The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-29 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

The History and Life of the Rev. Dr. John Tauter,
of 'Strasbourg ; with Twenty-five of his Sermons
(temp. 1340). Translated from the German, by
S. Winkworth, with a preface by the
Charles Kingsley. Smith and Elder.
The eloquent rector of Eversley—the author or
" Hypatia," and " Alton Locke," and " The Saint's
Tragedy," has conferred a boon upon the lovers
of ecclesiastical literature, by (Isis introduction to
the Rev. Dr. John Tauler, of Strasbourg—and not
to the lovers of ecclesiastical literature only, but to
the far greater number of those who seek from a.
religious teacher not the angry arguments of con-
troversy, but the earnest exposition of the Gospel
lessons of love, will these sermons of Dr. Tauler
be right welcome, and highly aceptable. The
translator, Susanna Winkworth, also the translator
of " Theologia Germanica," gives the following
reasons fur thus presenting Tauler's sermons in the
English tongue :—." In publishing a selection from
the -writings of a divine who flourished in an age
and under social conditions so remote from our
own, as those of. a German Dominican Monk of
the fourteenth century, it seems right to state at the
outset, whether the aim which has governed the
selection, is chiefly historical or doctrinaL
The present work was undertaken, in the first in-
stance, with a simply practical object. My earliest
acquaintance with Tauler's sermons was made while
hearing them read in a family service ; and believ-
ing, from further study, that they contained ele-
InentS of truth not often brought in'o sufficieet
prominence in these days, yet possessing a most
direct and valuable influence on Christian life, I
wished to compile a volume of sermons for the
Sundays and holydays of the year, such as any bead
of a family might read to his household, or any dis-
trict visitor among the poor." The preface by Mr.
Kingsley is full of interest—literary, historical, and
spiritual. Repudiating the idea that he assumes
in this instance the office of critic or commentator,
he modestly observes—" The critic of Tauler no
man has a right to become who has not first ascer-
tained that he is a better man than Tauler. The
commentator of Tauler no man has a right to be-
come who has a strong belief (as I have) that Tauler's
sermons need no comment whatsoever, but that all
wnich is good and eternal in them will recommend
isself at once to their hearts, let their form of doctrine
be what it may, who have hold. of, or are seeking
after, Eternal Goodness." Very beautifully and
truthfully does Mr. Kingsley call to account those
who, glorying in the advantages of the present day,
look with,contemptuous scorn upon the labourers
of the past—who are "so satisfied with the good
fruit as to think very little of the tree which bore
it." "Thus," he adds, "standing upon the accu-
mulated labours of ages, we are apt to be ungrate-
ful to those who built up with weary labour, and
often working through dark and dreary nights, the
platform which now supports us. We complain
impatiently of the blindness of many a man, with-
out whom we should riot have seen, and of the in-
completeness of many a man's doctrine, which was
only incomplete because he was still engaged in
searching for memo truth, which, when found, he
handed on as a precious heirloom to us who know
him not." After these commendations from the
editor and the translator, let us add one word as
to the character of the teaching of Dr. Tauler.
While his theology is so spiritual as almost to
transcend at times the ordinary scope of the human
intellect, his teaching is nevertheless of a singu-
larly practical nature. While Archdeacon Hare,
in his notes to " the Mission of the Comforter,"
has translated portions of the sermons of Tauler in
reference to that sacred subject, we find in one
of his discourses—that for the tenth Sunday after
Trinity, on the text, " There are diversities
of operations, but it is the same God which worketh
all in all"—we find an exposition of those same
homely truths which obtained such -a wide and
deserved celebrity for Mr. Caird's sermon on
" The Religion of Common Life." Says Dr. Tauler
in his discourse, speaking of the homely duties of
daily life—" If I were not a priest, but were living
as a layman, I shouldtake it as a great favour that
I knew how to make shoes, and should try to
make them better than any one else, and
would gladly earn my bread by the labour of
my hands. Each 'must fulfil the office for
which God has fitted him. There is no
work so small, no art so mean, but it all comes
from God, and is a special gift of His. Thus let
each do that which another cannot do well, and for
love, returning gift for gift." We wilt not, how-
ever, emulate the example of Hierocles, and give
such isolated specimens of this goodly editice.
Those who are likely to appreciate Tauler will re-
joice over this volume, and feel a new source of
gratitude to Mr. Kingsley for having been the
means of introducing this hitherto, in this country,
unknown divine of the middle ages. The intro-
ductory history and remarks are full of informa-
tion, and Mr. Kingsley's preface, as we have said,
abounds with interest of a high order. The volume
is of goodly size, and bound after the medieval.
fashion.

