The Press.
London, England, 1855-08-04 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

742


Canada the Irish peasant (and Irish peasants
constitute by far the majority of our emi-
grants) will find his nationality respected and
his religion revered. In the United States
the former will be despised and the latter ridi-
culed. Let the Irish emigrant read the news-
papers reporting what the Know-Nothings are
doing. Why, we ourselves remember some-
thing like a revolution at Boston because an
Irishman and a Roman Catholic was ap-
pointed to be one of the night watchmen of
the city. _ _

Of all the works which we have read on
American travel we consider Captain Murray's
volumes and Mr. Sullivan's "Rambles and
Scrambles." which appeared a year or two ago,
by far the best.

Sketches of the Irish Bar. With Essays
Literary and Political. By William Henry
Curran, Esq. London : Colburn.
WHEN the late Thomas Campbell, about thirty
years since, was editor of the New Monthly, he
collected about him a staff of light, sparkling
writers with the peculiar qualities required
for contributors to magazines. Amongst the
best of those was the author of the lively
" Sketches " now before us. The son of the
eminent Irish orator, Mr. W. H. Curran
inherits much of the humour of his father,
though he wants that personal ascendancy
which, combined with original wit and
eloquence of great power, raised the late Mr.
Curran to the first rank amongst the celebri-
ties of Ireland. The " Sketches of the Irish
Bar " were much talked of at the time of
their publication, but subsequent events have
destroyed much of the interest attaching to
them. We shall not blame the clever writer
of them for not having foreseen events with
more prescient sagacity. He took a rose-
coloured view of the popular Irish barristers
of whom he treated, and he never seemed to
note any of the unsightly defects which dis-
figured the subjects of his " Sketches."
Queen Elizabeth wished that she should be
painted without any shadow, and both Lord
Plunket and the late Daniel O'Connell have
been so treated in these volumes.
But we can scarcely censure Mr. W. H.
Curran having been so strong a flatterer of the
noisiest advocates of " Catholic Emancipa-
tion." The author followed his father's
politics with almost blind credulity ; and we
must not accept his testimony as that of an
impartial witness on Irish affairs. His views
on party politics are of that narrow and one-
sided kind which marked the Irish (self-
styled) " Liberal Protestants " of the pre-
emancipation period.
The first of these volumes contains much
smart writing. The style is pleasant, and
effervescing with a flavour of original wit. It
often bubbles, but it never bursts ; and though
sometimes as shallow as the mock river in
the grounds of a landscape gariener, it leaps
gracefully along with an airy lightness that
pleases. The sketch of Mr. Sergeant Goold
is the best piece of writing in the two volumes,
and exhibits most original power. It thus

The French Revolution had scarcely burst upon the
world, and its portentous incidents were still the daily
subject of universal astonishment or dismay, when there
arose in the metropolis of Ireland a young gentleman, who,
feeling jealous of the unrivalled importance the conti-
nental phenomenon was enjoying, resolved to start in his
own person as an opposition•wonder.
Beginning • the world with ten thousand
pounds, Mr. S. Goold soon got to the end of
his purse in the " Young Rapid " style :

He never appeared abroad but in a costly suit of the
most persuasive cut, and glowing with bright and various
tints. He set up an imposing phaeton, in which with
Kitty Cut-a•dash, of fascinating memory, and then the
reigning illegitimate belle of Dublin, by his side, he
scoured through streets and squares with the brilliancy
and rapidity of a meteoric coruscation. He entertained
his friends, the choicest spirits about town, with dinners,
such as bachelor never g.ive before—dishes so satisfying
and scientific, as to fill not only the stomach, but the
of

The satirical stroke at " the bishops " is
characteristic of the tone of these papers ; but
we should like to know what does Mr. Curran
think of the " P.Ps." and " the coadjutors "
who now monopolise the political power of
the Roman Catholic interest in Ireland? But
we need not stay to controvert the fallacies
or expose the illusions of the author. Con
tinning his account of Mr. Goold, he gives us
a passage written in a highly pleasant style of
humour :

