The Press. — London, England, 1856-04-05 00:00:00

APRIL 5, 1556.' went as the present this precis of the military powers of Europe is essentially valuable. As the existence of a power depends upon its credit, a casual glance at the present financial condition of the Euro. pean powers may not prove uninteresting. Of Russia little is really known, and that little is obscure. The Ilepreciation of the i paper rouble to one-fourth of w hat it represents in money comes, says Mr. Mac gregor, incessantly n conflict with the statements of the official returns. These returns do not date later than 1853, so that nothing can be yet known of the effect of the war upon Russia. At the end of '53 the public debt amounted to 778,573,112 roubles, or 117,700,000/. The revenue was given as 275,500,000 roubles, and the expenditure at 275,800,004). The expenses of the military and naval establishments of Russia on a peace footing appear trifling—both scarcely amounting to 15,000,0001. a year. Prussia has a debt of 242,770,000 thalers, or upwards of thirty-six millions sterling. Her revenue for 1855 was 111,827,785 thalers. The wretched condition of Austria is seen at a glance. Her revenue, though with a population of thirty-eight millions, only amounted, in '54, to 24,500,0001. sterling, while her ex penditure was 38,700,0001., and her debt 180,000,0001. Her enormous army, and her unsound financial system, have ruined her credit and reduced her to :he verge of bankruptcy. The finances of Turkey :an only be cursorily examined, says Mr. Macgregor, and, upon the authority of M. Übicini, he estimates her revenue, including everything, at 0,724,4001., and 'ier expenditure at 0,740,0001. France, in her widget of '3O, shows an anticipated revenue of 68,418,0801., against an expenditure of 67,801,7861. The government of the Emperor, observes Mr. Mac gregor, "has preserved industry, trade, and financial credit." The military forces of Europe he estimates in round numbers as follows : The United Kingdom, ineltilinq militia and yeomanry, at 380,000 mt n ; F. ance, including 25,030 gendarmerie and National Guards, 700,000 men ; Russia, nominally, 1400,000 men ; Austria, 650,000 men ; Prussia, including the first and second bans of the landwehr, 000,0 X) men ; turkey, 500,000 men; the contingents of the whole Ger- manic Confederation, 220,000 ; Sardinia, including volun• teers and National Guards, 70,000 ; Holland, 60,000 ; Belgium, 115,000; Sweden and Norway, 170,000; Den mark. including Holstein, 70,000; Naples, 110,000; Greece, 10,000 men. Of the naval forces of Europe we may briefly say that the navy of England is equal to the united navies of the rest of the world. France, Russia, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Sardinia, Spain, and "ortugal follow in rank. Of our Atlantic cousins, with whom Lord Palmerston seems so anxious for a trial of strength, Mr. Macgregor writes with capital discrimination : The United States of America have not lavished an ex• travagant expenditure in maintaining a formidable army or navy. but it would be an utter delusion to say that the great Anglo-American Republic was not formidable. The fertility of her Roil, her wealth, commerce, and her mer cantile, sailing, and steam navy furnish all the elements militaty and naval power. Her present army, which is ,ell and scientifically educated and disciplined, consists of only about 1,000 officers, who have received a strictly proved education, and who are prepared to be normal military in structors for an armed militia, and of about 10,000 regular troops. But the enrolled militia comprises 9,470 officers and 2,150,000 men. The Anglo-American fleet consists of 11 ships of the line from 80 to 120 guns, 14 frigates of 50 to 60 guns, '2O corvettes, 6 steam frigates afloat and 7 building, 10 steam corvettes and some smaller vessels, altogether forming a msiderable force. Besides, the splendid merchant ships t the United States could soon be formed into a navy. must it be forgot' en that Anglo-America, unlike Ipanish and Portuguese Americas, owes no public debt. The best article in Blackwood is the one entitled War and Woodcraft," which stands for the healthy 14 national character with a manly defiant spirit !haracteristic of " old Ebony," in the best days of Thristopher North Better far to listen to the voice of a sportsman, a gentle man and philosopher of the olden time. Xenophon extols the noble science of hunting as the best of all schools for var. Akin to the Utilitarians are the disciples of the goddess of reason, the march-of-intellect men. These maintain, with some plausibility, that a man of leisure night employ his time more profitably than with field sports. He might be lecturing at mechanics' institutes, or investigating German philosophies. He might assuredly; but he would do even these things still better for being moderately addicted to healthful exercise, as he would do these things still better for eating a good dinner every day, and taking his glass of wine after it. A weak and morbid condition of body inevitably leads to a weak and morbid condition of mind. If whet is called rude health is deleterious to ary mental operation, depend .ipon it that that operation