The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-29 00:00:00

THE QUARTERLIES.

THE QU ARTERLY .REVIETV. No. CLXXIV.
Already in our leading colurnes we have taken
occasion to commend one of the most attractive papers
in the current number of the Quarterly, the paper re-
biting to the closing scenes in the history of Louis
Philippe. While pretending to be nothing more than
a species of running commentary on a recently pub-
lished anonymous pamphlet by M. Lemoine, the con-
tribution in question is a vivid and genial descrip-
tion of the mode of life adopted by the late ex-King
of the French in his exile at Claremont, and at the
Star and Garter in Richmond. Subsequently of
course the article depicts the last illness and dissolu-
tion of the fallen sovereign, accompanied throughout
by an incidental portraiture of his character. So
charmingly is the whole account penned, so dex-
terously has the writer discriminated among the
Protean phases of this extraordinary man's genius,
so agreeably does he banish from his mind
for a while all petty prejudices and idle predilections,
that we cannot but reiterate our previous recom-
mendation of the paper to our readers as one calcu-
lated as much to interest them as it is to prove ulti-
mately useful to the historian. Mr. Baillie Cochrane
is not " let down" as easily as M. Lemoine by the
Quarterly reviewer, seeing that in a notice of
" Young Italy," that brilliant and delightful volume
is anathematised by the critic as baleful in its influ-
ence and insiduous in its character. Equally virulent
are the comments passed by another contributor on
M. Regnault's sagacious and painstaking history of
the French " Provisional Government." In review-
ing that narrative penned by the chef du Cabinet du
Ministre Provisoire de l' Interieur the writer takes oc-
casion to tell again the infinitely more than thrice
told tale of the rise and fall of the Provi-
sional Government. While doing so, moreover,
he gratifies his spleen by scattering sentences
of derision or of contumely upon all the principal
actors in that great revolution—now flinging a sar-
casm at Marshal Bugeaud, now at M. Thiers, now at
M. Marrast, now at M. Odilon Barrot, now at M.
Ledru Rollin, now (and most of all) at poor M. de
Lamartine. The insincerity of all these perversions
of the story of the days of February, we must avow, has
begun to pall upon the appetite of English readers.
People have become gradually nauseated by the slan-
ders dedicated to the depreciation of the Provisional
Government, insomuch that the revival of these ca-
lumnies is becoming at last altogether unendurable.
Perhaps it is that the enemies of the Republic think
to get their accusations at last credited in some quar-
ters by their constant repetition. Supposing this, bow.
ever, to be the case they will find themselves most grie-
vously mistaken ; forevery new charge levelled against
the founders of the Republic only elicits some new
evidence of their magnanimity, only calls forth new
evidence of their true and earnest civism. Perhaps
the most substantial tribute yet offered to the leaders
of the French democracy is this very work of M.
Regnault, which the Quarterly has attempted now to
vilify and now to depreciate. A better fate than this
has been reserved fur Mr. George Ticknor, the histo-
rian of" Spanish Literature," whose learned labours
are commended with all earnestness in the opening
paper of the current number of this distinguished
periodical. The literature enriched by the genius of
Calderon, of Queredo, and of Cervantes presents of
course to the reviewer a fruitful theme for his scho•
larly disquisition. The criticism will be read at once
with profit and satisfaction. "The Church and Edu-
cation in Wales" must arrest the attention of
the more reflective readers of the Quarterly, and
cannot fail, when read, to excite a great degree of
solicitude. Another practical subject for reform—
the " Metropolitan Water Supply"—is considered
further on with an equal amount of lucidity. The
question is discussed in all its bearings, and in
doing this the writer has heaped together a great
quantity of interesting information. Kindred in spirit
and feeling with the article on Mr. Ticknor's work
respecting " Spanish Literature" is a subsequent one
on Colonel Mure's work relating to " Greek Litera-
ture." In the latter contribution the ingenuity and re-
search of Colonel Mure are duly recegnised. " Siberia
and California," while affording materials for a paper,
attractive, alike to the geographer and the geologist,
will prove equally agreeable .themes for inquiry
to the chiefs and hangers-on of the moneyocracy.
Such volumes as those recently penned by Mr.
Ryan, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. Buffam have suggested
the idea, and supplied many of the materials of this
clever contribution. The most gossipping, and con-
sequently the most generally entertaining of all the
articles contained in the current number of the
Quarterly, however, as yet remains unnoticed; we
allude to the amusing paper on the " Forms of Salu-
tation." The writer introduces us to all the tongues
of ancient or modern civilization. Now the Greek
hails us with his pleasant word of greeting—XatFE
—rejoice, be glad ! The Roman cries oat to us Salve!
Vale !—be healthy ! be strong ! Then the Genoese
in the middle ages exclaim Sanita e guadagno—health
and gain ! At last the Italian greets us with Come sta ?
Come state ?—how do you stand, be, exist? We hear
the Spaniard again, with his Buenas tardes ?
good late instead of good evening : and his Vaya con
Dios, Senor Caballero I—go with God, Signor Cava-
lier ! The French phrase Comment vous portez-vous
—how do you carry yourself—or that other and yet
quainter one, Comment ca va-t-il ?—how that goes it ?
The German Wie gekt's?—how goes it ? and their
other expression Leben sie wohl !—live well ! The
Low Dutch Hoe vaart's ge p—how fare you ? The
Swedish Harr mar ni ?—how can you ? Our own—
How are you ? and how do you do ?—are all sums-
adsu
of savours
the of
present a
good
instal-
ment
succes-
sively enumerated, and are each made the subject for
some amusing and humorous criticisms. The article
in question not less than the rest of the number will
diges-
tion and a happy temperament; and hence is to us
of the Quarterly.
bneotlothud
the least veryib
attractivere le.
portion
I t avo

JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE.
Among the many interesting :articles contained in
the present 'number of the above-mentioned perio-
dical, one of a biographical character is devoted to
the career of the late " James Smith, of Deanston."
An intelligent contribution on " Ceylon" is followed
by an ingenious essay, entitled " Cogitations on
what is the Field Drain." Another contributor,
Dr. Anderson, has a paper on the " Economy of
Manure," well deser%ing of the most serious atten-
tion of the agriculturists. A chapter on " The
South American Animal Manure," and another on
" The Feeding of Horses," convey, in a popular and
lucid form, a large amount of information. The
whole contents are wound up by a detailed and
comprehensive " Account of the Show at Glasgow
in 1850," a subject interesting not only to our
northern fellow-countrymen, the farmers of Scotland,
but, more or less, to the whole body of agriculturists
throughout the Jnited Kingdom.