The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-27 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

THE QUARTERLIES.
The Edinburgh Review. No. CXCVII.
Ecclesiastical subjects preponderating in the cur-
rent number, impart a pervading tinge of a reli-
gious character this quarter to the Edinburgh.
" Hippolytus and his Age" are respectively consi-
dered in a clever review of a recent and remarkable
work of the Chevalier Bunsen—the critic affording
the reader a curious insight into some of the pecu-
liarities of controversy in the earlier ages of Chris-
tianity. Reference is made in another article to
the present position of the Catholic Church—its
position, not in the age of Commodus, but in that oi
the third Napoleon—in the course of a paper sug-
gested by the masterly pamphlet given to the
world within the last few weeks by the eloquent
and gifted Count de " Montalembert." There is a
contribution, moreover, expressly directed to the
consideration of the question of " Cathedral Re-
form." There is another relating to the influence
of Catholicism on the fine arts—being a notice of
" Mrs. Jameson's Legends of the Madonna." Be-
I yond all, there is a magnificent paper on " Saul of
Tarsus"—ethical and biographical in its character.
For its reverent spirit it miolit be the effusion of
Henry Mr. Rogers--for its thoughtful originality
it might be the production of Mr. Helps—for its
grasp of facts, culled alike from Church history and
from the profane annals of antiquity, it might be the
composition of Sir George Stephens. It is, to our
thinking, incomparably the gem of the number—
an essay reflecting honour even upon the luminous
reputation of the Edinburgh. After commenting
upon the early diffusion of the Jews, the writer
makes particular mention of the Greek influence
and the Roman influence upon Christianity. Sub-
sequently, in pointing out the conditions for dif-
fusing Christianity, he explains the peculiar fitness
of the time selected by the Divinity for the epoch
of the Redemption—of the place chosen for the
scene of that awful and sublime tragedy—and of the
man especially.marked out by God as the Apostle
of the Gentiles, and, therefore, as the diffuser of
Christianity. As to the spot—it had already been
remarked that " the City of God was built at the
confluence of three civilisations"—Greek, Roman,
Hebrew. From Palestine, from Jerusalem, Chris-
tianity emanated. It spread at a time when the
dominion of the earth had fallen to a great ex-
tent under one (the Roman) authority—when
even the barbaric races were beginning to
feel the influence of Greek civilisation—when the
Jews were so widely scattered that Asia was full
of them. Having insisted upon these facts, the
reviewer goes on to show most lucidly that the man
who was to be the diffuser of Christianity must
have been a Jew, must have been a Pharisee, must
have had the rights of a Roman citizen, and the ad-
vantages of a Grecian education. All these, he re-
minds the reader, were the characteristics of Saul
of Tarsus. He then enters more at large into the
details of his biography. The article is one of uni-
versal attraction ; and we can, therefore, with more
than ordinary confidence in having our recommen-
dation followed, urge its perusal upon the public,
as calculated to impart a surprising amount of valu-
able and curiously-combined information. Occa-
sionally there are remarks in the course of the
article with which we ourselves cannot in the
smallest degree sympathise ; but in the main the
effusion is one reflective and reverent in its charac-
ter. One observation of the critic in reference to
the death of St. Paul is remarkable, as coming from
this authority, namely, the remark that, "gathering
the evidence (of that event) for ourselves, we may
safely assume that he died by martyrdom, and pos-
sibly at Borne." Another contribution of a very
different nature refers to " Our Indian Army ;"
and a seventh to " Jervis's History of the Island.
of Corfu and the lonian Islands." Upon the re-
maining articles not yet mentioned in the present
notice—namely, one upon the " Hungarian Revo-
lution," and another upon " The Fall of the Derby
Ministry "—we have already (in our leading
columns) commented.

The Quarterly Review. No. CLXXXIII.

The biographical articles are the most attractive
in the current number of the Quarterly. Of the
political essay., relating to " The Budget and its
Results," we have already spoken in our leading
columns—reprehending in our character as Liberals,
and therefore as impartial spectators, the ingrati-
tude evinced by our old Tory contemporary to-
wards the late gifted and brilliant Chancellor of
the Exchequer. Reflection only confirms us in our
first impression, that the attack on Mr. Disraeli
originated in motives of a personal rather than of a
public character. The community will remember,
therefore, upon this as upon every similar occasion,
that the acrimony must be seasoned or rendered
palatable cum jrano salis. A very curious paper
is given this quarter upon the subject of " Shooting
Stars, Meteors, and Aerolites." In the course
of his ingenious dissertation the reviewer
might have quoted, not without profit—
for there is poetry, if not philosophy, in the verses
—that exquisite chanson of I3eranger, the refrain
of which runs (as most of his do) so musically :
" C'est une eteile qui file, qui file,
File et disparait."

