The Press. — London, England, 1857-06-06 00:00:00

562 How loving husband clings to duteous wife; How pure religion soothes the ills of life; How Popish ladies trust their pious fears And naughty actions in their chaplains' ears, Half novel and half sermon. There are some passages in this volume on the confessional which we should extract, but that they are too coarsely touched. We concur with the author's opinions on the dangerous character of that institution. The mixture of truth and fallacy, of coarse cleverness and blustering vehemence, in this volume raise our hopes of the author, and afterwards disappoints them. For example, he says : Great Britain will never recover the damage inflicted by the Aberdeen policy upon her position and character. The country must have other checks against ignorance, ambition, flippancy, or cowardice, than the mere right of refusing supplies. Under feudally this was ali well enough ; but matters are changed. Englishmen who are patriots, and who have means, intelligence, and leisure, must individually study the foreign position and affairs of the country. Diplomacy has been our misfortune. Gun powder and a free press have alone saved us Great Britain, as a Protestant realm, is no match for the other powers in the arts of diplomacy. The education of a noble youth in England is well adapted for anything else rather than to turn out a Machiavelli, or even a Met ternich. A Jesuit's education alone prepares a lad for the duplicity, cunning, and finesse of diplomacy. I would select a lad from Stoneyhurst, and an alumnus from May nootii, and back them against any three, nay, perhaps four, whom another might bring from Eton, Harrow, or Oxford; I will not, perhaps, include Cuddisdon. If craft, depth, patience, simulation, pretence or policy, were the pro perties to be brought into play, in order to insure the prize, the Stoneyhurst lads would win, and that, too, "in a canter." &nue of those opinions arc true ; but what can we think of the reckless panegyric in the passage which immediately folbws ? The whole course of events has proved that we had not a man in the kincdom, unless, indeed, it were Lord Palmerston, who was dt to cope with the plenipotentiaries who met at Paris. The presence of the acute, hononrable, and chivalrous Cavour from Sardinia was our mainstay. Nor is it any derogation to that highininded nobleman, Lord Clarendon. if we admit this. In honesty of intention, devotioa to the cause of freedom and justice, as a patriot, or as a well•intentioned man of truth and personal honour, he had no superior at the table of the congress. In other qualities he was deficient. This praise of Lord Clarendon is significant. The author probably forgets those passages in the noble earl's life in which the Roman Catholic prelate, Archbishop Nicolson, received "an assurance of the veneration in which " Lord Clarendon held the character of Pius " the Ninth ;" and as this writer is so fierce in dealing with certain French journalists, we should like to have the benefit of his opinion upon the case of " Birch versus Somerville." The history of Lamennais in this volume is too (old to be interesting, but the account of Lacordaire is curious. The reply to Count Montalembert is smart, but not subtle, and is deficient in polemical art. The following reference to the count and to Cardinal Wise• man is one of the most favourable specimens of the style of this volume : It is generally believed that the work of M. de Montalembert. if it does not contain original matter from the pen of Dr. Wiseman, hsis been submitted to his censorship, rather than criticism, previously to rublica tion. The literary labours of M. de Mmtalembert could hardly be improved by Dr. Wiseman's erudition, although to keep it entirely within the scope of the Jesuit's policy may have rendered an appeal to the cardinal expedient and unavoidable. There is a gentlemanly hearing, a Christian tone, an occasional clear insight, a noble frankness and candour in the person, character. and literary labours of the Count de liontalernbert which it is a' impossible to deny, as it is a duty to acknowledge. Every candid and impartial British reader of his work must share with myself the bitter regret that one cannot view the count as a friend, because he takes high rank in the army of our enemies. The cardinal, his comrade in arms, we know to be our enemy ; we also know that as • foreign prince, m an Italian prince, he is bound in conscience (•if it be not a profanation of the abode of reason an to speak of it) to uphold the political interests of the Pope in Italy as well as everywhere else, and to thwart and betray the interests of Britain which is under the interdict of the Pope. Knowing all this. we treat him as our enemy, and should be ir.deed struck as with a panic if he were to attempt to injure our cause by proclaiming himself our friend. Wiseman, however, possesses a large share of the confi dence of the aggressive party, which is the Ultramontane or high• Pope party in the Church of Rmne. He is Peen much in their company both in England and on the Con• tinent : he writes for them, he preaches, and he lectures for them. He is consulted by them, and they do little or nothing in Britain, or in France • without his advice or con federacy ; his time is well occupied, and, even in a pecuniary