The Press.
London, England, 1854-03-25 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

Thus the " egg had become an eagle," and " the thought
had become a thing." While we write, the two Inmates
have increased to a hundred; one room has expanded to
premises covering 4,522 square feet of ground • the crusts
of the ragged-school children have been superseded by an
income, for this year, of more than 1,0001. [including do-
nations, we presume] ; and the institution takes its place
among the most important benevolent enterprises of the
day.—page 33.
By another pamphlet, published in the
present year, the results arc thus enume-
rated
Since the establishment of the institution there have
been—
Sent out as emigrants . • • • • . .. 190
Sent to situations .. . • • • .. . • ..
48
Restored to their friends . • • • .. 20
Enlisted for soldiers .. • • .. .. 21
Gone to sea . • • • • . • • .. .. 3
Sent to juvenile institutions .. . 75
Now in the institution .. .• • . .. 103

465
Making a total of 405 redeemed from crime and degra-
dation.
We trust the following statement will turn
the utilitarians into philanthropists :
The annual cost of each inmate is 151.; of his emigra-
tion, 101.; making 251.
It is estimated that each criminal, on each conviction,
costs the public 631.
The prosperity of the institution is, how-
ever, only relative
Its annual expenses exceed 2,5001. The annual sub-
scriptions do not exceed 5001. The residue has been
partly made up by donations ; but the institution is nearly
7501. in debt.
Our author is at some unnecessary pains to
vindicate the institution from the charge of
offering a bonus to crime. No one, we think,
who was hesitating on the brink of crime
could look to the institution as an inducement
to take the plunge. Indeed, no stronger proof
of the burdensomeness of guilt could be offered
than that the life of the institution should he
voluntarily embraced as a refuge from it.
But what will the reader think when ho
hears, such is the eagerness to escape from a
life of crime, that there are upwards of seventy
fresh applications for admissions into the
institution every week? And how painful is
it
.to think that the vast majority of these
must be made in vain ? Who but must feel a
thrill of regret when he reads that
Levi Harwood, who, in the spring of 1851, was executed
at Horsemonger-lane Gaol for the Frimley murder, had, a
few months before that deed of blood, and the robbery
which led to it, applied again and again to this institution
for admittance? Had he been admitted, the probability is
that, instead of now being numbered with executed cri-
minals, he would have been iu the path of reformation and
social restoration.
No one can close the volume without feel-
ing an earnest wish to open wider the gates to
these numerous penitents. But, in order to
make the wish effectual, we must not disguise to
ourselves the difficulties to he encountered.
In the first place, the institution of which Mr.
Nash is the governor must not be so enlarged
as to impair that intimacy and familiarity with
each of its inmates in which the secret of
his influence lies. In the next place, the
multiplication of such establishments cannot
be secured by money or legislation. The same
buildings may be constructed, the same rules
laid down, the same routine observed, but it is
on the personal character of the governor, on
his qualities of head and heart, that success
must depend. If his heart is in the work,
love begets love, confidence, and obedience,
and he will succeed. If not, he must fail.
It never can be easy to find persons ani-
mated with this spirit of philanthropy ; but
we can imagine no more effectual way of win-
ning hearts to the cause than spreading abroad
the knowledge of what has been done, the
rapidity with which it has been accomplished,
and the rich reward which has followed. It
is for this reason we are desirous to give all
the publicity in our power to the work at the
head of this article.


Since the above was written we observe that
a public meeting on behalf of this institution
was held at Willis's Rooms on Wednesday last.
We were not present, and the report is meagre ;
but we gather that, while the number of appli-
cants has increased, the income of the institu-
tion does not yet keep pace with its necessities.

281

Progress and Prejudice. By Mrs. Gore.
London : Hurst and Blackett.
THE present London season, we should judge,
is to be of the orthodox kind, beginning with
a novel by Mrs. Gore, and closing with a new
opera for Grisi. It is not for alliteration that
we couple the names of these two brilliant per-
formers, but because each in her own sphere
has defied rivalry and ruled supreme in her
special vocation for more years than would be
polite to enumerate. There was a time when
we were afraid that the too frequent appear-
ance of Mrs. Gore would tire us at last; but,
after some interval, she reappears again with
renewed fancy, some fresh characters, and a
♦ivacity that can cease to sparkle only with her
life.
" Progress and Prejudice " is one of her
best novels, and will be in constant demand
at the libraries. Its dranustis persona is
crowded, and it is easy to see that some of the
sketches are "from life." We could name
some of them who must have been present to
the writer's fancy while her facile pen recorded
some of their peculiar traits. " Lord Curt de
Cruxley," with his biting raillery—" Hamilton
Drewe," the amateur author—Hargood, the
hardworking reviewer—Mark Davenport, the
hir-sical )f oddity Id talent—

