The Sun.
London, England, 1851-02-13 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON,, THURSDAY

LITERATURE.

ORISSA AND THE TEMPLE OF JAGAN-
IVATH. By William F. B. Laurie. Johnstone
and Hunter.
Fourteen centuries before the birth of our
Saviour, the Vedas, or four sacred books of
the Indian mythology, were compiled ; and
about the period when Homer was wandering
barefooted among the principal cities of
Greece, namely 900 8.C., the great Hindu lawgiver
Menu was incorporating the doctrine of monotheism
in his celebrated institutes. Since those memorable
epochs the religious belief of the Asiatics, like that
of most Pagan worshippers, has frightfully degene-
rated. A creed that at one time articulated the
holiest doctrines and the purest morality hes
come at last to be a mere chaos of inde-
cencies and abominations. Front the one in-
visible creator, preserver, and destroyer of the
universe, Brehm, have sprung a multitude of divini-
ties so enormous as to be estimated by one writer in
round numbers at " three hundred and thirty mil-
lions !" To track the BUZ:S of the Hindu
mythologists, therefore, through all these count-
less fictions it may well be imagined i 3 a task
of insuperable difficulty. The mere narrative of
the Avatars, or divine visitants of mankind, is
enough to bewilder an ordihary reader by the variety
of the circumstances recorded. 'When, moreover, it is
considered that the study of these subjects is, in ad-
dition to all this, of the most repulsive character ima-
ginable, it may be seen that enough obstacles stand
in the way of any adventurous inquirer. "To know
the Hindu idolatry as it is," says Ward, " a person
must wade through the filth of the thirty-six pooranas
and other-popular books—he must read and hear the
modern popular poems and songs—he must follow the
Brahmin through his midnight orgies before the
image of Ka!i,,e and other goddesses; or he must
accompany him to the nightly revels, the jatras, and
listen to the filthy dialogues which are rehearsed re-
specting Krishna and the daughters of the milkmen."
Enough this, in all conscience, one might
think, to deter the most daring student of
oriental literature from penetrating further than
the mere surface of the Hindu mythology In-
citements, nevertheless, there are' sufficiently power-
ful to counteract these rnotiveal: iirdi&rence en-
gendered by disgust, and to egg" on the ''most labo-
rious of our scholars in the prosecution of these very
terrible investigations. Considering the vastness of
our empire in Hindostan, and the huge number
of the subjects of her Britannic Majesty, who are be-
lievers in these mythic iniquities, it becomes a mutter
of extraordinary interest to pierce the crust of ob-
scurities and reach those strates of pseudo-religious
fiction in which are preserved the debris and
the fossilized skeletons of the Faith. Patriotism
of a certein sort, therefore, as well as curiosity, im-
pels the adepts in oriental literature to the in-
quiries we have particularized. Among these very
enterprising and praiseworthy students, Lieutenant
William F. B. Laurie, of the Madras Artillery,
has achieved for himself a high end conspicuous
position—his present volume, " Orissa," being
is its way a really remark ible display of erudition.
In his previous work " The French in Lid*" be
had shown himself a lively writer and a shrewd
observer, from whose pen, afters little practice, better
things still might be confidently anticipated. "Orissa"
is a brilliant justification of these hopes in his regard,
and to it, therefore, we are desirous of directing
public attention, as to a book from which much
valuable informetion may he derived, relating at
large to Indian idolatry and superstition, and in an
especial manner furnishing an account of British con-
nexion with the Temple of Jaganeleh. The import-
ance of the latter subject is forcibly indicated in the
following sentences extracted from the Friend of
India, of October 26th, 1848 :
" By none except she frivolous, the light-headed, the
morally and religiously indifferent, can the subject itself
be reckoned of secondary importance. It is one which
for nearly half a century has engrossed much of the
time and attention of our leading Indian statesmen, at
home and abroad. It is one which bus proved an ex-
citing theme, not to thousands only, but to millions of the
soberest and most intelligent of the commurity of the
British Isles. Nor is this at ull surprising. Fer, apart
altogether from the religious interest which attaches to
it, it involves principles of political importance—prin-
ciples of extensive learning and momentous application
in a region so bested with the shrines and temples of
idolatry."
A. direct application of the closing remark in this
quotation was furnished by Allen's Indian Mail of
the 15th ult., in. which occurred the subjoined para-
graph, headed—

