The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-28 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

THE IND US T RIALHIS TORY OF FREE
NATIONS. Vol. L—The Greeks. Vol. IL—The
e s dish,knowledge, pal
nay i greata t
er esea r c
acquaintancevas t
ws tiot
hr et
hoef
Dutch. By Torrens 111‘Cullagh.
seea
lv
h i sTt ohrei
relations between the various states of ancient Greece
and those of the United Provinces of Holland, and at
the same time combine with much learning the most
rational views on the causes which led to the astonish-
ing wealth, power, and fame of these distinguished com-
munities. Many of the false notions respecting the
greatness of Greece, the superior virtue, or patriotism,
or bravery of certain divisions of the country, to the
disadvantage of others, and the high ideas instilled
into youth at our public schools, not of the in-
dustry, perseverance, and commercial activity of
the Greeks, but of their skill in war, their matchless
bravery, and their principles of training youth, in many
respects so objectionable, are justly exposed and the
real merits of the' people brought into full view. The
remarks on this subject in reference to the absurd praises
bestowed upon Spartan legislation and Spartan bravery
show judgment and a real knowledge of what consti-
tutes a nation's greatness :-
4, Among the numerous perversions of truth which arc
systematically foisted upon our youth through the medium
of the miserable things entitled school-histories, there are
few more immoral and corrupting than the fabulous tales of
Spartan virtue. For anything that appears to the ccntrary
in these lying epitomes, the national and social excellence
of Greece might be taken for a plant indigenous, specially in
Laconia, and chiefly cultured there, though a few of its
golden seeds were shed from time to time over the barren
hills of Peloponnessus and lonia. The delusion is, however,
thanks to better habits of historical inquiry, beginning to
disappear. We are getting somewhat clearer conceptions of
the parts respectively played by Corinth, Samos, Agina,
Chios, Megara, and the other enterprising secondary states in
the season of Greek youth and prime; and learning to mete
with truer measure the praise so long engrossed, under false
pretences, by one which, with vaster resources than any of
them, did less for the literature, the arts, the industry, the
social elevation, or the constitutional freedom of Greece than
the least of the three score city-states around her."
This is a fair specimen of the author's views, but gives
only a very imperfect sketch of his acquaintance with
Greek history, his selection of circumstances which con-
tributed to the superior prosperity and wealth of certain
states as compared with others, and the comprehen-
sive outline given of the commercial, poli
tieal, and domestic institutions of this celebrated
people from their very commencement, " when their
Hellenic ancestors had come from steed-famed Thes-
saly, and imposed the impress of their worship and
their rule on the Pelasgic race," to the period when cor-
ruption and disunion weakened the different states, and
they began to yield to more powerful neighbours. The
volume on Holland, though it was nothing classical, is
no less interesting, because it shows what really esta-
blishes and constitutes the greatness of a people, what
can be done by industry, perseverance, and the observ-
ance of public faith, and how superior was the practical
knowledge of the Dutch to the vague and endless
theories of the ingenious Greeks on government,
both as regards the power, the wealth, and the
independence of a country. In these respects the Dutch
leave the Greeks, and perhaps all other nations far be.
hind. " Holland," says the author, with perfect truth,
" a s she stands at the present day, is the greatest fact
in the industrial history of free nations. Not only have
the Dutch done more in days gone by, with less means
than any other people in Europe for maritime discovery,
enterprise and trade, and for the practical application of
sound principles of banking, insurance, public credit,
and currency ; but, despite their unparalleled necessities
and financial difficulties, they have in the main pursued
a more consistent tone of liberality in trade than—with
the single exception of the Swiss—any other free people
to the present time." The volume on Holland gives by
far the best summary we have seen of the history of the
Dutch, and will be found not only interesting as a his-
tory, but useful as a book of reference.

ANECDOTES OF DOGS. By Edward Jesse,
Esq., Author of " Gleanings in Natural History," V.
This work, though apparently written to please young
children, or persons who can be caught only by light
reading, resembles in some respects the " Tales of Peter
Parley." It will be read by many others than those for
whom it is intended, and afford as much amusement to
the old as to the young. The writer, or rather the com-
piler, of the work, rarely interferes with the labours of
the natural' historian, for but few details are given of
the peculiar breeds and races, or of their habits and pro-
pensities, and confines himself chiefly to his professed
purpose—a collection of the most remarkable instances
of the sagacity, faithfulness, and use of the long-tried
friend and companion of man. Some of these instances
are very amusing and wonderful ; and a few of
them would appear incredible, were they not at-
tested by the best authority. There is one given
of an Irish wolf dog, however, or more properly speak-
ing, an inference from it, which is too much even for the
most credulous. A gentleman of ancient family, attended
by one of these dogs, entered a coffee-room in Dublin;
this dog was supposed to be one of the last of the breed.
He was rather of a sour temper and generally repelled the
attentions of strangers. On this occasion a gentleman in
the room seemed to attract the dog's attention, and was
soon as familiar with him as his
the favour of your name," said the t,
family. The stranger announced it; hebwl
master
gentleman"
ma‘u‘
was the
l of
last of
May
yancient I b beg
and descended from one of its Kings. ,
wonder," said the owner of the dog, "at the homage
I
his race, one of the most ancient and no do not
Ireland,
d ethisso
eaondi ma
natl Ira
one
npaid
ot ou
ry ou.
to whom this breed of dogs almost exclusively belonged,
most lalnec re enct o
rganci
es eo sf igne
n3t•loeum tehne,
and the peculiar instinct he possesses has now been
shown in a manner which cannot be mistaken." The
story being reduced to its proper dimensions, the compli-
mentsame aid bye
class
s is without
e gentleman
exceptiono f ancient
the familyhtoht flight
ever anotherhighest
ever yet maje in the regions of blarney. We cannot re-
frain from Paying due praise to Mr. Jesse for the beau-
tiful plates with -which the book is ornamented. Two of
them cannot be surpassed---" The Scotch Deer 'build,"