clever, whimsic man of oLlity ant Lt—
have been other than lay-figures while this
practised literary artist was engaged in taking
their full-length miniatures. But, after all,
the great merit of " Progress and Prejudice "
is the presence of the animated style, with its
lively stream of satire, and its copious supply
of sharp sauce to make trifles palatable. After
the nauseous mass of insipid fiction that we
have recently tried to swallow, Mrs. Gore's bril-
liant writing comes with as much zest as a case
of Schloss Johanisberg after a dose of "Oliveira's
Mixture." Mere literary mechanicians do not
give us sparkling dialogues like that of the
Cruxleyans
" Old Cruvey, again, by Jove !" cried one of the
Craxlevana, who was watching for arrivals at IMslob
• . -

window ; which, now that Lonion was beginning to •
at the close of the season, were hailed as a rafts
novelty ; " Old Cruvey, dyed to look as good as new ; •
with a white moss•rose in his button-hole, like a Zephir
the last ballet —Where has ror Methuselah been Mill
himself?-1 never missed him." •
" He goes down into (Ilouoestershire, every slimmer, tot.
eat Severn salmon in the original," replied Lord Curt. 4,
'• Rather," added Ned Barnsley, one of the amplitlertiv
"to sponge upon an old brother-in•law ; who, being deaf
as a post, runs less risk than ourselves of being prosed
death by his lengthsomeness." t,
" Pont abuse Cruvey ;—Cruvey is worth his weight its
postage stamps ! " retorted Lord Curt. " Cruvey'a memo
is a sort of national warehouse, in which ever)} thing
stolen, or strayed, is to he found in bond.—Did yon nev
see the list of articles deposited by honest calm
(ntirabile dials) at the Inland Office? ' No. 1, aeo
umbrella. No. 1, a lace veil. No. 3, a walking•stick. N
4, a diamond necklace. No. 5, a pair of gloves. No. 5,
tz
packet of railway debentures.'—Just such a jumble does a
second bottle of claret extract out of the knowledge-box of
my friend Cruvey."
But what the deuce is he talking about?—Do let one
listen, Curt."

" Surely, my dear Ned, your ears are long enough for
anything? "
" Why not,—since extended by the immense practice you
afford them !"
" Here, Crnvey, my good fellow," cried the imperturbable
Curt," come this way, and tell us all lhal over again. It
sounds good enough for an encore."
And Cruvey, seldom honoured with an audience by the
brilliant founder of the Cruxleyans, recommenced his tune
as punctually as a barrel-organ to which a shilling has been
thrown from some nursery window.
"The story is many days old," said he. " I only wunds►
that—"
" I beg your pardon, my dear Cruvey,—but, before ws
begin to wonder. is this history a true bill, or a Naga.
For at this oppressive time of year one can't afford to
believe, then disbelieve, and finally argue matters over.—
Give us first your authorities. Under what act of Parlia-
ment, in what reign ? "
"Under favour of my having been resident within
quarter of a mile of the spot where the whole business oc-
curred ; and an ear-witness of the greater part of it."
" A quarter of a mile ?—Therr, Ned! " whispered Lord
Curt, aside to Barnsley. " A pair of ears that beat your own
by a couple of lengths! "
We are quite aware that Peelite censors
might make a great show of the cant of criti-
cism in commenting upon Mrs. Gore's fictions.
Her circle of observation has been unneces-
sarily narrowed ; and we admit that, as
" thunderstorms " and " two horsemen " are
too frequent in the stories of Mr. James, so
" Crocky's," " the crush-room at the opera,"
" the dowager duchess in the yellow turban,"
are too constantly " pottered over " in her

