The Press.
London, England, 1858-06-05 00:00:00

THE PRESS, JUNE 5, 1858.

We see that Mr. Trollope in one or two places
makes a half-defiant apology for his bad law.
This might be well enough it he had tripped over
some slippery ground ; but Mr. Trollope's errors
are such as any one with the ordinary knowledge
of a middle-aged man of the world might be ex-
pected to avoid. They occur, at least, in cases
which are so frequently subjects of common con-
versation, that his carelessness has very much
the appearance of being wilful. For instance, it
is tolerably well known that the law does not
favour illegitimate children, but if possible ex-
cludes them from inheriting where they are not
positively identified as objects of a bequest. Yet
Mr. Troilope describes property as passing to an
illegitimate child by a will which is made simply
in favour of " the eldest child" of the testator's
sister ; and on this error the interest of his
book hinges from first to last. Again, he speaks
of an estate being " entailed" on a son after say-
ing a little before that it is -at the absolute dis-
posal" of his father.

Of the language of "Dr. Thorne," we may
may safely say that it has all Mr. Trollopes
force and liveliness in an undiminished degree ;
and of the general tone of the book that it is free
from that flavour to which very sensitive readers
have objected in some of his other works as
partaking of vulgarity. This much-abused word
is one on which an essay could be written. But,
taking it in its conventional sense of coarseness,
we do not think the term applicable to Mr.
Tmllope. lie describes coarse scenes, but we
don't think he loves what is coarse, or has any
sympathy with meanness or pretentiousness. To
those, however, who think differently, the pre-
sent volume will afford no ground of complaint.

PERIODICAL

Blarkwood this month contains two very spirited
°lineal articles, entitled " The Cost of Whig Go-
vernment" and The Defeat of the Factions." The

first shows up the sham of "Liberalism " most
thoroughly. The second is as graphic a narrative of
the origin, progress, and downfall of the " Cabal "
as could be desired. The fallowing passage is very
just :
We cannot conclude the narrative of these remarkable
events—a narrative which, we believe, speaks trumpet-
tongued its own moral—without according a meed of
highest praise to Lord Ellenle,rough and Mr. Disraeli,—
the two men to whom it is owing that such a battle for
political wisdom and humanity against persecution and
terribls folly, was fought at all, and that it was fought suc-
cessfully. The one saved India in this matter, and the
other England. Mr. Disraeli has the honour, we believe,
of having from the first discerned the strength of the
Ministerial position, and boldly resolved to appeal to the
country rather than abandon it. And to his consummate
leadership it is mainly due that the House of Commons
has been saved from committing one of the most terrible
errors, as well as deliniuenciea, which ignorance ever
prompted, or faction inspired. But our last and best
word must be reserved for Lord Eilenborough. Personal
connection and the influences of distinguished circles, and
still more, the factious iutueste of party, caused the
praises of Lord Canning to be sounded throughout the
recent dente with a zeal that far overshot the limits of
truth. But how few the tributes to that far nobler man,
who interposed to save our Indian empire from an act of
insanity, and then sacrificed high and honourable office
rather than allow faction to obtain a triumph at the expense
■like of British honour and British dominion. Lord
Canning had fallen into the greatest and most momentous
error ever committed by any Yiceroy of India; and instead
of dealing harshly with him, Lord Ellenborough's only
error was on the other side. Had he recalled Lord
Canning at once, history would have said that never was
Governor• General more justly displaced ; and the Factions,
compelled to encounter the question purely on the merits
of the rival policies, would probably have shrunk from
contesting the decision. It was on account of the noble
earl's leniency—it was just because lie censured and did
not recall—that the Factions were able to find a specious
ground of attack ; and it is deeply to be regretted that it
has cost the State so dearly to repel an attack so entirely
selfish and unjustifiable.