After a considerable stay at Paris, where, however, he
arrived too late to stop the revolutionary torrent, he
passed on and visited several of the German Courts—
gave " travelling opinions" upon the course of policy to be
respectively pursued by them at that critical juncture, and
afterwards satisfied himself that the most important events
that followed were mainly influenced by his timely inter-
position.
He left Germany with some precipitation. The rumour
ran that there were State reasons for his departure. The
subject was too delicate to be revealed in all its circum-
stances, but upon his return to Ireland, his friends heard
in broken sentences of a certain Palatine princess—the
dogged jealousy of royal husbands—the incorrigible
babbling of maids of honour—muttered threats of incar-
ceration—and a contiden ial remonstrance on the part of a
very sensible man, a member of the Aulic council, re•
specting the confusion that might hereafter ensue should
it come to be suspected that the lazy stream of reputed
legitimacy had been quickened by a tributary nil of
Munster blood.

There are many more passages in thes e
volumes equally well written.
It is a great defect in this work that its
contents are so fragmentary. The sketches
were written in the years immediately pre-
ceding " Emancipation," and the subsequent
career of tho persons described are not re-
corded. The flagrant inconsistencies of the
later years of Lord Plunket are left out of
view altogether, and the author does not even
append notes stating whether his estimates of
Mr. North, Mr. Wallace, Mr. Doherty, and
other eminent barristers, were confirmed or
confuted by their careers in the House of Com-
mons. The essay on Mr. North is a piece of
writing more elaborate than the other sketches.
A good specimen of the art of damning with
faint praise, it meals to our recollection some
of the performances of Lord Dudley in the
Quarterly Review. But those who did not know
the late Mr. North would conceive from it a
most unjust estimate of his talents. Accord-
ing to Mr. W. H. Curran the late Chief Baron
Woulfe was a more distinguished ornament of
the bar of Ireland ! Yet Mr. North had un-
questioned success as a speaker in the debates
on the Reform Bill, and we could cite various
testimonies to his genius even from con-
temporary Whigs. Mr. North undoubtedly
wanted active passion, and saw too much of
the logical considerations at all sides of a sub-
ject. His acuteness diminished the power of
his mental intensity, and many features in
his character as described by Mr. W. H.
Curran recal to us the mingled strength and
weakness of a far more remarkable person,
Mr. Gladstone. The author struck the weak
point of Mr. North when he penned the
following passage :

1 have been often asked "if I considered Mr. North to
be a man of genius? " My answer has been, "he would
be, if be dared." IT it were possible to transfuse into his
system a few quarts of that impetuous Irish blood which
revels in O'Counell's veins—if he could be brought to
bestir himself, and burst asunder the conventional fetters
that enchain his spirit, he has many of the other qualities
that would entitle him to that envied appellation. But as
it is, his powers are enthralled in a state of magnetic sus-
pension between the conflicting influences of his ambition
and his apprehensions. With all the desire in the world
to be an eminent man, and conscious that the elements of
greatness are within him, one of its most necessary attri-
butes he still is without—a sentiment of masculine self-
reliance, and along with it a calm and settled disdain for
the approbation of little friends, and the censure of little
enemies, and the murmurs of the tea-table, and the
mock-heroic gravity with which mediocrity is ever sure to
frown upon a style of language or conduct above its com-
prehension.

It is only fair, however, to recollect that
Mr. North died at the early age of forty-three,
and that the state of party politics in his time
was very unsuited for the best display of his
peculiar powers.
Some portions of the essay on O'Connell are
• fro?

SATURDAY,

evinces a metaphysical subtlety of perception which
nothing can elude. The must slippery distinction that
glides across him he can grasp and hold, pressis manibus,
until he pleases to set it tree. But his argumentative
powers lose much of their effect from want of arrange.
merit. His thoughts have too much of the impatience of
conscious strength to submit to an orderly disposition.
Instead of moving to the conflict in compact array, they
rush forward like a tumultuary insurgent mass, jostling
and overturning one another in the confusion of the charge;
and though finally beating down all opposition by sheer
strength and numbers, still reminding us of the far greater
things they might have achieved had they been better
drilled.

