The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-06-27 00:00:00

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

Ma. SMITH'S ENTERTAIN-ME:M—By an advertisement
it will be seen that this popular vocalist and piano-forte
player will, in addition to his evening entertainments,
give, on to-morrow and Saturday, two morning perform-
ances. The style and capabilities of Mr. Smith, as an
expressive vocalist, are too well known to require com-
mendation at our hands.
AT THE TIIEITEE ROTLL, the French comedianshave
continued to deserve and to receive general approval. On
Wednesday evening, the performances commenced with
the comedie vaudeville of " Le Chevalier de St. Georges,"
which was acted throughout with a touching grace and
beauty of the most charming order. M. Lafont, as the
Chevalier, was easy, natural, and effective. Of Mademoi-
selle St. Georges' illeadaine de Presle itr would be diffi-
cult, indeed, to speak in terms of exaggerated praise—her
impersonation was dignified and becoming—lady-like, yet
expressive; and the subordinate characters were, as usual
with this company filled with judgment and executed
with artistic, propriety.- The entertainments (a proper
phrase in reference to these performances) were concluded
by a vaudeville, named " Tambour Battant." On Friday,
" Les Extremes fe Touchent," " Le Gamin de Paris," and
" Au Printemps" were presented, that being the eighth
performance of the limited series of twelve. Deducting
last night's performances, the ninth, there now remain
but two nights on which the talents of this excellent com-
pany can be witnessed, and these evenings should not be
lost by those who desire to see dramatic representations-in
a style of completeness and beauty seldom witnessed in
provincial theatres.

AT THE ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE, the veteran Vanden-
hoff has been refreshing the laurels he long since won,
and which he still so worthily wears. As an actor of the
classic Roman school, of which Kemble and Young were
the acknowledged heads, Mr. Vandenhoff is a most worthy
representative, and in that walk of histrionic art he is
without a rival on the stage. On Wednesday, he appeared
as Cato in Addison's noble tragedy of the same name, and
supported the character with all the heroic and stoical
grandeur pertaining to the character; and on Thursday
he sustained the arduous and difficult part of Richelieu. Of
his rendering of this rare compound of subtle wisdom and
fiery passion—of vigorous intellect and feeble body—it is

hardly possible to speak in terms too highly charged with
praise. The singular gleams of sarcastic invective with
which he varied his impetuous passion were in the highest
degree admirable, and revealed the consummate artist in
combination with the accomplished and powerful actor:
In this piece he was well seconded by the delicate and
truthful performance of Miss Vandenhoff as Julie de
Mortimar. This young lady displays good taste and fine
dramatic perception. It will be seen she takes her benefit
on Friday evening, on which occasion the programme is
an inviting one, and from the performers announced to
take part in it no doubt can be entertained that it will be
charmingly gone through.

OXFORD UNIVERSITY. Mr. Henry Stewart Byrth,
second son of the late rector of Wallasey, has just ob-
tained a second class prize. He was formerly a scholar at
the Royal Institution in this town.
A CONSIDERABLE QUANTITY OF CARGO has been raised
from the Tayleur. A portion of the goods have been dis-
posed of in Dublin by public sale, and realized about
£l,OOO. A second sale will be held this week.
ST. MOAN'S THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE, BIRKENHEAD.—
The chief corner stone of the new college will be laid by the
Marquis of Blandford, on Monday next, the 3rd of July.

Kosstrrm IN LIVERPOOL.-We understand M. Kossuth
is to be in Liverpool in a couple of weeks, he having
agreed to take part in a meeting to be held in the Amphi-
theatre.

