The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-28 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

THE PII.I.IV.TO;r WORLD.

1:y A. Calilict.

Rditedbg the Lev. 11. Christmas.- 2 I/O/s.
et,.Thicnt author of " "1 he Cradle of the Twin
Giants" has here presented us with an admirable
translation ,:f a most interesting work—a work which,
while it fascinates the lovers of the marvellous by its
very title—" the Phantom World !" will furnish the
thoughtful and inquiring philosopher with abundant
matter of interest in the many investigations into the
truth or falsehood of supernatural apparitions which
it contains. If the authors deductions he calculated
to dispose his readers too strongly to a belief in the
supernatural, the editor's introduction will, perhaps,
exercise a counteracting influence. Of the author
ww find the following interesting account in the intro-

duf,;ti.n

' " Augustine Calmet was hors in the year 1672, at a
village near Commerce in Lorraine. He early gave
proofs of aptitude for study, and an opportunity was
spe,dily offered for devoting himself to a life of learning.
In his sixteenth year he became a Belie lictine of the
congregation of Sr.. Vannes, and proseeult-ti his theolo-
gical and such philus,pnical studies as the time allowed
with great bueceis. He was speedily eppointed to teach
the younger portion of the community, and gave in this
employment such decided to his superiors,
thv.r, he was soon marked for preferment. His chief
study was tne Scriptures, and in the twenty-second year
of his age he was appointed to the sub-prior of the
Monastry of Munster, iu Alsace, where he presided
ov‘-r an acaderay. This academy consisted of ten or
twelve monks, and its object was the investigation of
S• ripture. Calvet was not idle in his new position. Be-
sides communic,&ng so much valuable information as to
make his pupils the best Biblical scholars ie the coun-
try, he wade extensive collections fur his Commentary
on the Old and New Testaments,' and for his still more
celebrated work, The History of the Bitale."rhese
materials he subsequently digested and arranged. The
'Commentary,' a work of immense value, was published
in separate volumes from 1707 to 1716. His labours at-
tracted renewed and increased attention, and the offer of
a bishopric was made him, which he unhesitatingly de-
clined.
"In 1718, he was elected to the Abbacy of St.
Leopold, in Nancy; and ten years afterwards to that of
Seuones, where he spent the remainder of his days. His
writings are numerous; two have been already men-
ttoued, and so great was the popularity of his Commen-
taries, tnat they were translated into no fewer than
six languages within ten years. They exhibit
a favourable aspect of the author's mind, and give a
very high idea of his erudition. One cause which
tended greatly to the universal acceptability of this work
was its singular freedom from sectarian bitterness.
Protestants as well as Romanists may use it with equal
satisfaction; and accordingly it is considered a work of
standard authority in Eugiand as much as on the con-
tinent."
Such is the character given of Calmet, one of the most
popular of whose works was this " Phantom World."
Its popularity is not surprising when the very com-
prehensive and most attractive nature of its contents
is taken into consideration. Almost innumerable ap-
paritions, authenticated and fictitious, of angels, and
demons, and spirits, from those recorded in the Scrip-
tares down to the ghost-stories of modern times, are
here related and examined, and although, in the opi-
nions of many readers, Calmet will be found leaning
to the side of credulity, his summing• up of contra-
dictory opinions is on the whole judicious.
In one chapter, entitled the " Secrets of Physics and
Chemistry," he records many marvels as astonishing
as any supernatural legends, which may be ascribed
to natural causes; and here he remarks—" It is true
that the oftener we examine into what have been taken
for apparitions, the more satisfied must we be that
nothing is found real, extraordinary, or supernatural;"
but, on the other baud, he expresses as his conviction
that " we must in these matters keep the medium
between excessive credulity and extreme incredulity;
we must be prudent, moderate, and enlightened; we
must, according to the advice of St. Paul, test every-
thing, examine everything, yield only to evidence and
known truth." A little further on he thus
enumerates the subjects touched upon in the
first portion of his work, and pronounces
his own judgment upon them. " After having
made this exposition of my opinion concerning the
apparitions of angels, demons, souls of the dead, and
even of one living person to another, and having
spoken of magic, of oracles, of obsessions, and pos-
sessions of the demon ; of sprites and familiar spirits ;
of sorcerers and witches ; of spectres which predict the
future; of those which haunt houses,—after having
stated the objections which are made against such
apparitions, and having replied to them in as weighty
a manner as I possibly could, I think I may con-
clude that, although this matter labours still under
very great difficulties, as much respecting the foun-
dation of the thing—l mean as regards the truth and
reality of apparitions in general—as for the way in
which they are made, still we cannot reasonably dis-
allow that there may be true apparitions of all the
kinds of which we have spoken, and that there may
be also a great number very disputable ; and
some others which are manifestly the work,of knavery,
of mischievousness, of the art of charlatans, and
flexibility of those who play sleight-of-hand tricks.
1 acknowledge, moreover, that iniquitous preposses-
sions, simplicity, superstition, excess of credulity,
and weakness of mind, have given rise to many
stories which are related, that ignorance of pure phi-
losophy has caused to be taken for miraculous effects,
and unlawful magic, which is the simple effect of
natural magic." After making all these allowances
for fraud and credulity, Calmet's belief in the possi-
bility of supernatural apparitions is unshaken, and
the readers of his fascinating book will no doubt
agree with him in secret, although, perhaps, but few
will venture to express such a conviction—the ulti-
matum arrived at by a perusal of the " Phantom
World " being, that spirits can, with the per-
mission of Providence, appear to men, but
that they very seldom do so appear. The
second portion of the work possesses a more
horrible interest; it is a dissertation on those tradi-
tionary vampires and vroncolacas respecting whom
so many revolting stories have been circulated. The
absurdity of such tales, and the non-existence of the
monsters upon whose existence they were founded,
is here very forcibly demonstrated. The " Phantom
World" is worthy of a perusal by the thoughtful,
and inquiring, as being an incidental chapter its " the
proper study of mankind," while the lovers of the hor-
rible and the wonderful will find in it a horrible and
wonderful attraction. The reading public are al-
ready greatly indebted to Mr. Christmas for the
very interesting and excellent manner in which be
makes them acquainted with interesting and excellent
works.