Z

highly-peppered conversations. Her know-
ledge of the town and acquaintance with the
habits of London lite were, doubtless derived
from her being the wife of one who belonged
to the omniscient class of private secretaries
to Cabinet Ministers. Hence her knowledge
of the customs .of *labs alTil the House of
Commons may "be to be d6rived from first-
hand sources,• Tjule ,t ere; ia the foundation
of reality in the following rerinuks on some
phases iu parliamentary life :
Nor woolt he have regretted, perhaps, that Marcus
should 'or oil the spot to witness the verification of his
ofteurepeated prophecy that Hugh, so overmastered in the
Commons, was pitched to the exact diapason of the Upper
House.—Arnong his peers, his mild, unpretending reason
was accepted with respect, though ungarnished with the
flash eloquence or pretentious solemnity of poptilar
motintebanks.—Already Lord I)avenport was acquiring a
name; a name endbrsed by the press and accredited by
the pablic.—Such honours had been hitherto alone want-
in, to stimulate him to exertion _l from boy-
hood by his father, outpassed by his younger brother, he
had. given up the race ton early in the day. But already, in
a more genial atmosphere, his feelings and faculties were
beginning to expand and fructify.
I envy you, Davenport," 'William Eustace often said to
him, as they quitted together the house in which they
officiated at the minute-hand and hour-hand of the same
dial.—" Were i in the Lords, I Nel that I could do some-
thing, both fur myself and the world.—But in our house
the time is past for individual ambition. The atticism of
Parliament has disappeared, like the colours of some fine
old fresco. --While it lasted, to be a good listener was
nearly as great a distinction as to be a good speaker.—But
now, one is ashamed to listen l--unless some party cry,
eulome Dumfater, or Abyssiniau war-boast, has given the
. signal that he who bath ears to hear may as well be atten-
, lave. Even this comes so seldom that I wish I were out
, of it all." ?wow
" And yet, when I was one of yon, which is not eo_iong
ago," replied Lord Davenport, with a smile, "1-tattays
found that, independent of one's duties, the Route' of
Commons was the pleasantest lounge in Lotidoni;--the
best club, the best party, and the place where More in-
formation might be picked up in a given time than in any
other public assembly.—From a moderately good speaker
one learns and retains more than from a remarkably good
boOk."
tlrs Gore does not spare the literary pro
fession iu her present work. She thus snaps
her fingers at two of our most eminent contem-
porary " organs "
Ah, me !—lf one of the seven wise men of the
Athentenin, or one of the Sibyls of the Cimmerian Grot in
Printing-house-agnare,--state engines,—vindictive and
territie old women in their way, who rule with adainantine
pens the destinies of mankind,—would but set their wits
to work on a system of modern philosophy, and create a
Platonic republic calculated for the atmosphere of
Belgravia,' or a Utopia which the tyros of Tyhurnia might
survey with submission! If even some Fenelon among
oar' contemporaneous bishops would indite a new Tile•
msque for the instruction of the rising youth of Britain!—
But, alas ! the lawn sleeves we wot of would more likely
produce " mac aatre pairc de inaptches."
Our contemporaries will perhaps be polite
enongh to say that they cannot return Mrs.
Gore's compliments to them; but some of her
brother-novelists will not be pleased with the
criticism that she puts into the mouth of the
professional reviewer. the amateur author
calls on the journalist, and the conversation
runs
He had called hoping to find his friend Hargood,—and,
not finding him, was on the point of returning- But since
his friend Hargood had so opportunely returned," he
added, taking a much begilded volume from his pocket,
" he would not neglect the object of his visit : which was
to recommend to his critical indulgence a new comic
serial work by his friend • Dick Dodsley, author of ' Fast
and Slow, or the Dodgers; illustrated by Cruikshank.—
That is a Craikshank—itot the Cruikshenk."
" A very indefinite article, indeed!" ejaculated Hargood,,
who was in one of his most volcanic humours:.—having
just returned from a visit to his sister, whom he found full
of pleasant anticipations from the expected arrival in town
of the Davenports. " But you must really excuse me, Mr.
Drewe, from dippinn my pen in the same puddle with those
literary associates of roars who seem to confound the
Pierian spring with a bowl of gin-sling or whisky-toddy !
Ido not profess to understand slang.—l leave it to dust-
men and cabdrivers.—l have some difficulty, I confess, in
following even 'i'hsekersy and Dickens; though one is a
ratan of edaeation, the other a man of gentus.—But when
It comes to the detestable school they have founded,—to
lithe closings of the punch-bowl,—the ashes of the cheroot,—
' &he peel of the forbidden fruit,—my gorge rises at, it !—So
long, sir, as we have classical authors on our shelves,—a
legitimate drama bequeathed us by our ancestors, and
immortal specimens of high art to elevate our tastes and
understandings, I do not see why we should descend to
such trash as 'Fast and Slow,l—the monstrosities of
Adelphi farces, or the vulgarisms of Phiz and Cruik-
Shank."
Hantikon Drewe felt very much as if an elephant's foot
were upon his neck:--or as Bony may have felt under
the influence of one of Samuel Johnson's knock-me-down
, diatribes.
How far we concur with the remarks of
Hargood, dim Mrs. Gore, we will not now say,

