The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-20 00:00:00

TILE QUARTERLY REVIEW.

No. CLIXTIII.
Only one out of the nine themes above mentioned
has been simultaneously adopted by the Quarterly—
and this is no other than " Mirabeau's and La
Marck's Correspondence." Instead of an article on
Bopp's Comparative Philology we have, in the con-
temporary of the Ediniurgh, a splendid paper on
Lyell's inves4o.tion as to " Life and its Successive
Development?' erhaps the most admirable of all
the current contributions to the Quarterly. Religious
topics have been selected by two of the reviewers, one
of these papers relating to "Papal Pretensions," and
the other to " Puritanism in the Highlands." Bio-
graphical chapters of an attractive kind will be found
in the reviews given upon the " Life and Works of
Bishop Ken," and upon Wilkins's edition of the
writings of " Sir Thomas Browne." Two singular
papers remain to be particularized, namely, those
respectively on " Widow Burning," and on
the "Lexington Papers"; while the closing
article, the oue entitled, " Revolutionary Literature,"
we have reserved until now, because in it we perceive,
possibly, the most attractive, and, certainly, the most
important materials for consideration. Under the
title here quoted we find no less than twenty-one
separate publications particularised, ranging in
variety from Romieu's "ire des Olsen" to the
autobiography of " Alton Locke," from " Yeast, a
Problem," to " Une Solution Militaire," from a Par-
'liamentary blue-book presented to both Houses of the
Legislature by command of her Majesty, to the al-
ready well-known, and in some respects the already
notorious," Histoire de la Restauration," by M. de
Lamartine...The Quarterly reviewer criticises the latter a
work with vigorous severity which we cannot by
any means regard as undeserved. He reprobates the
miserable adulation lavished upon Louis XVIII. by
Lamart ine as strongly as we would ourselves repro-
bate the same historian's very mean and contemptible
caricatures of Napoleon. As an evidence of the truth-
fulness of M. de Lamartine as an annalist we may point
to the passages in which he paints the countenance
of a very fat, stupid-looking old man as that of a
middle-aged Apollo, and in which he distorts into all
conceivable ugliness that beautiful and Jupiter-like
bead, the outlines of which have about them the in-
effable grace of a Greek medallion, or the exquisite
chiselling of an antique cameo—that noble beau, the
matchless symmetry of whose proportions has been
attested by the unflattering chisel of the republican
Canova. Treating of the mere style observable in
this precious volume of so-called history, the Quarterly
reviewer' pronounces over it the very strongest
words of condemnation. But the most important
division of the whole of this very adverse criticism is
that in which the reviewer explicitly and emphati-
cally deiaies the imputation oust at all the Foreign
Ministers concerned in the peace of Paris in 1814—
imputation explained by the following quotation
from the, " Histoire de la Restauration :"

" It!. de Talleyrand, who wished to furnish an autho •
rity in his own savour at a later period, for the diplomatic
allowances assigned by usage to the negotiators of
treaties tif territory, distributed six or eight millions—
(from 250,0001, to 300,0001.)—in ransom to the
Europea a diplomatists who signed the treaty of Paris.
Prince Letternich, the Austrian Minister—Lord Castle-
reagh, Plenipotentiary of the British Government—M.
do Nessedrone—M. de Hardenberg—the one especially
in the Milan of Russia, the other in that of Prussia, re-
ceived et tch a million (40,0001.). The Ministers of the
secondar y powers received considerable sums in propor-
tion to tile importance of the courts they represented.
This ran som, offered and accepted as the price of peace,
produced. it more promptly, but made it more humiliat-
ing. As a precedent it was shameful—as a bargain it
was advuntageous, for every day of continued occupa.
Lion cost France more than eight millions.—p. 458,"
After making the above extraordinary extract, the
reviewer denies the charge in these stern words of

