The Sun.
London, England, 1838-07-16 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

EDINBURGH REVIEW—No. CXXX.V.I.
Longman, London, 1836.

The success of those admirable sketches of the numer--
ous characters who have but lately passed off the
stage of life, which appeared in the last number of this
Review, seems to have put all its contributors on their
mettle, for the present number is admirably written ;
the articles well selected.; And discussed with more
than ordinary skill, temper, and eloquence. The first,
which is an elaborate notice of a philosophical work that has
recently been publishedin France, evinces much subtle
and profound thought ; the clos:ng passage, in particular,
is charactized by a reflective and impassioned spirit
worthy of Burke. In the review of " Sir John Barrow's
Life of Earl Howe," a variety of interesting extracts are
selected, which place the character of the hero of the
" Glorious First of June" in as amiable a light, as the pub-
lication of his memoirs by his nephew have placed Lord
Collingwood. In this notice we find a curious account of
the only interview that ever took place between Lord Nel-
son and the Duke of Wellington, which accordingly we
subjoin :

Having here incidentally mentioned the Duke of Wellington and
Nelson together, it may not be uninteresting to our readers to learn that
they met once, and but once, and then by mere accident. The Duke,
then Sir Arthur Wellesley, had just returned from his ever memorable
campaign in India; but his fame, though high amongst all those who
knew anything of the concerns of that remote region, had not yet be-
ahsibtiot risndpherysiitogpnrootnfity-
atcoholmteheten:sul print-sellers rlgiiaanrzt -ets.oe
n the masaen:dsu,oet afnrtsleoyr:ni e-tkthye ee
features,
tslotrmoe
see,x
now so familiar to all,
were then so little-known--even to Nelson—that, when he found him-
self one day in the waiting-room of one of the Secretaries of State in coma
pany with the great Eastern warrior, he knew him not. It was otherwise
with Nelson, whose deeds having been performed nearer home,
were far better, or, at all events, more generally known ; and with
whose appearance Sir Arthur could not but be well acquainted, even had
he had no other help than the signs over the inn doors on hils way from
Portsmouth. The natural attraction of genius drew them together—
and the Minister whose leisure they were waiting for, being lettig en-
gaged, these two illustrious men were left in conversation for some time.
The news of Sir Robert Calder's action had just been received, and ;his
naturally formed a principal topic of their discourse. Sir Arthur We;---
lesley said to Lord Nelson—" This measure of success won't do now-
adays—for your Lordship has taught the public to expect something
more brilliant." Shortly after this remark Lord Nelson left the wait-
ing-room, evidently to find out who his new friend was, and, returning
in a minute, renewed the conversation on a fresh footing. Nelson had
at that time some project for occupying Sardinia, and he wished Sir
Arthur to take charge of the troops on the occasion. But he replied
that he would rather not—that Ire had just returned from India—ha
short, he did not enter into that view. Soon afterwards Lord Nelson
sailed—the battle of Trafalgar was fought—and they never met again.
" Lady Blessington's Novels" furnishes the Reviewer with
an opportunity of starting certain peculiatageories respect-
ing the proper province of the Novel, in the course of which
he bestows high and deserved praise on the fictitious wri-
tings of Richardson, and a eulogium, surely exaggerated,
on that lackadaisical nonsense Goethe's Wherter. Allu-
ding incidentally to the far-famed " Pilgrim's Progress,"
he justly observes that ". the spirit which had overthrown
the Stuarts is more visible in Bunyan's allegory,
than in Milton's " Defence." This is a remark the
justice of which none, acquainted with the character
of those times, can fail to acknowledge. " Mr.
Plumer Ward on the Revolution of 1688," points out in
unsparing terms the many fallacies and erroneous opinions
contained in a late publication of this inveterate Tory, who,
however able and successful as a novelist, appears to be ill
calculated to play the part of an historical commentator.
" The character of Lord Chatham," is the cleverest and
most spirited essay in the Number ; and the comparison
instituted between him and his celebrated but overrated
son, full of justice. Rightly does the Reviewer say, that
the elder Pitt was the first statesman, and most effective
orator that this country ever produced. He had, indeed,
