The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-23 00:00:00

History of the Life and Times of Edmund Burke.
By Thomas Macknight, Author of "The Right
Hon. B. Disraeli, M.P., a Literary and Political
Biography," dec. 2 vols. Chapman and Hall.
Tee author of this work is one who has previa
ously endeavoured to distinguish himself in the
literary world by a somewhat unworthy method.
Works on living statesmen and politicians must of
necessity be in some measure invidious, and when
they assume a personal or biographical character
they are decidedly objectionable. In selecting the
lite of one who has passed into his place in history
Mr. Macknight has, therefore, shown better taste,
as well as more ambition, for while the greatest of
prose writers need not scorn to take for his subject
the life of a great man of the past, a censure on the
acts and opinions of a politician of the day sinks
immediately to the level of a petty party spirit.
But though we readily commend the author'.s dis-
cretion thus far, we are forced to admit he is
totally unequal to his subject. It is a subject
which, to do it justice, requires almost as great a
variety of powers in the biographer as existed in the
illustriouspersontreated uf. It requires the practised
historian and the comprehensive philosopher to
trace Burke's influence on the character and people
of his time ; it needs the politician without a partyto delineate the war of parties, the rival leaders,
whose names are prominent in the history of the
world ; to compare them with each other, to draw
their portraits, to manifest their powers, to depict
their failings. It asks the sympathy of
contemporaneous writ r to enter into the spirit of
those troubled times, and it demands the calm judg-
ment of the critic of pox erity to trace their influence
on the present day ; while to pourtray the personal
character of the great subject of the biography,
scarcely less discernment and ability are required.
It needs the profound student of humap nature
rightly to represent his complex character—sit
requires the philosopher to appreciate his philo-
sophy, a benevolent heart to sympathise with ill
benignant humanity, a clear and astute intellect to
perceive how that great mind went astray, a fer-
vent spirit to comprehend his enthusiasm, an in-
dependent and upright temper to enter into his
hatred of oppression, an orator to do justice to 1114
oratory, a reflection of his fine and liberal intelki-
eenee to acknowledge his noble toleration. 11110
combination of rare qualities Mr. Macknight €l°64
not possess; and, though it would b 3 absurd tp
suppose that no one should write the life of a gret
man who was not pie-eminently fitted for the t!IS.'S9
yet when the undertaking is great; the abilities
should be in some degree commensurate. If IY.I/1.0;
Macknight had restricted himself to a business, -al
rem(' of Burke's acts and opinions, his poli.tieao
connections, and the chief incidents of his private
life, he might have compiled a very useful volumes
for he has evidently bestowed much time and labour
on his subject. Bu' when we find him taking 1113
subject 'in its broadest view, and imitating
Macaulay in his style, and Alison in his extent, We
lose the value of a work of reference, and are
tempted to think of the " vaulting ambition that
o'erleaps itself and falls on t'orher side." 1116_
reader of these two formidable volumes will Pe.rhair,
be dismayed, CO! teinly surprised, to find at their c... 0
elusion that they have not reached the French, Sao
volution, the impeachment of Warren Hastluiii
or any of those later events of Burke's life
which the public are chiefly familiar. It le
tha
writer's intention shortly to complete the work, an
to give us a picture of the time when, as has egt
said, Burke "stimulated the panic of a worldAu by
the wild pictures of his inspired imagination ; „.
f 0
to show us that darker time when the entbuslas—
temper sunk into irritability, and the serrates Oof
public and private life deepened the shadow°
the oaks of Beaconsfield. To describe the c105.a.;
f
Burke's life will require a gentle and ldndly
one who will soften the harsh and jarring line.: go_
ready sympathy and full appreciation. Mr.
knight, whatever his failings may be 8, a !err
env
has a just and cordial admiration of the &Teat b.,
of whom he writes, and is no doubt actuateas!
a laudable ambition when undertaking the ta, ,
The work is very unequal ; some passages
writtn with force and correctness, and occasions' .1:6
the reader finds himself involved in a long sent
which, if it has many turnings, does not cocullat
him to any definite goal. The author is not withlict
ability, but he should select an easier duty, sttos
write with less ambition and more care. ElPgatod
and sirnpl city are the high roads to eloquence', an.
a mere selection of hard words and in volvti_co
titheses will never reach their object. r-4: the
allowance is to be made for the difficulty .of O.
er
of
Subject, but then it is scarcely wise for a vrrit ark.
mOderate abilities to select one of the most rem we
able periods of EngliSh history for his task.• he
trust that when we again meet Mr. Mackelgewhtest,
will have abandoned such an ardueughara°oter
and choosing au epoch of less formidable.
_cerstby. hig
distinguish himself in a manner that will r
eviuent labsur and research.

