The Press. — London, England, 1855-03-03 00:00:00

ties most space is given to the celel yeui tapestry, which is illustrated engravings ; but the subject has been so fully treated in other works that we doubt whether Mr. Musgrave has acted wisely in making these hangings an exception to his general rule. He concurs with other travellers in noticing the vast improvements made in France under the present rt'yinie. To whatever cause we may attribute it, tho nation never before dis played such zeal and such resources for en gaging in works of internal improvement. Evidences of growing prosperity and of material splendour everywhere meet the traveller's eye, and every port bears witness to the commercial progress of the empire. Before he left France last autumn the author visited the camps at Boulogne, and we cannot better conclude our notice of his pleasant volume than with the impressions ho received of the skill and intelligence of the French soldiery : I walked home to Boulogne in the dark, astonished and delighted at all I bad seen and heard in the encampment of his army of the north. To &here all that had been said and written concerning these brave and intelligent men, whose success in all they put their hand to resem bles more a fixed and determined result, than the issue of casual experiment, it was absolutely necessary to see them, and the ocular evidence gained on this occasion continued all my preconceived opinions. Their talent and in genuity, their physical and mental energy, their perfect discipline and regard for order, their love of country and of the profession of arms in its cause, their esp►it de corps and self-respect, without the slightest exhibition of arro gance, or the semblance of military control—though every soldier in that legion knew and felt his individual value as a contributor to the vast internal resources, prowess, and independence of the whole—impressed me, as it must every similar witness, with the conviction that nothing was beyond the ability of such gifted and in vincible agents—a magnificent living engine, whose one impulsive force, brought into action, might at any time determine the balance of all continental vowels, and influence the destinies of mighty nations, though the exercise of such ascendant should compel them to move a world. PERIODICAL ti 215 ,brated Bs- , by several THE MAGAZINES. ~--- IC_ _ WE have time only to glance at the contents of the magazines which have reached us this mouth. Po litics do not occupy much space in them, but we must direct attention to an able article iu Black wood on " The Ministerial Changes." It is truly said, that not only are our departments breaking down principally through the mere " clerk-govern ment" of late years, but that our representative sys tem itself is failing us. Certes, as the expedition to the Crimea is the gloomiest episode in our military annals, notwithstanding the brilliant valour of our troops, so the Ministerial intrigues, commencing with the secession of Lord John ltussell, and ending with his return to office in the double capacity of Minister Plenipotentiary and Colonial Secretary, form the most shameful chapter in our political his tory. Another article, which will be eagerly read, is a continuation of the " Story of the Campaign," throwing much light on our misfortunes in the Crimea. The commissariat and transport services have evidently, by their deficiency, done most mis chief, and for the neglect of the latter--a neglect which seems absolutely unaccountable to military men—the Duke of Newcastle is directly responsible. A " Peep at Paris" is amusing. Without knowing the author of the romance of " Zaidee," now pub lishing in this magazine, we must congratulate the editor on having found so admirable a contributor. Thus far, we can honestly say—and it is a real pleasure to the critic to commend with all his heart —that we have rarely read the opening chapters of a tale which promised better, or both pleased and affected us more. The political views of Fraser are not very clear — the result probably of their independence of recog nised divisions of opinion. It, is admitted, however, that " the Government is left in a state of anarchy," and that the circumstances of the country are so alarming as to justify " a committee of public safety." The opinion of the writer will soon be shared by the public, that Lord Palmerston is nut " the Minister "best qualified for the management of the war." Of the other articles, that on the " Past and Future of Germany" is the most striking ; but there are many readable papers in the number. Some well-written reviews occupy a large portion of the Dublin University. That one on the " Me moirs of the Countess of 131 essington " reminds us that we have yet to pass judgment on a work which, whatever may be its attractions for the curious, is yet a sad stain on English lit erature. W e are in clined to blame this Review for not assuming a more distinctive character, and giving greater prominence to Irish topics. tne opening. ~ Forty years afterwards (1562) the Calvanists, rising en inhabitants of the valleys which filled those pleasant Places trie 11111.11 . 