The Sun.
London, England, 1839-08-19 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

AMERICAN PERIODICALS.
THE NEW YORKEIt--NEW YORK
MONTHLY MA GA GINE.
Greeley, New York, 1 539.
Notwithstanding the variety of new works, periodical
and otherwise, that are almost in daily course of publi-
cation at New York, Washington, Boston, and the
other great cities and towns of the Union, the day, we
fear, is yet distant when America will have a literature
of her own, perfectly indigenous, cast in a fresh, original
mould, and reflecting, as in a mirror, the lights and
shades of the veritable national character. At present,
though she produces many books, and some of sterling
merit, yet she cannot point to any one single publica-
tion, and say, " this is genuine home growth ; here you
see the true impress of the American mind, uninfluenced
by European associations, and owing nothing to the
mother country's habits of thought, or sentiment."
America, we repeat, cannot yet venture to make
this boast. And why ? Because she lacks a
manly confidence in her own intellectual resources ;
is fettered by precedent ; and takes fright at the bare
mention of the word, originality. Her literary am-
bition is moderate, and on a petty scale. She is satis-
fied with the praise of being a clever imitator ; and
deems herself successful or otherwise, as she approaches
to, or recedes from, her great English models. In
poetry, she is content with closely copying the manner—
frequently the very thoughts—of Wordsworth, He-
mans, and Byron ; in the short essay and sentimental
tule, as in the instance of the " Sketch Book," she
imitates Addison, Sterne, and Mackenzie ; and in the
novel, she is a docile pupil in the school of Walter
Scott. Doubtless, these are good models to draw from ;
but why should not America—as France, Germany,
and even Poland, if we may credit Dr. Bowring, have
done—found a school of her own, set up in business for
herself? She has abundant materials to work from ; is
quick, active, intelligent, and closely observant of cha-
racter ; and may be strictly original, even though using
the mother country's tongue. At the present moment,
we can call to mind but one transatlantic wok th it
possesses the slightest claim to originality. We allud
to " Sam Slick," the indigenous character of which there
canbeno possibility of mistaking ; but then, it should be
borne in mind that the author of this amusing trifle is a
Nova Scotia Judge, and can, therefore, be scarcely
claimed by Jonathan as a countryman. It is nothing
to the purpose to say—as some periodicals have recently
said—that America is yet in her infancy; that national
literature is a plant of slow growth ; and, consequently,
that she must be allowed time for the ripening and full
development of her faculties. She is far more en-
lightened than England was at the time when Chaucer
wrote those works which are still the admiration of his
countrymen ; and in the myriad shades and varieties of
her national character, she possesses a wider and more pro-
lific field for the exercise of original powers, than our
dramatists ever possessed, even in the days of Elizabeth.
Let America, then, take heart ; turn her own abundant
resources to account ; and dare to write from her own
impressions of things, careless what English critics may
say of her, who, after all, will never condemn her for
laying aside her old models, but rather praise her for
the judicious boldness that prompted such a step. To have
a fresh, original literature of her own, she has but to
will it. We were led to these reflections by a collection
of New York Periodicals which have just reached us ;
and which—as might have been expected—have nothing
but the publisher's name to distinguish them from si-
milar English publications. They a!! possess talent,
though by no means of a high or rare order ; but this
talent has little or nothing of an American cha-
racter about it. Slight, essays, still slighter tales
and sketches, drawn, not from observation, but
from fancy, aided by recollections of the works of some
of our modern writers ;—such is the starle of these
transatlantic periodicals which, though dated " New
York," might, with just as much propriety, be dated
" London." Thus much for those articles which profess
to be original ; as regards the others, we have merely
to say. that they are selections from our own weekly and
monthly miscellanies ; and among them, we perceive
re-prints of the series of tales entitled " The Picture
Gallery" in Blackwood's Magazine ; and of several
amusing prose sketches in Fraser, Bentley, and the
Athenaeum.