indignatiion :
" Of this strange statement] we also suspected the
translation of being erroneous; but it is very exact, except
only that. the French word rancoh does not always mean
what ransom does in English, but sometimes an exorhi •
tent or fraudulent overcharge. But in whatever shade
of obloquy M. Lamartine may have used the term, the
assertion remains that Prince Metternich, Lord Castle-
reagh, and their colleagues, sold their earlier
acquiesenoe in the treaties for a bribe of 40,0001. each,
and that this was given them by that arch knave M. de
Talleyrand, as a precedent, on the strength of which he
was by and by to reap a similar harvest. We should
not have thrown away a thought on such a statenaent
from one of the ordinary class of revolutionary scrib-
blers, but--recollecting that M. de Laraartine was for a
season at the head of the Republic, holding especially
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and having all its secrets
within his reach—we have taken the trouble—though
almost asnamed of such a work of supererogation—of
enabling ourselves to contradict, on the highest and bestr
authority, and in the meat direct and absolute. manner,
every point and circumstance of the assertion.
spare M. de Lamartine—though he doensi:
std:eonsne.vrovyeeidt
—the indignant terms in which this denial
olt
to us by the most distinguished survivors
otwe
°all uponhim
states-
men who signed the treaty of Paris;
do
ihnist the is
that he should envy, but
as!
iErouprootpaatioton produce
t
men whom it may be natural
hat
he should, whether from
authorityface of
his own
accoaunndta lr country and
whom it is unpardonable
et
poetry and his chi-
nAedginligireirincoe oArlpnahaolenvsoelo.ndce thus
La.m ;rndtinneowa,s vbwe calumniate"
do ul 0 s t
profoundly,lric nature, reverencing him as
atunde hero whose
dauntlessva bravery and superb eloquence saved Europe,
loving his exquisite
ythe more iwnalr-84w8,efraorineftohrethheosrerovresryof
masons
aeabslooonds
indig-
nant when we see him jeopardising his fair fame by
the blunders, the prejudices, the follies, and the mis-
representations with which he has tarnished the pages
of his last literary composition. It may be observed,
in conclusion, that the Quarterly (reluctantly it is

true) regards Lawartine as the only eligible candidate
for the Presidency.

THE WESTMINSTER REVIEW. No. CX.—
THE FOREIGN QUARTERLY REVIEW.
110. XCV.

Metaphysical subjects are those which are
touched upon with the most brilliant success
in the current number cf this double Quar-
terly. The one on " Reason and Faith,"
has reference to the remarkable essays by Henry
Rogers, originally published in the Edinburgh.
"Life and Immortality," however, is the most mas-
terly of all the present contributions to the Westmin-
ster. It is conceived in an elevated spirit, and
breathes throughout the gentlest wisdom and the
most bewitching earnestness. For the sweetness and
lucidity of its philosophy we commend it in the most
earnest manner to the scrutiny of the reading po-
pulation. " Process and Pleading" will be found a
very able paper on law reform ; and another of an his-
torical character respecting the " Marlboroughs and
the Reign of Queen Anne," will prove on examination
to be of a singularly interesting description. Besides
these, the Westminster contains other contributions
relating respectively to " Western Africa," to
" Newman's Political Economy,".to " Creassy's De-
cisive Battles," and to " Gregory of Naziaezum."
Appended to these articles are various miscellaneous
notices, and some excellent criticisms on foreign
literature.

LITERATURE.
STERNE'S SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY.
illustrated by Tony Johannot; with a Memoir of
the Author by E. L. Blanchard. Willoughby
and Co.

