The Press.
London, England, 1855-02-03 00:00:00

115

Decris, the first Napoleon's Minister of Marine, said
to the Emperor, who was complaining about the state
of the fleet: " Sire, I cannot make a sailor as your
" Majesty does a soldier. It takes a lifetime to make
" a sailor, but you can turn out a soldier in six months."
" Taisez-vous," replied Napoleon, "such ideas are
" enough to destroy an empire. t takes six years to
" make a soldier." And the opinion of such a man
upon the point is worth attention. To return : we
cannot agree with the writer that no blame is to be
attached to the late Ministry in the management of
the present war. We should like very much to know
who is to bear the responsibility if the Government
is not? Was it Lola Raglan who ought to have
called out the militia, formed a reserve at Malta or
Corfu, supplied the army with reinforcements,
blockaded Odessa and the Sea of Azuti; and found
winter clothing, stores, hospitals, waggons, and means
of transport fur his army ? Happily, indeed, for the
country there is no longer much doubt upon the
question now. The third part of " Zaidee" is con-
cluded, and forms some charming and prettily.
romantic sketches of life. A review of the Getman
works upon the Caucasus gives much information
upon that singular hero Schamyl. A notice of the
life of that arch-impostor Barnum treats him as lie
deserves, but the writer admits that something may
be learned from the book :

" Advertise !" says Barnum; and, in the main, he is
perfectly right. The power of the press is prodigious; but,
like all other powers, it may be fearfully misapplied. Of
course so long as advertisements are, in their own chsr
meter, unobjectionable, they must be inserted. if a man
chooses to aver that he vends the best wine, moat, bread,
tea, sugar, breeches, or boots in the community, he is en•
titled to say so, taking the responsibility of " making his
vaunting good." These things do not derange trade : the
serious evil commences when journalists pledge their re-
putation for the excellence of things which they know to
be truly unworthy, or for the authenticity of deceptions.
In American would appear, judging from liarntinee reve•
lations, that the press is generally venal. He takes every
opportunity to insinuate that he had it at his command,
and does not attempt to disguise that the preliminary
Mermaid puffs were written by himself. How then came
they to be inserted? We would advise the American
editors, if possible, " to wash this filthy witness from their
hands," otherwise it will be difficult to acquit them of
direct complicity with Hamm.

And such, indeed, is the deduction which every one
must make from reading Barnum's book ; but, as we
observed in a notice some weeks back, we really see
no reason for considering this autobiography in any
other light than that of another successful imposture.
A review of the works of Bulwer is• well written.
" The Cartons," "My Novel," and " Pelham," par-
ticularly the first, the writer considers have decided
the reputation of Sir Edward :
There is, in our apprehension, no pinnacle so high as
that on which we hang our wreath to Itolwer—like the
Itoman emperor, a prince among his equals, the first of
his craft.

" The Story of the Campaign " is continued and brought
down to the close of the year. The detail of the
battle of Inkermann is highly effective, and, even at
this distance of time, and after the masterly descrip-
tion of Mr. Layard in the current Quarter/y, will be
read and re-rend witl► interest.

[We must defer our notice of other magazines until
next week.]

The Art of Travel; or, Shifts and Contrivances
Available in Wild Countries. By Francis
Galton. London : Murray.

Mn. GALTON'S book is really an invaluable wade
mecum for rough travellers. It is full of hints and
wrinkles upon most subjects, and there is scarcely •
want, or incident or accident likely to occur in bush
travelling that has not one or more remedies here
provided. It is a collection, we should think, of
many experiences, well arranged and very perfect in
detail. We would suggest, however, that a few hints
upon the care and management of the horse would ba
acceptable in a book of this sort.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.
ROOM

Mostaiains and Molehills. F2sl;rryatt. Longman and Co.
Pabiola. Burns and l!ambert.

The Step Mother. G. P. R. James. Hodgson.
The Law of Kindness. Rev. (.i. \V. Montgomery.
Waahbonrne and Co.
The Land of the Saracens. R. Taylor. Sampson and Low.
Curiosities of London. J Titnbs, F.S.A. Bogue.
Annotated Edition of the English Poets. " Thomsor," Vol. I.
J. W. Parker and Ron.
Latin Vocabulary. liitto.
Greek Exercises. A. H. Wratialaw. Ditto.
II Aitelocke's Embassy to Sweden. Longman and Co.
Gibbon's Roman Em.oire, Vol. VII. Mut ray.
The Family Fead. Routledge.
Rath Hall. Ditto,,
Songs Jor a Winter ,Isr:ght. E. F. Fitzwilliaro. HAlnutine.

Hardwiike.

Our Country.