BorAL MEnsEr l'Acnx CLUB.—The splendid Chal-
lenge Cup, of £lOO value, will be re-sailed for on Saturday,
the Bth July, to which will be added a purse of twenty-
five sovereigns. This valuable prize is now on view in
the window of Mr. Hausburg, the maker, in Church-
street. The Cynthia, H. Roe, jun., Esq., of Dublin, is the
present owner. There will be a good fleet of yachts to
contend for it this year.
Tun MARCO PoLo.—Two pieces of plate are at present
exhibiting in the shop of Mr. Jones, silversmith, Castle-
street, bearing the following inscriptions :—" Presented
to Captain Charles M`Donnell, of the ship Marco Polo, as
a testimonial of respect from his passengers (666 in num-
ber) for his uniform kindness and attention during his
first voyage, when she ran from Liverpool to Port Philip
Head in seventy-four days and a half, and from land to
land in sixty-nine days." The other one is, " Presented
by the owners of the Marco Polo to Captain Ferguson,
harbour-master, Melbourne, Victoria, to mark their high
estimation of his invaluable services in rescuing their
favourite 'and far-famed ship from her perilous position,
when stranded in Port Philip Bay, in January, 1854.
Liverpool, July, 1854." The former of these is a very
handsome epergne, or fruit stand, having for its chief
ornament an elegantly modelled statuette of Neptune,
seated in his car, which is dragged by sea horses, and
driven by a tiny but spirited charioteer. This part of the
design is cleverly executed in frosted silver, the stalk,
branches, and floral devices being in burnished argentine.

WORKING MEN'S PROTESTANT REFORMATION So-
ciErr.=On Friday evening an adjourned meeting of this
society took place in the society's room, Lower Beau-
street, Mr. Parsonage in the chair. Intimation having
been made that the discussion on Trausubtantiation
unfinished at the previous Friday's meeting would be
resumed, the room was filled by adherents of both sides ;
but the Romish champion, dismayed by the arguments
with which he had been assailede
make
bMarp.peFtiegeanon,
thedid
not show face, nor did any one
same side. In consequence of this several Romanists who
had come to hear the discussion left the meeting, which
was afterwards addressed by Mr. M`Carthy, and at a great
length by the chairman, the latter of whom invited any
Romanist present to discuss the matter with Mr. Flanni-
gan, but no one accepted the invitation. At the. conclu-
sion of Mr. Parsonage's remarks, Mr. Mulholland moved,
so
and Mr. Bennett seconded the motion, that
the society be given to Mr. Flannigan
for
igtion. The
ex-
posure of the Romish doctrine of Tra""bstainieeting Mr.
chairman then announced that at the next
of
Rome,
the
M`Carthy would lecture on " The Church
Op taltnek
mother of schism and heresy."

COUNTY COURT-YESTERDAY.
[BEFORE JOSEPH POLLOCE, ESQ., JUDGE.]

DISPUTED PROPERTY

IN A PEW..

