The Press.
London, England, 1858-05-08 00:00:00

THE PRESS, MAY 8, 1858.

of the Church of England is not only a glory to
herself but a boast to the country, and has been
under Providence a great means of preserving
the heart of the nation sound. This author
must study his subject more closely when he
attempts to pronounce so vehemently.
The chapters entitled " The Throne," " The
Commons House," and " The House of Peers,"
want closeness of thought, and the author is de-
ficient in the knowledge appropriate to such
themes. He writes about them and not on them,
and he is vague, also, in many other of his topics.
Yet, on the whole, there are both talent and
freshness in the work, and he would be justified
in making another attempt to gain the public ear.

A Treatise on the Law, Practice, and Procedure
of Divorce and Matrimonial Causes under the
Act 20 and 21 Vict., c. 85. By William
Brandt, of the Inner Temple, Esq., Barrister-
at-Law. London : Butterworths.
WE have read through this little volume with
great interest, finding it to convey a large
amount of serviceable information in a small
compass, and exhibited in a lucid form. Of its
merits from a purely professional point of view,
journals exclusively devoted to the discussion of
legal subjects will be the proper judges. On its
technical excellencies or possibly deficiencies, we
could not speak with authority, and had there-
fore better not speak at all. But of its claims to
the attention of the general public we can
honestly say all that our opening sentence indi-
cates. As the tightness of the nuptial knot has
now been considerably relaxed, so as to bring the
possibility of its ultimate severance within the
contemplation of all young men and maidens on
their way to the altar, we should decidedly rank
Mr. 13randt's book among the list of necessaries
for " persons about to marry." To thorough
legal correctness (such at least we understand
is the expressed opinion of one of the highest
authorities on the subject) Mr. Brandt unites
something of a philosophic spirit which peeps
out now and then to relieve the dryer details of
the matter. He is indeed obviously writing
within himself throughout, and his pages hear
unmistakeable marks of a mind capable of rising
to high general views. Our readers must not,
however, suppose from this that Mr. Brandt is at
all given to dissertation. On the contrary, a
more closely-written work, even of a legal cha-
racter, we are not acquainted with ; and indeed
for the non-professional reader this virtue is
sometimes carried to excess. If the book has
any fault, it is that of extreme condensation,
occasionally productive of a rather diverting ab-
ruptness. It is rather amusing, for instance, to
open suddenly on a fresh division, commencing:
" The whole subject of cruelty was not long since
" carefiilly considered in the House of Lords." If
so, their lordships seem to have been rather fas-
cinated by the topic; for they returned to it
again with evident relish one night last week,
when they negatived without a division Lord
Westmeath's plan for affording relief to sick
people from the torture of the street organ. Such
things, however, are, as we need hardly say, no
real drawbacks to the substantial utility of` Mr.
Brandt's volume; and, as far as our own voice is
of any weight, we cordially recommend it to the
public.

Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott. Two Livas.
By the Rev. James White. London : Rout-
ledge and Co.

THIS is a small volume containing two critical
lectures on the lives of Bums and Scott. Fairness
and breadth of view, and a healthy spirit of appre
ciation, mark Mr. White's estimates. The subjects
are rather hackneyed, but Mr. White has Treated
them with freshness and independence ; and i► is
evident that he could rise still higher. Strength,
and a genial play of the human sympathies, are
visible in his criticisms on these two illustrious
Scotchmen. We cannot say that we go the entire
length with all Mr. White's views on the character of
Burns, but he has made out a great case for the
"Ayrshire Ploughman ;" and there was much genius
in Lord Egliutoun's noble speech at the Burns
Festival some fourteen years ago, when the noble
earl spoke of " repentant Scotland." The post-
humous homage paid to Burns has certainly been
immense, and it. has been well deserved. Yet six
months ago the poetry of Burns was mocked at in
the coarsest fashion in the leading articles of a great

