The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-09-03
theo,oov. The article on Hugh Miller, the

editor of the Edinburg Witness, who, from the
humble occupation of common stone mason,
has raised himself by his own unassisted ex-
ertions to distinguished place amongst the
journalists and liteyati of the age. will be read
with the interest attaching to career remark
able for its persevering energy and steady pur-
suit of knowledge under difficulties. The
article entitled Books for Children" is in
tended to dspel the prevailing error, that it is
necessary to write down to the supposed level
of the mental capacities Of children, to make
them comprehend the value of the ideas sought
to be impaired. The purpose is good one,
but we apprchend that it will make but few
converts, except among those who have made
education life long study, and it is not, I'M
fortunately. this class that contributes most
to aliment the literature of the yonpg. In al
dition to these we have cieverly written reviews
of DR.. Thulwalls Greece and Niebuhr's lectures
Oh the same subject, OF various LATE editions OF
Dante, of Arnold's poems and of Sir Rodcrick
Murchson's Siluria From an interesting
article, entitled Past and Present Morality of
English Statement" we extract the followiog
great men who nao gurated the era of reform
in the history of the political corruption aud
malversation, which, until their time had dis
graced the Successive administla ors OF Eng
land -
Peel and Canning siDgularly different, in cha ac-
ter lem GER, taent, nad yet several points OF
marked resemblance. Toe one was brilliant, spa-k.
lirg. ano soaring genius the otoer !mlrabls
m M t. 1ad
The one vas all fire. the other all sobriety BIT
both We men Of retirement OF cultivation Of litar
cry ami astf etc sss'e both wer7 acut,Iy salsitge;
both nobly ambitious; and bosa were honestly
cetermns to employ their power aud position for
4 personal a9vsl tage, but fur the good aad the
glory OF ihsir country. Tdey ha1 ano her fe4se Of
similarity IL Their career and fate tn, liberal a,
heart ana groSiDg more liberal with gears, 1Do VI
etge and eXperie lce rad the greyous ma'o tune Of
teIing hie il the tory camp among iiiberal asso
ciatss, and in most illibera dimes. Both ia copse
queDce, we're rixed up ~ish much that was fJreign
to tier pature and oisposti Ds; both incu red much
obloquy in qtence of having >longsd to a bad
set, ard much amnesty woen They shook them
selves free from that set Both ended life Anil the
feTocioUs hostility Of TIE party which used id)ize
and obey them aDd amid the love, regret and graft
tude OF the people Who, in carrier years wont to
execrate their names. The vent or Caring was
the tuning point in the fOreigu policy Of England
Lo Castlereaxh mad suffered her to be dragged al
the Car OF the Holy Alliance and to be regarded as
the &C lleague and associate of despots. Canpr
made her feaIe0 and respected the ayoweI friend
OF constitutional liberty throughout the world. H.
found her the ally and tool OF autoc-a he left her
the assster ard protector of suffering and tramped
nations. 1t Is true she has not Away marched
steadily, ard seld very boldly, n this new career;
she has permitted some atrocities which she might,
and perhaps ought to have interposed to prevent;
| she has looked on colby where she should have
| sympatbised warmly; she has confined her appro-
| val too exclusively to patriots whose views were
limited and moderate, end whose otioDs of free in
eli thing fu1It Ayx hnn hat hoo
demonstrated against Tyranny; she has encouraged
the extension OF popular rights; she has ackaowl.
edged whatever governments tue people have select
ed aud established. Where she as interfered, it
has been on the popular s,de where she has spoken
cut it has been in favor of liberal institute me.
In the came manner the accession Of Peel was the
opening OF new leaf in our domestic policy. His
course was eigua]iZed though slowly and scantily
at first, by administrative imprOvem Great re-.
auctions in salaries and expenditure took place
under his rue. The criminal law was systcmatical-
ly amended. The police OF the country was reno
delled. Abuses were examined into grievances
weIe lis cred to: jobs be anne difficult, modified and
rare. The Duke of Wellingtons administration
was reforming one, though the lustre Of its sue
sor hos eciipsed its merits in this lirc After the
Reform bill, the spirit Of Improvement which had
prevailed before assumed vast accession OF vigor
and activity Since th,t date, whichever party has
betn III Office, the amendment OF our i1stutons has
gone on with it'll interruption Popular lights have
been extended; vast economies have been intro
ductd; the health, tire comfort, the education
Of the masses have been sedulouev attended TO- the
whole Of our Hnancjal system has been remodelled;
taxes have been repesled burdens Lave " taken
from the poor ard laid upon the rich; civil law IA.
been mace cheap; criminal law has besn made NOR.
ciful; courts of Law have been punfed the wroogs
of the people have been ye6ressed: the earnings Of
the people have been raised the food of the people
has b. en- made cheap and soundant; and in most Of
these reforms every politic of en:nencs has
ticipafed. Some have wished TO dc things in one
way, sc1ie in an,.her; sc1ne have resisted the
which others DE- nh NJ thar
wisdom or dissrlstfnl off cir tcacy; bat the stu
of al psrties, with scarcely exception, has bees
| We believe, how best they couli ensure the PRIV
levy OF the cormuDi'y, the happiness OF Gss
| m and the fnonOr pf tho nation