O'Connell was remarkable chiefly as a
physical orator. His presence and extra-
ordinary voice did wonders for him, and Mr.
Curran does not sufficiently record the
peculiar qualities of the latter The following
remarks are strictly just :
The want of compactness in his periods, however, I
attribute chiefly to inattention. He has phrase in abun•
dance at command, and his ear is sensible of melody.
Every now and then he throws off sentences not only free
from all defeat, but extremely felicitous specimens of
diction. As to his general powers of eloquence, he rarely
fails, in a case admitting of emotion, to make a deep im-
pression upon a jury ; and in a popular assembly he is su-
preme. Still there is much more of eloquence in his
manner and topics than in his conceptions. He unques-
tionably proves, by occasional bursts, that the elements of
oratory, and perhaps of the highest order, are about him ;
but he has had too many pressing demands of another
kind to distract him from the cultivation of this the rarest
of all attainments, and accordingly I am not aware that
any of his efforts, however able and successful, have de-
served, as examples of public speaking, to survive the occa-
sion. His manner, though far from graceful, is earnest
and impressive. It has a steady and natural warmth.
without any of that snappish animation in which gentle-
men of the long robe are prone to indulge. His voice is
powerful, ar.4 the intonations full and graduated. I under-
stand that waen first he appeared at the Bar his accent at
once betrayed his foreign education. To this day there is
a remaining dash of Foigardism in his pronunciation of
particular words ; but, on the whole, he has brought him-
self, as far as delivery is concerned, to talk pretty much
like a British subject.

We have been disappointed with the (so-
called) " Conversations with the late Chief
Justice Bushe They consist chiefly of anec-
dotes of no historical importance, and some
of them, like the ridiculous story about Lady
Coventry and Lord Mansfield, are quite
apocryphal. A few specimens of the Irish
wit in them are very good. For example :
A difference of political sentiment dissolied the inti-
macy that had for many years subsisted between Curran
and Yelverton. Curran thought him a corrupt politician,
and expressed his opinion with great severity, before Yel-
verton had derived any benefit from his desertion of his
former principles. " But, after all," said a friend to
Curran, " you see that he has got nothing for himself or
his family." " Oh! that only shows that a man, though a
keen sportsman, may be a very bad shot."
Curran, speaking of his loss of business in the Court of
Chancery from Lord Clare's hostility, and the consequent
necessity of resuming common nisi prius business, said,
" I had been under full sail to fortune ; but the tempest
came, and nearly wrecked me, and ever since 1 have been
only bearing up under jury-masts."
Soon after Lord Clare became Chancellor, Curran was
asked how he had behaved on the occasion of the duel be-
tween them. " With perfect coolness; he took a steady,
deliberative aim. Of that I had no reason to complain;
but now the fellow is Sring at me every day in his own
court."
And then again :

The Chief Baron was asked why a particular person,
never noted for gallantry, had now provided himself with
two mistresses. " I suppose," he said, " that he may be
able at all times to excuse his absence from both, by pre•
tending to each of them that he is with the other."
Grattan said, that he found the best way to prevent his
cabbages being stolen was to fence them round with
several rows of cabbages.
So, also, this is a noble thought of
Grattan :

He loved old trees, and used to say,'' Never cut down a
tree for fashion-sske. The tree has its roots in the earth,
wuich the fashion has not."

The following is striking, but it could only be
appreciated by those who had
.seen Grattan,
or heard him well imitated :

Grattan's eldest sister by five years (Miss Grattan)
died, at the age of seventy•three, of water on the chest.
Most of the family had died at the same age of the same
complaint. I attended the funeral, and went down to the
family vault with him. The coffins of many members ti
the family were there. The most solemn and terrible
thing I ever witnessed was Grattan in the vault, with his
face perfectly white, his disordered grey hair, his agitated