TWELVE SERIIIOiVS, delivered in the New Temple
of the Israelites at Hamburg, by Dr. GOTTHOLD SALO-
MON. Translated from the German by ANNA MARIA
GOLDSMID. London, Murray, 1839.
In a modest, well written preface to this volume, the
translator informs us that she has two objects in offer-
ing it to the public.:—the hope of promoting practical
piety among such of the Hebrew community as do
not understand German, by adding from that lan-
guage to their sources of religious instru2tion ; and the
expectation of removing the prejudices of ignorant but
well-meaning Christians, by enabling them to obtain an
extended and accurate knowledge of the actuating faith
of Israelites. We have rarely met with any work
better calculated to realise these truly laudable objects
than the volume of sermons now before us. Dr.
Salomon is not a cold expounder of obsolete mysteries ;
an enunciator of tedious essa3s filled with trifling
details of ceremonial observances, and common-place
morality. The decent debility which is the main cha-
racteristic of most English sermons is equally abhorent
to his taste, his temperament, and the liveliness
of his religious zeal. His piety is practical,
his hope sanguine, and his tolerance universal.
His rule of faith is the law as delivered to Moses, and
as manifested throughout the Mosaic dispensation ; and
that this law teaches charity, love, long-suffering in
patience, and the most generous benevolence, is warmly
inculcated in every one of his discourses. We quote, as
an example, the following passage from his sermon on
" the Spirit of the Mosaic Religion" :
" What light is to the mind, love is to the heart ; and
as our spirits yearn for light, so do our hearts thirst after
affection. A religion that should leave this thirst un-
slaked, might well be suspected, for it would be ill adapted
to man (who possesses a feeling heart as well as a think-
ing mind,) in whom not only a thinking mind, but like-
wise a feeling heart is constantly demanding nourishment.
But blessed are we, my brethren. The very life-breath
of our religion is love, and the image of the Creator, which
we bear in ourselves, can never manifest itself more
worthily or more completely than in acts of lore; for it
is only by love that we can become like him
who loveth all. Our religion tells us that one
God has created us, our text tells us that God is near,
is closely related to us. Can there exist any closer rela-
tionship? He is our father, and the father of all living.
One and the same dwelling-place is appointed for us and
them here, one and the same is destined for us hereafter ;
the beginning and end of all are alike I Shall that por-
tion alone which lies between--that span of time which
we call life, be unwarned by the bright beams of love ?
Mankind are the companions of your journey ; love them
as you love yourselves. But you pause to reflect. Is it
because, perchance, another town, another country,
another continent, lies between you and your fel-
.man ? Ought a foreign city or a strange
land, or an unknown region, then, he deemed an impas-
sible barrier between hearts formed alike ? Are
not both they and you still the creatures of God ? Are
ye not still brethren? Is not God the God of the whole
earth ? Is not his name to be praised, from the rising of
the sun to the going down of the same? Love the stranger
also, as thou lovest thyself! Do you again hesitate ? There
lies between you, perhaps, something more than a conti-
nent—a different creed. But say, ye that have feeling
hearts, suppose that of two born of the same parents, the
elder is tali enough to embrace their father, while the

younger can only Clasp his knees, must not the elder and
the stronger assist him, who is yet too little and too weak
to climb to the parental bosom ? Should difference in
strength cause difference in fraternal love ? The heart
answers, No ! and so speaks religion also. This love will
assume every conceivable form that can serve to bless ; it
will be meek and ready to assist enemies and offenders ;
tender and compassionate to the wretched and unfortunate;
forbearing and indulgent to the weak and infirm; gentle
and kind to those of lowly condition, who have the more
need of love from their fellow-men, the more they appear
to be without the love of their father, in this their earthly
life."