to fxculpate him and vindicate his innocence. Such
is the main thread of the narrative ; its interesting
nature may be surcnistd fiLni these details, and from a
knowledge of the truthful, and hence most powerful,
manner in which the author of " Merkland" relates
the thrilling narrative. Among the characters in-
troduced the most delightful, immeasurably the
most delightful in the book, is old Mrs. Catherine
Douglas dear, self willed, right-judging, kind-
hearted Mrs: Catherine. For her picture alone, for
her simple hearty discourses, we should have felt
grateful to the author of " Merkland," were the rest
of his tale as uninteresting, instead of being, as it is,
most attractive. Faults it has undoubtediy, but the oc-
casional improbability of the incidents is more than
compensated by the general truthfuhless of the chit-
rao!ers. We shall be ghal to meet again the author
of " Margaret _Maitland" and " Merklaud."

TIIE IDOL SHRINE. By the same Author
Smith, Elder, and Company.
An epitomized version of the foregoing volume
has been here produced by Mr. W. F. B. Laurie, in
which he has very lucidly recounted the " Origin,
History, and Worship of the Great Temple of
JAgar.n " Additional information has, nevertheless,
been inco!porated with this epitome, insomuch that
the pamphlet possesses much of the interest of novelty.
The readers of Robert Southey, those who have shud-
dered over the more terrible passages in the " Curse
of Kehama," will turn with avidity to a brief account
such as the one under notice, evending only to forty-
five pages, into which are compressed so much strange
and valuable information. _ _

"Lo in the city of Jagantiadl—
Lo ! in the seven-headed idol shrine!"
all the marvels of the locality have been scrutinized by
the pamphleteer, and the result of his inquiries are
placed before us in this rapidly sketched but enthral-
ling and instructive outline. The brochure forms al-
together the very handbook to Hindu Mythology.

THE QUARTERLIES.
2HE WESTMINSTER AND FOREIGN
QUARTERLY REVIEW. No. CM. and

XCIL
A rather scrambling, but brilliant and animated
criticism on " Spanish Literature" opens the current
number of the Westminster. The paper has been
principally suggested by the work recently published
from the pen of Mr. George Ticknor. Calderon's
Arabic wealth of invention is especially celebrated by
the reviewer, and due regard is of course had to the
satiric humour of Cervantes. Certain "rhetorical
anecdotes of Al Harii of Basra," lately translated
into English by Mr. Theodore Preston, and entitled
" Makainat," is examined with a very judicious dis-
crimination ; the merits and demerits of the work
being alike clearly recognised. Mr. Philip James
Wiley, the author of the remarkable poem of
" Festus," receives a most eulogistic notice of his
" Angel World." Among the various quotations
made by the critic from the latter effu-ion is the fol-
lowing exquisite mention of the change wrought in
the stream of Time by the Angel Saviour :
" Descending to the shore, he stoop d, and dipped
Into the stream his hand; which, filling full,
He tasted, and thus spite. 'Ye waters—once
Ol death—hut now of life eternal. take
Back the libation I have made of ye;
• And be ye changed fur ever.' Uttering this,
He cast the dark rtmaii.der in the flood,
That instant chat god into u flood of lite,
Flashing with light celestial to its depths
Of bottomless infinitude; and straight,
Grasping the bright branch of an olive tree,
Which bowerA with verdant gold the peaceful shore,
He therewith sprinkled, one by one, the band
Who him accompanied; with these pure rites
Making them free, initiate into Heaven,
And death the lesser mysteries of lie ."
Mr. Robert William Mackay next obtains an atten-
tive consideration from the Westminster, his narra-
tive of" Tee Progress of the Intellect, as Exemplified
in the Religious Development of the Gi eeks and He-
brews," being closely scrutinized by one of the re-
viewers. Our hopes for sanitary reform are encou-
raged by the next contribution, a carefully compiled
statement in regard to " Drains, Rivers, and Water
Supply ;" snd our aspirations for the diminution of
the amount of national ignorance are sustained by the
subsequent article relating to the " Educational
Movements." All anxieties experienced in reference
to the interests of royalty or republicanism
throughout' Europe may be appeased, in some
measure at least, by following with the next re-
viewer the thread of probabilities leading through
the labyrinth of " Continental Prospects ;" and
in the paper coming immediately afterwards, another
comment is added to the numerous ones already
printed in reference to the agitation about the
Catholic Hierarchy in England. The last men-
tioned contributim is headed very significantly " The
Battle of the Churches," and the tendency of the
writer is to cast discredit upon all priests indiscrimi-
nately. Two criticisms, embellished with copious
extracts from Moritz Wegner's " Journey to Co!chis
and the German Colonies beyond the Caucasus," and
from Adam OehlenschiNger's "Recollections of My
Life," make up the number of the Foreign Quarterly
appended to the Westminster, and these are followed bye
variety of miscellaneous notices, in which due regard
is paid to both writers and musicians.