His Honour having taken his seat at ten o'clock, pro-
ceeded to give judgment in the case of Twentyman e.
Fletcher, which was heard before the court several weeks
ago, as follows :—The plaintiff in this case seeks to recover
£l3 15s. for two and-a-half years' rent of a pew situated is
the chancel and on the floor of that which is now the
Parish Church of West Derby. This pew, which has
been the subject of former litigation, was let some fourtetm
years since to the defendant by the husband of the present
plaintiff, who received rent for it from the defendant far
several years, and died in September, 1650, having shortly
before removed his residence from West Derby to London.
In 1851, a payment of rent for the year ending midsummer,
1850, was made by the defendant, who then, however.
disputed the claim, alleging that the pew belonged to Mr.
Heywood. A further payment was made in 1852 to the
plaintiff for the year ending midsummer, 1851. Mr.
Heywood, in 1843, became the owner of what is called the
Dwerryhouse Estate, situated in West Derby. That
estate had previously belonged to the plaintiff's husband.
who was in possession of it when he let the pew to the
defendant, and then resided in West Derby. The pew had
been devised to him (the plaintiff's husband) by his uncle,
who, by the same will, bequeathed to him the Dwerryhonse
Estate. The church in which the pew is situated is de-
scribed in an act of parliament, passed in 1813, as "a Cliapta
of Ease to the Parish Church of Walton-on-the-Hill."
Some evidence was tendered, however, to show that it was an
ancient chapel in which the Sacraments were administered.
and ought, therefore, for the purposes of this action, to be
considered as a Parish Church. At all events, by the act
above mentioned, it became a Parish Church about the
year 1844. The defendant disputes the claim of the plain-
tiff upon two different grounds. First, he says,---`, That
now, at all events, if it was not formerly, the church is a
Parish Church ; that either all the pews are free to the
parishioners, and no such right as that claimed by the
plaintiff can exist, or, at least, that if it can under any
circumstances attach, it can only belong to a parishioner.
which the plaintiff has long ceased' o be." Secondly, the
defendant assertsp—" That the pew was, or is, appurtenant
to the Dwerryhouse Estate—the old house on which seems
to have been pulled down—and that it belongs'to Mr.
Heywood, who has given him permission to occupy itrent
free, while it is asserted by the Rector to belong neither
to Mr. Heywood nor the plaintiff." Where the title to
the pew is thus in fact contested, my first duty is to
inquire whether the defendant is, under the cirounstqasse,
at liberty to raise the question, and dispute the title of
the present plaintiff, to whom, and to her husband before
her, he has paid rent. If he be so, then, unless by pre-
vious consent of the parties, I have no jurisdiction in three
matter, and am not called upon to decide the other dil6-
culties suggested. It seems to me (in accordance with
Mountney v. Collier, 22 L. J. 2 B. 124, and other cases,
though not precisely parallel,) that the defendant is at
liberty to raise at least a portion of the defence on which
he relies, that the title to the pew is therefore in question
before me, and that I have no jurisdiction. At all events
I am much too doubtful of my jurisdiction in this matte
to attempt to exercise it without the direction of the
superior court to that effect.
The plaintiff was accordingly non-suited.
Inrsn IDEAS OF TENANCY. Mr. George Spurr,
auctioneer, of Byrom-street, sued Mary Makin, lodging-
house-keeper, of Banastre-street, for e 2. 3s. 4d. of rent.
This was a fraud summons, and it appeared that Mr. Spurr
had promised to forgive the rent, if the defendant would
only leave the house, but she had refused even to do that.
His honour said indignantly to the defendant,' People
from your part of the world appear to imagine that they
have a right to stay in a house if they do not pay the rent.
The plaintiff had promised to forgive you your rent, if you
would give up the house for other persons to live in it,
but you refused. Now you have no such claim in law or
justice, and I shall give an order of commitment for 30
days. This is a case in which you richly deserve to be
sent to prison."

ARRiNGENIENT OF CASES.—Yesterday, when the se-
cond June court opened, was devoted to fraud summonses.,
insolvency cases, interpleaders, &c. To-day, 100 case
will be disposed of, and for Wednesday there are two jury
cases, and one special case. The court will not zit oft
Thursday, as the County sessions are to be held on that
day at Preston, and 25 suits for £lO upwards, which were
set down for that day, will be heard instead on Monday
the 10th of July. For Friday 133 rases are on the list.
INSOLVENCY Cesss.—Charles Albert, late of Manches-
ter-street, house and commission agent, who was um--
opposed, obtained his final order.—Susan Parker, milliner,
of Great George-street, came up on her first examina-
tion. It appeared that she had been only nine months in
business, and that her debts amounted to nearly £3oe.
Her sales amounted to about £240, and with one excep-
tion she had no bad debts, but the goods were of such a
quality that they had deteriorated in value nearly £l5O.
His honor remarked that it was a very large debt to have
incurred in so short a time, when the insolvent, who is
only 22 years of age, pleaded, amongst other considerations.
her inexperience. She paid £4O a year in rent, and had two
assistants to whom she paid £2O a year. His honor observed
that she appeared to have made a wild speculation, but be
had no wish to be severe on one so young, who was en-
deavouring to get on in the world. The insolvent passed
her first examination, and was ordered to come up for her
final order at the first court in August —James Taylor, of
the Caledonia Vaults, Townsend-street, came up on his
first examination, when it appeared that he had not made,
as bound, a payment of £2O into court, Of that amount
only £l3los. had been paid in, and* it was stated that the
reason of the deficiency was that the person who had beet
sent with the money had been robbed. The case was then
adjourned till next Monday. Mr. Wheeler appeared for
the insolvent, who was opposed by Mr. Hime.
FRAUD SUMMONSES. —Orders for committal to Lan-
caster Castle for 30 days, were made against the following
parties ; —Matthew Davies, 9, Cherry-lane, Bevington-
bush ; John Ryland, 4.0, Duckinfield-street, (to issue is
fortnight, if the claim be not previously settled);
Dominick Hunter, 29, Prophet-street, (to issue in a
month); William Jenkins, Royal Oak Inn, Scotland-place,
William Wishart, seaman, Robert Derenzie, Custom-
house (not to issue till after the 6th of July) ; John Lamll.
6, Chisenhale-street, provision dealer, (to issue in a fort-
night) ; and Mary Makin, 5, Banastre-street, lodging-
house-keeper, whose case is mentioned above.
The court rose early, and adjourned till ten o'clock this
morning.

