The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-20 00:00:00

LITERA TU RE.

EDINBURGH REVIEW, No. 146.
Longman, London, 1841.
Colonel Napier's History of the Peninsular War,
which has been so severely attacked by the organs
of the Tory party, because it exposed the errors of
their policy as regards Spain and Portugal during
Moore 's and Wellington's campaigns in those coun-
tries, forms the subject of the first notice in the
present number of the Edinburgh Review. A
highly favourable opinion is expressed of the Gal-
lant Colonel's history, of which the Reviewer says :
" The work comes before us both as a work of art
and a testimony ; it might fail in the one capacity, yet
retain all its value in the other ; but if it justly chal-
lenge our admiration in both characters, their will it
take its rank in after times with those few but precious
records of antiquity, wherein the writer was an actor
as: well as historian. Judging the work as a
testimony, we find that it brings before us a new,
correct, and striking view of a series of transactions
of importance, equalling any that are recorded in the
story of mankind. Looking at it as a work of art,
it demands our admiration as a clear, ner-
vous, and interesting narrative, enriched with
profound and original disquisitions on the
art with which the author is peculiarly con-
versant, viz. that of war, and of which the
campaigns he describes afford unequalled illustra-
tions." This is great, and not unmerited, praise ;
but we must protest against the remark that the
historian relates " a series of transactions of im-
portance, equalling any that are recorded in the
story of mankind." The Peninsular war could of
course only have been of such importance, with re-
ference to its effects on the colossal power of Na-
poleon, and thereby on the destinies of Europe ;
but it was a mere episode in the great struggle,
which was not decided in Spain and Portugal, bu t
among the snows of Russia, and on the field of
Leipsic. Had Napoleon never invaded the Czar's
dominions, or, even subsequently to that disastrous
event, had he been able to maintain his ground in
Germany, and beat back the Allies ; the British
campaigns in the Peninsula, however successful,
would have had but little influence on his fortunes ;
Spain and Portugal would indeed have been rescued
from his iron grasp, but he would still have been a
mighty conqueror, with the greatest and fairest
portion of Europe at his feet. In hastily running
over some of the leading events in the Duke of
Wellington's Peninsular campaigns, the Reviewer
observes of his Grace that " the very safety of Eng-
land, brought to imminent hazard by the ignorance
and vices of faction,and of factious Ministers, depend-
ed on the fortitude, sagacity, and good fortune of one
man alone—and that man was the Duke of Wel-
lington, who directing, and being assisted by, the
indomitable courage and energy of an English
army, and favoured, too, by the fortune which had
deserted the great captain of the age, saved us from
disgrace and ruin, and brought the bloody contest
to a successful issue." On the " Life and Genius
of Rubens," is a criticism on the paintings of this
great artist, whose splendid colouring and fertility
of invention are dwelt on with special emphasis.
The remark that " his notions of the human figure
in both sexes were so biassed in favour of Flemish
exuberance, as to render them very unfit vehicles
for the representation of refined sentiment, dignified
passion, or pathos,' will be corroborated by all who
are familiar with the paintings of Re bens.
"Wrongs and Claims of Indian Commerce" is a
well considered statistic article, in which, after re-
commending that a fair proportion of the broad
current of British enterprise should be directed
to the shores of the east, to which end " the
diffusion of popular information is the first
requisite," the Reviewer insists that the amend-
ment of the laws under which lands are
sold for the recovery of arrears of revenue, is a
measure indispensable alike for the security of the
public resources, and to give safety and facility of
transfer, and warmly urges its adoption, " without
loss of time," by the Indian Legislature. "Lock-
hart's Ancient Spanish Ballads" is a review of a
delightful little work published many years ago,
and lately republished. In this criticism we are
assured, and the observation is a just one, that the
translator " has caught the emphatic feature, and
has in so doing combined sufficient fidelity in his
copy without losing the freedom and unconstrained
flow of his original, which he has frequently im-
proved by a judicious pruning." " Effects of the
Protective System," enters into this often-discussed
question at considerable length, and advocates inter
alia a thorough reformation of the policy of pro-
tection, the Reviewer contending that "unless a
decided change shall take place, our manufacturing
interest will be placed in the most imminent jeo-
pardy." On the " Financial State of the Public
Roads" is another article, exclusively of a:practical
character, and is penned in a just and rational
spirit. Of " France and the East',' we shall at
present say nothing, as we shall probably take an
early opportunity of canvassing the question in
another part of The Sun. " Comic Dramatists of
the Restoration" is a lively, ingenious essay, per-
vaded by a sound and healthy tone of criticism
and morals. We quote a passage or two, with the
spirit of which we cordially agree, and which is
suggested by the flagrant indecencies of the comic
writers of the days of Charles the Second :
" Dryden defended or excused his own offences, and
those of his contemporaries, by pleading the example
of the earlier English dramatists ; and Mr. Leigh
Hunt seems to think that there is force in the plea.
We altogether differ from this opinion. The crime
charged is not mere coarseness of expression. The
terms which are delicate in one age, become gross in
the next. The diction of the English version of the
Pentateuch, is sometimes such. us Addison would not
have ventured to imitate ; and. Addison, the standard
of purity in his own age, used many phrases which are
now proxribed. Whether a thing shall be designated
by a plain noun-substantive, or . by a circumlocution, is
mere matter of fashion. Morality is not at all in-
terested in the question. But morality is deeply in-
terested in this—that what is immoral shall not be
presented to the imagination of the young and sus-
ceptible in constant connexion with what is attractive.
For every person who has observed the operation of the
law of association in his own mind, and in the minds of
others, knows, that whatever is constantly presented to
the imagination in connexion with what is attractive,
will commonly itself become attractive. There is un-
doubtedly a great deal of indelicate writing in Fletcher
and Massinger ; and more than might be wished even
in Ben Jenson and Shakspearc, who are comparatively
pure. But it is impossible to trace in their plays any
systematic attempt to associate vice with those things
which men value most and desire most, and virtue with
everything ridiculous and degrading. And such a
systematic attempt we find in the whole dramatic lite-
rature of the generation which followed the return of
Charles the Second."

