southfieet, near Gravesend. VACANCIES. The Chancellorship of Chester Cathedral, by the death of the Rev. Henry Raikes, M.A. The rev. gentlemaus as also a Chaplahin to the Archbishop of Canterbury, an Honorary Canon of Chester, and a Rural Dean. The Curacy of Aston, near Birmingham; in the gift of the Rev. George Peake, M.A. The Curacy of North Rode, near Congletou ;worth 801. a year' In the gift of the Rey. J. Daintry, M.A. A Prebendal Stall in Si. Paul's Cathedra l ; in the gift of the Bishop of London. The Professorship of Ara bic (the Lord Almoner' s )in the Uni versity of Cambridge; worth 401. los. per annum. The Curacy of St. Bartholomew's Church, Moor-lane, Cripple gate, conferring a title at the Bishop of London's ucxt general ordination in the gift of the Rev. Win. Denton, M.A. The Curacy of Sunderland; worth IUOL a year ; in the gift of the Bev. Henry Peters, M.A. The incumbency of Claines, near Worcester ; worth 2001. s year; in the gift of Sir O. Wakeman. Mart.