and seienunc, as to nii not only we awmacn, out the Dottie portions ot tne essay on V-t✓onnell are lace pertecuy wnite, nis disordered grey hair, his agitated
gestures, and his strange mutterings as he bended over
mind—claret, such as few even of the Irish bishops could written from close observation. The following
procure, and champagne of vivacity exampled only by his
remarks on O'Connell's style (or want of it) the coffins and read the inscriptions. " Ay, there they
own. He furnished his stable with a stud of racers; and, are," he would say, striking the coffins seriatim, and
if lam rightly informed, lie still, half-laughing, half-won• are well expressed : naming the persons within them—`• there you are, aged
dering at his former self, meals the times, when mounted If his mind had been duly disciplined, he would have seventy-three—then water on the chest—and then a fins
upon a favorite thoroughbred, and flaming in a pink satin been a first rate reasoner and a most formidable sophist. large coffin—a large coffin is a good thing--a very good
jockeydress, he distanced every competitor, and bore away He has all the requisites from nature—singular clearness, thing (striking one of them in his peculiar manner)—
the Curregh Cup. promptitude, and acuteness. When occasion requires, he and I too must have a tine large coffin—but not for nye
--111111Commeeminimmumm---
I

AUG. 4, 1655.

years yet—and then, water on the chest, and a fine large
coffin."

Mr. W. H. Curran himself enjoys (we have
heard) considerable distinction as a conversa-
tionalist, and we should think, from his wri-
tings, that his table-talk must be entertaining
and instructive. He is one of the few persons
who have succeeded in joining legal and
literary pursuits with success. He presided
for many years with credit as a Commissioner
in the Insolvent Court, and filled other legal
offices previously.
We have seen it stated in print that Mr.
Curran is likely to favour the world with his
own personal recollections ; and they would
doubtless be valuable. It is only fair to add
that the author is not responsible for the
publication of these volumes, as Awe' lean
printers compelled Mr. Colburn to protect
his copyright. It would, however, have been
better if only one volume had been pub-
lished, as there is much trivial writing in the
second portion of these " Sketches " quite un
worthy of being put before the public under
the name of " Curran," and the ephemeral
character of many of the topics of these pages
exposes the author to a severe trial when
coming before a generation which smiles at
the delusions which prevailed amongst the
politicians of thirty years since. Yet there is
enough of brilliancy in many of these
" Sketches " to sustain the reputation of the
author as au accomplished man of talent.

Minandre ; Etude Historique et Litteraire sur
la Socidte et la Considie Grecques. Par
Guillaume Guizot. Paris : Didier.

IT is not often that we meet with a young man
of twenty-two years of age whose classical
attainments; bear any resemblance to those of
the author of this essay. Critics are gene-
rally expected to know everything, but we
hope we shall not forfeit our readers' estima-
tion when we state that we have gained much
new information from the perusal of the book
before us. M. Guillaume Guizot,

Of virtuous father virtuous sou,
has shown in his essay that he inherits many
of the good qualities and talents that his
father has taught us to associate with the name
of Guizot. Not only is his knowledge of ancient
literature unusually comprehensive, but also
he shows himself familiar with the modern
literature of France, Germany, and England.
Wo find frequent quotations from classical
authors with whom Oxford does not pretend to
be acquainted. Laboriously and carefully com-
piled, this essay does not seem the production of
mere " cram," but of ajudicious course of read-
sag. So full an account of the life and writings
of the father of the new comedy has
never yet appeared. We think that the im-
portance of the subject, and the skill shown
in its treatment, justify our devoting some
space to the examination of this volume.
Though it gained a prize from the French
Academy in 1853, " Menandre " has been only
recently published. The subject proposed by
the Academy was : " An historical and literary
" study of the comedy of Menander : to give a
" distinct idea of the time and character, by
" the help of the many fragments which have
" been preserved, of the scattered testimonies
" of antiquity to this subject, of the remains of
" comic poets of the same date and the same
" school, of Latin imitations, and of the con-
" jectures of critical learning."
M. Guizot's essay is divided into nine
chapters. The first treats of the reputation
and of the writings of Menander. The number
of his pieces is fixed by Guizot at one hundred
and five, but we believe this point was never
very clearly determined. So great was the
envy shown towards him, that he only gained
the prize eight times, disdaining to court
popularity by debasing his genius after the
manner of his rival, Philemon. His first piece
was represented before he attained the age of
twenty-one, on which occasion the Athenians,
naturally enough, raised the usual objections
about his youth. As an answer to these
jealousies, he brought a sheep on the stage,
and taking the lambs that it had just brought
forth he threw them into some water: though
• scarcely alive they began to swim. Then said
Menander to the Athenians, "If you are
astonished to find in me so much knowledge