The Press.
London, England, 1858-05-15 00:00:00

THE PRESS, MAY 15, 1858.

psychological conjectures. The change has been
going on for a long time. Coleridge used to
complain of it, and the " philosophical Radicals"
never got so heavy a blow as when Messrs.
Cobden and Bright, with their popular style
and intelligible suns, took the wind out of the
sails of the Radicals who followed the school of
Bentham, the elder Mill, and the old Westminster
Review school of Radicals.
We allude to this change because Mr. Spencer
belongs decidedly to the school known as " phi-
losophical Radicals." He wishes to apply " first
principles" and "scientific methods" to a vast num
ber of questions which cannot be decided by pure
philosophy. The English people are a great and
a free people, and from an early period they have
bad the habit of making up their minds on cer-
tain subjects, and stamping them well on the
social customs of the nation. Mr. Spencer and
all his school are opposed to " convention," and
argue any subject from a view of " abstract
right," forgetting that, after all, a great degree
of "utility" may be found to support conven-
tional arrangement. The jurists tell us that
" prescription " rests on utility ; and if there is
to be no " convention " recognized in questions
of manners and customs, there would be great
danger of an anarchy of conduct that would
seriously tend to deteriorate society.
We are compelled to glance at these considera-
tions because throughout all these essays the
mannerism of Mr. Spencer's school is exhibited.
The volume contains eight long articles contri-
buted to the Edinburgh, Westminster, British
Quarterly, and National Reviews, and to Fraser's
Magazine and the " Portfolio" of the Leader.
The :essays, unquestionably, are greatly inferior
in intellectual power to the books produced by
this able thinker. They lack the specialty of
purpose, solidity of matter, and circumspective-
ness of treatment shown by the author in his
single volumes; and we fear that some injustice
may be done to Mr. Spencer's reputation from
this republication of his reviews. Some literary
men excel as writers of books, others as essayists.
The popular manner of some enables them to
rivet attention in short papers; others require
both time and large space to produce their effects.
Both classes have their special merits and faults.
The essayists are prone to be too flippant ; the
makers of books to be too ponderous. It is a
fault, however, in an essayist if he overlooks his
matter, and in a writer of books if he neglects his
manner.

The books of Mr. Spencer proved that he had
both "scientific" and "speculative" talents,
but his essays show that his " political" capacity
(we follow the phraseology of his titlepage) is by
no means equal to the meditative power of his
mind. He wants the practical, plain, and intel-
ligible mode of thinking and writing which Eng-
lish popular politics demands, while some would
doubt his sustained reflection for the higher de-
partments of purely abstract politics. But the
rhetoric of his essays is infinitely worse than the
logic. Readers will differ about the views in
these various papers, but an overwhelming ma-
jority of critics would condemn the style as clum-
sily pedantic. Mr. Spencer seems to think that
he grows both more powerful and profound in
proportion as he attains the pedantic ; and we
can see very clearly, criticizing him by these
essays, that Mr. Spencer is apt to become the
dupe of language. We shall proceed to illustrate,
from examples, the faults which we find in his
collected essays.

In the first place, their pedantry of expression
exceeds all bounds. An essayist should take
great pains to make his thoughts effective, and
the peculiar fault of 11Ir. Spencer's style may be
Seen in citing the first sentences of his various
PaPers. He has a propensity to mix up scientific
terms with loose colloquial language, and he
changes the key of his style so often that the
effect is unpleasant to the reader. We shall take
the opening passages of some of these essays, and
the defects of his style will become plain to any
reader :

The current conception of progress is somewhat shifting
and indefinite. Sometimes it comprehends little more
than simple growth—as of • nation in the number of its
members and the extent of territory over which it has
sPread• Sometimes it has reference to quantity of mate-
rial products--as when the advance of agriculture and
manufactures is the topic. Sometimes the superior
ality of these products is contemplated, and sometimes
abet, or improved appliances by which they are pro-
ised.

This is a careless style of expression, as if the
writer looked not for the graces of composition.
Four times he uses the word " sometimes" in a
few lines, and his constant iteration of words is
a fault to be found in all these essays. Thus the
next essay, on " Railway Morals and Railway
Policy," opens :

Believers in the intrinsic virtues of political forms
might draw an instructive lesson from the politics of our
railways. If there needs a conclusive proof that the must
carefully-framed constitutions are worthless unless they
be embodiments of the popular character—if there needs
• conclusive proof that governmental arrangements in
advance of the time will inevitably lapse into congruity
with the time—such proof may be found over ■nd over
again repeated in the current history of joint-stock enter-
prizes.

