The Sun.
London, England, 1835-10-20 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA.
B 1 ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE,
Avocat a la Cour Royale de Paris, 6-c.
Translated by FlR.vnr- REEVE, Esq.
In 2 Vols. .London: Saunders and Otley. 1835.
Taking it as a whole, this is the most complete
work that has ever appeared on the government of the
United States of America. The author is a close
observer, a careful investigator, and, in his way a very
impartial and trustworthy witness of the workingof
the political system which forms the basis of all Ame-
rican institutions. We say in his own way, because
the prejudices of M. De Tocqueville manifestly lean
t
awards an aristocratical or mixed form of government.
His declared object in writing this work is not a little
remarkable. He says, that during his residence in
the United States, he perceived that from the equality
m conditions among the people sprung their system of
government. He next directed his attention to Eu-
rope, and finding that the same equality of condition
was rapidly spreading among the inhabitants, and
Which, in the progress of time, he assumed would pro-
duce similar results—or, in other words, republicanize
Aurope—he was led to submit to his countrymen a
true
picture of that state towards which they were
hastening. It is really amusing to mark the diversity
of the author's opinions throughout. In one place
Ile seems horror-stricken at the idea of a government
purely
democratic ; in another he is nearly thrown
into convulsions by an apprehension of a possible
change to absolutism. Nevertheless, we are persuaded
that he
is perfectly honest, and that his opinions have
never been allowed to bias his descriptions, although
What he saw ?rom time to time may have exercised a
considerable influence over his subsequent impressions
ati'almost every subject. Hence this work is princi-
pally of importance to that class of readers who require
lily a knowledge of facts, and who are themselves
adequate to the task of drawing correct conclusions
from them.
One of M. de Tocqueville's faults is a habit of
Ying down political and moral axioms without having
snAciently examined their logical accuracy. For ex-
am*, in defending despotic Government, he says :
Men are not corrupted by the exercise of power, or
debased by the habit of obedience ; but by the exercise
!f a power which they believe to be illegal, and by obe-
nlence to a rule which they consider to be usurped and
°Ppressive." This proposition is false throughout.
The exercise of a power unjust in itself will corrupt
Ulnae who exercise it, no matter what may be their im-
pressions on the subject ; and obedience to a rule, es-
aentially evil, will degriJe all who observe it, whatever
raaYbe their convictions of its equity. If proofs be
Wanting let them be sought amoog the professors of,
and believers in, the various superstitions of which
Whole nations have been the willing slaves. Will any
Person
th contend that the woeshippers of Juggernaut,
t. °ugh perfectly sincere, were not debased by prostra-
;us before the'car of that idol ? Or that Kings and
'jests, even when impressed with a belief that they
acted as God's Vicegerents, were not corrupted-by the
exercise of powers which, in their opinion, heaven had
c°lllmitted to their hands ? They have read history
With little profit who find themselves under a necessity
°f Pausing before affirmatively answering these questions.
We would not, however, have it inferred from this,
that many of M. De Tocqueville's views and infe-
rences, are not pre-eminently philosophical. In those
chapters of his first volume, in which be traces the
Btrength of the American Government to its apparent
non-existence ; to the division of the duties of the
eeutive ; to the municipal government of the towns
oAlt
ril the principle of universal suffrage ; and to the ope-
atien of the legislative enactments by means of the
fidicial instead of the legislative authorities—will be
t'und a mine of the most valuable political knowledge.
lii his censures, too, he is generous to a degree which
entitles
him to great respect. He does not blame
4814 or on trivial grounds ; and where the system is
4
1 feelings
at fault, he is careful to except it from blame justly
chargeableo upon the people, and often the consequence
engendered by locality, employment, reli-
Pnis belief, and sometimes associations—foreign alike
I.° the Government and the country.
The effect produced by the perusal of this work on
41. mind is very different from what M. De Tocque-
vill
e may have anticipated on the part of his readers.
A
8-9 we before observed, it was written to represent that
:fate of political being, towards which, in the opinion
the learned author, all Eizope is fast hastening ;
and we confess the prospect has foi us nothing fright-
ful4l in it. It was only three days ago that WP published
l imperial
decree of the Emperor of Austr.2: in
Which lie permitted nineteen state prisoners to choose
between twenty years incarceration in the dungeons of
A'lan, or expatriation for life to the United States of
olerice. To our Trans-Atlantic brethren this de-
thee Would be far from flattering, had they it not in
the
Power to console themselves by reflecting upon
ignorance which suggested the choice as a punish-
ment for state treasons. In our opinion the Emperor
Austria is by no means ignorant of the blessings
theqed under the United States Government ; but the
decree was intended to frighten his Italian subjects
with an idea of the horrors which co-exist with Re-
Publican
institutions.b To keep up the delusion it will
e oMlncessary for him to exclude such works as M. De
elineville's exposition of the working of Democracy
iu
be America ; otherwise the whole of the Milanese will
,oneenle candidates for expatriation. Notwithstanding
of ,e Objectionable passages, and the vague expression
'eats from the anticipated triumph of Republican
principles, we are confident these volumes will render
g°°d Service to the cause of freedom. We cordially
te
°Mlnend them to the attention of the British people.