441

popular organ ! As a specimen of the critical powers
which Mr. White brings to his estimate of Burns, we
may cite the following passage :
Now, a song, to judge from the number of them we
meet with, does not seem a very difficult style of composi-
tion ; but neither is it difficult to write an epic, or an ode,
or a trage ly—aa some people ha►e written them. lt is
remarkably easy to do anything ill. But to excel in song-
writing is given to the chosen few. There are more fine
plays and admirable poems than really excellent songs
written between Shakespeare and Burns. One reason is,
that music is such a powerful auxiliary that it very often
destroys the ally it was called in to aid. When the ear is
pleased, anil the words supply some association on which
the mind can pleasantly dwell in connection with the
melody, the hearer is satisfied, although the language is
unariistic or weak. Nay, when the impression is once
made, no amount of improvement ou the original words
will banish them from the popular heart. The burden of
the song has fixed itself on the memory from childhood,
and the music, though entering into a far higher and
loftier marriage (even with immortal verse), never ceases
to recall the charm it exercised in its early prime; and
people go on singing the rough old words, unmeaning
though they he, in preference to the infinitely superior
language to which the music would have been more appro-
priate. Conscious of this, it was one of the necessities of
litirns's position to retain the old chorus—the old story
where it was possible—but so to invest them with now
sentiments, so to raise them in poetic rank, ►hat the
singers were beguiled into the improvement, and the
lis'eners were elevated, or touched, or soothed by appa-
rently the same strains which hitherto had relied for their
influence only on their old associations. Thus we find
the beautirul ballad of " My sin kind Beery, 0," rise like
a gold•wineed bntterfiy out of the dull chrysalis of the
"Lea Rig ;" and from the prosaic commencement of an
old rhyme, " This is no my ain house," comes one of the
best and sweetest of modern love songs, " This is no my
sin lassie."

A song is indeed a most difficult species of composi-
tion. The grand difficulty in writing it is to produce
variety of phrase and thought on a single sentiment.
The treatment must be simple, and yet many tones
of expression must be touched. In this variety of
key Bums excelled, as we have shown on former
occasions. There are many passages which we should
like to extract from the characterisation of Walter
Scott by Mr. White. He eloquently says :

You are quite welcome t say he is not a aoarkling poet
like Nloore, nor a correct poet like Campbell, nor a philo-
sophic poet like Wordsworth ; but take him in his vigour,
in his characters, in his incidents, and descriptions—he is
worth them all. There is courage to be gained in the
manliness of hie style; and no man who ever wrote, whe-
ther in prise or verse, whether describing the lighted ball
of chivalrous nobles, or the simple habits of ordinary life,
or the ways and feelings of the lower ranks, no man ever
left such an impression on the reader that be was in pre-
sence not only of a man of surpassing genius, but of a
perfect gentleman. Not that this arose from his know-
ledge of what is called high life, or his possesgien of the
ease and dignity which we call characteristic of lofty
breeding; but it proceeded from the conviction that comes
upon you as yon read that here yon are listening to the
language of a brave and noble heart—of a man whose mind
never harboured one base or dishonourable thought ; who,
as we learn when we inquire into his life, grudged no
sacrifice to fulfil what lie considered • duty, and whose
ambitim, " that last infirmity of noble minds," led him
at last rather ti die at his post than suffer any person to
lose a shilling by reliance on his word. This is to be a
gentleman.

George IV. is not a favourite character with English
society, but many think that the abuse flung upon
him by Mr. Thackeray is too excossive; and the
publication of Moore's life has caused in many quar-
ters a reactionary feeling to some extent in favour of
the King. The following remarks from Mr. White
are well worth perusal, and they are temperately
ex pressed :

George IV., whom some represent as from the begin-
ning s mere selfish voluptuary—a sort of Henry VIII. of
the nineteenth century, without the manly qualities of his
prototype of the sixteenth—has great extenuaticns to plead
for the excesses of his youthful days. The habits of the
time were not in favour of tho quiet and decorum which
are indispensable at the present time. Society was then
constituted on the principle of the greatest enjoyment
with the least restraint. It may perhaps strike an unpre-
judiced observer that the Prince, entering life towards the
end of the last centnry, gifted as he was with remarkable
personal advantages and uninterrupted health, showed
symptoms of far higher qualities in the choice of his corn-
paniona theri his enemies have,beeri willing to admit. Redid
not look ronnd the peerage and find ont some dull snd thirsty
duke, to make him the comrade of his debauches. Stupid
marquises and melding headed earls were passed over
with disdain; and people of that elevated rank, in the
midst of their senseless orgies, considered that he was
addicted to low company. lint it is a curious fact that the
want of name and title in most of his familiars was com-
pensated for by wit, and learning, and eloquence. The
friendship he always showed for Sheridan proved that he
appreciated the areal qualities which almost redeemed that
wonderful man from all the failings of which he was the
victim. Wherever genius sprang up, especially if it was
united with the social qualifications which made the pos-
sessor of it an agreeable guest, there was no one so ready
As the Prince to recognise it in whatever rank of life it
appeared. When Moore came over from Ireland,
bewitched everybody with his sweetness of voice and

.
Wafts of manner, no time was lost by the heir
crown in giving him the entrée to Carlton-house

