The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-21
Mr.. walsh ON tn. British Reviews.

late numbers of the British Reviews and some of
the articles which they contain: s-ra.e1 l.n .--F
w ltnin the week past, have found leisure to
read the new numbers of the Edinbur Oh London
Qaarterly, and Westminster Reviews, which came
into my hands few DAYS after their emission in
London. The contents of each are various en-
gaging, nufriuve, piquant. The Edinburgh pre-
sents four masterly disquisitions; the esninster
two or three sufficiently able; the Quarterly has
less OF investi alton, but a quantity of historical
and biographical matter and caustic criticism.
rlous and crediabe. Although the Edinburgh
pays high compliment to the Westminster, the
latter, IN my humble judgment, does not rival
either OF the two; its views of Contemporary Lite
rature in England, Germany, America, and
France, are imperfect and Superficial. They
que that the writer writers do not possess the
necessary photographed knowledge. la the new
number the title just mentioned occupies seventy
five pages. IL is for a ssppointm that no
notice Is taken 10 the Edinburgh and Quarterly
of any of the three four most important
works which have appeared since the end of last
year. Earl Grey on the Colonial Policy of the
Wing administration should not have been post
pOned by the Edinburgh, at least. That most
uaordinary book, the Present State Of the Eastern
Church, by William Palmer, Fellow Of MAJ da-
lene College, Oxford-the extraordinary theologian
and traveller-opened 10 a competent revie W err the
whole Eastern question, political and religious.
The numbers for January OF the British Quarterly
and the North British were duly sent to me- a nd
5000 read. The first article of each ia OF very
strong tissue; and. indeed, all the contributions of
the editor of the British Review would be worthy
OF the older qusrterIies; bat, in the ensemble, the
two journals are secondary.
''rne forty four fret ges of the Edinhurgh are
devoted to the first volume of Alisons History Of
Europe since 1915. The inveterste Wing critic
shows no mercy to the old Tory antagonist.
Avarice has been called the most selfish aud obdu.
rate Of the passions; party spirit, of the mere
spiriis-is entitled to similar distinction. Alison
IL liberal, even generous, and quite respectful in
his account of the origin and estimate of the
arff. nf he fii,,ht,
tributors. The critic is obliged to say-'We must
do justice to one trait in the historian; mean,
his entire freedom from all mean and petty
Jealousies or rGncoT0us sentiments touards his
tagOnists. Tie has generous and hearty appre-
citation Of all merit which he percclves and can
bestOw praise in no ted measure, even on those
most opposed TO him. To this feature we trust for
his forgiveness of ourselves, IT, in the discharge of
our critical function, We have in any degree
wounded or offended him. This trust 10 curious
considering that the critic not in the least
Modified by the one trait, but has INDUCED bis
rancor to The extreme OF detractory and vitupera-
tive contrast. Sir Archibald, by his parado1es
wordiness, inaccuracies, anomalous aud incon-
gruous digressions, certainly exposed himself TO
severe Judgments; advantage is taken of every
Vulnerable chapter and page. His forte it is OBJ
served. lies in narrative; she intends 10 be- and
generally s, fair and candid; his summary of the
arguments OF opposing parties is very impartial,
but he 10 addicted 10 slovenly and wearisome
repeutlons; his style has terrible fauls-car eess
ness, redundance, obscurity, tasteless magnilo-
quence; he is deploraby weak in sagacious Undue.
ton and philosophical reflection The last charge
may we'll be contested; for me, author of the
day furnishes more lust and impressive general
reflections or maxims nd conclusions which arise
naturally from the narrative. Sir Archy's fifth,
the literary chapter, is pronounced to be, from first
to last, an ambitious and elaborate failure; never
theless, with all its alleged sins, IL would not be
exchanged by any general reader 70 the whole
performance of his censor.