BANKRUPTCY COURT,—Yesterday, before Mr. Commis-
sioner Perry, Mr. S. C. Fox, wine and spirit merchant,
Rumford-place, who was unopposed, passed his last exami-
nation, and the certificate meeting was appointed for the
19th of July.—Edward Wilkinson, tailor and draper, who
was supported by Mr. Bremner, solicitor, came up for his
certificate. His Honour said, the uestion was
whether it should be of the second orthud class, and
deferred his judgment till to-day.
LIVERPOOL DOCKS.—At a public meeting of dock
ratepayers, held at the Town-hall yesterday, for electing
commissioners of audit, the following gentlemen w ere
chosen :—Messrs. John Gordon, Henry Dawson, David
Rae, Joseph Mondel, James Brebner, J. A. Black James
Williams, and George Kendall; and these gentlemen
afterwards re-appointed Mr. H. B. Hornby their special
accountant.
FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Saturday week, a young man„,
named Thomas Rogers, was seriously injured by an acci-
dent in Messrs. Mather and Edwards' iron warehouse,
Vulcan-street. He was removed to the Northern Hospital,
where he died on Sunday. An inquest on the body will
be held to-day.
FAREWELL.—On Sunday, the Rev. J. H. Thom, the
minister of Renshaw-street meeting-house, preached lie
farewell sermon, previous to his retirement from the pulpit.
BANKRUPTCY CERTIFICATES.—In the course of the last
four years the following certificates have been granted by
the Liverpool Bankruptcy Commissioners :—Mr. Perry, id
first-class, 65 second-class, 27 third-class ; 34 certificates
suspended. Mr. Stephenson, 60 first-class, 47 second-
class, 7 third-class ; certificates suspended, 41.
THEFT AT THE ALBERT DOCK WAREHOUSES.-02
Saturday, at dinner-time, Frederick Kelly, one of the
porters employed at the Albert Dock Warehouses, was
stopped at the gate with two ounces.of tea concealed on
his person. He was at once taken before the Police-court,
and sentenced to two months' imprisonment.
BANKRUPTCY COURT.—On Saturday, before Mr. COM..
missioner Stevenson, John Sagar, who formerly carried oa
business, as a brewer, at Birkenhead, came up by adjourn-
ment for his last examination. After the examination of
several witnesses, the bankrupt was declared passed, and
the 20th of July was fixed for the certificate meeting.
CRICKET MATCH AT BOOTLE.—On Saturday the return
match between the Bootle Cricket Club and the Birkenhead
Victoria was played at Bootle, to be decided by the first
innings. The Bootle men succeeded in scoring 118, and
felt well assured of success. The Victoria side then went
' in, acrd their first three wickets were lost for so corn-
thß
iartd the
ed
gameßloomafieeelmd edwentituiitifte
anapagadltthisvetetfililrsesFsjalicohuritiai3gisF6rsaend the second 40 ; the game was
won with seven wickets to go down.
FAST RUN OF THE " WHITE STAR" AUSTRALIAN
CLIPPER Frrz-JA mzs.—We learn, from the .Skipping
Gazette of yesterday, that the clipper Fitz-James, belong-
ing to Messrs. Pilkington and Wilson's " Waite Stare
line, was spoken, on the 19th instant, off Cape Finisterre,
within a few miles of the northernmost point of Portugal.
The Fitz-James sailed from Liverpool on the 15th instant,
a little after noon, and had thus made the ran down
channel and across the Bay of Biscay in four days, or in .
about the time taken by our fastest steamers to perform
the same distance. From such a commencement of her
voyage, we may augur for the passengers in this fine ship
a very rapid passage.
UNIVERSITY HONOURS AND THE COLLEGIATE IN TUTION.—Some mistakes and omissions having occurred'
in the recent mention of the distinctions obtained last
them
optima:, followsinJanuary :--11r ;
Kershaw and
half year, at Cambridge, by pupils of this institution, we
marer.rth
eqvnietseidetsedth,
senior
statk
English Declamation prize, in 'March ; Mr. Webster and
Mr. Rigby, scholars of Trinityl College, Cambridge, in
April ; Mr. Rigby, in the first class of his year, anflhjo...
Mr. Webster,
Webster, Greek Testament prizeman ; 3fr' Christ'sl3.
second of his year, with a valuable exhibition, it th.e rit
College, in June. Mr. Nevins is also Ogee('
'n obtained a
class at Durham, and Mr. Farrar has agal
prize for a theological essay at Oxford.
„n Friday, a mr. Thomas Mt-
LIVERPOOL CUSTOAIS.—u, :4th
chell, M.P., gave notice that he will, o Tuesday the
Returns showing the
of July, move for the
*Pix)-Ithe various offices to which
public service ,
from his first admis-
sion into the Customs
annual amount of salary attached to each
dahetehasandbeerannakppoofinthwue 7drfet°i,arritin
ent up to the present date,
office, a fines, fees, &e.;thelength
of time he has
• ht dues, itnes, .
ports to which he has beer,
of light the various
of 1841, distinguishing each
bsPe:nifayibinselrtitthhfreeotadhniedbeitioginnallanegmoluments received, inclusive
attached since
year, and the ca
otherwise service or
or
cause of such absence, and whether ontherwise ; if on special service, spec_
d him . in each case for extra
formed, and the amount
travelling expenses, mileage, &c. And, of the namet
fyingi the ports places
aowell at which that duty was per-
pay,
employment in the Customs at Liverpool, inclusive at
of any persons who, during the last five years, have hew
they were subsequently allowed to drop, assn heir •
glut-weighers, under false names, and what false names
real ones, and continuing
, to receive"..frentc-thia
,S. ,`, ' rlikr,
i.
meat. milt

