The Press.
London, England, 1854-05-06 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

in so perfect a shape, that we are surprised
these obvious faults should have escaped the
Argus who watches over it.
As Dr. Waagen (with rare exceptions) was
received with great courtesy by the fortunate
possessors of the works he describes, it is not
surprising that he should endeavour to make
a suitable return, but it is hardly to be sup-
posed that the mero possession of pictures
can in every case confer such attainments and
talents as the doctor would have us believe.
When he admires the courtesy of the Duke of
Devonshire, and the pure benevolence and
personal kindness of the Duchess of Suther-
land, and when he acknowledges how greatly
he was " indebted to the Earl of Malmesbury
" for great assistance during his researches in
" England, which he promoted in the kindest
" way," every one can appreciate the justice of
the tribute, but we are a little doubtful whether
he could really have met with quite so much
superiority of intellect, perfect taste, andlnoble
character, as commbnly figure in the prefatory
remarks to every art collection.
In spite of these drawbacks, the book, from
the extent of its information, the soundness
of its knowledge, and the accuracy of its
general views, is extremely valuable. It stands
alone in its design. It is the only account
approaching to completeness of the art trea-
sures we possess. Though, doubtless, it will,
for these merits, meet with a cordial reception,
and find a place on the shelves of wealthy
collectors, yet Mr. Murray would do a great
service to the public should he, by-and bye,
extract the really valuable portion of its con-
tents, give it a convenient arrangement, and
issue it as one of his admirable handbooks.

Remains of the late Edward Coplestofte,
Bishop of Llandaff. By Richard Whately,
D.D., Archbishop of Dublin. London : J. W.
Parker and Son.
Genie twice over the same ground where there
is nothing strikingly original, or permanently
attractive in the prospect, is proverbially dis-
agreeable. Here we have additional remi-
niscences of Bishop Coplestone from the
active pen of the Archbishop of Dublin ; but,
after laying down the volume, a reader will
wonder with ourselves why its matter was not
either incorporated with the previously-pub-
lished " Memoirs," or why it was not reserved
for a future edition of the late prelate's works,
if any such be contemplated. The remi-
niscences by the editor are very few ; the
notes from Bishop Coplestone's common-
place book are not important ; and, though
the sermons are frequently marked by ability,
they will scarcely add to the preacher's

fame.
More remarkable tbr his didactic merits
than for any faculties as an original thinker,
Bishop Coplestone must always be honourably
mentioned amongst the school divines of the
Church of England. Differing in many fea-
tures, there was a considerable resemblance
between the systems of thought adopted by
the late Bishop of Llandaff and the present
Archbishop of Dublin. Both of those eminent
persons won reputation in the ratiocinative
school of divinity, and some of their critics
and polemical opponents have hinted that
they exaggerated the value of the mere forms
of thought, and that their teaching tended to
confound the anatomy of a subject with its
vitalising principle, as if wo were to be in-
structed that the index to a history was of
more importance than the narrative, or the
plot of a drama more to be regarded than in-
vention in the characters or poetry in the
language. Extravagantly admired by their
immediate friends and followers, they were
also unjustly disparaged by persons moo'
prompt to see defects than to acknowledge
merits. Space is not at our command to
enable us to say as fully as we could desire
what, in common with others, we have long
felt about the teaching of theology at Oxford ;
but on a future occasion we may discuss the
value of what is known as the exclusively
" logical" system of divinity.
Whatever may be the worth of the ex
elusively-reasoning school of divinity, it is
plain, we thick, that neither Romanism or
Puse% ism at one side, Socinianism and Infi
delity at the other, are to be crushed by mere

iATURDAY,

" logic." Detection of fallacies, ease in un-
ravelling a coil of sophistry, and adroitness in
shifting middle terms, will not form living
minds or draw forth the various faculties
with which Eternal Beneficence has endowed
human nature. We have a strong sense of
the importance of logic, but we have observed
that, amongst some of its most clamorous
admirers, there is not due appreciation given
to other branches of knowledge ; that they are
apt to be coldly indifferent to the moving
powers of eloquence ; and we have hoard some
of them affect to sneer at " mere erudition."
We could heartily desire that a more fervid
spirit was infused into our current theology
than can be imparted by teachers of the school
to which Bishop Coplestone belonged. A
broader and profounder synthesis, more ge•
Mal sympathy with the emotional elements in
religion, ought to be manifested by those who
aspire to mould the ecclesiastical minds that
are to defend Protestantism against the Jesuit,
with his speckled and tinselled Popery, and
the Neologist with his German pedlar's pack
of poison.
On reading through these sermons of Bishop
Coplestone we observe their neatness of ar-
rangement and absence of literary blemishes;
we admire their occasional profundity and the
constant presence in them of an acute intel-
lect; but there is a characteristic want in
them of that evangelising energy, that mind-
awakening power which, under God's blessing,
is potent, not only in bringing hearers to
righteousness, but also in scattering far and
wide the seeds of germinating thoughts
amongst readers. Theology, to our appre-
hension, is the very noblest of the sciences,
but it is only so when it addresses the whole
mind, and when, kindling with thek grandeur of
their subject, its teachers deliver their con-
victions with the moral fervour that inspirits
and instructs. The great divines who have
won permanent renown soared to far sublimer
heights and breathed a more invigorating
atmosphere than can be found iii those lowly
regions where mere schoolmen browse.
But it is always more agreeable to us to
record merits than to register defects. Past
and passing schools of theology have had faults
peculiar, not so much to their expositors as to
the times; and in making these remarks we
remember how much there was of what was
truly Meritorious in the late Bishop of Llan-
daff. For one thing his name will be for a
long time memorable in literary annals. Rarely
has a single pen in controversy done such effec-
tive service as in the case of Bishop Coplestone's
defence of Oxford against the Edinburgh Re-
view. Opposed to him were the professors of
the north and the pamphleteers of the south,
aided by the voice of Opposition in Parlia-
ment, and "the cry" of the Radicals through.
out the land. Calmly measuring the literary
strength of his adversaries, he fixed his eye
on the vulnerable part of their system of at-
tack, and resolved to confront and conquer
them. His " Reply to the Calumnies against
Oxford " was a very different sort of paper
ammunition from that intended to have been
discharged by Mr. Thomas Moore at the head
of the heroic Jeffrey. The violence of Lord
Byron's railing in " English Bards and Scotch
Reviewers " detracted from the satirical force
of the poetical assault on the organ of the
sages of the north; but the calm tone of Bishop
Coplestone—the judicial air blended with po
lemical skill—the sarcastic vigour and cutting
coolness of retort—were sorely felt by those
whose haste in aspersion was only surpassed
by their rapidity in retreat. It is only just to
say that the lesson was not entirely lost. The
reviewers became less venturesome, though
they remained equally venomous. They stood
before the literary world signally defeated, and
convicted of double cowardice. Compelled to
retire, they had not the candour to retract.
Since that time the power of the great Whig
organ has, from a variety of causes, sensibly
diminished. Its feelings on religion are revo
lutionised to the extent that it might be said
that " Broad Church " has taken the place of
"No Church " in its pages, a circumstance
which we only remark on because, on referring
some time since to Bishop Coplestone's con-
troversy with it, we felt that the interest of
the discussion was diminished. But thus it
is with the memory of those contests that are