sense, is not thrown away. The systematic development and religiuns•house tiqt.ein in England reward. Of flu conventual end Frame is bpi THE PRESS. To conclude. This writer is a man of vigour and virulence, whose composition is forcible though faulty. His volume is like a flashy casket with some pearls and many pebbles. He produces such a sensation as we might ex perience after a long lecture from Father Gavazzi, if his Italian reverence had caught a tremendous Irish brogue, and had reinforced his nerves with a glass of genuine soaltheen of the best sacerdotal manufacture. With all his faults, we hope to meet with our author again in literature; and we think perhaps that future effusions from his pen might surpass his pre sent, too furibund performance. PERIODIOLL LITER LT ÜBE. IN Blackwood this month the two old stories, namely, " The Athelings" and " Mr. Giltil's Love Story," are brought to a conclusion. The former, we think, is scarcely equal to " Zaidee " in point of construction, and contains no character equal to that of Zaidee herself; but it presents a series of pleasant pictures of English society, and is pervaded, as it were, by a sort of soft, warm light, eminently soothing and delightful. Of Mr. Giltil we have already spoken in terms of high praise ; the conclusion of his story is a little abrupt, but throughout it has displayed con siderable power, and no mean imagination. The place of these two tales is filled by a new story from the pen of Sir Bulwer Lytton, of which we have now the first eight chapters. The title is," What will He Do With It," and it is written in the author's best style—the style, that is, of his later novels, which have done so much to increase and consoli date his reputation. The characters of Gentleman Waife, the Cobbler, and the painterVanee, are characters of the true Bulwer school—perfectly sui gencris, and imitable by no living writer. Two other excellent articles are on China and Japan and the Manchester Exhibition. From the former we select the following pregnant passage : If, therefore, it should so happen that the central Chinese Government, both from traditionary policy and from warrantable fear of the consequences, is not dia. disposed to concede to Britain any further commercial pri vileges, or to allow the establishment of direct diplomatic intercourse with I'ekin—by which, of course, is meant the residence of an accredited Minister there—what kind of argument can used powerful enough to effect per- suasion ? We cannot cut off the supplies of an empire so vast as to produce within itself every requisite for life and luxury—we cannot even formally prohibit trade, for by doing so we destroy our own. Nay, it is within the power of the Chinese, by one single resolute measure, to compel us to desist from hostilities, and effectually to abate our pride. They have only to stop the export of tea, so that the stock may become scarce, and the price exorbitant in this country, and all their difficulties are at an end. The Chinese labourer will experience no deprivation for want of Manchester calicoes, but the working classes of Britain cannot do without their tea ; so that an absolute rupture with China, which should compel the closing of the ports, would be fatal at least to the Ministry by whom that rupture was occasioned. Of this Lord Palmerston and his colleagues are fully aware; and, therefore, they have not ventured, in her Majesty's name, to declare war with China, although they maintain both in Parliament and to the country that a grave eases belli has occurred. That which, if the ground which they have taken is just and defensible, should have been a war, is characterised in her Majesty's Speech as " differences which have arisen between the High Commissioner at Canton and her Majesty's civil cud naval officers in China r —which is much the same thing as if a French squadron were to bombard Dundee on account of certain " differences " be• tween the commanding officer and the provost of that venerable burgh! Also we are told that the " differences " still remain " unadjusted ;" that is, that fighting is going on on both sides—on the side of the Chinese, by direction of Commissioner Yeh, with the sanction of the Emperor ; on the side of the British, by direction of the sagacious • Flowing, whose acts are approved of and bucklered by Viscount Palmerston, who is the Prime Minister of Queen Victoria. If this is not war, we shall be thankful to any one who will afford us an explanation of what war really is; for in the midst of this confusion of terms, we feel in.. dined to exclaim with Falconbridge lam amazed, methinks and lose my war Among the thorns and dangers of this wurld. In Fraser we can recommend the article upon Mr. Ruskin. The writer is a judicious admirer of that critic., as well as of the pre-Raphaelite school generally. Ills comments on Mr. Rttskin's recent denunciation of Mr. Millais are fair and sensible. "The Interpreter" proceeds as usual. Major Melville cannct write anything that is not interesting, and gentlemanlike; hut we fancy we see symptoms of falling off when he gets away from the English fashionable and sporting life which he describes so brilliantly. " Blackey at School" is an amusing sketch of an Indian Govern ment school. "The Press and the Public Service" is a very well written and forcible statement