"If there needs" is repeated twice. We were
treated to a " current conception " in the first
sentence of the first essay, and in the opening of
the next we are introduced to "current pro-
gress " ; and we need scarcely dwell on the
clumsy form of words, " that governmental ar-
" rangements in advance of the time will inevi-
" tably lapse into congruity with the time ;" and
we have the word " proof" three times repeated.
There are occasions when repetition of phrase is
legitimate, but Mr. Spencer abuses the privilege,
and uses the same words constantly, even where
it is not necessary to apply emphasis. He begins
his essay on " The Genesis of Science" thus :
There has ever prevailed among men a vague notion
that scientific knowledge diff..-Irs in nature from ordinary
knowledge By the Greeks, with whom mathematics—
literally things learnt—was alone considered as know-
ledge proper, the distinction must have been strongly felt;
and it has ever since maintained itself in the general
mind. Though, considering the contrast between the
achievements of science and those of daily unmethodic
thinking, it is not surprising that such a distinction has
been assumed; yet it needs but to rise a little above the
common point of view to see that no such distinction
can really exist, or that, at best, it is but a superficial
distinction.

Four times the word " distinction " is here used,
three times "knowledge" occurs; and within the
same space he Fives us " considered " and " con-
sidering.' His remarks on "Transcendental
Physiology" open with the following sentences :

In mathematics, the transcendental analysis is one
which, passing beyond those particular relations of num•
ben dealt with by arithmetic, an passing beyond those
general numerical relaticns which form the subject-
matter of ordinary algebra, concerns itself with the still
higher generalities underlying these general relations.
The title, Transcendental Anatomy, is used to distin-
guish that division of biological science which treats, not
of the structure of individual organisms, but of the general
principles of structure common to vast and varied groups
of organisms—the unity of plan discernible throughout
multitudinous genera and orders which are widely dif-
ferent in appearance.
- -

" Generalities underlying general relations "
" passing beyond " (twice)—" relations" (thrice)
—and "general" (thrice), exclusive of "gene-
ralities," and all these repetitions in so short a
space ! This fault, and it is a great one, occurs
over and over in the body of his essays, and it
passes into a formalism. Pedantic phrases, ses-
quipedalia verba, and ungrammatical construction
meet us at every page, so much so that it would
be not too severe to term the rhetoric of these
essays as—stilted slipshod.
With respect to their matter, Mr. Spencer too
often puts us off with a pompous phraseolgy.
He states his views at the beginning of an essay,
and then says the same thing again at great
length. lie demonstrates foregone conclusions
with singular energy, and carries off the argu-
ment in a cloud of words. lie thus declaims
against the tyranny of fashion :
Go now and dress for some half past eight dinner, or
some ten o'clock " at home," and present yourself in
spotless attire, with every hair arranged to perfection.
How great the difference! TLe enjoyment seems in the
inverse ratio of the preparation. These figures, got up
with such finish and precision, appear but half alive.
They have frozen each other by their primness; and
your faculties feel the numbing effects of the atmosphere
the moment you enter it. All those thoughts, so nimble
and so apt awhile since, have disappeared—have sud-
denly acquired a preternatural power of eluding you. If
you venture a remark to your neighbour, there comes a
trite rejoinder, and there it ends. No subject you can
hit upon ou'lives half a dozen sentences. Nothing that
is said excites any real interest in yoa, and you feel that
all you say is listened to with apathy. By some strange
magic, things that usually give pleasure seem to have
lost all charm. You have a taste for art. Weary of fri-
volous talk, you turn to the table, and find that the book
of engravings and the portfolio of photographs are as fiat
as the conversation. You are fond of music. Yet the
singing, good as it is, you hear with otter indifference,
and say " Thank you" with a sense of being a profound
hypocrite. Wholly at ease though you could be, for your
own part, you And that your sympathies will not let you.