The two Indian articles, one being a narrative
of events in the Punjaub, the other a chronicle of
the doings of the Ist Bengal European Fusiliers
after the fall of Delhi, are well written and exciting.
" Blood " is a scientific (not a genealogical) article
into which we have not dipped. " Religious Memoirs"
is an admirable and well-timed essay, in which the
still lingering peculiarities of that school of
religious (?) writers whose piety consists in elon-
gated visages, ecstatic attitudes, and perpetual and
familiar mention of the Persons of the Trinity is de-
servedly flagellated. " May-day "is a brief and
humorous account of a gentleman newly returned
from India who got up early to enjoy an English
May morning, of what befell him in consequence,
and how he ultimately discovered the May Queen in
the barrack stables at Coventry. " What will he do
with it ?" is as good as ever. The public will now
have the pleasure of reading a monthly serial by an
actual Minister, a thing we should think that has
hardly happened before.
Fraser this month has a preponderance of literary
articles. Shelley, Louis Blanc, Matthew Arnold,
Mr. Kingsley, sod Fielding, are the principal topics.
The first article is by Mr. Peacock, and though
giving us little that is new, he corrects some mistake,
and writes with that easy command of his subject
that his acquaintance with the poet would warrant
us in expecting. The estimate of " Merope" does not
differ materially from that which we have ourselves
expressed. That of Mr. Kingsley is rather more
favourable. The latter article, by Shirley, contains a
good-humoured depreciation of criticism; but is
itself just as much criticism as anything we ordi
narily meet with. The fact, however, is not that
criticism is a useless art, but that the critic is so rare
an animal. We believe that no kind of literary ability
is less common. In the meantime literature is over-
run by a herd of writers who gain a livElihood by
telling people what they knew already, or by substi-
tuting their own crude fancies for those laws of taste
which they never learned. But true criticism, such
as that of Johnson or Coleridge, though, of course,
it does not " make" a poet, contributes very greatly
to the reader's enjoyment of him. To track our
emotions to their source is an additional pleasure,
which the man unacquainted with criticism is unable
to taste: and, if for no other reason, the art should
be encouraged and improved. We quite agree with
Shirley in the following:--

A most vigorous discourse—with the exceptien, indeed,
of the last line, which we do not like --

blow, thou wind of God!

Why, in preference t the winds which come from the
other points of the comport', the north-easter should be
more particularly under Divine guidance, we confess we do
not understand ; except, indeed, that the poet is thereby
assisted to a fitting rhj me and a forcible finish. We notice
what is obviously a very subordinate blemish, because we
think that Mr. Kingsley is prone to make use of this and
similar forms of expression. In the poem rm.-it " The
Outlaw," a poacher, for instance. justifies his occupation—
I Jo but hunt Gol's cattle upon God's sin hills.

No doubt there has been, alike in our literature and in
the other forms of vur social intercourse, too marked a line

Of the monthly serials, we have receiv,
Clitheroe, Davenport Dunn, and The Gordial
The tirst mentioned is now concluded, r
to have an opportunity of reviewing
length. The other two continue to increase
terest.

PUBLICATIONS RCCEIVED.-J1

The Indus and its Procinces, their Political and
Importance. W. P. Andrew. W.
Will He Marry Her?
Sermons. Rev. John CairJ, MA.
The Practice of Magistrates' Courts. Thomas
Second Edition. Law
Preachers and Preaching. Henry Christmas,

The Boltedly Virarium ; or, Insect Hume.
Humphreys.

. .
PAMPHLET.
Self help by Me People. Hurst and Blackett.

PERIODIC U.S.
Le Folkt. Siropkin and Marshall—The Englishi
Junneal. Piper and Co.—Hittory of Progress
Britain. Holliston—The Art Journal. J. S. Vii
Money Bag. Oakey—Bortkdge's Shakespeare. Henry VI
Routledge.

