The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-10 00:00:00

LITERATURE. - I composed of biographies, or essays, or disquisitions, or
TRE r.,
SOy.4AR VEIAN a ISA TION, &tittered before tie : criticisms, as of the aereeable outpourings of a heart
al Cuticy oi Physicianv, London, June, 184'6, by : and head, stort d with refined sentiment, cultivated by
hn . Eitictson, 411.1 i., (antub, E. it.S , 4-c.,- with an the pure:t taste, animated with the most spontaneous
Anglish Version cud Aeons. , enthusiasm, nerved with the most touder sympathies.
Tee publication of the e Harveien Oration,. itith an In " The i louse of Titian," " Washington Alston," and
11.1. • •
"The Xenthien Marblss," various departments of the
I,•k vereion and notes ter the benefit of the non
PrOesiional world, thigh! ef itself marls an era iu the . .
Fine Arts—pictorial, sculpturesque, and literary—are
progress of the College of •Phvsician,, if there were no commented upon with jeitniiabev evidences that the
'thing else peculiar in the circumstances attending the writer can appreciate the Beautiful, reverence the True,
Lusti.4st annivereary.. In accordance with the will of the love the Pure, and abhor the Meretricious (not only in
pator, this annual oration is delivered in Latin, the abstract but) especially in Painting, Sculpture, and
and, until the present year, it has not been deemed worth Literature. As a fresh and not incompetent exponent
sw/tile to present it to the general public in the vulgar of the spirit of High Art, Mrs. Jameson cannot fail to
Lae . • .
arrest our attention. Her dissertations also r n
aseie—it, indeed, any such oration before this contained
tnsetter that could be edifying or interesting outside the " Woman's Mission and Woman's Position," as well as
balls of the College. Dr. Etliotson, in a short, preface, "On the Relative Social Position of Mothers and
thinks it necessary to defend Elliot ono unusual" course of Governesses," merit the most earnest consideration of
publshing an English version, on the ground that "it every female in the empire : they are fraught with
is hut justice" to himself. But no such defence or justi- beautiful principles beautifully propounded : they are
tication would heve been required. The mere English nobly conceived and bespeak both amiability and cou-
reader would be sufficiently well pleased; without re- rage. Admirable, however, as are these portions of the
carding the usage; to find so muck, inetructive matt( r volume, the most acceptable paper in the collection is in
Placed before him, in so agreeable and. graceful a form -- our estimation the one entitled "Adelaide Kemble, and
with such simplicity, and yet witi*, so much wit and the Lyrical Drama," it breathes of friendship, musical
uirewdness. Attractive; and elegant as the oration will taste, verve, dramatic partialities, and a thousand appo-
tiappear be the English, version, the schelar will be surprised site reminiscences interspersed with most welcome allu•
not delighted) to observe. that it is far surpassed, in sinus to the personal advantages and charactertstics of
,ea'Ay of style and expressive diction, by the original our celebrated cautatrice—the- last of the Kembles I
Latin.
We are individually rejoiced that this memorial of the
In the catale.,Aue of illustrious men, whose
brief but brilliant career of a very superb vocalist has
eal°rY, as benefacr:ors of the College, the oration was
been written by Mrs. Jameson ;
.firstly, because it is the
designed to celebrate (and who have been, in their re-
memento of a vision we would not willingly forget, and,
re-
spective periods., the parents, or the guardians, or
secondly, because that interesting narrative . has pro-
Patrons of the, institution, rather than its offspring),
several are tPstin uish .1 for the purity and
and
their Lakir .1
g €‘
eloquence of
who have, like ourselves, listened to the voice
Those
ceeded from a narrator so capable of doing it justice.
.. works.. Caius, Harvey himself, Ramey, and
ethers have been lauded by contemporary and succeed- watches
(that voice so full of passion a -woman y,
watched the countenance of Adelaideh
iKf emble
lin
Fg. leen of learning for Litenity comparable to that of
h.-iltero, and, in one instance, resembing that of Terence. half•tyrannical, that countenance so troubled with the
merit in this respect, wa. certain's' of a high
torment of conttnding emotions, now beaming with a
Vier °,
girder, It was as high as would be the tri?rit o' f Eiliut,on. glimpse of gentleness, now terrible with a glare of
'should we say that ho wrote Enelish ae well hatred), will feel grateful to Mrs. Jameson for the
Addiscn, or that his style resembled
beautiful record she has left in this performance.
as
Ches-
terfield's. With the renowned subjects of his dis-
course Latin was more familiar than the vernacular,
and in this work, and in this age of neglected
classics, it ie a greater praise than can be claimed for
any of them, that, in every particular of elegant compo-
sition, his Latin is equal to their hest. Nor must we say
that such echolarship is user ss in the se days. For,
besides that the question would open up a difficult con-
troversy, Latinity is an esseatia: condition of the orator's
.quality, in our present case, according to the express
cusanaand of Dr. Harvey.