.I"42IIPHLET on REAL alai RATIONAL REFORM

IN THE
ESTABLISHED CHURCH OF ENGLAND
AND BOTH

OUR UNIVERSITIES, &c.
Bl' THE REVEREND J. GRIFFITHS LLOYD.

Ridgway and Sons, Piccadilly.
This iS a clever pamphlet on a subject of very
jrielt importance. Next to the remodelling of the
ei:" Church stands the reform of the English Ecele-
tioStical Establishment, in the catalogue of ameliora-
*iiilis which admit of no dispute, and which the people
fore 11°t suffer to be delayed. Mr. Lloyd has there-
ittyi Performed an acceptable service to the public, in
tie ng before it the results of his reflection and expe-
rthlle: °n a subject which clergymen in general either
elkllt:esfrmn examining with that fearlessness of conse-
without which the truth can never be arrived
7' what is still more culpable, en4leavour to mis-
oh"'tesent, by disingenuous sophistry and mystification.
n'
tile long visaged people may perhaps think that the
should have adopted a more serious tone in
ilo fault
so serious a subject. We, however, find
with either his manner or his matter. On the
g 7 we thank him for throwing in here and there
it iof attic salt, by way of relish to that which, as
is not very inviting : and we
I°l4lllll 5 example were more generally followed.

The
,at the commencement of the herring fishery reminds
tne soletnnities of the Pagans, and the floggings given
Oei.: sea by the Doges of Venice. A few days ago the
sea, °l' or lioulogne-Sur-Mer went to the port, blessed the
Trier, and invoked the benediction of Heaven en the
._ fisher-
We
re burin
their perilous undertaking. A crowd Pr gqllors
'resent, and joined in the ceremony'.

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Queen, accompanied by Prince Ernest of Hesse
Philippsthal, the Duchess of Saxe Weimar, Prince George
of Cambridge, and attended by the. Countess of Mayo,
Lady in Waiting ; Earl Howe, Lord Chamborlain ; the
Earl of Denbigh, Master of the Horse ; and the Hon.
Mr. Ashley, Treasurer ; left Windsor Castle at a quarter
past 8 o'clock yesterday morning for Oxford.
At half past 10 o'clock the King le!'t Windsor Castle for
Kew. His Majesty dined with the Earl and Countess of
Errol, and returned to Windsor Castle at night.
Despatches from Mr George Villiers, Minister Plenipo-
tentiary at Madrid, were received yesterday at the Foreign-
office. _ _

Major-General Middlemore, Governor of St. Helena,
transacted business yesterday at the Colonial-office.

HER MAJESTY'S VISIT TO OXFORD.

This morning (Monday) Oxford presented a scene of the
greatest bustle we have witnessed for a long time. The
bustle at the Angel Inn, where splendid apartments have
been fitted up for the temporary accommodation of her Ma-
jesty, exceeded, of course, anything passing in the other
parts of the town. The manner in which all the prepara-
tions here have been got up, is in the very best and most
chaste style of decoration." The passage from the principal
entrance by which the Queen is to proceed to her apart-
ments, is covered on each side, and on the ceiling, with a
profusion of laurels, so thick as to exclude all appearance
of what their state had been previously to this transforma-
tion. Nearly the whole of this extensive house is occupied
by the Queen and her official attendants. Many hundreds
of ladies and gentlemen have passed through the apart-
ments in the course of this morning, particularly ladies of
rank and respectability, mixed with crowds of gownsmen.
The authorities, both of the City and of the University, are
in attendance, to see that no improper or unauthorised
persons shall have approach to any place in which business,
having relation to the present joyous occasion, is to be
transacted.

Preparations are now in great forwardness for an illumi-
nation, which, no doubt, will be a general one. The illu-
mination at the Angel, where her Majesty is to stop, gives,
in the present state of preparation, every indication of great
splendour. There is a large and-"magnificent Crown over
the door, illustrated with lamps of every hue, and the word
" Welcome" under it in brilliant light. The arrangements
at the Angel cannot be too much applauded. They are
highly creditable to the taste and rapid execution of Mr.
Griffiths, the proprietor. They were got up solely under
his direction, and would seem to indicate that the deco-
rative and elegant branch of upholstery bad been the study
of his life.

At an early hour Lord Norrey's corps of yeomanry
cavalry left town, for Benson, for the purpose of escorting
her Majesty into Oxford. As the hour of her Majesty's
expected arrival approached, the crowds in the streets,
along the roads, and at the windows, began to thicken.
There was not a window along the whole line of streets by
which her Majesty was to pass that was not completely
filled. About twelve her Majesty's baggage waggon ar-
rived at the Angel, and the appearance of this ponderous
vehicle, being one of somewhat unusual construction, was
interpreted as indicating a near approach, and a vast number
of people collected round the door, but soon dispersed on
finding their disappointment.
Notices have been very properly posted up in all parts of
the town, in which it is desired that neither fire-arms nor
fireworks shall be employed in the way of rejoicing. This
is a very proper regulation in a city where any extensive
mischief by fire would be utterly irretrievable. An antique
building may be repaired, but newness, in such cases, is
deformity.
The Town Hall, particularly the Council Chamber, in
which the address of the city is to be presented to her
Majesty, are very conveniently fitted up.