11.11 l/!. .giu 4...... r......., .. .........,, ..,.... masse, carried havoc and desecration into all the churches with song, and, in the course of a very brief period of lishing in this magazine, we must congratulate the in the land. This n)hle temple was among the first to time, created a celebrity for those merry strains from the editor on having found so admirable a contributor. suffer from their brutality, and the tomb of the Conqueror Vaux de Vire—the valleys of the Vire—(corrupted, even- Thus far, we can honestly say—and it is a real became the special object of attack. The mercenary vil- tually, and with great absurdity, into Ville), which led to pleasure to the critic to commend with all his heart lains protested it contained hidden treasure, and, in the their more extensive use throughout entire France. —that we have rarely read the opening chapters of blind rage of disappointed sectarian frenzy, scattered in Nearly two centuries had elapsed since liasselin's day of a tale which promised better, or both pleased and all directions the dry bones of the illustrious dead (the only fame before the musical dramatic writers of his country affected us more. deposit they found there ), and heaped the grossest indig- began to appropriate the light cheerful measure of the The political views of Fraser are not very clear— nide(' on both tomb and sanctuary. A thighbone was re- ballads of Vire to the cumediettes in one or two acts, the result probably of their independence of recog• covered; and some idea may be formed of the "majesty of whose business (to use a stage phrase ) is carried on from • . . niseddivisions of opinion. It is admitted, however, buried " Normandy, from the circumstance of this having t h e r i se to t h e f a ll of the curtain, through frequently.recur- . that " the Government is left in a state of anarchy," been found to measure eight inches beyond the average ring little songs, thrown off in a manner peculiar, in its and that the circumstances of the country are s o length of that part of the human frame. By dint of labo - pleasing sprightliness, to the French; and serving, on rious search and untiring zeal, the dispersed portions of many an occasion, to reconcile the most critical of alarming as to justify " a committee of public safety." the skeleton were ultimately found ;—an act of loyalty audiences to a large amount of flimsy and frivolous The opinion of the writer will soon be shared by the attaching everlasting credit to Jean de Ilaillehache, the matters. Olivier, though the Sims Reeves of his day in the public, that Lord Palmerston is nut " the Minister successful finder ;—and these were once more deposited, va ll ey, never could have dreamed of such immortality; but " best qualified for the management of the war." Of in the year 1642 (beneath the pavement where they °-- o - riffi - some men "achieve greatness "—unconsciously ; and, the other articles, that on the " Pest and Future of nally lay), with honourable pomp and ceremony. This could he now revisit the old mill, he would probably read Germany "is the most striking ; but there are many worthy man likewise erected a new and simple monument with wondering eyes his name, in large gilt letters, inscribed upon the spot where the r uined sarcophagus and its adorn- on a black painted board which signalises the gable - end of readable papers in the number. Some well-written reviews occupy a larg e p ortion mental had stood, —annexing a latin inscription which re- th e m ill-h ou se facing Vire. corded the fate they had encountered. Singular to relate ofo.tbera 0 66 m e _ even this memorial was not suffered to remain above a Many of the author's descriptions of scenery the i te v e r s s i 0 t y i . 13 il e . s h g a i That g one too o " n re th m e inds us century without disturbance and removal. On the occa- are exquisitely penned, and we may especially that we have yet to palm judgment on a work whioh, siou of the eastern extremity of the church being notice the charming chapter relating the whatever may be its attractions for the curious, is extended, and the old sanctuary becoming, inconsequence, journey from Caen to Viie. The eye of an yet a sad stain on English literature. We axe in- the lower end of the choir, the monument was found to be artist and the feeling of a poet are blended dined to blame this Review for not assuming a more so inconveniently in the way of the ministering priests, on :__ the of his journeyaccount through this distinctive character, find giving greater promui • enoa every performance of Divine service , that t he clergy in obtained ' • f ro m Lo • to r emove it nearer lovely tract of coun t ry. Of Norman antiqui- to Irish topics. permission ms X V . . . • I -I- -• 0 , - \ ........-_.........._ .11..,.... 16................i.r.- --- --....-.....-...- - -.-- -4- .., _ ---- _ .......-+--- ----------..-- - - --......--- --- ----- --•- - • -....- -.......-.ANME.. • .....----. -a- _...