The Sun.
London, England, 1838-11-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1838.

chiefly been experienced, at least since 1825, by the agri-
culturists of England. Those of Scotland and Ireland
have neither suffered nor complained so much.
We can point out a number of other modes in which the
Corn-laws injure and impoverish the cultivator of the soil,
but we must reserve some observations for another day.

LITERATURE.

DUBLIN REV IE W, No. X.
Booker and Dolman, London, 1838.

The objection that we made to the former Numbers of
this Review, namely, that they were too exclusively theo-
logical and, controversial in their tone, applies in a dimi-
nished degree, to the present, which still preserves much of
its sectarian character, though it has far more variety of
subject, and expatiates over a wider field than any of its
predecessors. Many readers will derive amusement and
instruction from this Number, who would have found the
preceding ones as barren as the road from Dan to Beer-
sheba. In particular, they will peruse with interest the
critical remarks on the " Orators in the Reformed Parlia-
ment," which have been suggested by the recent publica-
tion of Lord Brougham's speeches. This article, which is
by far the most generally interesting in the Number, fur-
nishes us with some criticisms on the oratory of Lords
Brougham, Lyndhurst, Grey, and the Bishops of Norwich
and Exeter ; to which we have little or nothing to oh-
ject, whether on the score of matter or manner, with
the exception of this passage, wherein the Reviewer discusses
the peculiarities of Lord Brougham's eloquence :—" His style
differs altogether from that of Demosthenes ; neither does
it .follow, like the speeches of Grenville and Tierney, the
school of Cicero. His Lordship's addresses are especially
deficient in the perspicuity which marks every oration of
Cicero ; and although they abound in evidence of an at-
tentive study of the severest models of Roman oratory, yet
they are not servile imitations, but show that, like a great
master, Lord Brougham has formed a style peculiarly his
own. He belongs to the same class of orators as Tully ;
to that class of lofty and majestic 'speakers, who distin-
guish themselves by the energy of their sentiments and the
dignity of their expressions. He is impetuous, diversified,
copious, and weighty, and abundantly qualified to alarm
and sway the passions. And yet when the nature of the
subject, or the occasion requires it, he can vary his style,
and be simple in his language, and moderate in his manner,
though dexterous and keen in his argument. In the accu-
mulation of matter in a sentence, in the involution within
involution, all rendered clear to the dullest perception
of the dullest. hearer by the modulations of tone and other
accomplishments of true eloquence, Lord Brougham is
unrivalled." There is truth in this sketch of his Lordship's
oratorical peculiarities ; but what does the Reviewer mean
by asserting that the " speeches of Tierney follow the
school of Cicero ?" They arc the direct antipodes of each
other. The one's style is curt, pointed, homely, and fami-
liar ; the other's, declamatory, dignified, and remarkable for
the long and majestic, though somewhat monotonous, roll
of its periods. Tierney packs up all he has to say, in the
smallest possible compass, utterly regardless of the embel-
lishments of diction ; Cicero pays quite as much atten-
tion to his manner as his matter, as any one may
see who will take the trouble to analyze his sentences,
which usually terminate with a polysyllabical verb, im-
mediately preceded by an infinitive mood. In the essay
on " Carlyle's Works," justice—and not more than justice—
is done to the talents of one of the most thoughtful and
original-minded writes of the day. Mr. Carlyle is fre-
quently obscure, and to those not accustomed to his style,
would appear affected ; but nothing can be further from
the fact. He is as sincere and earnest, as was Charles
Lamb, in his quaintness, which, we suspect, he cannot
remedy, even were he to think it worth his while to
attempt it. " Memoirs of Scott" give a just analysis
of Mr. Lockhart's late biographical sketch of this
great and good man. " Equality and Centralization"
is a clever and impartial estimate of the present con-
dition, social and political, of the sister country. " Anglican
Claim of 'Apostolical Succession" is an article chiefly of a
controversial character, and such as, we fear, will be caviare
to the generality of readers. The remaining articles in the
Number call for no particular comment.