THE BRITISH QUARTERLY REVIEW.

.No. XX V.

Ten remarkably attractive themes have been chosen
by the writers in the present number of the British
Quarterly for their contributions. The opening
article, being a narrative of "Beta's First Campaign
in Transylvania," is invested with a peculiar sort
melancholy interest by the death of that unforunate
adventurer in his exile in Turkey. A beautiful
chapter, extracted as it were from another " Kosmos"
is the next paper, a paper poetically entitled "The
Chemistry of the Sunbeam." Dr. Mayo's " Berber"
is noticed in the subsequent critici,,m, bring an article
called after the second title of his volume, "The
Mountaineer of the Atlas." " Egypt under the
Pharaoh's" is the title of a review on the work of
Mr. John Kenrick, relating to that ancient people
end that remote period. A masterly biography fol-
lows of " Baron," the Naturalist—a great man, who
is happily desiguared by the British Quarterly "the
artist," and Linswus " the urtizsu of Nature
Tribute, and deserved tribute of eulogium, is offered
to the memory of But on for his wonderful powers of
description. Take the following brief but suggestive
paragraph:—
" leis description cf the swallow has something., 83 't
were, inspired and hymn-like about it: Vcnit venit
hirundo pulchra adduccns tunpora et pu"chros annos
He paints frus the sad emnurs of the eat Clamando
rixfind,,que misere mot. Ills description of the here is
veiy beauti.M Anunal generosum, superbum, forttsst-
mum,. eursu Arens,' &e. And what a thou-gt t is this:
• t; guant contemta res est honio, nisi supra Its nana se
erexerit.'
Further on the reviewer remarks—
" Nothing is better known nor more frequently quoted
than the beautiful pages wherein Buffo, describes the
two men which are bound in man—the homo duplex, or
double man. .Buffon admits two species ot memories, 85
Descartes two si.ecies ot sensibilnies: the first, which is
the trace of our ideas; the second, which is but the
renovation ot cur senses; the first emanating from the
soul, the second the only one which can be accorded to
the animal. We have, then, a physical sensi-
bilitity and an intellectual sensibility; there is the
memory which is but the renovation of our senses, and
the memory which is the trace of our ideas. There
are two species of passions; ' the passions which
belong but to the man, and the passions a hich he pos-
sesses in common with animals.' There ate two species
of intelligences; the intelligence allied to matter, and the
intelligence which is spirit, which is the soul. ' The
elephant,' says 13ution, approaches man by his intent-
ligebce—as closely, at least, as matter can approach to
spirit.' There are, in fine, two active principles, two
sovereign powers of the nature of man, the material prin-
ciple, and ihe it is
The inner man,' says
`is double; is composed of two principles,
differing in their nature, and antagonistic in their action.
The soul, this spiritual principle, this principle of all
knowledge, is ever in opposition with this other prin-
ciple, wlech is an animal and purely material one.'"
The whole of this admirable contribution is emi-
nently deserving of perusal. One division of the
educational movement is touched upon in the article
headed " The Universities Commission ;" an interest.
ing paper is contributed respecting " Quekett on the
Microscope ;" a geographical account of " The Cen-
tral States of America" will be found no less agree-
able as a means of whiling away an hour both plea-
santly and instructively; and a political inquiry of
some importance has particular reference, as its title
indicates, to " Italy, Germany, and England." The
article on the Catholic Hierarchy—headed "England
"—has been evidently compiled with
the last, and we presume the most
arrestingma nudchth elabour.o Papacyhe Thispri n cipal contributions, is followed by
a batch of twenty-nine various criticisms, with which
the current number of the British Quarterly is
brought to a conclusion.

