Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-03-11
.. Dreamer, y calm amid enemies, Joyous

I" Dreamer,'' calm amid his enemies, joyous
amid his sufferings, still realizing that
90 Dark clouds bring waters, when the bright bring
none"
But, we must not forget that Bunyan had
borne arms in the Parliament army, and that,
when he turned preacher, he proclaimed tenets
and doctrines which were deemed mischievous,
jim short, that when he was imprisoned the
day of Cromwell was past 1t was then for
contempt of and opposition to the existing
Government, and not merely for "a calling the
people together" and preaching the gospel
to the poor" that he suffered Imprisonment,
and narrowly escaped transportation. And,
after all, may it not be, that it is the minions
of the MERRY Monarch" that we have to
thank for that wonderful book, which is the
delight of all classes, and all ages,-which
has won for the humble Dreamer" wreath
of amaranthine bloom, and led many lowly
sinner to seek the golden crown of immortal
ity? If Bunyan had never been cast into the
"den," would his noble " Pilgrim" ever have
been written?
If we had been delighted and charmed with
this work, (Which we are sorry to say is not
the case,) there is one paragraph on page 238
which would instantaneously and forever have
broken the spell. The author after describing
the death-scene of VoLTAIKE goes on to say
at is said of poor Walter Scott that his
death-bed was scarcely less appalling. Genius
unsanctified was his ruin; and though not to
be classed with the Frenchman as an open
blasphemer, he is reported to have died in the
most heart-stricken horror.' Is not this a
new idea to our readers? Assuredly it was,
and is, to us, and we have no patience with
such an exhibition of cant and ignorance, or
what is even worse-downright falsehood.
The whole life, death and character of Walter
Scott is noble " study" and the best we
could wish the Rev. Author of the Life
studies" is, that he may be found as worthy
of Heaven as the good and great man, whom he
to "study" Allen and Lockhart little before
he ventures upon any further remarks on
either the life, or death, of WALTER SCOTT.
LONDON QUARTERLY REVIEW; JANUARY 1858. New York:
l.. Scott 4 Co.
This valuable periodical, the American is
sue of one of the recognized powers of the
British Empire" is now before us. This num-
Der contains the following articles:
1. Difficulties of Railway Engineering.
2. The Historic Peerage.
3. Tobias Smollett.
4. Wiltshire.
5. Church Extension.
6. Sense of Pain in Men and Animals.
T. Woolwich Arsenal and its Manufacturing
Establishments.
g. Our Indian Empire.
The press of our own great country might,
we think, learn-a salutary lesson from the va
riOus members of this band of political advo-
cates,-the British Reviews. Each has long
been celebrated for the influence it has exerted,
and the ability with which it has advocated
the principles of its party, and yet in no
sense can any one of them be styled grossly
,,artizan, or accused of advocating merely par
ty measures. And they mingle with their
sketches of the Ito many dry and dusty field
of politics, so much of refreshing revelation
from the real artists life,-portraitures of
great acknowledgements of Nature,
and glowing paintings of poetry and senti-
ment, that even less profound mind, which
like the little wife of a distinguished Senator,
''al,oays skips the politics." can find an abundant
measure pressed down, and running over"
of other matter to interest and delight. On
the whole, we judge this series of "Reviews"
to be almost indispensable to either man or
woman. who sets up a standard of literary ex-
cellence, with the hope of one day arriving at
that elevation himself The study of them
will go very far towards making any one a
critic, and scholar.