- . MARCH 3, 1855. just within sight of the ohief-cabin table,;but the flavours from below seemed to invite me to place on record an entry of the particulars of that prolonged and • h ty meal, to every single portion of which the lady used herself with an energy and impetuosity of appeti mpared with which the fabled feats of schoolboys and noon would sink into tame insignificance. Iwi the first on alaught (when the soup was disposed of)• upon the fried mackrel : it was a vigorous attack; but the fish-bones, at any rate, were remove& Two relais of beefsteak, ditto of French beans and fried potatoes followed, with an omelette aux fines herbes, flanked immediately by a fricandeau of veal and sorrel ' . anti these (or rather I should say the dishes that ba d contained all this) were supplaced by a roast chicken, garnished with mushrooms, and com mended to the gentle senses by a hock of ham, served upon spinach. This engrossed an interval of twenty-five minutes —the chicken, indeed, having become invisible in the first ten ; but the salted meat demanded more laborious mandu• cation. Then came an open apricot tart, three custards, and an endive salad, which I felt sure was the precursor, as it proved, of a small roast leg of lamb, with chopped onion and nutmeg-powder sprinkled upon it. All, except the joint, was consumed; and then came the coffee and two glasses of absinthe and eau doree, a Mignon cheese, pears, plums, grapes, and cakes—two bottles of petit Bourgogne, and one, of Chablis wine having been emptied between eleven and one o'clock. . ..... This was a breakfast; and this the amplest evidence I ever gained of the will and power of that appetite which Ulysses characterised as "an universal wolf.' Such a pair would plunge any boarding housekeeper into insolvency-in the course of a little month ! I was glad to find them, at two o'clock, enjoying a digestive nap—dreaming, possibly, of a coming dinner! The marvellous skill which from the small iron closet of a steam-boat, with its one stove and few saucepans, supplies a luxurious dinner for a large company, must have astonished thousands besides our author. Ho humo rously relates how he has watched with admi ration " the projection—the crisis of that " operation which out of fire and fluids, grease " and gravy, educes the most savory of meats, " soup, fish, flesh, fowl, entremets, and hors " d'ceuvres, in delicious variety." The result is astonishing, but we doubt whether minute observation of the modus operandi would at all contribute to the appetite of a partaker of the banquet. At Caen, the author's first visit was natu rally to the Church of St. Stephen, where a plain marble slab covers the grave which once contained the remains of " invictissimus Gulielmus Conquestor." An instructive but mournful chapter might be written on the strange fate which has befallen the bones of the illustrious dead. Seldom have they been suffered to remain in perfect repose. Ill judging reverence and admiration in some eases, detestable antiquarian curiosity in others, and oftener still the brutal violence of fanatical mobs, have invaded the sanctity of the tomb, and scattered abroad the very dust which alone remained to represent the forms which once commanded the homage or excited the enthusiasm of nations. The tomb of William has shared in those vicissitudes of feeling peculiarly characteristic of the French people : - - This tomb was opened at the instance of three Italian prelates who, on their arrival in Caen, in 1522, expressed an earnest desire to verify the body. Their request was granted, and the features were found in such perfect pre servation as to enable a competent artist to wake a portrait, which was suspended opposite to the monument, after the coffin was closed, and everything restored as previous to the opening. Forty years afterwards (1562) the Calvanists, rising en masse, carried havoc and desecration into all the churches in the land. This n Ale temple was among the first to suffer from their brutality, and the tomb of the Conqueror became the special object of attack. The mercenary vil lains protested it contained hidden treasure, and, in the blind rage of disappointed sectarian frenzy, scattered in all directions the dry bones of the illustrious dead (the only deposit they found there ), and heaped the grossest indig nities on both tomb and sanctuary. A thigh-bone was re covered; and some idea may be formed of the " majesty of buried " Normandy, from the circumstance of this having been found to measure eight inches beyond the average length of that. part of the human frame. By dint of labo rious search and untiring zeal, the dispersed portions of the skeleton were ultimately found ;—an act of loyalty attaching everlasting credit to Jean de Baillehache, the successful tinder ;—and these were once more deposited, in the year 1642 (beneath the pavement where they origi nally lay), with honourable pomp and ceremony. This worthy man likewise erected a new and simple monument upon the spot where the ruined sarcophagus and its adorn ments had stood, —annexing a latin inscription which re corded the fate they had encountered. Singular to relate even this memorial was not suffered to remain above a century without disturbance and removal. On the occa sion of the eastern extremity of the church being extended, and the old sanctuary becoming, in cousequence, the lower end of the choir, the monument was found to be so inconveniently in the way of the ministering priests, on every performance of Divine service, that the clergy obtained permission from Louis XV. to remove it nearer -THE PRESS. to the nave ; and there it was re-established, with a third inscription detailing tit), circumstance. This wes the monument levelled by the revolutionary rable of 1749, on account of the heraldic insignia on its panels; but they did not invade the sanctity of