all the elements of greatness in his composition. Lofty
and sagacious in his views ; ardent, energetic, and fearless,
but with his ardour and intrepidity ever tinder the guidance
of reason ; ambitious, but sot beyond the measure of his
capacity, for then ambition becomes the mere sickly dream
of self-conceit ; full of manly faith in the resources of his
country, and skilful in the art of applying them ; impassioned,
and yet terse and argumentative in the quality of his oratory ;
an imperiou; master, who exacted the most rigid obedienc,l to
his mandates, and never shrunk from any undertaking frons
an apprehension of the difficulties that might beset it—Lord
Chatham was just the man to rouse the drooping spirit of a
nation, to draw forth all its energies, and direct them into
the most fitting channel. When be seized the helm of
State—for it was to all intents end purposes a seizure, the
King and the Court disliking, as much as they feared him—
he leund England in the most abject state of pros-
traticn, with a navy that could hardly keep the sea—
an undisciplined army and badly officered—France threa-
tening our coats—and our colonies wavering, discontented,
and hopeless of any effective aid from the Legislature.
In an incredibly short space of time sill this was chargasd,
as if by magic.. We felt that an able steersman was at the
helm, and at once flung despondency to the winds. Our
navies were triumphant by sea, our armies by land ; we
compelled France to dread the power she had so letely
threatened, and even to tremble for her own existence
and fit that. buoy:lilt confidenee in our own moral, physi-
cal, and commercial resources wl.ich has never since deserted
us: On his accession to effiee, Pitt found the Court and
aristocracy ernii'potent, enil the people nothing. What was
his instaat course of conduct f'l'o appeal to the good tense
and merge}' of the middle classes; to teach them the secret,
of which till then they were igeorant, of their own strength,
and by their aid—rever more willingly given—to check the
influence, and tame tie pride, of the Oligarchy. We look
on Chatham as by far the most indupendent, high-minded,
and consummate statesman Great Britain ever produced; and
are sat i,fieei that l'ges and ages will before we possess
such smother. " Life of' Lord Chief Justice Coke" is
an which ,A i.l be chit.fly hveresting to members of
rhe iced profession. " Oxford Catholicism" is tempe-
rately and roundly argued ; en I the Review of Chateau-
briand's wf,rk " On the Congress of Verona," coot. gins a
cllara:•-tcr of Maria Louisa,' the widow of Napoleon,
which, though harsh, is every tray cot rout
Unworthy creature! And as foonsli as base! Whilst her 'lt .rufous
Inhband was pining water a treatment more lalAorlitiehecentiraj nu it was
sigh
ra and more
ast::l,l
yt.haa:fl i3t.flrse-aestti,,mno.w ver hear-y.(lla
arvs the rock to
flint; Lcarted min
th.,avt,liseshoaintincit.,lll,liimce.s hmi:bset
the other r7jt mi ere of his
the e..price of. Iln:itched power, he had used moderately welt, vearte
WI their instances to Le allowed the gods and men w
sha!'hig his sufferings, she on whom his eve
ript tr,) in the stupidr. I tilt; u 2 g's.eaendrcebPiari:vflimh
ut
in love end courtesy—she,
a-
the fir,t An:Arian sol:l,er that ;Iv-eat:lad
nie etir;tict:e, hut not ralated with the,e
si fLosivhicfrtso tiom t
ahse
to t ;hove pasel;;e, she as oczopicd in the
this sato.: ;),lA,-,,. the retained as muds ,-I;llFting office cf laced-
whom, according
d en t• r.: te consort. The read :der
come; not
Insb:eit;plcte:a'sow'eni.tsl htahtes:ftioosrsbaols:eg; r:rvogic:l:ettlaelitie!'ar:ig:gt and
this
breyvitril;ei picture otatli
lin,eanecyilof
the
plst: rartotEt
iicsurlttraLl
coreespondc.nt-11:e c:livallons, the ririi.li,..,-,,nctiirefehampion of the cid i
,wd
tir
e Duchess of
nhl ic:mus;ceettf, h,E.I altU :101
;1'1,e:1 crie, t
George
tta ctefatuti hn°r3i:;
Qtlretl Caroline," which
speared in the list numb,'a , 'av- ee
fihidv°e:agu'ellret't!iteeirylf.ill'r(Oueml.r:this°Ln'ioenrd:lls
Souilon, in which he ex,,lialy mentions that George a°
Fourth tvaa reslly alai truly married to Mrs. Fitzherhert•
anti stt.aes the %there, the when, an:l even the witnesses to
the ceremony. And yet his Royal Highness, Frio-vir that.
er
iciltrivZsgio‘n.irndg cAiirr7ll4"otxi°t3o tdo'cl!adr(e.;ilsjoclrearyrrienm;ehdeitlaitoe'Udselioei
:::::curNaspoi,„),:hd'ss.'nge!‘b'ey her reels
up.
to
Gotnntotts, that there was not the slightest truth in the res
port of thu marriage! After this, what is to be said for
the personal honour of the " first gentleman in Europe ?"

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