is of a morbid nature. Spas modic poetry and transcendental philosophy may flourish better with a constitutional walk of an hour a day than voth a hebd oma d a l canter w i th the hounds: b ut what are they worth, atter all ? They are to the efforts of the healthy mind what the insane strength of the lunatic is to the prowess of a Samson or a Milo. And, after all, we would back a fox-hunting, par tridge-shooting, trout-killing, country gentleman, against any cockney for a genuine knowledge and appreciation of our best literature. The next best THE PRESS. article is one entitled " The Scot Abroad," which seems to be the first of a series. The present one is the " Man of Letters," and we presume it will be followed up by sketches of the soldiers and states men who made the name of " Scot" familiar to all Europe. The reviews of Alison's "History of Eu rope," and Prescott's " Philip II.," are two most able historical articles. The remarks in the former about Russia deserve general attention. In Fraser "Kate Coventry " pursues the lively tenor of her way with unflagging gaiety. The scene in which Squire Haycock, the nervous man, comes in to breakfast, is wonderfully comic. Kate herself is the merriest girl we ever met with in or out of novels. For refined humour, natural and piquant descriptions, and skilful incidents, the author of this tale has no superior. The essay "On the Treat ment of Love in Novels" is an ingenious piece of criti cism. The " Imaginary Conversation between Me nander and Epicurus," oy W. S. Landor, will be interesting to those who care for such things. And a review of the poems of Edward Capern is a laudable attempt to help an obscure poet who seems to oe capable of writing with poetic genius. The Dublin opens with a long essay upon " Kars." The following passage is just : In any event, the Great Conservative Party occupies high ground. It must ever be remembered to its honour, that at a time when the issue of the war was uncertain, and Government might have been hopelessly overthrown by the slightest obstructive movement, it kept political and party considerations out of sight, and lent itself as a body with the same lofty demeanour that distinguishes the pro minent individuals composing it, to help the common cause, and forward all such efforts as were made in a patriotic spirit for the maintenance of the honour of the country against a common enemy. We doubt whether an equally conspicuous instance of disinterestedness has oc• curred in the annals of party. Certainly considerations of the kind are not familiarly known to actuate a Whig Opposition. The other articles are of considerable merit. There is a capital tale by Mr. Carleton, and an amusing batch of stories by Mr. Hurton, under the title of " A Bowl of Punch in the Captains' Room." The two continuous stories called "The Fortunes of Glencore " and " Love in Curl-Papers," are well sus tained. The article on the " Gentleman-Soldier" is va luable in every way at the present moment, and points out with distinctness the advantages attendant upon the service of gentlemen and their historical connec tion with the modern profession of arms. In the re view of Mr. Langdale's " Memoirs of Mrs. Fitz. herbert" an interesting point is touched upon—how far, namely, the present restrictions upon royal marriages are expedient at the present day. The New Monthly presents us with its usual variety. We should select for special commendation the tale of " Infatuation ;" " England and America," by Cyrus Redding ; and " Pilgrimages to the French Palaces," by Florentia. Bentley gives the usual amount of light and variable matter. We have reviews of Burton's " Medina!' " and Mr. Raikes's "Journal," a solitary chapter of Mr. Harrison Ainsworth's original tale, " The Spendthrift," a brief article upon " Peace and the Imperial Dynasty," founded upon a late political pamphlet by Mr. Reitzenheim, published in Paris, a pleasant prosing about Charles Lame, by Monks. hood, and sufficient light and amusing matter to satisfy all readers. The Idler contains a good assortment of articles. " Bagot's Youth " progresses favorably, as far as his initiation into Bohemianism is concerned. The memoir of Bolingbroke is carried down to his final rupture with the Stuarts ; and the other continuous subject, namely, " Eminent Modern Writers," is this month represented by the la mentably weak Biographer of Mr. Disraeli. But perhaps the two most noticeable articles are " London Cliques and Coteries," and a letter to Lord Stanley on a cheap press. From the former we quote the following : If I were an enterprising publisher—which I am glad to say lam not—l would bring out a Biographical Dictionary in opposition to Mr. Bowie's capital collection of recipro cal puffs, the " Men of the Time," and I would call my set " The Failures." Dr. Johnson remarked, when pressed to give some account of his early struggles when he led an economical lite about town, " Sir, there is no thing interesting iu the annals of poverty." This is not altogether true. We like to hear of Caesar in the Queen's Bench of the period—of Napoleon One in an attic—of Na poleon Three in the pit of the Opera, London—of Mr. Lemon in trade, amiably distributing pleasant half and half—and of similar antecedents in the early careers of other great personages. The article on Ruskin is written with great earnest ness, though we certainly do not agree with all the author's conclusions. PUBLICATIONS RECEIVE 1). , -Ai RIL 3. BOOKS. Peter Simple. Captain Marryat. 