New-York tribune., 1870-11-15
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
,,,,.,., ,r,r or LORD PALMERsTON

LII
-, f the biography of the late Prime Minister of
Eclond reaching to the year 1871, about ten years
ter his first reception of the seals of the Foreign
Once The work thus far is devoted mainly to an
account of Lord Palmerstons public and official
career and relates hut few of the personal incidents
which constitute the principal charm of biographical
literature The illustration which it presents of the
potical relations Of Great Britain during an eventiu
period of her history, commend it TO the study oi 'e
stateeman and the diplomatst, although the aIin's'
total absence of popular elements in its composi'o"
will prevent il from becoming faVor'te WIN ,'s
general reader. Sir Henry Buwer's materiaS iUi
the narrative of the political scrvices" holu o.
merston appear to have been more anuh'ai' ''''" |
the delineation of his private life lie mas hao "o
cess IN a vast mass of correspondence NoiumihouS
iournal and an autObOgmphlch ske'ch Nv 'Io SUI"
loot of tbe memoir of which he has made Ju"c'ouS
,se aItbouph he has perhaps too frequently gwen
tho documents in full, instead OF worklng them up
int, am agreeable narrative. His own style WouIu
be ipproved by condensation. lie uses too many
,,,ds when a brief and simple statement would
have sficcd; and his sentences, instead of falling
with loli>hed grace from his pen, are often
d;Arse and complicated. His interest in the
suricct-mattcr Of the biography seems TO
have absorbed bis sympathy with the reader,
and he takes too little pains TO present a
luminous picture of the events with which long ac-
onaintance has made him familiar. But of the higher
oualtics of the historical writer he gives eminent
nroof lie induges in no false colOring from party
bias HIS exposition Of facts evinces an lmpaltia
and candid temper. He shows no disposition TO exat
the merits of his subject by inappropriate enlogy' OF
to conceal his defects by artful reserve Ihe lem
perance Of his manner bctrays truthful spirit. He
has evidently aimed at Just portIare Ol the ehor-
.etic English statesman and those who are best ac-
ouaiuted with his character viii probably be the
last to question its yeIacitv slight vein Of cgoism
occasionally crops out in the of the narrative,
INT il seems the effect of ,andOr. rather than OF
vanity.
The rortion of the work now published comprises
the subordinate stages of Lord Palmerstons career
dnring which he laid the foundation of his snbse-
0uent fame aud gained recognition of his talents as
n statesman. The commencement of this period was
marked 10y the resistance to change III the AFFAIRS OF
Europe on the part of the Northern cabinets, while
the spirit If the French revolution Of 1850 was stIug-
Cling for more complete development. Lord Pal
merston assumed the position of mediator between
the two extremes. His equal 70 his fond
est hopes He established neutral state IN Belgium,
with a constitutional monarchy; he united France,
Spaiu Portugal and England in an alliance favorable
20 that form of government; and although he re-
ceived the aid of France in carrying ont lns plans,
he placed restraint on her restless ambition. In
the union of England with that power he aimed TO
accomplish the liberal education Of Europe. The
ECyYtian question came up, IN which the inter
rsts of Great Britain deeply involved. and with
his negotiations uu that point the second volume OF
the biography is brought to close.
Among the sc;mtv details of Lord Palmerstons
personal history we learn that he of excellent
stock The Temples We're gentlemen in the reign Of
Henry VII. Sir William Temple the Secretary
of Sir Philip Sidney. He man of letters, with
the liant temperament that characterized the age
Of chi,ary His grandson, also SirWilliam Temple,
was the celebrated dipIomatist who holds an honor
able if not a conspicuous, place in English literature,
and who is now chiefly remembered for his friend
ship with William III. and his patronage of Swift.
Lord Palmcrston the great grandson of a
Younger brother If the diplomatst, who rose to be
Attorney General and Speaker of the Irish House of
Commons. The father of Lord PalmeTston was the
second viscont OF that name; man of fashion and
Il fnccufnrlshments, a lover of art, and an admrel
ofbca,ltv He married for hi, second wife the daugh
Ter Of respectable Dublin tradesulaii INTO whose
bonse he had been carried after a fall from bl'
horse. Though not of arstocratic birth the youne
LADY is said 10 have been not only beautiful, but
charming in her manners, and cultivated III her
tastes. She at once took her place in the highest
circles Of Dublin and London society, her admirable
qualities casting ustre upon the position The fruit
fathers passion fol Art often led him to Italy. A
PARTON If his boyhood was thus passed in that
country. in The fate Of which he always took deeI
interest. At the age of thirteen, perhaps still
vopre4r We find him at the famous Harrow school,
where he was rcckoned the best tempered and most
plucky boy in the crowd of young Enclisbmen who
filed it's forms as well as lad of great promise i'll
all respects. A schOOfellOw relates that " he can
wcllIemembcr Temple fighting behind school a
great boy called Salisbury, twice his size, and he
would not give in but was brought home with black
ewes and bloody nose. and Mother Bromley taking
care of him"
A letter Of his to a young companion at that time
gives rather an amusing account Of his tastes and
habits. as well as an odd specimen of photography
for boy of fourteen at of the great schools of
England. He had just recovered from the meazes,"
was sincerely "obidged" for the kind wishes of his
friend aud informs him that he had Just begun
Homers Had in the beautiful" episode of Hector
and Andromache. II am now doing says he.
Caesar. Terence Ovid, Homer Greek Testament
and a collection of Greek epierams and shall soon
begin Virgil Horace aud some more" With all this
Latin and Greek, no place is given to the English
spelhng-book-not "pe.nywOrth of bread TO this
iutolerable ~srai of sack" He continues that he
thinks drinking and swearing. though fashionable
at present. extremely ungentlemanlike, and as for
getting drunk can find pleasure in it."
The letter of his friend brings 10 mind
the pleasant time he spent in Italy, and
when i am sucking sour orange purchased
by perhaps eight biochi, | think with regret upon
those which used to get in such plenty in Italy,
and when eating nasty things ncknamcd sausages,
envy you at Bologna who perhaps now are feasting
of some nice ones He adds that he had begun to
learn Spanish and read Don QuixOte in the orig-
III, n