THE GALLANT ENGLISH TAR.

(BY ELIZA COOK.)

THERE'S one whose fearless courage yet has never failed in

fight,
Who guards with zeal our country's weal, our freedom, and

our right;
But though his strong and steady arm spreads havoc initsblow,
Cry " Quarter !" and that arm will be the first to spare its foe.
He recka not though proud glory's shout may be the knell of

death,
The triumph won, without a sigh he yields his parting breath.
He's Britain's boast, and claims a toast l "In peace, nay boys,

or war,
Here's to the brave upon the wave—the gallant English tar !"
Let bat the sons of want come nigh, and tell their tale to him,
He'll chide their eyes for weeping, while his own are growing
dim.
"Cheer up," be cries, " we all must meet the storm as well as
calm ;"
But, turning on his heel, Jack slips the guineas in their palm.
He'll hear no long oration, but tell you every man
Is born to act a brother's part, .and do what good he can.
He's Britain's boast, and claims a toast ! "In peace, my boys,
Or war,

Here's to the brave upon the wave—the gallant English tar !"
The dark bluejacket that enfolds the sailor's manly breast
Bears more of real honour than the star and ermine vest.

The tithe of folly in his head may wake the landsman's mirth,
But nature proudly owns him as her child of sterling worth.
His heart is warm, his hand i, true, his word is frank and free ;
And though he plays the ass . n shore, he's lion of the sea.
He's Britain's boast, and claims a toast ! "In peace, my boys,
or war,

Here's to the brave upon the wave—the gallant English tar !"

REVIEWS OF BOOKS.

A Hero of Our Own Times. From the Russian
of Michael Lermontof. London : David Bogue.
At the present moment, when everything Rus-
sian, or connected with Russia, is possessed of an
interest heightened by accident, a volume like the
one before us, which promises an insight into the
social life of Russia, as that is reflected in its litera-
ture,is peculiarly welcome. In an introductorynotice
to the book, we are informed that its author fell
a victim to that jealousy of intellectual develop-
ment which is understood to be, in so marked a
degree, the distinguishing characteristic of the
Muscovite Government, paternal though its ad-
mirers declare it to be ; and that beyond this general
fact little is revealed concerning the life or death,
the position or attainments, of Michael Lermontof.
The novel, for it is a work of fiction, consists in
the narrative of a series of personal adventures of
an individual named Petchorin, and these adven-
tures are intended to exhibit the varying features
of Russian social life. The story is, in many
points, well told, but the scenes and incidents in-
troduced into it are so entirely conventional, that
great doubt must be allowed, as to their illustrat-
ing the character of any one class of men or women
peculiar to any country on the face of the earth.
The book contains some well-written descriptions
of adventure among the Georgian mountains, the
atmospheric vicissitudes of which are cleverly de-
lineated.