442

these occasions nothing could be more gracious than the
manner of the Prince, nothing more grateful than the
feelings of the Poet. The gracious manner remained, but
a short time saw the adulation of the songster converted
into bitter hostility, his cringing bows into murderous
lampoons, even the secrecy which should always keep
guard over the hours of unreserved intercourse betrayed,
and hospitality and condescension repaid with insolence
and invective. The Prince might be bad enough—we do
not defend him—but he was not worse than many oth r
persons of his time. He had only the misfortune of
being placed on such a height that his least proceed-
ings were seen, and at such a distance above the ob-
server that they could not be seen distinctly. But
this, at all events, was clear and patent to all, that
there was no cordon of exclusiveness drawn round the
social circle of the royal reveller. Talent found its way
into his private rooms, and such excuse and embellishment
as brilliant sayings and intellectual effort could bestow on
luscious viands and overflowing cups were not wanting in
the symposia for which he was stigmatised. He was not
afraid to throw off the armour of his rank, and descend
into the arena on equal terms. When he hid Moore at his
table, he sang song for song. When Walter Scott, in after
years, was a frequent guest at his suppers, he told story
for story against the best story-teller of the time, and
sometimes left it doubtful which was most successful. As
if for the purpose of publicly declaring his respect fur
genius, he took an early opportunity, after his accession
to the throne, of creating the Scottish poet a baronet.
This was perhaps intended, and was felt throughout the
country, as a compliment to literature itself. From time
immemorial court physicians had achieved that rank, and
court surgeons administered the bolus under the cogni-
sance of the bloody hand ; but no novelist, no historian,
no writer (as such), had ever been so distinguished.

The conduct of Moore to the King was, indeed, most
disgraceful ; but the subject is a melancholy one to
dwell upon.

PERIODICAL LITERATURE.

IF the tendency of the public taste may be de-
termined by the bill of fare provided by the leading
Magazines, our alleged preference of foreign to do•
mestic affairs has not been exaggerated. Out of
eight articles in this month's Blackwood, five are
devoted to foreign subjects ; and we are so far at
issue with the age as to think the remaining three
the most interesting. The papers upon food and
drink are brought to a close, in an article more in-
teresting to the general public than either of the two
preceding ones. "What will he do with it ?" takes
us into the fashionable world of London. The present
instalment is amusing; but the relation between
Lionel Haughton and Darrell is a little too much of
a repetition of that between Pisistratus Caxton and
Trevanion. A third article strongly advocates the
abol.tion of collegiate celibacy, but does not in our
opinion touch the root of the matter at all. We do
not see a single Round argument in its favour from
the first page to the last; and we question, indeed,
whether it is written by a University man at all. No
Oxford or Cambridge man, for instance, would talk of
young men being tempted by a fellowship "to
engage in the profession of literature."
The Dublin University is, with one or two excep-
tions, rather a heavy number. The four chapters of
" Gerald Fitzgerald" are capital; and the conclusion
of " Life and Death in Tipperary " is extremely
graphic and touching. " Strong Government and
Competitive Examinations" is rather a weak effort at
catching a popular tone, and contains many stale
fallacies dished up with spasmodic epithets and sar-
casms. " Parochialia," and " Trinity College, Dublin,"
are interesting and useful papers. But we do wish
that Scotch and Irish writers would learn to he
correct in their statements about English Univer-
sities ; e.g. :

The latter sentences, however, sufficiently dispose of the
argument founded on the Oxford fellowships; and we shall
add, that the mode of election is as different in the two
cases as is the nature of the office. At Dublin it is by an
open competitive examination, between the most distiu•
guished graduates of the University; at Oxford the minor
fellowships are obtained sometimes by relationship to
founders, sometimes by distinctions gained at Eton or
Harrow, previous to matriculation.
What rubbish

The New Monthly, as usual, has its two good tales,
"The Wager Boats" and "A Sad Story." We have
also a very good review of Froude's History of Eng-
land, and some very pretty verses called " Shottery."
Bentley, like the New Monthly, prevails by its
storytellers. The tales in this number are the only
really good things in it. But the other papers all
have merit of a certain sort. The Magazine still
seems well edited, and is well worth its money. We
should say, by-the-bye, of the tale called " Three
Hundred a Year," that the Lances are a little vulgar
with their ostentatious economy, and also a little un-
feeling in their sell.gratulations before the Courte-
nays when Mr. Lance's salary is raised.
The principal feature in the May number of the
National Magazine is the first number of "The Wit
and Opinions of Douglas Jerrold, collected by his
son, Blanchard Jerrold." Perhaps the best thing in
the present collection is the following
One evening at the Museum Club a member rely osten-
tatiously said, in a loud voice, " Isn't it strange, we had no