THE AUST.RAMIN AGRICULTURAL
COMPANY.

Yesterday a special court of proprietors was held
at the London Tavern, for the purpose of electing
a deputy-governor and four directors, in the room
of Mr. C. Dashwood Bruce, Mr. T. Dyer Edwards,
Mr. E. W. T. Hamilton, the Hon.,J. T. L. Mel:
ville, and Mr. G. R. Smith.

Mr. RAVENSHAW, who occupied the chair, ex-
plained the reasons which rendered it necessary to
call the proprietors together, for the purpose men-
tioned in the advertisement. The old directors did
not wish to take upon themselves the responsibility
of carrying out the new Act of Parliament,
and all but two were about to retire and only
held their seats till gentlemen were elected to
replace them. There were certain questions con-
nected with their affairs in the colony which re-
quired decision and action. It would be necessary t
send out instructions with regard to the new act, and
it was thought that the new board should be the
persons to send out those instructions. (Hear,
hear.) He had himself sent out instructions to Mr.
Hodgson on some matters, but there were others
with regard to which he would not take the respon-
sibility of sending out instructions. in addition to
these reasons, Mr. Freshfield, the solicitor, told
him that if there was a delay of three weeks, it
would' render the carrying of the act during tho
present session of Parliament precarious. This
was the position in which they now stood. Too
gentlemen who were candidates for the vacant
offices were Mr. Leslie, who was a candidate for
the office of deputy governor ; Mr. Goodson, Mr.
Brown, and Mr. Cattley, who were candidates for
seats on the board. Thera were only three candi.
dates for the four vacancies, but he hoped that Mr.
De Salis would be nominated to fill the other
vacancy.
A PROPRIETOR inquired who were the two re.
maining directors
The CHAIRMAN said that Mr. Davidson and Mr.
Thorton were the remaining directors, in addition
to himself.

Mr. GRIFFITH proposed Mr. Leslie to fill the
office of deputy governor.
Mr. HEATH seconded the motion.
Mr. PRICE moved ax an amendment that Mr.
De Salis be elected deputy governor.
Mr. Ems seconded the nomination of Mr. De

Mr. DE SALIS said that he would not accept the
office of either deputy governor or director if lie was
not unanimously elected.
On a show of hands Mr. De Salis was elected by
a majority of 25 to 13.
Apoll was demand on behalf of Mr. Leslie, which
was fixed for Friday week.
The three gentlemen proposed for the direction
were elected, which leaves one vacancy unfilled.
The meeting then adjourned.

A rather heavy fall in the price of wine has taken p1,,e0
in Paris during the last Jew days. The accounts frltn
the sixty-six wine-produc.ng departments ere to the
effect that the vines are [in such fine condition as to
profiles a most abundant crop. It must be remarked,
however, that the account of the state of the wine 'his-
tricts was made up before the bitter cold weather of the
last few days set in.
A letter from Rome says:—" Everbody that pays s
visit to Mr. Gifson's studio just now is enchanted I, ith
his bust of the Duchess of Wellington. It is a noble
transcript of dignified and classical beauty. Mr. Gib-on
has presented his favourite coloured Venus with a pair
of gold earrings, skilfully executed by the jeweller Cis.
tellani, from an antique pattern, and the marble goddess
shakes them very coquettishly when she is turned round
upon her pedestal before the eyes of admiring spectaturs.
The boring of her ears was a source of great anxiety to
the sculptor, although the operation was most cautiously
performed by one of his best workmen, and supported
with great fortitude by theVtna (herself.'

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