the vault beneath. There is but too much reason, however, to believe that about the date of the murder of Louis XVI., when every vestige and me morial of regal authority has execrated and trampled under foot, the mouldering relics of William of Normandy were for evermore in this world lost ; and not until the privi- leges of congregational worship were restored by the act of MI, was there either gravestone or epitaph to mark the place of sepulture. To the above wo may append the descrip tion given of the splendid statue of William erected at Falaise in 1851: The statue itself is on a colossal scale, in fine bronze ; and exceeds the proportions of the well-known equestrian effigy of Henry IV. of France, on the Pont Neuf, in Paris. From thetop of the pedestal on which the horse is placed to the crest of the helmet is a space of thirteen feet. From the same level to the point of the fiag.pole nearly twenty.four feet. The weight of man and horse amounts to upwards of seven tons and a half ; and great ingenuity was evinced by the sculptor, Louis Hochet, who designed this group, in poising the metal so accurately as to enable the prancing horse to sustain the whole of the immense weight by its hinder legs and the junction of the longest hairs of the animal's tail to the ground from which it is rearing. • • • • • William is represented in the suit of chain mail he is recorded to have worn in the Battle of Hastings; a light cloak over his shoulders fluttering in the wind. His head bears the celebrated Norman helmet (with the nasal, or nosepiece, for defence of the features), and a ducal coronet surmounts it. The pennon he is waving retire. seats that which Alexander 11. had blessed and e resented to him as the great invader of the North, and is inscribed with the old Norman words, " Dex aye ! " (God be our help I)—the cry of the Normans in the famous battle. Mr. Musgrave prefers the statue of our Duke in front of the Exchange. We know the proverb, but cannot assent to it. Taste, like other qualities, may be true or false, good or bad, and we certainly cannot understand on what principles Mr. Musgrave determines the work of Chantrey to be " immeasurably supe '• rior, both in conception and execution," to the vigorous and characteristic statue of nochet. Many of the anecdotes told by the author have been related before. The origin of the " Vaudeville " is tolerably well known, but the following anecdote deserves extract, if only as showing with what fidelity the French people preserve the memory of names which have been in any way conspicuous for their in. ventiou In the course of my evening stroll (at Vire) I reached the old house with a water•mill attached to it on a branch of the river (which is little else than a sinuous brook hereabouts), once occupied by Olivier Besselin, the originator of that peculiar species of ballad or song which eventually gave a name to the little musical pieces played to this day on the French stage under the well-known de• nomination of vaudevilles. Besselin, a native of Vire, was a cleaner of cloth, or scourer, in the middle of the fifteenth century, and occu pied this very mill at the period of the final expulsion of the English from France. He not only was a calenderer of credit and renown, but "A trained band captain eke was be," of the town of Vire, and served under the Count de Clermont, at Formigny, in the battle which recovered Normandy from our countrymen. The blended duties of the fulling-mill and garrison did not, however, interfere with his musical taste, which exercised itself principally in the composition of certain rural ballads anti drinking choruses, lauding the hill and valley, wine and cider, by turns; and infusing a relish of vocal harmony among the inhabitants of the valleys which filled those pleasant places with song, and, in the course of a very brief period of time, created a celebrity for those merry strains from the Vaux de Fire—the valleys of the Vire--(corrupted, even tually, and with great absurdity, into V ilk), which led to their more extensive use throughout entire France. Nearly two centuries had elapsed since liasselin's day of fame before the musical dramatic writers of his country began to appropriate the light cheerful measure of the ballads of Vire to the comediettes in one or two acts, whose business (to use a stage phrase) is carried on from the rise to the fall of the curtain, through frequently-recur ring little songs, thrown off in a manner peculiar, in its pleasing sprightliness, to the French; and serving, on many an occasion, to reconcile the most critical of audiences to a large amount of flimsy and frivolous matters. Olivier, though the Sims Reeves of his day in the valley, never could have dreamed of such immortality; but sonie men " achieve greatness "—unconsciously • and, could lie now revisit the old mill, he would probably read with wondering eyes his name, in large gilt letters, inscribed on a black painted board which signalises the gable-end of the mill-house facing Vire. Many of the author's descriptions of scenery are exquisitely penned, and we may especially notice the charming chapter relating the journey from Caen to Vile. The eye of an artist and the feeling of a poet are blended in the account of his journey through this lovely tract of country. Of Norman antiqui- ... , r-