The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-04 00:00:00

DOLMAN'S MAGAZINE.

This is an unequal number, with a choice of papers—
some of considerable originality, others of singular de-
ficiency in that respect; and most of them too much
dashed with a spirit of angry nationality. The " Coun-
tess Clemence," by the Editor, is a well imagined adapta
tion from the Sicilian Legends of the eleventh centuey,—
rich in historic interest and picturesque beauty, of which
the editor has skilfully availed himself. This close of
the " first book" brings us to the death of the execrable
Giorgio Majone, the High Admiral; and the arch-poi._
soner of the story. " The Popular Author" is concluded
with all the powers and pathos of the author of "La
Gitana." "Anecdotes of the Bastille," full of circum-
stantial but terrible details, contrast fiercely enough with
a very mawkish " Vision" by a Mr. L. Buckingham; to
whom we are tempted to exclaim with the warning spirit
of the great dramatist, " Sleep no more !" The best con-
tribution of all is the "Analysis of Wit from Esop to
Pt.nA." The essay entitled " Importance of Papal Bulls
as Historical Rec•ords" is written with great earnestness,
and by some one who has devoted much research to the
illustration of a subject that carries with it historic value,
as well as amusement. Nevertheless we are at 'once
amused and startled by the gravity with which the or-
thodoxy of the writer's Romanism overlooks all moral and
' political wickedness in the Sovereign Pontiff in favour of
his spiritual infallibility. Thus, in recording with great
complacency the crowned heads which in past ages in-
voked, received, or (more inexplicable still!) tolerated
the suspension of their Sovereign titles at the hands of
the reigning Pope, he alludes to the most execrable mons-
ter of the middle ages, Rodrigo Borgia, in these terms:
" By a single stroke of his pen, Alexander VI. put an end
to the disputes between the King of Spain and Portugal,
by defining the boundary of their American conqueits."
In these days the lay reader, we suspect, will be re-
minded, under any feeling but one of kindred reverence
for the arrogance of the dispensing power which excites
so much admiration iu the author, that " for 240 years
the Supreme Pontiff deprived Polonia of the rank of
kingdom, allowing its rulers to bo distinguished by no
higher title than that of duke." But with the-horrors, the
atrocities, the infamies, that have disgraced so many
occupiers or the papal chair, and are still, as it were,
present to our own eyes, as they will be in those of
posterity, in the vivid pictures drawn by papal secre•
tortes and historians, Burchardus, Paulus Jovius,•
Platina, &c. ; we must protest against the " pious
frauds" incorporated into the following wholesale mis-
representation of their ministry.
" And let not the reader suppose that the pontiffs abused the
power entrusted to them, for their own selfish purposes. They-
sought not to extend their territory, for they have ever been
content with their own small patrimony; they strove not to
enrich themselves, for, though the treasures of Christendom
were poured into their lap, they were freely distributed for the
good of relip'.on and the relief of the distressed throughout the
world..
,We propagation of religion, the diffusion of sound
more ay,
the peace of Kings, and the happiness of the people,
'gave formed their rule of action."
We have thrown a few words into italics to mark the
fine irony with which they reflect on the real character
of the Johns, the Sixtuses, the Juliuses, the Alexan-
ders, the Leos —of the papal rescripts and decretals
(collected into such a system of morality as that, pro-
bably, to be found in the orthodox work of Sanchez)—of
the Papal " indulgencies," and the doctrines taught by
Iccelius and'others in superintending the sale of them !