Marriage with a deceased wife's sister ia the
subject Of the second article of the Edinburgh IL
has, you know, been treated, withia the two
years past, by numberless pens in Great Britain
and many on your side of the Atlantic; besides
being debated most earnestly and amply in both
Houses OF Parliament. The reviewer places at
the top the principal publications since 1913. and
relies particularly on Lord Denman's pamphlet
Reasons Tor LegaliZing Marriage with De-
ceased Wlfe's Sister'-which has reached the
eighth edition. All the phases of the case bad
been thoroughly studied for the twenty-sir pages
of the Review. They exhibited with uncom
mon skill and power; the opinions of the examiner
are peremPtory in favor of the lawfulness of the
connexlon, and the reasons of the great law peer
bis chief oracle. The act of Parliament in 1895
made the marriage In question ipso tacto vod its
formal and total repeal Ia the object The natural
biblical, and moral and social argume nts are sue
cessively and lucidly adduced The New Festa-
ment, which Is In peculiar sense the moral sta-
tnte- book of the Christian contains not one syls
BILE on the subject; the Old Testament distinctly
sanctions the conneKion.' There is the reviewer
depreciation OF the text of the 18th of the 18th
chapter of Levitcus: to this interpretatiou-a
clearly implied sanction-an immense array of
the most Cnlghten comments tors, with G. rotius
and michaelis at their head-aud including the
most eminent names, whether of continental Eu-
rope or the United States. subscribed The article
appears to me less conclusive or strong on the
point OF expectancy; my impressions have
always been in the negative, and are but little
weakened. That church is safest in resoect To
merals which does not accept or carry into prac-
hce the alleged sanction OF Moses. The reviewer
tells
"'The Marriage Law Reform Association have
addressed letters to number Of judges magis.
trates, aud clergymen of all deuomin atoms in the
States OF America, and their testimony is unani-
mOus-thst they know OF preiudicial conse-
quences which arise from such marriages; that
they are regarded with no public disapprobation
whatever, and that there ia no public Law against
them thrOug bout the entire States Of the Union ex
cept one. Amongst those who give their decided
opinion in favor Of these marriages are the late
lamented Judge Story, Chancellor Kent, and the
Protestant Bishop McIlvaine Similar testimonies
as to fact have been given by eminent authorities
in nearly every State of continental Europe,
"The third article-thirty eight pages-on the
condition OF the Church of England in Wales and
in the English mountains is a terrible revelation
and picture-ig norance vice, the lowest dsgra-
dation-the worst possible abuses. The aspect Of
the church ia the same in the northern as in the
western hills In Wales, however, the Dissenters
Outnumber the church, and have obtained the al.
q
people; in the English districts, on the contrary
the Dssenters are email minority, and the pre-
valent sect is that Of the Wesleyan Methodists
The spread OF religious knowledge in Wales has
not been attended by an improvement in the mo.
raliy OF the people. In no other other country has
80 large portion of the population been Instructed
IN controversial theology; in other country is
there greater prevalence of unchaste habits
among the poor. A large proportion of the poor
women are pregnant some months before mar
riage. This 10 regarded-not as a vice-scarcsly
as frailty.' Many illustrative anecdotes of the
situation, intellectual and social, and the personal
/ habits OF the mountain clergy, are related which
might be termed entertaining or comical were not
/ the theme so serious and melancholy in itself IL
would be difficult to oyermatch them ffom any
section OF our Union.
"The next article, which is short, treats of some
Of the recent English novels. Prose wor of fiction
, have become substantive, conspicuous essential
part Of literature, not in reference merely to anuse.
ment, genius, characters and manners, bot TO doc
trlne, ethical and social and theological; TO
sentiment and philosophy; 10 the real gedy and
comedy OF hfe. The human mind and heart are
deliberately explored; the passions and affections
the vices and virtues, skilfully evolved and
in the most impulsve and Instructive action. He
who now "a unacqusintsd With the branch of novels
and romances, cannot call hmsefa man of letters
or proficient in the necessary knowledge of his
own nature and social existence. After few
D nd afr Ia "a.