You see young gentlemen feeling whether their ties are
properly adjusted, looking vacantly round, and considering
what they shall do next. You see ladies sitting discon-
solately, waiting for some one to speak to them, and
wishing they had the wherewith to occupy their fingers.
You see the hostess standing about the doorway, keeping
a fictitious smile on her free, and racking her Drain to
find the requisite nothings with which to greet her guests
as they enter. You see numberless traits of weariness and
embarrassment, and, if you have any fellow•feeling, these
cannot fail to produce a sense of discomfort. The dis-
order is catching, and, do what you will, you cannot resist
the general infection. You struggle against it—you make
spasmodic efforts to be lively—but none of your sallies
or good stories do more than raise a simper or a forced
laugh—intellect and feeling are alike asphyxiated. And
when at length, yielding to your disgust, you rush away,
how great is the relief when you get into the fresh air and
see the stars ! How you " Thank God, that's over!" and
half resolve ' avoid
What, now,
disappointment
needless adjr

forms, these
and arranged

Since Cowley
vulgar and'
complaint f
able " duties,

and the

What says .
standard comedy of The Way to Keep Him ?

And the owner of them sits in the room with you, like
a mere vegetable, for au hour together, till at last she is
incited to the violent exertion of, "Yes, sir"—" I fancy
not, ma'am," and then a matter of fact conversation!
" Miss Beverly is ping to be married to Captain Shoulder-
knot—Mv Lord Mortgage has had another tumble at
Hazard—Sir Harry Wilding has 1134 his election—They
say short aprons are coming into fashion."
Love. Oh ! a matter of fact conversation is insupport-
able.

Mrs. BELL. But you meet with nothing else. All in
great spirits about nothing, and not en idea among them.
Go to ltanelagh, or to what public place you will, it is just
the same. A lady comes up to you; " How charmingly
you look'—Rut my dear M'em, did you hear what happened
to us the other night?—We were going home from the
Opera—you know my aunt Roly•Poly ; it was her coach.
There was she and Lady Betty Fidget —What a sweet
blonde ! How do you do my dear ? (curtsying as to another
going by) My Lady Betty is quite recovered; we were
all frightened about her ; but Doctor Snake-root was called
in ; no, not Doctor Snake-root, Doctor Bolos ; and so he
altered the course of the medicines, and so my LaJy
Betty is purely now.—Well, there was she, and my aunt,
and Sir George Bragwell—a pretty man Sir George—
finest teeth in the world—Your Ladyship's most obedient
(curtsying). We expected you last night, but you did not
come —He ! he ! he !—and so there was Sir George and
the rest of us ; and so turning the corner of Bond-street,
the brute of a coachman—l humbly thank your Grace
(curtsys)—tbe brute of a coachman overturned us, and
so my aunt Roly-Poly was frightened oat of her wits ; and
Lady Betty has had her nerves again. Only think ! such
accidents !—I am glad to see you loll( so well; a Thor.
near ; he ! he! he !"
And then all the triviality of " fashion " and
" manners" is laid bare, and the brilliant widow
consoles herself, that " though dragged to those
" places, one must go there to oblige and from
" necessity." Mr. Spencer seems to think that
nobody ever before argued against the tiresome-
ness of fashionable society.

Now let us have the summing up of Mr.
Spencer on " Manners and Fashion" :

Meanwhile, let us glance at the conzlusions that have
been reached. On the one side, Government, originally
one, and afterwards subdivided for the better fulfilment of
its function, must be considered as having ever been, in
all its branches—political, religious, and ceremonial—
beneficial, and indeed absolutely necessary. On the
other side, Government, under all its forms, must be
regarded as subserving a temporary office, made needful
by the unfitness of aboriginal humanity for social life;
and the successive diminutions of its coerciveness in
State, in Church, and in Custom, must be looked upon
as steps towards its final disappearance. To complete
the conception, there requires to be borne in mind the
third fact, that the gonesis, the maintenance, and the
decline of all governments, however named. are alike
brought about by the humanity to be controlled : from
which may be drawn the inference that, on the average,
restricticns of every kind cannot last much longer than
they are wanted, and cannot be destroyed much faster
than they ought to be. Society, in all its developments,
undergoes the process' of ezuviation. These old forms
which it successively throws off have all been once vitally
united with it—have severally served as the protective
envelopes within which a higher humanity was being
evolved. They are cast aside only when they become
hindrances—only when some inner and better envelope
has been formed, and they bequeath to us all that there
was in them of good. The periodical abolitions of tyran-
nical laws have left the administration of jostle* sat only
uninjured, but purified. Dead and buried creeds have
not carried with them the essential morality they con-
tained, which still exists, uncontaminated by the sloughs
of superstition ; and all that there is of justice and kind-
ness and beauty embodied in our cumbrous forms of
etiquette will live perennially *ben the forms"-
hare been forgotten.

