The Press.
London, England, 1854-08-05 00:00:00

PERIODICAL LITERATURE.

IT is satisfactory to observe that Blackwood main-
tains the high standard of political writing which
has secured for it the first place among our monthly
magazines. The principal article in the present
number exposes with great force and eloquence the
mischiefs which have been brought on the country by
that abnegation of principle which wive birth to the
Aberdeen Government. Hatred is a poor bond of
union, but it is the best the present Administration
can boast Not even love of place would keep its
members together were that intense jealousy of its
political opponents absent, which for a time suffices
to smother its internal discord. What will the Peelite
members of the Cabinet, who profess such un-
bounded reverence for their master's memory, say to
the quotation made in this article from Sir R. Peel's
speech in 1840, condemning in unqualified terms the
" cunning scheme" of open questions which the
Coalition has practised to an extent unknown before
in our political history ?
, " But there is a new resource for an incompetent Ad.
ministration—there is the ingenious device of open ques•
tions, the cunning scheme of adding to the strength of a
weak Government by proclaiming its disunion. It will be
a fatal policy, indeed, if that which has hitherto been an ex-
ception, and always an unfortunate exception in recent
times, is hereafter to constitute the rule of Government
If every Government may say, We feel pressed by those
behind us—we find ourselves unable, by steadily maintain-
ing our own opinions, to command the majority and retain
the confidence of our followers, our remedy is an easy one—
let us make each question an open question, and thereby
destroy every obtacle to every posible combination ;'—what
will be the consequence ? The exclusion of honourable
and able men from the conduct of affairs, and the unprin-
cipled coalition of the refuse of every party. The right
honourable gentleman has said that there have been
instances of ' open questions ' in the recent history of this
country. There have been ; but there has scarcely been
one that has not beenpregnant with evil, and which has not
been branded by an impartial posterity with censure and
disgrace They were fatal exceptions from the

AUGUST 5, 1854.

general policy of Government. If, as 1 before observed,
such exceptions are to constitute the future rule of Govern.
ment, there is an end to public confidence in the honour
and integrity of great political parties, a severance of all
ties which constitute party connections, a premium upon the
shabg and shuffling conduct of unprincipled politicians."
Sir Robert Peel was often wiser in his speech than
in his action. Whatever opinion may be formed of
his political conduct, no one can doubt that these
sentences express sound principles of statesmanship.
And they were principles which Peel himself, with
all his versatility, never abandoned. In a subsequent
part of the article a just tribute is paid to the policy
and vigour of Lord Derby's Government:—
" Is not that Government now admitted to have been the
instrument of more good to the country, in its short tenure
of office, than was ever effected by any of its predecessors
within so short a time ? And if we remember the immense
amount of opposition which was brought to bear against it ;
that, in the first few months of its existence, the completion
of the business of Parliament, previous to its dissolution,
was all that was expected or required at its hands ; that,
after the dissolution, a majority of nineteen effected, though
with the greatest difficulty, the overthrow of the Adminis-
tration, without allowing the smallest time for the trial of
their legislative powers, it must be admitted that the mem-
bers of that Conservative Government, in the face of the
greatest difficulties, exhibited administrative abilities of a
high order They were the first Government
who dared to come down to the Britsh House of Commons
and tell it the national defences were insecure, and demand
the means of placing England in a position to resist any
threatened invasion. Do we not owe to them the establish-
ment of our militia? Was not that a bill than which none
has been more perfect in its details, or more universally
satisfactory to the country? Do we not owe to them the
establishment of our Channel fleet on such a footing
that it secured England from all aggression ? Then was
laid the basis of that splendid fleet which a few months
back left our shores for the Baltic Sea. Again, it is to their
prescience that we can trace the advantages which are de-
rived to ourselves, and to the cause of civilisation and inde-
pendence, from our present amicable relations with
France."

Next in interest is a paper on the " Insurrection in
Spain," written by a resident in Madrid, and giving
details which have not previously been published.
The letter in which General Duke justified his
desertion of the Court is especially important, as
showing the feeling which pervaded the mind of
many honourable and distinguished men i,n Spain :
" ' I seek neither places nor honours, for I have them
in abundance. No desire of revenge of any kind has
moved me, for I cherish neither dislike nor resentment
agaihst the persons composing the present Government,
and much less against the Queen. The cause of my in-
surrection is entirely the memory that I have of the oath
taken by the King of Castile when he ascends the throne.
He swears upon the Holy Scriptures to observe and en-
force the law of the State—" and if I should not do so, I
desire not to be obeyed."
"` My conviction is, that the Queen has violated her
oath, and, in this cue, T prefer being guilty of kze-majesty
to being guilty of lere-nation.
" I well know that the sentiments I have expressed will
not convince you, because they must be felt ani not ex-
plained. For my justification I appeal to the inexorable
tribunal of posterity, and to the secret police of the con-
sciences of yourselves in the first place, of the Queen her-
self, and of this unhappy country.' "
The critical articles, though varied, are of a heavy
character, but the articles we have specified, with a
continuation of the pleasant story of " Stoke
Manor," worthily maintain the repute of this able
periodical.

There are several gocd reviews in the Dublin
University, but it is beyond our province to notice
them. The political article asks a question " Who is
to carry on the Queen's Government?' without at•
tempting to answer it. In a memoir of Sir Samuel
Grew, the career of a bold Scotchman who rose to
great distinction in the Russian navy is narrated at
some length. Certainly the numbers of natives of
these islands who have distinguished themselves in
the service of foreign, powers is very remarkable. " A
Vase of Lilies," interspersed with original poetry, is
a pleasing piece of sentimental writing. The article
on "The Plurality of Worlds" wants clearness of
view, but it balances the pros and cons with philoso-
phical impartiality. On the whole the present is a
good number.
A miscellaneous number of Fraser opens with an
elaborate statement of the Russian army, a subject to
which special attention has been paid in this ma
gazine. " Photographs from Russian Life," com-
posed of sketches of Russian society, furnished by a
Russian gentleman, M. Tourghenief, will be read
with interest from the evident fidelity of the portraits.
An article on Dryden, suggested by Mr. Bell's
diligent life of the poet, is one of the best critical
papers. An account of " The Storming of Badajos "
will interest many readers. The description of that
terrible scene is one of the most brilliant passages in
Napier's " History of the War." The writer in
Fraser has entered into copious details, and amongst
his own personal authorities for his statements he
refers particularly to General Sir Robert Harvey,
C. 8.. The article gives a detailed picture of that
Ong exploit of our army. The editor of

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