The oration abounds in matter of universal interest,
displaying extensive learning and res,arch in its col-
lection—admirable skill, tact, and lucidity in its expo-
e_tinn• The notes are very curious, and illustrate the
Itogenuity and boldness, as well as the profound and ex-
:4sive übeerestion, of the author. The publication, we
it woldt.l mark an era in the progress of the college, if
ttitteeere by this akin,-, that a commemorative address is
a4e, in the simple fulfilment if its purpose as a lauda•
o' commemoration, a vehicle for conveying whol,?-
-ua instruction to the learned auditors, and reminding
theca and the more forgetful world of a series of facts
reslatinc to the history or the college and its benefactors,
~.11'ich, thus skilfully linked and connected,
form in the
iw""i, perhaps, the most impressive and. important
ses'son that has yet been laid bowie inquiring and pro-
gressing man.
The New Era in the progress of the college is marked
by other peculiarities. In the whole of its history to
the latest day, from Linacre, Caius, Gilbert, and Harvey.
prejudice and folly have triumphed long over truth, and
in-each particular ease persecuted or crushed it l'
(severer. The life of every rine of the 8 (1S•
great men here
enumerated by the orat..r VOIS no more than a series of
practical illustrations of the dishonesty or ignorance of
the majority in the learned prof, ssions at all
thug, and of the stupid confiience with which
the public at all times echoes the cry of
"fool, imposter, humbug," against every man, in succes-
sion, and without exception, who has had the wisdom to
Perceive, the industry to explore, and the courage to
Promulgate a neglected truth. Now, in the beautiful
psroration of the discourse before us, Dr. Elhotson
ii4htly and modestly refers to the puny persecutions
with which he also has been assailed during the last ten
ears. Is it not a New Era in the history of the pro-
fession. that the presumptuous and disingenuous have
f11,_!!/1 way, and that this sagacious and indefatigable
t2ellosopher, remarkable as much for the purity of his
11_1.,.as for the depth of his researches, and the courage
Iccr_hdisavowals, has been selected fir the honourable duty
.„1:
.elivering to the assembled body of his college—the
fgehest in the world—this periodical commemoration of
;erd;eds and doctrines of all that were illustrious, and
:.;,t
ee ore persecuted, amongst its departed members ?
en theenthusiastic applause which followed the delivery
ielioration convinces us that the truly Ciceronian ap-
44W"h which the orator concluded will not have been
eased to his auditors in vain.
At, gliem cum ita aunt, ego vos magnopereoro atque obtestor,
bastsita_tate_viin tot argumentis human, naturS inesse compro-
neetr"..; _Si unquam spud vos veritatis areor, si professionis
us _ : (lignites, si denique omnium hominum salus et fend.-
jristiet, diligentissirne investigetia."
40
_• Elliotson's English version of this fine passage by
ic'ttils does it justice. For the benefit of the general
tis wader, to whom we earnestly recommend the pamphlet
giv:
the
and a treasure of history and science, we
e the
author's own translation, inadequate as it is:—
nf si,:` the name, therefore, of the love of truth, in the name
all 1,7 dignity of our profession, in the name of the good of
pert_44ind get,'mplore you carefully to investigate this im-
-7,4nt subj
kerb!) dignified and touching letter of Frederick Me.-
as ,Lo this College, when h presented his 13,,01ts to it,
th:ue most learned and liberal in Europe, is ainongst
a ' ettriosities which fill the notes, and gives the re -der
~,--is.very different impression of twat ardent physician's
''al'acter from that which is generally received.

TkJJ DEBATER.
This is a very useful Bvo. by Frederic Rowton. It
contains, fir:t. a series of debates npon well-chosen topics;
. next, outlines of debates upon other interesting subjects;
and, thirdly, questions for discussion, to all of which
are added references to works best calculated to assist
the student in forming sound opinions upon the various
topics suggested. The author wisely considers that the
practice which has long prevailed of tate mpting to teach
youth the art of speech, by simply committing to me-
mory and reciting hackneyed pieces of declamation, is
based in error. It merely clothes the mind with the
liveries of other men's thoughts, and when the suits are
worn out, the intellect is left in art unfruitful condition.
The mind is best educated by teaching it to think—a fa•
culty best developed by discussion, in the place of reci-
tation. Mr. Itowton, by the arrangement and style of
his work, has illustrated the value of this proposi-
tion with much felicity. The rising generation may
very profitably peruse this publication.