e to avoid all such boredoM for the future!
, is the secret of this perpetual miscarriage and
rnent ? Does not the fault lie with all these
djuncts—these elaborate dressings, these set
a expensive preparations, these many devises
pests&
ements that imply trouble and raise ex ' 7,
wley charmingly railed at " the '
rid the small," there has been the e
t against the oppressiveness of "fashion-
[ties, the insipidity of dinners and balls,
wearisome frivolity of " amusements."
,s the brilliant Widow Bellmour in the

A

We think that we have met this style before
from the lips of Miss Bridgetina Botherum, in
the capital novel of which that lady plays so
philosophical a part. Miss Edgeworth has
written a tale called "Forester," in which will
be found more judicious advice than can be ex-
tracted from Mr. Spencer's essay on " Manners
aad Fashion." _ _ .

It is often an error in Mr. Spencer, from being
too precipitate in generalization, not to perceive
the double edge of an argument. In noticing
the want of faith in speculative principles shown
by merely practical people, he writes :
It is the habit of this school of thinkers to make a
limited human intelligence the measure of, phenomena
which it requires omniscience to grasp. That which it
does not see the way to, it does not believe will take
place. Though society has, generation after generation,
been growing to developments which none foresaw, yet
there is no practical belief in unforeseen developments in
the future. The parliamentary debates constitute an
elaborate balancing of probabilities, having for data things
as they are. Meanwhile every day adds new elements to
lungs as they are, and seemingly improbable results con-
stantly wear. Who, a few years ago, expected that a
Leiceateraquare refugee would shortly become Emperor
of the French ? Who looked for Free Trade from a
landlords' Ministry? Who dreamed that Irish over-
population would spontaneously cure itself, as it is now
doing?
But we would suggest to those who possess a
"speculative human intelligence" to study the
" unforeseen developments" of reaction. It
would form a most curious chapter in the history
of modern politics to trace how the Reform Bill
party of 1832 fell into pieces, how two years
after 1832 the country was fairly divided into
Conservatives and Liberals, and how, in spite of
their boasted majorities, the Liberals have again
and again broken down in office. The law of
development has, clearly, a reactionary as well
as a progressive action.
We had marked other passages for critical
notice, but our space will not permit us to enter
into further detail. We sum up our view of
these essays in saying that they are not equal to
the " Social Statics," and that it is in grave
books rather than in popular essays that Mr.
Spencer's &cult), would appear to most advan-
tage. We think that he overrates the value of
mere "speculation," and that his propensity to
generalization should be kept in check. Broad
views and a large manner of thinking, are im-
posing and attractive, but accuracy of estimate
and closeness to facts are indispensable; and taken
out of their philosophic diction, the views of Mr.
Spencer too often result in mere generalities.
We expect other and more important volumes
from his pen, but these essays will hardly add to
the reputation previously acquired by him.

Reoo&Mons of Me Last Days of Shelley and
Byron. By E. J. Trelawny. London :

Moxon.
WE have so recently devoted a considerable
space on two occasions to the works of Mr. Mid-
dleton and Mr. Hogg, that we may dispense for
the present with any criticism on Mr. Tre-
lawny's book so fl►r as it relates to Shelley. His
recollections of that poet belong to the last four
years of his life, and, in case of our being able to
recur to them, will more fitly engage our con-
sideration on the appearance of Mr. Hogg's sub-
sequent volumes.
Mr. Trelavmy's view of the character of his
other subject will not be by any means pleasing
to the thoroughgoing worshippers of Byron.
Though the cultivation of his poetry is no longer
the fashion of the age, there is a time of life at
which "the Byron fever" is still found conta-
gious; and as it is usually one at which the
passions are strong, the judgment immature, and
the mind open to the reception of its most en-
during impressions, it is not wonderful that those
who have been so fascinated by the splendour of
such a genius, should be unwilling to disturb
the associations which belong to his name. But
unfortunately, in this, as in other matters, dis-
tance lends enchantment to the view; and the
microscopic scrutiny with which it is the custom
of the day to regardall deceased celebrities, and
which tarnishes so many a fair reputation, is one
which Byron of all men was the least able to
endure with safety. It is not well to go behind
the scenes of Mat theatre, and see the canvas
mountains, the paste jewelry, Gulnare rouging
her cheeks, and her pirate lover imbibing from a
pewter vessel the lowliest of spirituous compounds.
It is better to stay in the boxes, and imagine the