The paper on the " Vauxhall Factory Schools,"
suggested by the Special Report of the Directors
to the proprietors of Price's Patent Candle Com-
pany, is scarcely less a curiosity. It will be read,
however, with advantage—uninviting though it
may appear in subject—stored as it is throughout
with information. A remarkable contribution is
given in the Quarterly upon our syystem of " Indian
Administration." In the very exordium of the
article devoted to the consideration of the " Count
de Montalembert on Catholic Interests"—it is said
of him by the Quarterly Reviewer that he is " a
man who, alike by his genius and his virtues, does
honour to his order, his country, and his Church."
Aimagnificent eulogium, but an eulogium eminently
well deserved. Very many thousands of the more
intelligent part of the community will peruse with
interest the elaborate paper on the " British Mu-
seum "—of all, the noblest of our national institu-
tions. The biographical essays already alluded to
as giving colour to the present number of the
Quarterly—have reference, one to the " Life and
Letters of Mr. Justice Story," another to the
" Cloister Life of Charles V.," and a third to the
" Memoirs of Wordsworth"—all of them admirably
appreciative, more particularly the one referring to
the late Poet Laureate. It is absolutely refreshing
—we acknowledge it at once—it is absolutely re-
freshing after so much maudlin homage to an in-
tellect that its worshippers ranked scarcely onA
degree below that of Shakspere—yes, we repeat it
again and again, it is absolutely refreshing to find
the Quarterly, when speaking of Wordsworth in
reference to the last age, "so prolific in distin-
guished poets," manfully " dissenting from the pre-
diction, that posterity will allot him the highest placr
in the brotherhood." We go with the reviewer heart
and soul in this—such having for a very long period
been cur calm and implicit conviction. Previous
to the foregoing remark, the writer has observed of
Wordsworth, "In the species of diction where
he had no precursor, he is never likely to have any.
successor." To which we respond with all the fer-
vour that human lips can express—thank God !
And so end we our condensed notice of the Quar-
terlies.

THE DUBLIN EXHIBITION.—BERLIN, JAN. 21—The
Dublin Industrial Exhibition of this year will receive a
most valuable contribution from 'Prussia. The inde-
fatigable agent of this undertaking here has succeeded in
getting together a most interesting collection of the
works of the most celebrated living painters, sculptors,
and other artistes of Prussia, which, together with the
uoCmhpalemthee rerspr of
us Cenotarn:
elite of Prussian manufactures, to which the G overn-
gProfessoru p
I nm
ee rncte istOne:27llBiburait, will formamwoilling the different
most
tion of the present state of the fine arts and industry i i
y.
colossal
tmh
ai sg n ei
fio li
centn t r
ofl( St.is GaiesorwgoerakirindgthheaDrdragaotn:
in order to get it ready in time for the Exhibition. This
subject is chosen in ' honour of England, and to express
his o
fire and wn feelings of admiration for that country. The
grandeur, and, at the same time lightness and
elegance of this group (fourteen feet high), are only to be
appreciated ou seeing the work itself. The Directors of
the Hamburgh Railway have conceded to the personal
representatives of the agent a reduction in the freight of
all works of art destined for the Dublin Exhibition—an
accommodation and facility which has been denied to
the Committee of the New York Exhibition on another
railroad.—Times.
S.--
RAILWAY AND OTHER BILLS ON STANDING ORDER
__ .
Yesterday the standing orders were declared complied
with in the case of East Grinstead Railway : For a rail-
way from East Grinstead to the Three Bridges station
h Coast Railway.
of the London, Brighton, and Snodut
Coates,
the parlia-
Messrs. Dyson, Hall, Parkes, and
big,
and stated that
mentary agents, appeared for the estimated cost of the line was 47,0001., that the sub-
scriptionextent of 40,0001., with
list was signed to the:
Llanidloes and Newtown Railway
4,0001. paid up.—
declared not complied with in
The standing orders were
this case on a technical allegation, to the effect that t,
od was
• near a road cross not shown on the sec-
cutting
select committee on standing orders.
tion referred to the
parliamentary agent, stated that the pro-
posed capital and Mr. Wyatt.
ccost of the line would be 60,000/., and
tion contract was signed for 45,2001.
Londonderry,
that the Coleraine,subserip
and Belfast Railway : The
standing orders reported yesterday as complied in this
compliedwith, but technical
"not' ongrounds
case were
only.
NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY.—The accounts to
to be submitted to the half-yearly meeting upon Satur-
day next were issued yesterday. It appears that the
total receipts during the half-year amounted to 79,9921.
12s. 4d. The expenses during the same period were
53,3501. ; leaving a balance applicable to the dividend of
26,6421. Os. 7d. The proposed dividend of 3s. per share
will absorb 24,2261. is. • leaving a balanpe of abolv.
21416/, to be carried to the next account.