ran 1i R 3EI4

. Mrs pi,tir4nsl ot4,•MT.l..ghtirekeray are not
y before
judiciall our, eritipal court, and other
oPportunities Willeecnk for rioting the faulty ten-
Alencies of their imitators. In the Meanwhile
Ave could wish that Mrs. Gore could eut out of
her manuscript the passages in which •she
Affects to philosophise, as it is in her rake-
aions that her mannerism is most conspicuous
--.-the point on which her detractors are wont
to fasten. • Take, for example, the following
passage :
There are more things in the age of clubs, and turf. and
ateeple•chases,than are dreamed of in academic philosophy.
The gorgeous Parliament-houses of Barry demand other
hangs and other linguists than the homely old Chapel of
St. Stephen's ; and periods most be polished to correspond
with the,gildeil cornices and plausibility pumped up with
the excite vouchsafed to the conscript fathers,—
Like cats in air-putups, vainly doomed to strive
On sense too thin to keep the soul alive.
The apothegms of Bacon are ill-suited to the digestion of
a man who.dines on peat+ poles a la Bichansel ; and it is
like opening the batteries of Gibraltar. or Khrenbreitstein
on a battalion of Azteks, to encounter the trivialities of
Our cackling-and-crowing age of poultry shows and table-
turning, with that tremendous catapult called the wisdom
of our ancestors.
Read that passage aloud to a dozen novel-
readers, and ask them " Who wrote it ?" and
all would be sure to answer that "It must be
Mrs. Charles Clore." Not being amongst
her detractors, we can only say that we could
wish her to vary the pattern of her wit, and
take less frequently the tone of mockery ; and
surely she need not be behind her times
in still keeping to the exploded fashion of
interlarding her deacriptions with. French
phrases. Where has she been residing for
the last five years not to know that slip-slop
-from foreign language& has been banished
from good. Apiety? . fit} her present work her
French phrases are only half as numerous as
formerly, but scill they are too many. No
writer • half le., need of tesselatAig her
style than Mrs. Gore. If never ha4l Om-
pospd. any other novel than " Progress. and
Prejudice" it would attract ,attention to her
name ; and we have perused it with the addi-
tional pleasure of feeling that her powers are
still unexhausted.
•
Evenings in, ki Ant ; or, Wanderings in Balad
Ejja reed, Al ithe Rev. N. Davis, F.R.SS.A.
London: Hall, Virtue, and Co.
Ma. Ittiyis; has had ,great opportunities as a
traveller, ipr xuuis, though not unexplored
ground, is little visited;' and his position,
while journeying with the heir apparent to the
regency (Sidy illehammed Bey), if it some
times limited his freedom of locomotion, en-
sured him safe conduct in many districts
where no " infidel " could penetrate without
some such security. We cannot say that he
has made the most of these advantages.
Neither map nor itinerary form part of the
work, both of which are useful and almost ne-
cessary in describing such a journey. In the
absence of these we cannot fellow his route,
nor do his two volumes leave on the reader's
mind a very clear impression of what he has
seen. There is also a great deal too much of
the author's conversations on the subject of
religion, and of perpetually-repeated contrasts
between Mahometanism and Christianity--a
subject neither new in itself nor so handled as
to lead to profitableretlection. An ardent po-
lemic, though a very praiseworthy personage,
is not the most agreeable of travelling com-
panions. These faults are obvious, but, after
due deduction made on account of them,
enough remains in Mr. Davis's book to place
it above the mass of ephemeral " tours' and
"journals.". He has really seen things worth
relating, and he relates them to the best of
his ability. It would be ungracious to censure
a writer for not having done more.
The general style of this book is discursive,
but some passages throw new light on African
usages and ideas. Take, for instance, the fol-
lowing account of the half-maniacs, half-im-
yostote, who swarm in all Mahometau lands,
enjoying the reputation of sanctity :
The excesses to which these vile beings often carry
their wicked practices are beyond all conoeption. I have
known one. of the name of lien Yehye, who habitually
transgressed the laws of decency and order—whose language
was most blasphemous—who cursed his Creator, ridiculed
the Koran, and mocked the religion of Mohammed; and,
for all this, he was regarded as a Bash Dervish, an arch
saint This man would go up to a rich Mohammedan and

