The New York herald., 1874-11-30
LITE r At U r E.
Latest English Books.
MILL ON RELIGION.

Latest English Books.
LONDON, Nov. TO- 1874.
MILL ON RELIGION.
After the "Greve Memoirs" which are being
read with much increased avidity since 1t has
transplred that the Queen strongly diskes their
publication and has demonstrated against the
publication OF the succeeding volumes, the most
talked about book OF the day is the posthumous
volume, containing three essays on religion, by
John Stuart Mill. This book, like mis- authobio-
gr6phy Is edited by his step-daughter. Miss Helen
Taylor, who is lady OF an economical turn OF
mind, who Will not have anything which
costs money done for the sake or appear
ances, and the result OF this characteristic
is that this book is distinguished or It's exter.
nal shabbness as was the autobiography. The
three essays which are extremely interesting, are
exciting good deal OF surprise and controversy
among Mr.. Mil's disciples, and they indicate that
his mind had made an unsuspected progress from
the dreary negaton displayed IN the autobioe-
raphy to religious realism. OF an arbitrary and
sell-arranged kind no doubt, but still to state
which might have led to Christianity at last. The
nrst essay, Mature" Is the most powerful OF
the three The author works out with great force
his objections TO the stoical system. But the
third is that which excltes most popular
attention. 1t Is on "Theism" and 1t en-
bodies most OF the difficulties which phio-
sophical thinkers encounter, created by
the apparent contradiction between the world as
IT'S exists and the theory OF Creator, at once
Infinitely powerful and absolutely good. 1t Is not
novel, either It's method in Its conclusions,
but II leaves an impression on our minds that
Mr. Mill had come to doubt 1.-The family secret'
l. E., that there is God and regard the exist
ence OF a Divine Person something more than 8
''frst cause" as more PROBABLE tnan not
LORD PALMERsToN.
The so.called Life OF Lord Palmerston,n by
Lord Dalllng, be tier known as Sir Henry Lytton
Bulwer is only fragment after all Lord Dalling
died before his important task was completed,
and the 'memolrr takes leave OF lis subject before
his career as a statesman had wei begun. 1t is,
therefore, not q biography OF Lord Paimerston-
OF our Lord Palmerston, the sagaclOus old man
who managed to Keep things going IN groove,
which, since MS death, has became wildly impos-
siDie--but 1t is valuable contribution to history
which has only just ceased TO be contemporary,
and it lets IN number of side lights on the events
OF the Melbourne administration and the foreign
relations OF England during the early years OF the
Queens reign. when foreign affairs "had q sig.
niicance which they have now lost, and dplo.
matte mysteries commanded a credulous respect"
The second vo.ume Is very pleasant reading,
though 1t deals at an exorbitant and unneces-
saction Of the Spanish marriages. We had only
Just emerged from the discussion of this subject,
awakened oy NJ. Gulzors death: and we don't care
for going over 1t all again, but it Is
certainly amusing TO trace the way in which the
sanctimonous humbug GutZot and the huckster.
ing rogue, Louis Philippe, serenely and com ort-
ably cheated the British government, who had the
collective weakness to believe that the King who
had never tod truth IN his lie when anything was
to be gained by a lie, and the Minister who never
took the distinction between the two things into
account any more than Louis XI. or Charles l.,
meant to keep their promises. Mr.. Evelyn Ashley,
who has done the editing OF this volume
exceedingly Ill, would have found some very
amusing APPENDIX or ioot-note material
in NJ Trognon's "Memoires de Marie
Amelie RENE des Francais,n beaIing on
this characterlstically discreditable episode
In the history OF the CuiZot administration and
the "Monarchy OF July" Certain letters or Marie
Amehe to Queen Victoria are especially ediiyIng.
They were, OF course, written under the instruc.
tions Of Louis Philippe, and they make one specu-
late upon the trial to the royal rogue's patience
which his wifes simplicity must have been. He
never dared to trust her with the full extent OF
his trckery, and it was hard work to prevent
her from bundering over the portion which he
was forced to con1de 10 her. safely relying upon
have been well for the poor little queen OF spain
II the English schemers had had the de.
cision OF her fate instead OF the French
scnemers who won tD in the struggle. 1t Is
also lucky that Isabel H. does not solace herself
In ner discrowned exile by reading the
English journals. Very much more interest
ing is the portion OF the volume which con-
tains some letters OF LORD Pamers to his
brother, sir William Temple. These letters are
very CHARMING iull OF lie and spirit, OF KIND,
cneery humor, OF shrewd nits when writes OF
measures and OF men, and OF unaffected enjoy
ment OF the recreative and restorative enjoyment
OF "out of once" Temporarily "out OF otceu be 1t
remembered Tor when the tories came In in l84i,
It was so manifestly temporary triumph that
Lord Palmerston had merely TO calculate the
duration OF his holiday and dispose OF IL
to the best advantage, an art which
no man better understood than did
the jaunty gentleman VINO closed an
era in our political and socia history. de tells
the story OF his pleasant lie at Broadinnds charm.
ingy, and we only regret that there Is not more
OF IT. Wnen man IS more tnan politician, now.
ever much he may be the latter the man beats
the politician III interest, IN the long run-L e.,
with even immediate posterty
SIR ROBERT PEEL
We learn by predatory note to Lord DainQ's
'Historlcai sketch of Sir Robert PeeiD that this
was the last work ne completed. He had planned
several others, indeed he seems TO have had am
bltous motives OF the possibilities OF career II
the historical and biographical branches oi ltera
ture whicn would have needed very goot
| health and an immensely prolonged lit
TO realize. HIS sketch OF sir Ro0ert Peel was
! | finished even to the preface wne one Of tn'
character and career ol Lafayette l. iound to have
: been hardly begun. Mr.. George Bentley, Lore
. Daillng's publisher, describes in euiogist
style his method oil working, and details the elaDO
rate pains which he TOOK In the preparation o
Y these sketches The memoir oil Peel ls the compile
, ment OF Lord DaIling's estimate oil Canning.
lives OF the two men. sr Robert Peel mad, In Lor
"-"4- -'- --sntnn- "Lhe talents Tor giving pros