The Sun.
London, England, 1828-11-17 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

QUARTERLY REVIEW, No. 76.—LoNooN, 1828.
The " Quarterly Review" has at last spoken

out boldly, and in its former- uncompromising
spirit, on the subject of Emancipation. Like
a giant refreshed it has started up, shook oil its
late apathy, and thundered forth its anathemas
against the Papists. That this tone of argu-
ment is the.reult of long and serious considera-
tion, and an attentive watching of the march of
events, we have no more doubt, than that it is
injudicious and even premature. Still it looks
like earnestness, and so far deserves respect.
But more of this anon. The first article in the
number, entitled « Works and Character of
Paley," is admirable : it is full of condensed in-
formation, introduced with a very pertinent re-
view of the state or theology in England previ-
ens to the appearance of Pale)'. In this preli-
minary matter occurs the following analysis of
Bishop Butler's Analogy. The hand of a mas-
ter is visible in every line:—

" Now Bishop Butler sent forth his immortal Analogy,
a work too thoughtful for the flippant taste of the sceptical
school, and indeed only to be duly appreciated after much
and patient meditation. It is not a short line that will
fathom Butler. Let a hundred readers sit down to the
examinatiten of the Analogy, and however various the as-
sociationa of thought excited in their Minds by the perusal,
(whether as objections or otherwise,) they will find ()reexa-
mination that Butler has been beforehand with them all.
This may not at &St strike them. Often it will discover
itself its a hint, overlooked, perhaps in a first reading,
dropped by Butler in profusion of his matter, as it were,
to show that he was aware of what might he said, but
that lie had better game on foot ; and still more often will
it be traced in the caution with which he selects an ex-
pression, not perhaps the obvious expression, such, indeed,
as to a superficial reader may seem an unaccountable cir-
cumlocution or an ungraceful stiffness of language. In all
these cases, he is evidently glancing at-an argument or parry-
ing an objection of some kind or other that had been lurking
about him,—objections and arguments which may sometimes
present themselves to us at once, but which very frequently
are latent till the under-current of our thoughts happen to
set in with Butler's, and throws them up. We have heard
persons talk of the obscurity of Bishop Butler's style, and la-
ment that his book was not re-written by some more lumi-
nous master of language. We have always suspected that
such critics knew very little about the Analogy. We
would have no sacrilegious hand touch it. It would be
like officious meddling with a well-considered move at
chess. We should change a word in it with the caution of
men expounding hieroglyphics—it has a meaning, but we
have not hit upon it—others may, or we ourselves May at
another time. The Analogy is a work carefully and
closely packed up out of twenty years' hard thinking. It
must have filled folios, and its illustrious author has taken
less time to concoct it ; for never was a stronger instance
of the truth of the observation, that it requires far more
time to make a small book than a large one. For our-
selves, whether we consider it as directly corroborative of
the scheme of christianity, by showing its consistency with
natural religion, or whether (which is, perhaps, its more
important aspect) as an answer to those objections which
may be brought against christianity, arising-out of the dif-
ficulties involved in it, we look upon the Analogy of Bishop
Butler as the work above all others on which the mind can
repose with the most entire satisfaction, and faith found
itself as on a rock."

Of Warburton's far-famed " Divine Lega-
tion of Moses," a work replete with daring pa.:
radox, subtle argument, and heedless humour,
we have a slight but characteristic account, which
is immediately succeeded by a criticism on Paley,
whose theological merits are highly praised, while
his ethics are, we think, sadly underrated. His
favourite doctrine of expediency; in particular,
is dwelt on with more address than justice ;
points are captiously objected to, while the en-
larged spirit of the whole has escaped the Re-
viewer's notice. Speaking incidentally of Pa-
ley's Evidences, with which most of our readers
must be familiar, we have the following argu-
ment respecting the truth of Christianity, which
is one of the most convincing we ever read :

" The truth of Christianity depends upon die truth of
its leading facts. Here are a number of transactions re-
corded, which do nut relate to au obscure clan in some
wild and sequestered corner of the earth, but such as are
said to have happened in a most civilized age, and amongst
a well known people. They involve the customs, the
th,, prejudices of many nations and languages; they
are full of allusions to their institutions, domestic, civil,
political, religious ; they constantly lay themselves open to
a scrutiny on the minutest points of geography, of history,
of chronology. They not unfrequently make mention of
individuals,--of individuals not so famous as to be spoken
of with safety on public report alone, nor yet so obscure as
to admit of being spoken of at random without detection.
They not seldom refer to the accidents of the day, a tumult,
a conspiracy, a dearth. What room is there here for the
application of tests, to ascertain their veracity ! If they en-
dure such tests, (as they do,) the cumulative argument
is little short of .demonstration. But this very same his-
tory, of whier the component parts are marked by charac-
ters of truth thus various, tells of miracles. What is to be
dune with these? Yet, if these be true, then is not preach-
ing vain, nor faith vain."

Alluding to Paley's politics, the Reviewer
seems anxious to scout the idea of his being
aught but a High Churchman and a Tory. We
can understand this anxiety, for Ultraism is very
much in want of such an advocate to grace its
annals. But facts, even on the Reviewer's own
showing, are against him. Paley was a trim-
mer : in times of peace he gratuitously put forth
the boldest assertions, which, when occasion
almost justified their adoption, he did not hesi-
tate to recant. For this poltroonery Parr was
abundantly justified in hanging his picture
the wrong side upwards. "Narrative of a se-
cond Expedition to the Shores of the Polar Sea"
is a fair, temperate, and unpretending digest of
Captain Franklin's adventures in that hemi-
sphere. It is precisely the sort of article that
we should expect to meet with in comparatively
minor periodicals, such as the British Critic,
the Eclectic (if that respectable journal be yet in
existence), or the Monthly ; but has scarcely
sufficient weight and importance enough to suit
the Quarterly—except in the way of Balaam.
" Hexaglot Georgics" is a slight sketchy ana-
lysis of some five or six translations of Virgil's
agricultural poem : it is neatly and prettily
written, but uants strength and character. " Cul-
tivation of Waste Lands" is somewhat heavy
and prosing, but this is more than atoned for
by the fulness of its information, which is both
practical and diversified. The style of the
article,' where it is not wordy, is careless.
" Isaac Comnenus" is a review of only six pages
animated
faithful
n notice
i oe e
o
—this is its chief recommendation. " Memoirs
of General Minf necessitycr"is. truly
b e
interest-
ing,
as must of
that delightful publication. We have no space
for extracts, nor, indeed, is the article of a na-
ture to require one! " Salmonia; Or days of
Fly Fishing," possesses some sensible practical
remarks, particularly towards its close. In one
or two'places it affects vivacity but the attempt,
we need scarcely add, is a failure when compa-
red with Professor Wilson's late splendid criti-
cism on tlle,same book in Blackwood. Singu-