BROADSTAIRS, JAN. 19.—Arrived, to pass
the winter season, the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon
and family, at the Royal Kent Library ; Captain Fletcher
and family, of the Ist Guards, and the Rev, Mr. Mathias
and family, at Belvedere Cottage ' • Captain Peake and
family at Regent Cottage; Edward Fletcher, Esq., and
family, at Purmont (louse; Mrs. Brown and family at
Ogle House ; Mr. Robinson and family, Mrs. Armstrong,
&c. at Nelson-place, &c. &c. Tiiis lashionablc and healthy
place is now become a great favourite with the public.
SALISBURY PLAIN —On Saturday evening
many villages on Salisbury Plain were visited with a sud-
den and alarming flood, occasioned by a rapid thaw of
snow, by rain, and by the frosted state of the ground over
which the water passed, without much of it being able to
penetrate the surface. At Shrewton thirty-six houses hese
been washed away, and three lives have been lost, a man,
a boy, and a girl. At Wylye, not many houses, but one
life. At Stoke, about thirty houses. At Tilsbead,
seven houses. At Chitterne, two entirely, two par-
tially. Lower down in the stream of the flood the conse-
quences have probably been still more disastrous than those
above-mentioned. The whole mass of waters bursting up
stout bridges in its course; and receiving every mile large
additions to its bulk, must have passed by Wilton and
Salisbury, but the valleys aro there broad, and therefore
lives may not have been endangered. Few villages on the
plain can have escaped altogether.
In Consequence of indisposition, Mr. Wakley has
requested Mr. Balser, the Coroner for the eat.:ern division
of Middlesex, to officiate for hint until he is able to resume
his duties. This Mr. Baker has ponp:uted to do ; all in-
quests in air. Wakley's district will, therefore, fop the pre-
sent, be beld by the former gentlemn.

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