r.,./ ~sAwintPvir,

demand from him, in the most imperative manner, a sum
of money, which, if granted, the " saint" would dismiss the
donor in words like these :—" May you suou be cut off—
may misfortunes follow you in all your undertakings—
Cursed be your religion, you son of a dog !" People often
attempted bartering with Ben Yellye, offering him a less
sum, but he invariably insisted either upon receiving the
whole or nothing. 1 often spoke with Mohammedans, of
the highest respectability, about the impropriety of en-
couraging a man like this ; but the invariable reply was—
" You do not know him, he is a holy man, and a different
meaning is attached to all he says. He has performed very
marvellous acts."
" But are you ignorant of his immoral life ?"
" This, too, is a myateryto us, but for all this lie is a holy
man."
This superstition prevails also in Asia ; we
have ourselves heard one of the class hero
mentioned on receiving a pittance either less
in amount than lie expected, or given without
the, accustomed marks of respect, break out in
the most frantic imprecations against gift and
giver, whidh no bystander dared either 'to
ridicule or restrain.
Here is a sample of Oriental justice—nothing
less than a trial fur high treason. The culprit,
engaging in an attempt to seize the Crown,
had been defeated, and betrayed by one of
his own party :
The reigning Basha ordered the Sahaleettaba (minister
of the seal) to repair to Baja to examine into this titian.
When Ali was placed before this official, he was promised
his pardon on condition of revealing the whole plot, and
naming every individual implicated in the same. But
though, according to his oath and declaration, he had re-
vealed everything, orders reached Raja to send him to the
capital under a strong escort. The morning after his
arrival there, he was summoned to appear before the
Basile, who was in the Mahksmah (judgment-hall), ad-
ministering, according to custom, justioe or iujustiee• in
which he is chiefly actuated by his own discretion, or indis
cretion, at the impulse of the moment. The culprit was
placed before him ' • and the limbs, with fierce look, end
stern voice which,reverberated in the large Moorishhall,
addressed hint—
Art thou that dog Ali?
Culprit. My name is Ali.
Backs. And so, thou dog, thou didst aspire to be a ]ley
clidst thou not ?
C. Such is the will of God.
B. (in it greater passion.) Nothing less would suit thee,
thou vile and presumptuous wretch !
C. It is the will of God.
The examination (if this sample may be called such) was
continued a few minutes longer, the questions and answers
varying but slightly from this specimen, when the Basha,
in the greatest rage and fury imaginable, exclaimed,
" Bashlamba !" This officer (the high sheriff) at once
presented himself. The Basha simply pointed with his
forefinger to the culprit, and then added another horizontal
sign with the same finger. The doom of the ambitious Ali
was sealed ! By these pantomimes judgment was pro-
nounced upon him ! He was led into an apartment in the
vicinity of the judgment-hall, where he was pinioned, and
in less than an hour from the time his trial commenced he
was a lifeless corpse !
Theft is often punished with death, though
the Koran decrees only mutilation: this later
punishment is inflicted in a cruel manner', the
stump dipped into hot pitch, and the sufferer
paraded round the town with the amputated
limb hanging round hie neck by a cord. Many
criminals die under the bustinado, of which
2,000 blows have sometimes been inflicted on
one person. The civil administration is not
much better ,managed, 40,4t puts the
revenue at tibout eighteen millions of piastres
(eightpence each), or 000,0001., 'which is ex-
tracted with difficulty from three millions of
inhabitants. He reckons that ftilly as much
more is collected Which never reaches the ex.
chequer. The estimate, however, is vague,
and Mr. Davis is no financier.
Not the least interesting part of this work is
the description, though short and incomplete,
of the present state of Carthage. Mr. Davis
thinks that with care, like that which Lay-
ard has bestowed on Nineveh, valuable remains
of the ancient city might be dug out. The
difficulties in the way of explorers arise chiefly
from the iconoclastic fanaticism of the natives,
and the sand-drifts, which may at any moment
fill up excavations made in the soil. The for-
iner seems of the two by far the more serious
obstacle.
Observations on the Government Bill for Abolishing
the Removal of the Poor, &c. By Robert Pashley,
Esq., Q.C. London Longman.
To those who are acquainted with Mr. Pashley's pe..
collar powers the very title of this pamphlet is pa-
thetic. To the uninitiated it may be necessary to
explain that the law of settlement stands to Mr.
Pashley in the same relation as Diana of the Ephe-
sians did to Demetrius the silversmith. But there

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