'Routledge Poems. lsa. Blackwootls Contemporary Memoirs qf Russia. Longmans Manual of Moral Philosophy. Ditto e. g li N g ii ) . 7 j 0 rt e: 01 111 h 11 w w. al sy ar hi lit T. (it gt cr in at 11,13 ,t th Ti nil tee Bi mi 01 th 118 Di P( Wi tri iii trt or fei cal Of Ne on ati to an lin CU' col COI of Nc Sp oli ch (31 mE th wa go, IDI mi ap or abl foi wc ev, 101 an lie tip m. be Wi th he Ai to ag 331 Political Life of Sir Robert Peel. Smith and El-ler The Fall of Man. A I'oem in Two Parts. John Col ill 4. Longmsns J. C. Nesbit, F.G.S. F.C.S. LOngmans Peace t What I hare done to promote it. Booth The Transcaucasian Campaign of the Turkish Army under Omer Pacha. Laurence Oliphant. Blackwooda Beyminstre. By the Author of " Lena," 1.7 c. Smith and On Agricultural Chemistry, Elder Tricks of Trade in the Adulteration of Food and Physic. 11,,gue Commentaries un the Productive Forces of Russia. M. L. de Tengoboreki. Longmana The Whist Player. Explained and Illustrated. Addey and Co. Lion Hunting and Sporting Life in Algeria. Jule, Berard. Ditto The Naval and Mililary Interpreter. With Dialogues and Vocabulary. Thomas Byron. Francis The Dramatic Works of William Shakepeare. With Vig- nettes, engraved on Wood. Ten Vole. Vol. IV. Bell and Dally Life of Robert Blake, Admiral and General at Sea. Chapman and Hall Ditto Ditto The Burder Lands of Spain. Ileinrieh Heine, Book of Songs. Colonial Conetitution*. Arthur Mills. Murray Is the Practice of Torture in Madrae with the Sanction of - the Authorities of Leadeishati-street lirettell Memorial of the Bombay Association to the Government of India. Our Relations with America. Sampson Low and Co. A Letter to Lind Panmure, relating to the Tenure of Office. By the Magistrates of the Metropolitan Police-courts. Ridgway Correspondence—The Church in the Diocese of Bognor. Bagnor Religion in Common Life. A Sermon. Black woods. The Mechanism of the Solar System. Holyoake and Co. Hardwicke's Shilling Baronetage and Knightags. Hanlwicke A Few Lines to Railway Companies and the Public. Johnson Poor Letter H; its Use and Abuse. Seeley, Jackson, it Cr. True Co:irlesy. Ditto Compulsory Vaccination Briefly Considered. Sotheran and Willis Considerations on the New System of Government Contracts. Levey Sampson Low and Co. Ditto Putnam's Monthly. The Schoolfellow. Robert Owen'a Millennial Gazette. Part I. Clayton and Son The Outlaw. Parlour Library. Hodgson The Train. Groombridge The National Review. Theobald The Westminster Review. J. Chapman WV' " The British Quarterly. Jackson and Wilford Hestia The London Quarlerly. The Eclectic Review. Ward and Lock Tail's Magazine. Partridge and Oakey • The Oxford and Cambridge Magazine. Bell and Dal 33. Her Majesty the Queen. Hie Royal Highness the Prince. her Ruyul Highness the Princess Royal. Mitchell Ditto l)itto gjusit. THE MUSICAL UNION. THE twelfth season was inaugurated by the first appearance in this country of the Parisian violon cellist, M. Franchomme. Independently of his posi tion as first violoncello at the Conservatoire concerts, and as a professor in the Academy, Franchomme enjoys no mean reputation as a composer for his instrument. Other violoncellists in the French capital have enjoyed a transitory reputation, as pets of fashionable salons, by playing ephemeral music with maudlin sentimentality, and spasmodic tricks, but Franchomme has maintained for many years ha musical fame by taste, judgment, and superior ir telligence in playing classical chamber music. At the present time, Franchomme in Paris is without a rival. He is one of the very few eminent French performers whose style is totally free from the slight est tinge of affectation. His execution is pertect, and the contrast of his style in cantabile and em phatic phrases was, last Tuesday, most striking, giving to the ensemble a variety of expression which has rarely been heard ; the points d'larco, the crisp accents, the spirit of his attacks, and the equality of tone in detached notes, blended well with the ad mirable playing of his countryman Sainton. In a short adagio of his own, Fran.thomme was encored, and the total absence of any excess of portaniento in his contabile expression was again observed. The director, Mr. Ella, displayed spirit and enterprise in inducing Franchomme to pay this flying visit. His reappearance at the Union will be heartily wel- 1 • coined by all those amateurs who desire to rec ognise the speciality of every school of execution, as well as that of composition. The programme included Mozart's Quartet in D, Mendelssohn's Trio in D minor, for piano, violin, and cello, and Beethoveli's Quartet in F, No. 1, op. 18. Charles Halle's piano forte playing fully sustained his reputation as one of the best interpreters of classical music. At the next meeting Mine. Schumann, better known as Clara Weick, will appear for the first time in Eng land ; one of the greatest of pianiates. Mr. Ella's