TAXES ON CARRIAGES.--A deputation of coach-
makers, representing the trade in the "United Kingdom,
waited on the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, for
the purpose of rbtaiuing a modification of the taxes upon
carriages. After alluding to the depressed state of the
trade, and showing the decreasing revenue to be annually in
a greater proportion, they proposed instead of the present
high rate of taxation levied on upwards of twelve classes,
to place all carriages under three classes only, at reduced
rates, commencing with 3/. for the highest, 2/. for the next,
and H. for the lowest, exempting none, as at present, but
charging them with the lowest rate. This arrangement, if
adopted, it was shown, would not materially decrease the
revenue. The deputation, co. sisting of Mr. J Leslie Lewis,
master of theCoachmakers' Company, and upwards of thirty
members of the trade, was accompanied by Sir James Duke,
Bart.,
M.P, Mr. Muntz, M.P., Mr. Schulefield, M.P., Mr.
Divett, M.P., filr. Bright, 1.1. P., Mr. H. Berkeley, ALP., Mr.
Headlam, M.P., and Alderman Humphery, M.P.
APPROACHING MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE.--We
understand the preliminaries are already arranged for a mar-
riage between Viscount Goderich, eldest son of the Earl of
Ripon, and Mits Vyner, eldest daughter of Mr. and Lady
Mary Vyner, and granddaughter of the Earl de Grey.

MAGAZINES, &c.—(CONTINUED.)

art _ _

THE GENTLE'IIA 'S.

The present number of the Gentleman's Maga-
zine illustrated by a portrait, hitherto unengrAved,
of Samuel Pepys, at present in the possession of Mr.
Peter Cunningham, who gives the following account
of it:

" This hitherto unengraved portrait, which is pre-
fixed to the present mrgszino. was bought by me at the
sale in 1818 of the pictures, &c., of the family of Pepys
Cockei cll. It was called in the catalogue, 'Portrait f
a Musician,' but is unquestionably the picture referred
to by Pepys in the following passages of his Diary;—
"' 1666, March 17. To Hales's, ai:d paid him 141. for
the picture and 11. ss. for the f,,..ame. This day I began
to air, and he will mike me, I think, a very fine picture.
He oromis it shall be as good es my wif's, and I si.. to
have it full of shadows, and do almost break my neck
looking over my shoulder to make the posture for him to
work by.
' atzch 30. To Hales's, and there sat till almost
quite (link upon working my gowne, which I hired to
be dra,n in; au Indian gowns.
" April 11. .-'To Hales's., where there was nothing
found to be done more to my picture, but the musiqu,,,
which now pli aics trie mightily, it being painted trty,.'"
It illustrates the continuation of the story of " sell
Gwyn," related by Peter Cunningham. The msga-
zine contains an ably written parallel between Laud-
ism and Pusey ism, besides several other articles of
great antiquarian and historical interest.

CHRISTOPHER TADPOLE. Part V.
This acici)irable reprint of an admirable work bas
progrmed so far ns Chap. 15.

THE NAUTICAL.

The Nautical Magazine of February fully main-
tains the high char-acter of its predecessors. It is a
complete naval chronicle.

DUBLIN UNIVERSITY.

There are two capital stories in the present number
—" The Legend of Castle Gregory," which might
well be drawn out into a three-volume historical ro-
mance, and a psychological tale anent a certain Tobias
Guarnerius, v,ho, by viilanout contrivance, im-
prisoned his defunct mother's soul in the sounding-
board of his fiddle, which thenceforth emitted notes
of magical and over-exciting power, to the possessor's
great emolument, but ultimate ruin. A biographical
notice, accompanied with a portrait, is given of Samuel
Lover, the accomplished poet, dramatist, story-teller,
and painter, whose Irish songs have gained for him
a world-wide reputation. Jonathan Freke Slingby
strikes the lyre this month with his wonted sweetness
and polished execution ; and in the seconi number of
" Leaves from the Portfolio of a Manager," we find
a most amusing account of Mr. Calcraft's dealings
with some of those eminent foreign singers, whose
exorbitant demand's render them the vampyres of
theatrical managers. Among the other papers area very
ably and powerfully written article on " Truant
Right and the Tenant. League," adverse to the sys-
tem and to the agitation—a highly interesting sketch
of the rise and successful industry of those sterling
benefactors of the masses, William and Robert Cham-
bers, of Edinburgh, and a scathing critique on that
pretentious production, Mr. Seweli's Literal and
Rythmical Translation of the Odes and Epodes of
Horace. Only fancy, 0 Jura messorum ilia, being
rendered " 0 digestion, hard as iron of the reaper l"
as it digestion were an organ, not a function ; and
sic de ceteris, countless misdemeanours being com-
mitted by a scholar- of no small reputation. The
writer of the concluding effusion on " Tubular Con-
stitutions" may possibly deem his production witty
and profound; but to us it seems to be near akin to
unmitigated nonsense. Bating these couple of
trashy pages, the Irish serial worthily maintains its
high and established reputation.