De Works of John Locke ; with a Preliminary
Essay and Notes. By J. A. St. John. London :

G. Bohn.

In this reprint of Locke's philosophical works,
which it is proposed to complete in two volumes, Mr.
Bohn augments his claim upon the favourable consi-
deration of the publicin bringing before them correct
editions of standard authors at a rate of charge little
more than nominal. The present work is prefaced
by an introduction from the pen of Mr. A. St.
John, in which, frankly admitting the difficulty of
rendering his author popular, he seeks, and if suc-
cess were wanting, successfully seeks to establish
his claim upon much higher grounds than mere
popularity. In his essay Mr. St. John displays
patient investigation, and much familiarity with
the leading points of that philosophy to an eluci-
dation of which Locke devoted his acute and
vigorous intellect. He also illustrates the text of
his author in copious and well-digested notes. As
a whole, the work promises to be a useful, and to
the studious public a valuable one.

The Early Introduction of Christianity into
Britain ; and Anti-Roman Antiquity of the
British Church. By the Rev. W. B. Stewart
Mathias, B.A. Liverpool : W. T. Thompson.

The object of this brochure, as stated by its
Zealous and efficient author, is to counteract the
untrue averment made on the part of Romanists
that Popery is the form in which Christianity was
originally introduced into Britain, and that, being
the primary, it must be the true Church. The
fallacy of this argument, even if the premises were
true, is too obvious to require serious refutation to
men possessed of reasoning faculties ; but it is not
to such men that the dogmas of Popery are gene-
rally addressed, and the author of the pamphlet
above named does good service to the cause of
Protestantism in thoroughly exposing it. More
important- and more special service is rendered to
the same cause by a full refutation of the assumed
Aim of Rome to having introduced Christianity
into these islands. The work is earnestly under-
taken and judiciously executed. To all classes of
Protestants we recommend it, and Romanists
would do well to study its pages, that they
may see how fallacious is their pretended origi-
Lity in distributing the truths of Christianity.