us seg ...a., so is In ICI sou
Greshamsbury from an autumn excursion which she had humorous account of a gentleman newly returned is so like another that we find it difficult to say any-
thing new about them each month. Two or three
made with Mrs. Cuibleby to Weston-super-Mare, she found from India who got up early to enjoy an English
that the delicious morning-services had died a natural May morning, of what befell him in consequence, tales by the clever writer who, during the last two
death. Miss Gushing did not on that account give up the and how he ultimately discovered the
,May Queen it
111 pule, but she was found to fight with no particular ad- the barrack stables at Coventry. " W hat will he do years, has added much to their attraction—two or
three notices of foreign literature—and generally
voltage in her favour. ( though not this month) a couple of political articles,
with it ?" is as good as ever. The public will now
We see that Mr. Trollope in one or two places have the pleasure of reading a monthly serial by an Conservative in Bentley and Whig in Coiburn—make
up the staple of their contents. Most of the articles
makes a half-defiant apology for his bad law. actual Minister, a thing we should think that has
This might be well enough it he had tripped over hardly happened before. are well done, but may dispense with close criticism.
some slippery ground ; but Mr. Trollope's errors Fraser this month has a preponderance of literary The Irish Metropolitan contains a good variety of
are such as any one with the ordinary knowledge articles. Shelley, 'Joni.; Blanc, Matthew Arnold, matter, including a fair article on Sir Charles Gran-
of a middle-aged man of the world might be ex- Mr. Kingsley, sod Fielding, are the principal topics. dison, and the commencement of a tale by the author
_ - pected to avoid. They occur, at least, in cases The first article is by Mr. Peacock, and though of " Whitefriars," which does not promise badly,
which are so frequently subjects of common con-
giving us little that is iiew, he corrects some mistake, called "The Irish Brigadesman."
versation, that his carelessness has very much
and writes with that easy command of his subject
- •
that his acquaintance with the poet would warrant
the appearance of being wilful. For instance, it us in expecting. The estimate of "Herope" does not Tait and Titan are much as usual—the letter
containing, of course, a ridiculous article .
is tolerably well known that the law does not English Universities. In a table professing to give
differ materially from that which we have ourselves
favour illegitimate children, but if possible ex- expressed. That of Mr. Kingsley is rather more
eludes them from inheriting where they are not favourable. The latter article, by Shirley, contains a the number of first-classrnlBe3nl taunrnde;lBsoor
hbeymenackehs
college between the years
the following gross blunder —he assigns to
4
positively identified as objects of a bequest. Yet good-humoured depreciation of criticism; but is
Lincoln College, none, whereas, even up to ►1.857,
Mr. Troilope describes property as passing to an itself just as much criticism as anything we ordi
the latest calendar we have by us, Lincoln. otbhtaionnttit
. illegitimate child by a will which is made simply narily meet with. The fact, however, is not that
no less than tweive; and yet this man is thought
:, in favour of " the eldest child" of the testators criticism is a useless art, but that the critic is so rare
sister ; and on this error the interest of his an animal. We believe that no kind of literary ability able to write on University subjects.
book hinges from first to last. Again, he speaks is less common. In the meantime literature is over-
.
run by a herd of writers who gain a livelihood by
of an estate being " entailed" on a son after sa ciOitherf thoee,mo
Davenport thleri
Duran s, w
ahnadv erhere
Gordian ved M
bunt. n
ing a little before that it is “at the absolute di' s.-- telling people what they knew already, or by substi- 'l' he first mentioned is now concluded, and wn hope
tuting their own crude fancies for those laws of taste to lase an opportunity of reviewing it at greater
pox
of his father.
which they never learned. But true criticism, such length. The other two continue to increase in in•
Of the language of " Dr. Thorne," we may as that of Johnson or Coleridge, though, of course, terest.
may safely say that it has all Mr. Trollope's it does not “ make" a poet, contributes very greatly
force and liveliness in an undiminished degree; to the reader's enjoyment of him. To track our
and of the general tone of the book that it is free emotions to their source is an additional pleasure, PUBLICATIONS RCCEIVED.--Joie 3.
from that flavour to which very sensitive readers which the man unacquainted with criticism is unable • BOOKS.
have objected in some of h
r other works as to taste: and, if for no other reason, the art should
is
partaking of vulgarity. This much-abused word be
.encouraged and improved. We quite agree with
Shirley in the following:-- The Jades
macneditsWP.rop.ciAncnetis
re, their
w. Political
via
.n
G.
. AllenCßo :alai
dr ccgi noel.
Will He Marry Her.
is one on which an essay could be written. But,Blackwood,.
A most vigorous discourse—with the exception, indeed, Sermons. Rev. John Cainl, MA.
taking it in its conventional sense of coarseness, The Practice of Magistrates' Courts. Thomas W. Saunders.
of the last line, which we do not like : Law Titus Office.
we do not think the term applicable to Mr. Second Edition.
Blow, thou wind of God!
• Tmllope. lie describes coarse scenes, but we Why, in preference ts the winds which come from the
don't think he loves what is coarse, or has any other points of the compass, the north-easter should be Preachers and Preaching. Henry Christmas, M•A w• .. .}'Ll'eS3.:
sympathy with meanness or pretentiousness. To more particularly under Divine gui.lance, we confess we do
not understand ; except, indeed, that the poet is thereby The
H amßlepthtererflycy Virarium; or, Insect Home. B. noel
those, however, who think differently, the pre- PAMPHLET.
assisted to a fitting rhyme and a forcible finish. We notice
sent volume will afford no groun p
dof comlaint. what is obviously a very subordinate blemish, because we Self-help by the People. Burst and Blackett.
think that Mr. Kingsley is prone to make use of this and PERIODIC U.S.
PERIODICAL LITERATURE. similar forms of expression. In the poem ramPd " The
Ir°,T r4ea4 St
Outlaw," a poacher, for instance. justifies his occupation—of Progress in ../..,‘.
Blarkwood this month contains two vely spirited j./4.Fa/Ikl.
PiperSiainpnkdio
Co.—History
mi:toryl Jo but hunt Gol's cattle upon God's ain hills.
i °lomat articles, entitled "The Cost of Whig Go- No doubt there has been, alike in our literature and in
I
verntaent " and - The Defeat of the Factions." The the other forms of our social: intercourse, too marked a line 11- outlYedgeg..
Byruitnaein.BaHonolsatkory_TßokeNAtkrtaieJo.i:rsnhal.atespJ
ea. Sr., irtHa:l-1---ui.vl.
Marshall—The English.