THE CONSERVATIVE MAGAZINE. No. I.
ThiF, the first number of a new monthly magazine,
which upholds the cause of Protection with the same
puwer and smartness as Fraser's Magazine was wont
to uphold the cause of 13oroughmongering in 1832.
Indeed, it strongly reminds us of what Fraser was in
its early and palmy days, and were either poor Ma-
ginn or "Morgan Rattler," choicest of good spirits,
still alive, we should have suspected that they had
something to do with the management of this slashing
per►odical. Its literary articles are of a high order of
merit, and both Blackwood and Fraser must look
well about them if they hope to hold their own
against this new candidate for Conservative patronage.

THE PALLADIUM No. 11.
The second number of this new monthly fully
muntsins the high character which the publication of
the first number has acquired. The opening paper
on "Agriculture and Free Trade," by an East Lo-
thian farmer, is one of the most masterly political
essays we have ever perused. We should much like
to see this essay published separately in a cheap form,
and widely circulated among the tenant-farmers,
whom it could not but enlighten as to their true in-
terests.

THE NEW ACT TO EXTEND THE JURISDICTION OF
COUNTY CoWiTS.—The provisions of the new Act to extend
the jurisdiction of county courts to 501., recently passed, will
shortly be enforced in the various courts of England and
%Vales. Among the sections is one giving an appeal to the
superior courts on points of law, and on questions respecting
the admission and rejection of evidence. The mode of pro-
cedure is to be by a case being settled by the parties, or their
attorneys, and if they cannot agree, then the duty is to de-
volve upon the judge of the court. Terms are to be made
respecting costs, &c., by the courts before an appeal is
allowed, and to obtain an appeal, notice must be given within
ten days. Under this Act a higher rate of rensuseration is
given to attorneys and barristers, so that payment to an
attorney for his costs shall not exceed 1/. 105., and a fee to
a barrister 2i. 4s. 6d., which payments are to be allowed by
order of the judge. It is understood to be the intention of
barristers to form a " bar" at some of the courts. It would
be well if some of the judges made arrangements not to sit
to late hours, and not to take many cases. It was expected
that barristers, who were appointed to the situations of
judges, would devote their whole time. A salary of 1,0001.
a year is worth having by many competent persons, without
practising in the superior courts.
THE NEW STAMP ACT.—The New Stamp Act
(13 and 14 Victoria, cap. 97) will come into operation on the
11th of October. It contains 21 sections, and a very long
schedule of the new duties which will then be enfOrced.
Among the provisions are several of a new character with
reference to stamp duties. Tire allowance of "one and a
half per cent" to sellers of receipt stamps is now repealed,
and the former allowance of " seven and a half per cent.
made." The stamp duties imposed by various statutes are
repealed by the new law, and the duties are to be under the
management of the Inland Revenue Commissioners. The stain p
duties on leases for one year, and on bargains and sales, are
wholly repealed. With respect to money received expressly
for stamp duty, it is provided that persons receiving money
for si anti) duties, and misappropriating it, are to be liable to
the Crown ter the amount in the Court of Exchequer, which
Court is empowered to enforce payment in a summary man-
ner. For securit, the payment of stamp duties penalties
are imposed, with a proviso that they may be remitted, if it
be proved that the omission to stamp within twelve months
arose from " accident, inadvertency, or urgent necessity."
Documents in courts have been rejected on account of not
having a sufficient stamp, and for remedy an additional
stamp may now be affixed, This Act will effect some im-
pomitit alterations in the stamp duties.
THE ASYLUM Ft)R IDIOTs.—We notice that the
fund of this charity has been assisted by a donation of 300/.
from Mrs. Jane Tretnaine. This society, seeking as it does,
to relieve the most helpless of the necessitous, will, we trust,
raeive much support