New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-15
CURRENT BRITISH TOPICS.
1IrrR,,IrPE POLITICS AND WAR.


FOpBEs.
IFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIDUNEJ
LONDON. Nov 1.-Three or four Of the Magazines
for November are unusually strong. Their contents
are rich and various enough TO justify-almost-the
assertion of the Rev. Mark Pattison that the month
lies form at this moment the most characteristic ana
pithy part of our literary produce This doctrine
Mr. Patts0n lays down in an article on Books ana
Critics" in The Fortng, one of the cleycrest ari-
cles in its kind that has appeared this many day;
full of special knowledge put to practical USE 1t is
q talk about books and how TO use them.
dry subject enough in the hands of
mere book-wOrm, but which Mr. Mark Pattison
has turned TO such account that his paper may be
said to have equal attraction for the most frivolous
and the most accomplished readers. In parts it
may seem to give too much encouragement, or IN
diligence, to modern notions about books and read
ing-nOtions that have come IN with the railway
and telegraph But the due protest against mere
speed and the genius Of commonplace is not forgot
ten. The veteran who has watched the books OF
forty seasons declares that there is nothing so old
as a new book an astonishing sameneSs and want
of individuality pcrvades modern books; You
would think they were all written by the same
man." The reading-rOom of the British Museum is
the mandatory out of which they are turned.
Professor Tyndal repubshes in Tie foriHgbNy
and Man" a continuation Of the theme with which
the religious and thinking world startled in the
famous discourse at Belfast before tho British Asso-
citation The daily papers reported this last rs near
" verbatim as possible. Ii is only month since
il was delivered, hut il has been holly attacked IN
numberless periodicals since. People don't wait for
an authoritative text; The Contemporary publishes
critical review Of the address the same day that
the address itself for the first time the light nm
der is authors sanction. But Professor Tyndali IS
81 shining mark that the ecclesiastical cro's-Dow-
men are TO let fly at him the moment he appears
in the field; with the result for the most part, of
bunting a good many arrows. Mr.. Lowe, III the
same review, takes up the colonial question again.
With hisusual courage and usual contempt OF popu-
lar feeling and usual disregard of all political con-
siderations which cannot bc expressed arithmeti-
callv. he sets down the foreign dommions Of the
Crown as worthless to England for practical puT-
poses II his article means anything, 1t means that
England would Toe better off without them-purely
military ports like Gibraltar excepled-ihan with
them. MI Gladstone, who has replied III
The NneecRh CHhUy of tins month to
Mr. loves argument against giving the
agricultural laborer the vote, SAYS Of his antagonist
apty enough that whatever subject he touches. his
first object is like Ajax, to drag il into light; as
Tennyson would say, fierce light but light like
the hight Of Rembrandt, which leaves much of the
picture i'm deep shadow. In the discussion of both
these subjects. colonies and county franchise, MI
Lowe is seen al his worst His brilliant abilities no.
body ever thinks of dsputng, but | am almost
tempted 10 call hm-if 10 do not exceed the limits Of
decorous crtcism--an English Due de BroeLe,
Mr.. Gladstonc's argument for the county fran
clIse-uow an accepted part of the Llbora! erect
holds the place of honor IA The Nineteenth Century,
but the artico which follows it viii De read with
81. ]. rrt.~ I.rf III
or any other magazine for the month This is Alr.
Archibald Forbess paper "The Russians, the
Turks. and the Bulgaraus." Needless to explain TO
anybody that Nj. Forbes IS the correspondent of
The Dmlg N0rS. whose Dattle-pieccs OF Plcyna and
tho Shipka Pass have given him worldwide fame.
lis present performance is an attempt 10 sketch the
three uationaliues from personal knowledge, as
they appeared to him. Archibald Forbes, pursuing
Us work correspondent at the theatre OF war :;
and without any kind of reference to their political
relations or 20 history. or 20 the opinions Of other
people aboui them. He acouits the Russians OF
cruelty, and explains the causes Of their impcr-
fec: success TO be corruption, favorihsm, and
deficient sense Of responsibility among its officers
a., down the roll. The firm hand with which Sir.
Forbes wells the knife IN dissccting his friends Is
proof enough Of ms heroic impartiaiity. Other
proof may pee found in the screams of delight with
which his testimony is quoted by the English Rus
sophobsts. Only letme stop long enough to mark
q di Terence. Tic Daly telegraph quotes more suO,
everything against the Russians and Busarans,
and in favor Of the Turks, even to the eX-
tent Of .hree columus--nOt line that makes
AGAINST the Turks nor hint that such line IS to he
found IN Mr. FoIbes's paper. The Pal MAJ Gazette,
which hates the Russians as heartily its comrade,
Tie Dcjig telegraph. gives a tolera5ly full summary
of the testimony which Mr.. Forbes bears to the bar
barism cruelty and other evil qualities OF the Turks,
when have COME under his observation 1t even
gives his excupation Of the russians from those
Turkish charges Of cruelty which it eagerly spread
abroad, and, no doubt, tried its best to believe.
leave 10 the American reader to SAY which of these
two methods of Journalism he deems the most honest
and polite
attempt no summary # Mr.. Forbess article. |
content myself with expressing my admiration Of
its literary power and OF the wonderful faculties of
observation Of It's author. One instance Of his mi
croscopic minuteness of attention may be allowed
t. quota selection from his accumulation of proofs
that the Bu'garans bad not been maltTeated by the
Turks north Of the Balkans. accOuntO last years
conspiracy:
last years straw-stack stands in the farmyard
of every Bulgarian cottager; the color Of It's thach
proves that his habitatOn is not erection Of yes
terday The two-ycar colt trots tie lea along
with the dam and tho foal. HIS buhaloes are mature
in their ucucss; his ,rGs wLicn1eGI rate, pals arc
pitted wiM The dints ofyelrs."
Ihaye seen nothing to beat that since Thoreau re-
marked how the depth of the sand on Cape Cod
roads had developed abnOUay the muscles in The
launches Of the horse Of that region. Mr. Forbes
saws he docs in all humility. thin, he has some
faculty Of keen observation, in which we shall all