ILAVENSNEST, or the REDSKINS. 3 vols. By
J. Fenimwe Cooper.
Mr. G. P. R. James, though notoriously one of the
most prolific; and popular novelists of the day, can
scareeiy claim a superiority in either of these charac-
teristics over that singularly prolific and popular Ame-
rican author whose name is above inscribed. To
those who have revelled in the incidents of the
" Water Witch," the " lied Rover," the -' Spy," and the
"Pilot," any fiction from Mr. Cooper will prove most
welcome, however unattractive its title, or however mo-
dulated its style. But when his powers in sketching ihe
scenery in the back-wood; in delineating the appear-
ance or habits of Indian tribes, and drawing poetry out
of the prairies, and their sons with the copper complexion,
as conspicuously evidenced in his " Last of the Mohi-
cans," the "Pathfinder," the " Chainbearer,' cum catcris
paribus, is remembered, what will not be the curiosity
of his readers on the publication of a romance so eu-
gagingly christened as the present? " Raveusnost, or the
Redskins !" It is sugge ti‘e at ouee 01 a thousand
literary beateies: it evokes plc asaet memories of La
Longue Carabine and his cow p .ni on shades: it
breathes of the pine forest and the primitive
int.ahitants of North America, with painted limbs, their shorn scalps, thei
their diadems of fea-
r thers, their grotesque ornatnen s of shells and teeth.
Such were our anticipations of the contents of these three
volumes; but while we have not been absolutely dis2p•
pointed on their perusal, we have found our anticipations
to have been altogother erroneous. "Itavensnest is un-
like the majority of Mr. Cooper's former productions;
it is divested of his usual picturesqueness, if we may so
designate it ; it contains scarcely a single startling oc-
currence ; its characters are especially unromantic ;
t_,!vo-thirds of the production consist of very serious
mialowues and very sober conversations ; and yet,
with °all these deficiencies and drawbacks, it is one
:/if the most excellent performances of the great American
ovelist. And we are induced, contrary to the opinion
fWhich we had formed of it on the first blush of our
a sal, to style " Itavensnest" one of his ablest per-
erMances, because it is animated t
by a
previous
bler
productions.
4 advocates justice, and casts opprobrium upon a
m4tievous social and political immorality. What is lost in
ere
sparkle is gained in earnestness; what is wanting
Pleasantry is abundantly obtained in wisdom ; what
deficient in amusing romance is flowing-over with in-
fitro
h-etive reality. Mr. Cooper has long appreciated, and
his repeatedly described, the virtues and excellencies of
i 8 c~eaountrymen ; but he has also recognised their man
and imperfections, and in the present romance he
ads them an admirable correction. Loving the
Lseekat principles of the insiitutions of his ative land,
as they were modelled by the master spirits of
lea'ington and Franklin, his feelings have neverthe-
-1143 revolted at the unconscionable grievances which
%!zierator
very Polluted and degraded that already venerable Go-
Meta. Long a patriot, he is now ambitious to be a
ggatritit " Ravensnest" the author b ddly protests
too very execrable injustice which is uuhapply
easttPular in the United States. There the tenants on
theme
for a, coveting the possessions which they have rented
mu Po ibly
a long series of years and generations,
thee the landlords as rank aristocrats, and maintain that
teetutttrious farms which are thus distributed amongst the
Sale ttY'houldbelong to their occupaets by right. By what
ththgeY do not very explicitly define! They insist
eir h,,fiae wholesale landlords should be stripped of
"on of sessions, because, say they, such an accumula-
trers;e
topethe
perty in the hands of individuals is " con-
htost k, spirit of the constitution!" Thus making
11°le constitution a kind of paliation to the
"%At infamous injustice. Nor do these envious
they content themselves with uttering these things;
lawle:tuallY endeavour to enforce teem, by calling out
o
Igau gs of desperadoes, called " Ingins"—some-
thia Ike the Rebeccaites of Wa:es. The exposure
atrocious iniquity is the object of '-Ravens-
Nletit,and that object is to our mind, so ex
we coo 412 d so forcibly conveyed in the novel that
laR of
tsider the
411:11 work as peculatly valuable. The meet-
at the ?a dskins, as described towards the conclusion
tics, s 'econd volume, is admirably drawn, and the ora-
ltek of the true Indian eloquence. Mr. Hugh
eat, ii,4ge, who is the hero, and who loquitur through-
tikniee a right gallant wight, and an agreeable com-

•
Ittevn,
Mfrs •-•AnS AND ESSAYS. By Mrs. Jameson. e
1.1160' Jameson always writes forcibly because _ she
ti!lt4nd feels forcibly. Every one who has had. n
of
t,ification of reading 1-er very charming anairla .
Vetnale Characters of Shakspere" will coincide in
o chic
?Pinion., and every one who has had the gratifies.
"f devouring that beautiful Ila)k will rejoice at an
depVtunity of renewing hia intimacy with a mind s?
Ike -4telY and nervously constituted as is that of this
t,se,e'ruphshed authoress. In her present work she has
eov'eartabitioned so much as in her " Memoirs of Female
I
aed,.(l° by the by (a production, by-the-way, almost super-
-14
ler " voluminous pages of Miss Strickland), or
th,:Characteristics of Women ;" but, possibly from
nlq iverY cirenul,talice of n +t, having adventured so
forfl, she has suceeded so signally. The volume be-
t," 43 is a delightful group of thoughtful, keen, gene-
‘v4l, Peuetrult piety. writutg, It is reit W 9 Dumb