The Press.
London, England, 1855-01-06 00:00:00

17

" relative position of the painter," and hence
should be entirely reconstructed.
The "Catalogue," well suited as a companion
to most of the continental galleries, is likely,
from the interest now felt iu art, to betome as
popular as Mr. Murray's other handbooks,
but it will bear a little expansion ; and for all
purposes of reference the contents of the table
might be more conveniently embodied in the
work itself, on the plan of Blair's tables, than
printed on a separate sheet, more especially
as the only advantage possessed by such a
chart of affording a perfect synchronous view
of the schools has been lost by the blunder
committed.

Christian Politics. Au Essay on the Text of
Paley. By the Rev. Henry Christmas, M.A.
London • Hope and Co.
Tax Rev. Mr. Christmas has here found time,
from his other tasks of writing lives of con-
temporary crowned heads, to take up an in-
quiry which one would scarcely have expected
to see revived at a period when the science of
politics is so much more practically treated
than it was a century ago. The book is a
curious one, both as to the subject, the treat-
ment of it, and the time of publication. Even
the dedication certifies that the " politics" of
the anti-scriptural moralist of Broudlands,
who asserts that " all men are born good," and
are only debauched by beer and tobacco, are
" Christian politics"—a praise that, probably,
Lord Palmerston was not prepared fur, and
will perhaps as little appreciate as Captain
Wilson appreciated the compliment of the Pel-
lew islanders, that he " deserved to have a
" horse's rib through his nose."
Now, although we think that speculations as
to the origin of Government and the duty of
obeying it are now-a-days as well left to Dr.
Sacheverell's folio sermon, or the quartos of the
Scotch school of philosophers of the last cen-
tury, yet we cannot but recognise a certain •
propriety in the publication of a volume on the
functions of Government at a time when legis-
lation is left by Ministers to the charity of
private members, and the executive as to the
army is confided to collectors of old clothes,
enthusiastic amateur nurses, and ladies who
make plum-puddings at Warrington. We wish
we could say, however, that there is much in
the work before us to impress their duty upon
rulers or subjects. If Paley's principles, as
this author assures us, could have led him
much further than he chose to go, we can
assure Mr. Christmas that his principles are
precisely open to a similar charge. We do not
say that Proudhon would entirely agree with
much that is laid down in the original chapters,
but Louis Blanc could certainly nut be as-
tonished at it. Let us instance that chapter
devoted to " Game Laws," and especially the
case supposed as follows :
But that the game laws are needless, is a very small part
of the objection against them ; they are the fruitful source
of demoralisation among the peasantry. A labotning man
sees a hare on a common ; his own sense of right tells him
that the hare is us much his property as that of an
other man ; he knows that the creature consumes as much
as would furnish the fourth part of the support of a sheep ;
he knows that the farmer would in his heart thank him for
destroying it; he knows that his family are fed on the
coarsest fare. and have not for years tasted a meal so nou-
rishing, so wholesome, and so palatable, as the hare would
afford them. On the other hand, he feels that he is doing
no wrong to any man ; he approaches slowly, lifts his stick,
knocks down the hare, and is seized by a man who leaps
from behind the hedge as an offender against the game
laws ! He is cast into prison, condemned tot l
with the
vilest of mankind ; his scruples are laughed at ; he is shown
lunch easier and more ]usurious modes of lite than the
course of simple industry ; his neitions of right and wrong
are hopelessly confused by the manifest injustice of which
' he has been made the victim ; he sees, as he supposes,
and with too much reason, that there is one law fur the
rich, and another for the poor • he exclaims—" The world
is not, my friend, nor the world's law :" he finds his em-
ployment gone, his prospeoarnined, his character blasted,
his family in the workhoust7aud all for an act which by
every law of God and nature lie had a full right to do. The
leaven ferments in his heart, and be leaves the prison •
poacher, if not worse. There has thus arisen in the minds
of the poor a well founded opinion that their interests, phy-
sical, moral, social, and spiritual, are deliberately set ouil4o,
in order to facilitate a very questionable diversion fur the
wealthy—a diversion which, iu addition, entails great
damage to the agriculturist, and which, moreover, would
be quite as well enjoyed without any of these mischiefs.
Here the question of what the lawyers call
mak prohibita is begged effectually throughout.
The labourer (who, be it remarked, cannot