• •
The nextlndian telegram will be due in Englatl—
A 00
the lit March. It will contain news from Bcnnbai
°
the 9th inst. An Australian telegram will be also dae„,
the let March. It will contain news from SydneY Zh`
to the 11th ult.,' and from Melbourne up to the 111--
ultimo.
A silk
In consequence of the China news the tea un,.—
markets have been exceedingly quiet and flat. it `7l-1‘
appears that orders from Lyons for purchases of
in our market have been countermanded, owing to the
recent political anxieties. Pal-
THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS.—LIVERPOOD.
in Liveri
mereon has of late been exceedingly popular
pool, where he was regarded as a true champion
fatal
upholder is.: our national greatness. His recent t.O
advocacy of an obnoxious and despotic measure Pl 4;
however, completely turned the tide of his grestee°
--14ord
and the news of his defeat on Friday, and subseel,
resignation, has excited universal satisfaction. i! ,s
now felt that our honour has been vindicated bel°'3
the world, and that our outraged feelings have f°1250
their true English vent. It matters not who saps the
Lord Palmerston, it is sufficient to know that I:00
injury he would have inflicted upon us Ms we

- -
becomingly resented.
TRIG MINISTERIAL DEFEAT. At last the country bee:
come to its senses. That monstrous chimera wbi
has palsied the nation's brain for some three
an aged tory of the regency school of torlisit was,
querading as a preacber of progress—has vari,:e, yes
first touch of genuine liberalism. If, as the Pro" -*lst
Lord Palmerston's condemnation now be factiool7lo
him reverse the verdict by the means he sell?? agO.
with such disingenuous ingenuity nine ont°,,r,-- of
"eats him go •to the hustings now with tbs. "o.'oo
b bsa ' ins:
as he did then with the cry of„" la.orte
barbarian." arian. He had Bowring then—he has •P°ll-`
years--;
no w.—Lifverpool Albion.
. a list Of
NEW ADMINISTRATIONS.—Tho following ,-1, Ta hold
the Administrations, Whig and Tory, whicil,maci&-tos of
office in England since the year 1830, with We, GreYo'6
their installation and dissolution, viz. :---ar' 81.'0'
Administration, 1830-34 ; Viscount Melbourolieteourit
1804 ; Sir Robert Peel's (first), 1834-35 l, i 80ou'
M,lbourne's (second), 1835-41 ; Sir R. Peel siperb/64.
1841.46 • Lord J. Russell's, 1846.52 ; Earl °Iirillooull,;
(first), 1'852 ; Earl of Aberdeen's, 1853-55 ; —9 be'"
Palmerston's', 1855-58. The outgoing 111inistrYila the
office just three years. Lord J. Russell rerifi obost
reins of power nearly six years, and Sir R. rebf v 1613
five. The last Tory Ministry under Lord Der
not in office a twelvemonth.• acing
erie- • d
Sumps-, APnday, Noon.—We are OP 0010E*
rough weather on the north-east coast. This 140 ants,
the George Patriot, Naples Packet, Thames. most of
and Jane, coal-laden vessels, have put Wig, elsbs4
them with loss of bulwarks. Most of these
obliged to
been from the Tyne a fortnight, but had been ,°l3 a 109,
seek shelter in Leith Roads, or in Holy lell.n.‘a bee°
and in trying to make a
caught in a second gale. Last night the brig Col.
passage south their 00009
of Whitby was wrecked on Tvnemotith Poir'_t' a. the
siderable difficulty was experienced in resei!i:v°Thel
crew, through the rocket lines having fouls".., vessel
were lauded, however, about three hours after tu
struoll