of what we conceive to be the correct view of the question-- i.e., that the employe accepts the obligation of secrecy when ho enters his office, as much as any of his other duties. Mr. Froule's article we have not vet had time to read, SATURDAY, The Dublin University Magazine contains thre articles of more than common merit. The first is that upon Mr•. Kingsley, the second on Mill's logic, and the third on the cotton fields of India. The paper upon Mr. Kingsley is written in a spirited style, and contains some striking thoughts, but it does not attempt to penetrate into Mr. Kingsley's philosophy. The review of Mill is evidently the work of ono well acquainted with the subject. Ile grapples with his formidable 'opponent boldly ; but which has the best of the contest our readers must judge for themselves. The Indian article is extremely opportune, and coincides so remarkably with the views we have expressed in this journal that we shall quote a few of the concluding sentences : It were needless to multiply evidence of the foregoing description. But whether we accept the testimony of the American planters, or adopt the conclusions of Mr. Shaw and the Bengal civilian, practical experience may be safely represented as establishing the fact that India can produce excellent cotton, and her capability of producing the same in any quantity depends only upon an increase of the necessary facilities. The objections as to cleansing, pack ing, and adulteration, whether accidental or wilful, beat refer ence to matters of detail, which we cannot afford to discuss at present. But there can surely be no insuperable obstacle to the redress of these imperfections and abuses. Under a better system, it is to be hoped that diligence and honesty will prove more remunerative than indolence and roguery are at present. An effective remedy has moreover been already suggested in the proposed establishment of direct relations between the cultivator and the manufacturer. " India cannot compete with the United States." Per haps not, as regards the very finest descriptions of cotton, though even upon this point there may be room for ques tion. But as regards such sorts u would rank in the home market under the denominations of "fair" anti " good fair," it is already on record that India it able tk compete with the States most successfully. Mr. Shirley Brooks's new story promises well ; the dialogue is smart and rapid, and the characters pre possessing. But we h3pe Mr. Brooks will avoid the error of giving us any hero so hatefully perfect as Bernard Carlyon in " Aspen Court." Bentley and the Nao Monthly continue to flourish. The fiction department in both is admirably sus tained by Mr. Dudley Costello, and the author of " Ashley," and the " Red Court Farm." " The Me moirs of Miss O'Neil" in the one, and the continua tion of the " History of the Newspaper Press " in the other, are agreeable reading. The remaining articles are all more or less amusing or instructive. Tait is varied and pleasant. We would especially recommend " Sketches of Jersey," " Broken Memo ries," and some of the literary notices. The June number of the Train is pretty good. " Welcome, Little Stranger," is a very clever story. The remaining articles are not below its usual standard ; and though the sketch of Mr. Wilkie Collins is in our opini.on founded on an utter miscon ception of this class of men, yet it is neat, and read able in execution. . The Churchman's Magazine, The London l7nirer sity Magazine, The Commercial Trareller's Maga:ine, and Pared with Gold, which we have received very late, seem to be of average merit, and to deserve the success they have achieved ; especially the latter, which is of very high merit indeed. PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED-JrNE 4. BOOKS. The Library o f Biblical Literature. W. Freeman The English Bread-book for Domestic Use. By Eliza Acton. Longmont; History f the Royal Sappers and Miners. Two Vole. Longmans Collegiate Education. Ed. Stanford The Odes of Horace. By R. W. O'Brien, MA, Longman , S. Towne Preached at Trini , y Chapel, Brighton. By the late Rev. E. W. Robertson, M.A. Smith and Elder Ore, the dea, or Lakes front an O f ficer in India to his Children. T. Hotchanl Poetic Hours and Musing .Ifornsnts. By Henry Aveling. T. Hotcharl Popular Greenhouse Botany. By Agnes Catlnw. Reeve Popular History of the A7uariurn. By G. Brettingham Snwerbv, F.L.S. Reeve Nothing Nnv. Two Vols. Hurst and Blocked The Norse-Folk, or a Visit to the Homes of Nortralf and Sweden. R. Bentley -- --- --- To Be or mot to Be. A Novel. By Hans Christian Antler• sen. B. Bentley PAMPHLETS. European lateral', in Railioays. E. Wilson—The Trish in England. C. Dalmsn—Reporl on Murrain in lbenrf Cattk. Spottiswoole—Schesse of the We.t of Enl l4 "'S Eraminotion and Prizes. J. Bilgway—A Lecture on thA Old English Dramatists. Kersitte—The China Question. By an Asiatic. E. Stanford—History of Sunday. Grown. bridge—Kars and its Defenders. P.artri.lge—The Elect(. Chemical Bath. W. Freeman—Our National Relate.'' with China. T. liatcluiFreeman—Our PERIODICLLS. - -- --- Le Follet. Simpkin and Mar3hsll—The Notionl l Maaazine.—The Art Journal. Virtue and Co--The Ircbi of Scotland Magazin,. and It.oieut. liall and Virtue. CROSDY-H kLL was put up br sale on Wednesdoky at the Auction Mart, and bott3ht in at 3,0110/.