fristory of Europe, from the Fall of Napoleon,
in 1815, to the Accession cf Napoleon, in 18.52.
By Sir Archibald Alison, Bart., D.C.L. Edin-
burgh and London : Blackwood and Sons.
The third volume of this important work, which
has just issued from the press, is as peculiarly
suited to aid in unravelling the course of events,
at the era of its publication, as it will be found
invaluable in reflecting the light of wisdom on the
after-current of European affairs. It commences
with a review of the social and political state of
Turkey and Greece, in 1821, and narrates the course
and termination of the Greek war of Independence :
it next embraces a survey of the relations between
Russia and Turkey, from the accession of the pre-
sent Czar, in 1825, to the peace of Adrianople, in
1829 ; treats of the affairs of France, from the
death of Louis XV 111. to the accession of the
Polignac administration, and fall of Charles X.,
including a sketch of French literature and the arts
during the same period ; and it concludes with the
domestic history of Great Britain, from the death
of Lord '
Londonderry in 1822, to the monetary
crisis at the close of 1825.
In tracing the events which arose out of the
Greek war of independence, the author reveals, in
nervous language, his deep interest in the cause of
Christianity, and his warm sympathy with the de-
scendants of those sages and heroes to whom the
civilised world owes, in such high degree, its pre-
&ant position in moral science and political freedom
arts and in arms. He embellishes this portion
of his narrative with appropriate classical allusions,
while he carefully avoids encumbering its pro-
gress ; and enriches his pages by parallels between
the achievements of ancient and of modern heroism.
in glancing at the scenes which constitute the
theatre of recent glories, he kindles the enthusiasm
of his reader by reference to their ancient fame.
The incidents of the contest are detailed with a
fervent glow and a thrilling ardour akin to those
which animate the suggestive narratives of classi-
cal antiquity ; but while admiring the fortitude,
and according praise to the valour by which the
Helens of our day have re-established themselves
among the nations, his sense of justice and his
abhorrence of crime lead him to unmeasured cen-
sure of the cruelties which in too many instances
accompanied the struggle and stained the laurels
of the modern Greeks.
Reviewing the state of Literature and Art in
France, embraced within the period of his history,
affords Sir Archibald Alison an opportunity of
displaying his predilection for intellectual power
mind. He
his n
praise
and his high appreciation of genius, sentiments at
pre ise
all times characteristic of a
great
lavish, though not undiscriminating,.
of the great writers of that time ; and in his esti-
mate of the relative characteristics of Chateau.
briand, Guizot, Lamartine, Sismond.s a discrimina-
tion i' and the twoThierrys, he displays and exercise
as just as it is eloquently expiessed; his
survey of French Art, he dwells with einio.)na.,siese=l,
obvious delight on the classic beauty, nia,ilal
pure taste, and durable material, which constitute
inherent charms in the public edifices of Paris,
and which contrast so favourably with the perish-
able nature and ill-regulated taste so conspicuous
in the street architecture and public buildings of
London and other principal towns in England. In
the literary history of France, fraught as it is with
the experiences, and imbued with the princi-
ples of the revolution, and even polluted as many
of its streams unquestionably are, the great modern
historian of Euro hope,lfstrong in
his reliance on thee sees
folluncndo
divine
of that Providence which is workings
ataall times, and wider
every circumstance,
" From seeming evil still educing good,"
he believes that the evil, though poignant and

widespread, is transitory, and that, as a whole, it
will yet work for good to the French people and
to mankind.
History, by shedding the light of truth over the
past, and revealing to us the motives which have
governed events, as well as showing us their results,
enables us to regulate the present—to foresee, and
to direct the future ; and probably at no previous
'period of our national existence was this light more
needed than at the present moment. Our social
and political relations, internal and external, have
within the last quarter of a century undergone
such changes as completely to alter their bearings,
both relative to our neighbours and ourselves.
The alterations which have occurred in what may
not. inaptly be termed the European harmonies
have been great ; and each class and every indivi-
dual feels assured that at the present time the

nations of Europe are commencing a career, the
result of which must be as important as the strug-
gle for its attainment will be arduous. For the
first time during many centuries, British valour
has been united to the prowess of France, and, as
becomes the dignity of these great nations, their
combined exertions are directed to check the
aggressive inroads of barbarism into the field of
civilization, and to repel the assaults of rapacity
upon an unoffending, but high-spirited people. To
estimate aright the full importance of this momen-
tous enterprise, it is necessary that we should be
able not only to calculate the enemy's strength
and weakness—his relative position in the social
and political scale— but fully to comprehend our
own, and to have a correct knowledge of those of
our allies, together with the probable current of
their interests and inclinations ; and above all, to
understand the position of those powers who, being
neither allies nor enemies, hold the balance of
affairs in their hands to such an extent as may
render the conflict one of brief or of protracted
duration. To expound all these difficult and cora-
-1 plicated relations, and exhibit the bearings which
they 'have upon present circumstances, is a task of
vast moment, and the attempt to do so involves
Herculean labour, while it demands the exercise of
extraordinary mental power. In cursorily review-
ing the previous volume of this admirable work,
we took occasion to glance at the antecedents of
its author, and alluded to the peculiar and
highly favourable training by which his mind
had been tutored to the discharge of so important
a duty as the composition of contemporary history.
To that imperfect summary we have now to add,
that, in the present volume, as in its predecessors
and in his previous works, he brings to bear upon
his subject a vast amount of acquired information,
which he lays before his reader in a spirit of judi-
cious generalisation, combined with great political
sagacity and a nicely adjusted discrimination.
Condensed, vigorous, and suggestive beauty of
description, enables him to picture scenery and
relate incidents with the glowing energy of a poet
and the delicate fidelity of an artist. Of the felicity
of his local descriptions many illustrations might
easily be given, but we must content ourselves with
one, and select almost at random his delineation of j