" Love God and thy neighbour, and thou halt ful-
filled the law," is the sacred language of the Gospel ;
and to the thousands of Christians who have ignorantly
believed that the religion of the Hebrew in-
culcated a less amiable morality, the passage
which we have quoted from the eighth sermon
of, Dr. Salomon will bring indeed tidings of great
joy, though unhappily not unmixed with self-humiliat-
ing reflections. The unmerited obloquy which has been
heaped by ignorance, by prejudice, by avarice, and by
blind zeal upon the moral and religious character of the
Jew for more than a thousand years, will visit the con-
science of the sincere Christian with a degree of self-
reproach equal to the satisfaction with which he will
learn to eschew errors so fatal to the civil liberty and
social well-being of so numerous a class of his fellow-
creatures. But there are among us a race of worldly
men with Christianity in their mouths and Mammon in
their hearts, who affect to exclude the Jews from a par-
ticipation in civil rights, under the plea that their re-
ligion forbids them to discharge the duties of citizenship
in Christian States. This plea is very specious, and
would be unanswerable were it not wholly without any
foundation. Hear the testimony of Doctor Salomon,
who thus addresses his co-religionists upon the
subject :
" There is no law in the religion of Moses to hinder
you from devoting your powers to the State to which you
belong, to the Fatherland which protects you, at whatever
hour, or on whatever day your services may be indispen-
sably necessary. Parents ! there is no law in the
religion of Moses to prevent your labouring unwearicdly
for the welfare of your children. Women ! aged
and young—there is no law in the religion of Moses to
prevent your cultivating the noble capabilities of your sex,
_promoting the happiness of, and thus embellishing your
homes. The professor of the religion of Moses is admo-
nished to encourage all that can contribute to social har-
mony, and to prevent whatever tends to its destruction."
It is well and beautifully remarked by the trans-
' slator, that, " if, in religious discussion, men of
all creeds would seek, not points of dif-
ference, , but points of agreement, how much of
the strife and bitterness that deform God's earth would
disappear—mutual ignorance it is that but too often
produces mutual alienation." We believe that the brief
quotations we made have from this volume will attest

' this most important fact, too long overlooked by the re-
ligious world ; and to Miss Goldsmid the Christian
public is deeply indebted for the practical inculcation of
so morally sublime a doctrine. What she has ad-
vanced is not new, but she has proved it to
he more than a theory. We may also observe thet there
is something very touching in the spectacle of a Hebrew
Maiden thus endeavouring to remove the prejudices and
errors which have for centuries impeded the moral and
intellectual improvement of her race ; and we feel con-
fident that the exertions of one so worthy of success will
not prove unavailing. She has put her hand to the
plough—let her not look back. In conclusion we re-
commend this Volume not less to the attention of the
Christian than the Israelite ; as affording to all much in-
struction and assistance in the prosecution of a life of
piety and benevolence.

IGNOMINIOUS AND ILLEGAL
TREATMENT OF MR. O'BRIEN.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—The Newspapers of Tuesday announced the
arrest of 'Jr. James Bronterre O'Brien on Monday
night, on a charge of " sedition ," but the public have
not yet been informed of the treatment experienced by
him. It is necessary that this, and all similar things, be
noted, and treasured up in the minds of the people.
In the first place, if mere paltry vindictiveness had
not been the motive, the " ends of justice" might have
been satisfied by arresting Mr. O'Brien at a proper
hour in the day time, but he was taken at 11 o'clock,
P.m., purposely to make him pass the night in a foul,
unwholesome dungeon.
Mr. O'Brien had not, at any time, attempted to ab-
scond ; therefore, he might have been apprehended at
a suitable and decent hour, when the police-office was
open, and bail could be procured with facility and with-
out delay.

But it was, undoubtedly, considered a glorious triumph
for the persons in power to " cage" one of their most
influential political opponents. Mr. O'Brien was shut
up at 11 o'clock, in a cell (at the Bow-street station),
usually allotted to persons accused of murder, assassi-
nation, and unmanageable and obstreperous drunkards ;
and was not allowed to communicate with any of his
friends till 10 o'clock of the afternoon of Tuesday,
when Messrs. Rogers and Hartwell were received as
his bail.

