New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-26
NEW PUBLICATIONS

" "THE NORTH BRITISH REVIEW for Feb.
ruary is number of unusual richness even for
that admirable Quarterly. The FIRST article gives
q sombre picture Of the present state OF Ethical
Science in Europe, which the writer maintains is
now barren and powerless, because it will NOT
consent to be Christian. At present it is like a
theory OF lunar astronomy without the telescope,
or Of ply sioloey without Tie microscope-the
instrument of rectifcation and discovery bengre
ected from the apparatus Of the Anticipated OBJ
servatory and dissecting room -" Rome aud the
Italian Revolution" is a condensed sketch Of the
recent political struggle in that country" Philip
Doddridge" is the theme of biographical article.
sparkling with brilliant, gosspiDg "Reminiscences
Literature and the Labor Question" is strongly
tinctured with modern Socialism, though it gives
decided caveat against its errors. Its classic
cation of society into literary men, moneyed mem
and working men, with the description of their
respective traits, if not altogether novel, is at
least tersely stated. Here is the mirror as held
up to nature by the ingenious scotchman'
LITERARY MEN.
Literary men, say what we will, are essential
ly a vsgsbon6>portiOu Of the community. They
consist, in every community, of a very small
number Of individuals who have iOregone, in pro-
fession at least the career OF worldly speculation
and Advancement, and have devoted themselves
to what is termed the ideRl-that is, TO the elab.
Grafton Of mental forms, and the detection and
expression Of generalitieB. Various are the
grades Of this class, and various the types of
character that may be discovered in 1t, from the
profound thinker to the writer OF epigrams and
epithalamiums from the stern morallst who rolls
his Counaes in thunder over the heads of people,
to the poor merrymsker who griDs at you through
the bars Of hiB window, like that prototype of our
comic literature, Will SOmers the Jester, in Ho-
bein' picture at Hampton Court. But there is a
likeness among them all. What they produce
what they work in, is Thought The atmosphere
is their elements in it they build up their concep
tons through it they chase their phantasies
Practically, too they exhibit common qualities
which distinguish them as class from the rest Of
mankind. They are the gipsy atoms of the social
mass-erratic, selfwilled, precarious in their
movements Customs are altered since men like
Savage and Goldsmith were one day starving in
the streets, and the next rioting in luxury, much
has aso been done to improve the ethics of the
literary profession since that time; still the dis
ease of literary men, the true pedicplus Musei
Britdnnici is impecuniosity. There are, indeed,
opportunities of wealth in the profession but the
Incomes Of most OF its members are necessarily
gcanty or moderate. There are, also, prudent
men in the literary profe ssion, and the number Of
such is probably increasing; but it is not in the
nature of the profession to train its members TO
habits of foresight, carefulness and pecQniary
reference. OF all men in the world, a literary
man is expected to sit loose TO sordid worldly
considerations seeing that the business he is
constantly engaged in is the handling not of ma
terial realities, such as cash or manufactured
goods, but of those intangible and aerial shapes
and substances called notions. imaginations,
propositions, general truths. The Literary Man
is the aspirant after the general, tbs davotee Of
the unseen
HONEYED MEN.
The characteristics of the moneyed or property
class on the other hand, are conservatism and
caution of temper, and an affection for the palpa.
bic and special 1t includes those whose func.
ton it is TO manage the material interests of a
country, to preside over those processes of nro
duction, distribution, and exchange whereby to
day is connected with tomorrow, and the CONT
nulty OF social life secured. Generalities mental
forms, truths of an abstract kind do not come con.
genlsuy TO such men; Of the vast number Of pron.
oSitions IN which all human kno Wledge, as hither.
to acquired, has been summed up and concantr,t
ed, they are acquainted with all bat a small nsTt
otter, indeed they are, according to ths academic
mode OF Judging deplorably ignorant and All bnt
llhterste. But, with reading, writing and aritb
metic, PLAIN practical sagacity and a confirmed
habit Of routine are found sufficient for them -
ms class, consisting as it does of all who have
as the phrase 10, " a stake in the country" ia in
every community very considerable. Upon them
Almost oy necessity devove the cares aud honors
oi the social admlstrStion; from among them We
GET our members Of Parliament our municinaI
msesTstes our psrochial functionaries: and
though there are, Of course infinite diversifies ~
1sA'e arc capacity among them, these diversitiea
are Tor tie most part but various developments ~
one radical type Of character. "
WORKINGMEN.
. servers OF this class, and constituting bv fsr
the most numerous portion of ever ~ la
are Ibe procedures, or, speaking more restrictedy
Inc "ofhinsmen, who earn to DAYS bread Inv ~
cay 8 labor They are the veritAble descendan.,
OF nose "9o ~ ancient times were the slaveE.
with but few differences their social no,i,;o,, :;
the same Despite savings banks, ternnsranoS
societies, and Institutions for mutual innrovs'
ment the Characteristic Of this class like ~, q
the literary class is, probably ever will be nsco ~
mary tnsoTciGHce. From week to week these
80 careless Of TO morrow as If Benjamin FranIl;I
hsd never lived entering az one end Of the iopr
Dey o. existence and isEuing az the other Eithout