A more graceful gift-book has seldom appeared
than the one in which we here find reprinted not the
least charming among the masterpieces of our na-
tional literature. Laurence Sterne has long been
d
ghes
t treasured
peculiarly
nua rnsue
dodila
eiimss acceptableomve nre
measure
ayi
sonuugr delightfulre
population.
to
olaa e
tucsholi
eacuslin
majority
accounted
rno
ierght
yges hence ch
this
s uanyuot un,
rt
u,
lrepubli-
cationlii
indeed,
emel
s
where he has said, in terms of such earnest panegyric,
that " Tristram Shandy" must be regarded as per-
haps the wittiest book in the language. Whatever
may be said of the extraordinary merits of
that most remarkable work, it must be acknowledged,
even by its most enthusiastic admirers, that its ap-
preciation is necessarily and very materially restricted
within limits by its occasional indulgence in
beastliness. Not so with the " Sentimental
Journey," marred even;' though it is by its
more voluptuous incidents. For licentious though
in passages in the latter work may be in their
certain passages
they contain no grossness of imagina-
tion comparable to that displayed in the former, and
of the two, incomparably the greater pro-
duction.certainl y'
The " Sentimental Journey" is consequently
the favourite with the generality of readers ;and, as
;that
the " Beauties of
Sterne"
as a literary com-
position,
.
PB convincing
es tni oe' ni twill
principally proof
cot n x
s
s
b f
foundi
excellence
of quotations from its
pages. It is in the " Sentimental Journey " that we
g
huve b
discoveree
been
o principally many o
instrumental those
in
author's celebrity, and is evoking from the sympa-
thies of the million a very sweet, a very beautiful,
freaxgrenednitsn which
and a very enviable reputation. There is the monk,
for example ! who can ever forget him? He
has again " the hectic of a moment passing across
his cheek" when we think of him ; and we
listen once more to the compunctious exclamation
of the traveller, " My heart smote me the moment he
shut the door : Paha ;' said I, with an air of care-
lessness, three several times—but it would not do -
every ungracious syllable I had uttered crowded
back into my imagination." Then there is the
remise door and the lady encountered under em-
harassing circumstances ; and the pulse of the little
glove-seller, with the account of all its equable throb-
bings. There, again, is the captive in his dungeon,
looking up at the interrupted sunlight; and the
starling pleading for liberty with such very piteous
iteration. There is the sword redeemed by the
merchant-noble, with a tear still glittering on its
rusty blade: and poor Maria of Moulines weeping
yet under the poplar by the brookside. There, too,
is the man at the post-house of Nampont lamenting
the dead ass, " that had eat the same bread with him
all the way, and was unto him as a friend"—and
talking of this, possibly the most lovely passage for
pathetic simplicity in the whole of the " Sentimental
Journey," we call to mind on the instant that famous
sentence of Byron's, in which he said of Sterne, that
he "preferred whining over a dead ass to relieving a
living mother." Always bearing in recollection this
well-known aspersion, and always remembering with
it that nowhere can be discovered any facts corro-
borative of the statement, we turned, for some
allusion to the remark in the agreeable little
biography of Sterne prefixed to the present volume,
by Mr. Blanchard. At page 21, accordingly, we
detected the following very significant commentary
upon the assertion referred to :—" The mother of
Sterne died in 1732, when Sterne was not nineteen
years of age (for Sterne was born on the 24th of
November, 1713), and the affectionate regret with
which he speaks of her, and the little pension which
she received for the few months she lived after the
death of her husband, would show not only that he was
guiltless of unfilial treatment, but that she was in a
pesition far removed from that state of abject
distress which the reproach levelled at him
would seem to imply." We thank the biogra-
pher for this, we are grateful to him—for we
regard the above sentence as conclusive. It dissipates
a vile and execrable calumny. It proves that many
a false as well as many a true word may be spoken
in jest ; and it enables the reader of the new volume
to peruse it throughout with unalloyed satisfaction as
the effusion of one whose writings abound with ex-
quisite sentiment, but of one also, whose actions were
very frequently the results of a pure and generous
sensibility. In every other particular the memoir of
Sterne, accompanying this exceedingly beautiful edi-
tion, reflects the highest credit upon Mr. Blanchard.
It is penned throughout in a pure and flowing style,
relating succinctly the incidents in the life of our au-
thor, and evidencing a full and perfect appreciation of
his many inimitable capacities as a writer. Mr. Blan-
chard's charming biography is happily associated with
the very tasteful and appropriate embellishments
scattered through the volume, from the pencil of
Tony Johannot. Altogether the new issue o f
Sterne's " Sentimental Journey," will prove, on ex-
amination, to be a worthy addition to any library, as
well as an elegaut work for the table of a drawing-
room or a boudoir. The merits of the original text
and of the newly- compiled memoir have been ade-
quately responded to by the remarkable excellence
visible both in the illustrations and the typography.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SlR,—Considering myself a dog that is bound to
bark when he hears anything suspicious stirring, I
give mouth to say that I have just heard from a mem-
ber of a commercial family, that mercantile men note
the arrival of Russian tallow to an extent they can
only account for by supposing the merchants in Rua.
sia to look forward to movements on the part of their
Czar in the spring, which may by possibility lead to
the interruption of the trade with this country, and
so give high prices to whhaatvethebyeehna vme
ics ol
ends i d_ i
beyr a tperley.
tmheayeffect of Colt's revolvers n
pl oa driiga
htei
edo
snebs e
fmf
oo
rre er t
hay
ani
nnd
the Russian cavalry, or for sending a ship or two to
England to carry back the specimens
of Austrian
high art from the World's Fair to their ally. But
they may also have fancied they sawsigns. of an
intention
France,
the
Piedmont,part of
and th
Be
alAbsolutistaieuim
treat
,savingaarnyd i f ek such
attendsas theyto
oc
crusade, uisiandne g,
offices to Spain and Portugal,aftert powersl
e fashion.
the
expect to join. in
t em
and,extiefndpatrhueicrulgaroodly
tempted, perhaps even to the rectification of the Eccle-
siastical Titles Bill in Ireland.
Of course a man would be a fool who went out of
his way to guard against anything of the kind. No-
thing is ever guarded against ; and everything goes
right of itself. Nevertheless, something must be
granted to the prejudices of those who have been used
to note the weather looking squally a-head on the
log-board, though nobody ever knows that a squall
may not blow another way till it come?.
sincerely,l am, Sir, yours very
AN OLD REFORMER.
London, Oct. 19, 1851.