If the Aristocrat-ridden English have not a Bastile
and lettrcs de cachet in name, they have them in sub-
stance, at the present interesting time of liberticide.
Now, setting aside the malignity of thus acting to-
wards a political adversary, I contend that it was not
merely base, it was also enormously " ILLEGAL."
The " Law" (boroughmonger-made, judge-made, and
unmerciful, sanguinary, and disgusting though it be,)
supposes an accused individual to be innocent until he
is actually convicted by a jury ; and, as such, that he
ought not to be subject to any unnecessary and unavoid-
able annoyance or restriction.

" Safe custody" is all that is required by the " Law ;"
and Coke, Blackstone, and other law-notables, have
expressed this opinion.
But the fact is, that at the present moment of con-
vulsion, the " law of the land" is PHYSICAL FORCE—
the LAW OF THE STRONGEST ; and the Government,
having at its beck, soldiery, police, and Bens-d'arnies ;
special constables, armed with cutlasses ; yeomanry, and
all sorts of Congreve, Shrapnell, and other " infernal
machines," can make the Law" assume any shape it
chooses, as the ruling few do in Russia and Turkey,
To remonstrate with such a Government is useless ;
scarcely has it. left " free-born Britons" their ancient
privilege of grumbling in public ; but it may not be amiss
to hint to it that the more Chartists are persecuted,
the more rapidly will the principles of the Charter be
diffused throughout England, Ireland, and even Canada.
It may imprison, and crop the Jiair.of fifty Chartists ;
but it cannot imprison and cut the hair of the three
millions who will never cease to agitate until the Charter
is effectuated.

It may thrust the Democratic Chiefs into Bastiles ;
but it has not the power to confine the growing princi-
ples of the Charter and the Republic. It may treat
Chartist prisoners with ignominy and inhumanity—it
will only increase exasperation ; and if it goad the people
into a state of ptirenzy, it will be answerable for the
excesses of madmen.

I am, Sir, your very obedient servant,
JAS..H. LORYMER.
August 16, 1839.

IYDUSTRY WITHOUT REWARD.-The sad-
dest aspect the decay of civic society can exhibit, has al-
ways appeared to me to be this, when honourable, honour-
loving, conscientious diligence cannot, by the utmost efforts
of toil, obtain the necessaries of life ; or when the work-
ing man cannot even find work, but must stand with fol-
ded arms, lamenting his forced idleness, through which
himself and his family are verging to starvation, or, it may
he, actually suffering the pains of huuger.—Thomas Car-
lyle's new work.
GRATITUDE TO PARENTS.-When we are
aware that those to whom we owe existence have devoted