THE KEEPSAKE.
Longman, London, 1838.
A more showy Annual than this has not yet made its ap-
pearance. It is a perfect blaze of gold and crimson silk.
Would that its literary merits were equally brilliant., but
justice compels us to state that they are, for the most part,
of a very mediocre character—mere paste pearls set in
gold. Yet, among the contributors to the " Keepsake,"
are to be found great Lords and Ladies, by the score,
whose august names and titles are repeated twice in
the course of as many pages, in order, we suppose, to itn
press the reader with a becoming sense of awe, and gratitude
for their condescension in entering the literary arena.
Foremost among these aristocratic contributors stands the
heir of the Ducal house of Granby, whose versicles, yclept
the " Shipwreck," convince us that a man may be a very
great Lord, and yet a very indifferent poet. The first
couplet of this remarkable outburst of poesy runs as
follows :

" Hope, thou who guidest man's unruly ways,
Whose golden Temple rests on future days."

The strange jumble of ideas in this last line, where a
" golden temple" is explicitly stated to be built on " future
days"—a truly Irish foundation !—reminds us of that equally
coherent rule-of-three sum which has puzzled so many
of the ablest examiners in the Cambridge Senate-house,
" if a leg of mutton cost three shillings, how far is it from
Westminster Bridge to the Twenty-fifth of October ?"
The rest of the Noble Marquis's poem is pretty much in
the same incongruous fashion ; indeed, so hopelessly dull is
it, that we protest on our honour we would tar rather
suffer " Shipwreck," than be compelled to wade through it
a second time. " The Spirit of the Wye," which professes
to be an imaginative tale, deserves notice for the diligent
exclusion, so visible throughout it, of everything like ima-
gination. It is from the pen of another small aristocratic
songster, who is in the habit of chirping on the lower slopes
of Parnassus with all the sweetness and vigour of a tom-
tit. Mr. Liddell's poem on the " Waterside" is neatly and
gracefully versified, and contains one passage replete
with stirring energy. The author, however, does not
work out the idea he intends to convey, with sufficient
perspicuity. " Stanzas" by Lord John Manners are pious,
but prosy. The first line, " Blest is he who ne'er repines,"
is, if we mistake not, a plagiarism from Sternhold and
Hopkins. Lord Maidstone's " Fountain of Trevi" con-
tains one pleasing thought, which we extract accordingly :
" Yet in this fountain's ceaseless flow
Is moral for the wise to know ;
On, on, we rush, a stream of men,
Falling and filling fast again ;
To some their course is g►ven from high,
With noisy splash they hurry by;
Some drop in placid dignity,
Some gently trickle down to die."

"Stanzas" by Lord Viscount Jocelyn, impress us, in every
line, with the conviction that it would have been far better
had they been left wholly unwritten. A mere blank page
would have been quite as effective for all poetical purposes.
" A short-sighted Adventure" is a lively prose tale, for
which we are indebted to the Hon. Edmund Phipps. Lady
Blessington's " Thoughts on Lord Byron" are just in
thought and elegant in expvssion. But decidedly the two
most interesting articles in Lhe volume are, Lady London-
derry's account of " the First View of Moscow and
the Kremlin," and Mr. St. John's tale, entitled, the
4 Marriage of Sion," both of which are excellent. The
last, in particular, is one of the most touching steries of an
imaginative kind we have perused for some years. The
plates of the Keepsake are twelve in number, and, with
one or two exceptions, executed with considerable ability.
The cleverest and most highly finished is the view of
" Byron contemplating the Coliseum," which is the pro-
duction of Mr. Willmore.

POLITICAL DISCOURSES.
BY GEORGE RAMSAY, B.M.
Edinburgh: Adam, Black, and Co., 1838.
This volume comprises five Discourses or Essays, on the
following subjects : The Foundation of Government
Civil Liberty ; the Vote by Ballot : the Equality and,
Inequality of the Social State ; and the Respective Ad-
vantages and Disadvantages of the Central and Local
Administrative Systems. however much the reader may
feel disposed to question the soundness of some of the
conclusions at which the author arrives, it is impossible
not to admire the absence of every thing like a partizan
spirit in the dictation of them. Mr. Ramsay's views are
clear and comprehensive ; he sees distinctly, and represents
lucidly, all the objections which may be urged in defence
of, and against, such measures as the Ballot : and though
we differ widely from him upon many points, we feel af
once that we can acquit him of any intenton to mislead us-
We have read his discourses not without profit, and have
pleasure in recommending them to the regard of the public