THE ROYAL --.___-=-7
ORTHOPXDIC HOSPITAL...—On Fri.
i te l,friendsfor o f
transactingthi s ch a charity ttyh
the ordinary
heldi in
busi-
nessthefatuity. 1 he twelfth annual report of the gover-
of the c
which has been printed for distribution, gives a most
nors,
account of the progress and prospects of the
Ile special and munificent patronage of her Ma-
jestyrmooemetineigt
hae hospital,
PrinceinAlbert is announced, in addition to the
hospital.
bdoaayrda
e liicearsum of 150 guineas presented on behalf of the youth-
fulpr n
Prince of Wales. Since the issue of the report, it appears
that the progress of the institution has been equally gratify-
ing, and strong hopes are entertained that the continued
liberality of the affluent will enable the committee to provide
an increase of accommodation, which, owing to the influx of
patients seeking relief, is most urgently needed. The num-
ber of individuals on the books, waiting their turn of admis-
sion, exceeds 300, and the total cured of deformities since
the founda.ion of the hospital, in 1839, now reaches the
number of 1.2,000.

THE APPE.OVER IN TIIE UCKEIELD BURGLARIES...—
Hamilton, who was admitted as an approver in the trial of
the UALId burglars, and more recently against the convict
Isaacs, who made so extraordinary an escape from Lewes
gaol a few days ago, has been liberated, at the direction of
the Secretary of State. The Government will give him a
free passage to Australia if he chooses to accept it; and in
the meanwhile he is under the close notice of the police at
Brighton, where, for the time, he has taken up his quarters.
Colonel W. Reid, C.B. (Governor of Malta), and
R. Mayne, Esq., C.B. (Commissioner of Police), are pro-
meted to be Knights Commanders of the Bath (Civil
Service). Sir Stafford Henry Northcote, Bart., Captain
Hay (Commissioner of Police), Henry Cole, Esq., and Dr.
Lyon Playfair, are appointed Cogapauiom of the same 9Fder.,

[The following appeared in our Third Edition of
Saturday:—]
THE BATH POISONING CASE.
CONCLUSION OF THE INQUEST.