long years, during our infancy and youth, to protect, to
nourish, and to guide us ;--when they have thought
of us rather than themselves, sacrificed pleasure and
amusement and tastes and feelings for our benefit;—
when they have spent the weary hours of watchfulness
over the bed of infancy and of sickness ;—.when they
have rejoiced in our joys and mourned for our sorrows;
—when they have made efforts for us that they would not
have made for themselves, and even corrected us with more
pain to themselves than to us, for our benefit ;—when they
have felt it a pang, and yet a duty, to deny us what we
sought, and when they have given up, in short, time,
thought, pleasure, exertion, energy, hope, comfort, selfish.
ness, for our after-welfare,—when they have done all this,
and we know it, there is nothing on earth can equal, or
should equal, the love and gratitude of a child for his
parents.--Charles Tyrrell, by G. P. R. James.
THE NATIONAL HOLIDAY.—We copy the
following paragraph from the Chester Gazette, less for the
sake of the intelligence it contains than for the specimen
it affords of the spirit of the provincial press. Er uno
omnes disces—Whig as well as Tory :—" The humbug
of the sacred month,' as Stephens very appositely terms
this wicked project, has, as anticipated, ' fallen to the
ground.' It has proved the Rev. Gentleman to be a pro-
phet as well as an agitator. The reports from the manu-
facturing districts have been very alarming, but the facts
have turned out amusing, if levity can be indulged on so
serious a subject as riot and confusion. At Man-
chester the Chartists have been frustrated in their
foolish attempts at mischief—at Salford they fled
before the police like chaff before the wind,—at Oldham a
meeting took place, where "resolutions" only were passed!
...at Rochdale the women were the most uproarious, and
the mob that had assembled found safety in flight ; at this
place the streets were cleared by ten o'clock at night,--at
Middleton the Chartists appeared ashamed of themselves,
and in many instances returned to their work, while some
went to Rochdale and Manchester, to " assist" their bre-
thren in those towns,—at Bolton an attempt at a row took
place, but by nightfall all was quiet,—at Neweastle.on-
Tyne there was a complete failure of the national holiday,
—and at Birmingham not the least excitement appeared."
Miss LOUISA DRUNK 1.----Among the nume-
rous charges of " drunk and disorderly" which were
brought before the Magistrates on Wednesday at Lambeth-
street, was one against Miss Louisa A--, a young lady
of first-rate accomplishments, but who, unfortunately
spoils all by a most inordinate thirst for gin. The extra-
ordinary propensity to drink and intoxication on the port
of the young lady, has been a source of considerable
annoyance to her respectable friends and family, and led
to her appearance at this office on four or five previous
occasions. At one time, after a desperate debauch she
expressed a most fervent determination to refrain from all
intoxicating liquors, and to abide in the strictest manner
by the wishes of her friends. The latter, on this promise
being made, suggested the best means of insuring its ful-
filment, made arrangements with the proprietress of a
highly respectable convent in France for her maintenance,
for which a handsome sum was given. Miss A., agreeably
to her promise, proceeded thither, and for some time con-
ducted herself with the strictest propriety and decorum.
At length, however, her thirst for drink returned, she
marched of to a tavern in the town adjoining, where she
got gloriously drunk, and on her return to the con-
vent created a sensation among its inmates,
to which they were, up to that moment, utter
strangers. She struck right and left at all who came
within her reach, and even the mother abbess did not
escape her vengeance. So.extraordinary and violent was
her conduct, that an application was actually made to the
authorities of the town to have her at once removed to
England, which was done. After her return she had been
ire quently picked up from the kennel in so beastly a state
of intoxication as not to be able to articulate ; and her
clothes, which were of a costly description, covered with
filth and rendered useless. Some months ago her mother
died, and left her 4.0001. ; but aware of her habits, she
can only receive the interest in certain weekly sums A
policeman stated he had found Miss A. on the preceding
night in Stepney-green rolling drunk, and incapable of
taking care of herself, and he in consequence took her to
the station house. Miss A. admitted that what was stet%d
by the policeman was true ; but said she had not been
such a state for six months. She was discharged with
severe admonition.
of this
MYSTERIOUS CI RC UMSTA NCE.-0
last, the inhabitants of Marygate, in suburbstahlearm
from the
city, were thrown into a state of grehaor n Saturday
workhouse, which
re-
port that several of the inmates of
containing poison.
dinner, caused by partaking of
out to be too; rue, and
is situated in that street, had beensotautkpen suddenly ill after
The startling announcementi turneds_
soupAt noon on tne above
was served out to the
dayt e ftahcot s
customary'appear o
allowanceb be as follows.—Awns
o ofw
Shortly afterwards seven
through the workhouse master.
paupers, and two poor neibhbours also obtained some of it.
paupersned andbl.ae
black
the two otherexhibited
poetrhseorn sal
awererm
osi
and g woman, named
tion a young
orNv seizedheiitgfiheuti.
hstaheyeriiio.
gustuinrdisP
A boy in the workhouse was also in a
alarm-
ing symptoms.
dangerous state, and be was not expected to survive. INle_
dical aid, however,
was promptly obtained, they are all
in a fair way of recovery, though it was currently reported
that four of the persons had died. There cannot be much
doubt that poison has been placed in the soup by some
person with a murderous intent, by which an awful amount
of human life has narrowly escaped being sacrificed. As
the whole affair, however, is shrouded in mystery, we
would not be too premature in hazarding an opinion, as
we have no doubt the matter will undergo strict investiga-
tion. The remainder of the soup was committed to the
care of Mr. White, chemist, &c., Goodramgate, to analyse.
previous to the adoption of other measures. York
Courant.

EVENING EDITION

EV_ENING