The Press.
London, England, 1853-05-07 00:00:00

MAY 7, 1853.

countered successfully in the United States, by
the simple agency of a heavy direct tax on un-
cleared land ; and if the Australian colonies
have, as Lord Grey says, resisted the introduc-
tion of any such system of taxing, that is
simply because the inconvenience which it is
intended to remedy has never been experienced.
Besides, it is something for the colonial
treasury not to lie out of the purchase money
of these lands for a longer period than neces-
sary. And the suspicion. even though it be
suspicion merely, that the Colonial-office is
trying to interfere on behalf of the capitalist
as against the working man, by preventing the
latter from gratifying his natural desire to
possess land, cannot but tell most unfavour-
ably. Indeed on this point the unanimous
opinion of the colonists ought to be conclusive.
Similar reasonings apply to the question of
imperial and local rights over Crown lands.
Lord Grey contends in favour of the home
Government, on the ground that Parliament
is less likely to be swayed by personal or
class influences such as may sway a Colonial
Legislature. The argument is valid so far as
it goes; but, it' admitted, strikes at the root of
all colonial independence. It was used, in
fitet, against the establishment of the principle
of responsible government. Lord Grey la-
bours to prove, by means of examples twhetlwr
fairly or unfairly cited we have no means of
judging—the colonists would probably tell a
different story), that the animus of a local
assembly is generally to show gross partiality
to one part of a colony at the expense of
another, and that local jealousies prevail to an
extent sufficient to neutralise all projects of
national advantage. But, if this be so, Austra-
lian settlers are unfit to he trusted with legis-
lative power on other subjects besides that of
Crown hinds, which is manifestly a re dnetin ad
ablatrdans. Lord Grey's strongest argument,
though but slightly touched upon. is founded
on the analogy of the United States—Con-
gress, he says, reserving to itself the same
powers which he arrogates for Parliament.
though in both eases the Provincial Legisla-
tures remonstrate and complain. But in truth
the whole discussion on this subject brings
forth in strong relief the ,somewhat arbitrary
tendencies of the writer—a phase of character
in which we admire him less than in any
other.

1. Discourses of Sir Joshua Reynolds, (Fe.—
London : H. 0. Bohn.
2. The Fine Artx. Ily Guizot.
Bosworth.
Ma. BOHN'S neat and portable edition of Sir
Joshua Reynolds' works is a valuable addition
to the cheap literature of the country. No
critic is better entitled to speak with authority
than Sir Joshua. uniting as he did a refined
and cultivated taste with a thorough practical
knowledge of his art—the most popular
painter of his day, and one whose works in-
crease in price as their extrinsic value
diminishes.
As a writer, though not free from some of
the prejudices of his age, he was sound, com-
prehensive, and intelligible : his judgments
were the result of much study and observa-
tion, and were neither warped by affectation
nor tainted with presumption. We own it is
with much satisfaction that we turn from the
'esthetic rhapsodies and German mysticisms
so muck in fashion to the rational opinions
and easy periods of Sir Joshua. Both artists
and their critics we think have some-
times mistaken obscurity in expression 10-
depth of reflection. and have confounded a new-
fangled phraseology with the discovery of a new
principle. There seems also to be a prevalent
idea that excellence in art is to he obtained
rather by encouraging an enthusiastic state of
mind which is called " faith," than by careful
study and long practice. Nay, to such a height
have some of these fantastical devotees ar-
rived (for it is remarkable that the greatest
sticklers for the efficacy of " faith " in the fine
arts are to be found among Protestants). that,
despairing of the desired amount of inspira-
tion in the calm and reasoning religion in which
they were educated. they have actually pro-
fessed themselves Roman Catholics in the
hope that the saints and martyrs of that
church would infuse the inspiration which

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