New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-02
NEW PUBLICATIONS

A GUIDE TO MODERN ENGLISH HISTORY; BY WILL
IAN CORY. Part I. $40" PIP. 279. HeDy Holt co.
A series of pungent, and often Giraffe, COM
ments on the political aud literary history OF England
during peroi OF hfteen years from 1915 TO 1890
tho contents Of the present volume, which forms
the first part OF larger work from the pen. The
aptor appears to be person Of considerable shrewd
keen observer OF character ana events, but o
bcmeEI prtudices, aud with little respect popular
opinion traditional beliefs His style is torso, concise
pointed and with keen edge but the soundness of his
Judgment 10 question. The most Interesting and
perhaps the NEST important part OF s book Is his est
mate OF the characters OF the public Of tic period
which he often hits off with good deal OF effect and
always with bald and ineisiyc racness of expression.
HE semsarcal tone will prove attractive to the popu
lar taste. but 1t assurance of fine dscrmina
ton. Still many OF his personal sketches 0Tcibc
and striking and will be widely read for their lvercss
Of manner, II not for the jusuess OF their conclusions.
George H. is described man OF Such force Of char
acter that, although afflicted with Intermittent madness.
be continued for the first fifty years of his reign to be
sincerely respected by the British people, and Ivy the
holders Of political Offices. His character one OF
the forces that shaped the character OF his
people and for part of his reign at least che was hon
est and plain dealing his politicians aud his rfders
The heiraDparent, who signed State papers as Prince
Regent, was not man o: sound character. The nominal
rulers used him laYhgure and when visited by tic
moIarchs Of Europe in 1914 he might have been looked
upon as genuine representative OF the English arstOc
racy IL he bad not been driving hot haste t. lis
house 10 order to escape from the 1sses Of the London
popuace. The Duke of Wellington SET forth as the
first English general who stood without rival lie was
probably the greatest man that sincerely con
Rent To serve He accepted every opportunity OF serving
the State rs naturally aOIse takes To his Tovender
Ike never set up for statesman, but lie knew Tow TO
give counsel and get things done better than tho poll
tleians who make tie business OF State trial of skill.
Had lie been enthusiastic. he could not have been more
daring; Lad he bcen trained ih philosophy lie could
hardly have been judicOus. But he was neither
enthusiast nor philosopher, hut in fact man OF
pleasure, and not without hardness Of heart 1t cost
him effort 10 tell the TRUTH but bc could not always
30 Iule his tongue not To scOld or scOn
nfle more than he Intended. Tile causes
which led TO the abolition OF British slavery, Is the SUD
ject OF IA somewha; curious discussion. Neither Yelling
ton CasteIe Ugh explained b. the author was the
OF 10 70 far out of the comiuon track to
plead for African negroes. III making great an limo
walton. they Obeyed no natural impulses. but the de-
m3nds OF Parliament They were not prof ssOrs of
philanthropy nor even of evangelical doctrine. But
they became the ultimate cxpOnents Of Oliey founded
manly the principles of Christianity. They followed
the convictions of tue British PEOPLE which had slowly
yielded 10 an assault Oh its conscience MI Wilerorce
regarded religion the rule OF action for public men,
superior to the obligations OF patriot or the caunSCs OF
n legislator. " In the sacred writings of the Christians
there found statement that all men OF one
blood" ancc twas inferred that no KIND of could
fcfiOry could authorize slavery. Hereditary bondage
thing AGAINST nature. The gospel, then. III
iO9ic should have demanded the Liberation OF all
purchased ana houebred slaves. But this not
what WnbcIforcc insisted or. TIC found it necessary
To be satsf with much less for tie present |
The Christians" says The author, mad been
impractical to try in thu; age to persuade men of
business that they must give up slavery" With
tain sbiewd common sense lie only called attention to
its revolving fes pOiuug Tie horrors Of
Md
cultivation The Suppression of this traffic by the Eng
Is Government, already carried into effect ny ilc Con.
Press OF Vienna. was due 10 the influence of the Christian
religion. But it logical inconseQuuce that the
principle not applied Ivy MI WllbeIfoIce ana his foI
lowers 10 The suppression OF slavery In the British
dumin:ons. No that Mr. Cory agrees with WiIbelf rec
in the application of Christianity the purposes Of
legislation On the contrary, he elsewhere af MS with
considerable junction. that lit was au Rtolrabc hypo
crisy which maintained Christianity part Of the Eng
lish law: has any maxim SD suhdoUus TScl as this
been devised TO abi1dgc the freedom Of Brtons" The
VI rdicf pronounced the author several of the lit
cnry OF the period often amusing. always
:igna and decided. OF Colerdge, he remarks that
while le figured III tie latter years of his iifc
o prophet he failed to teach anything that could al the
time be translated into plain life If his iIaciuetary
hooks had been read or his uncouth mcnolOgucs Is
tened TO by # his own age cOuvcTSant with
fnirs, he would have been justly pronounced i
solemn noun;eIank, though he dOllt helped
|
too prosaic view OF humanity, and t. rrscGe his adj
n,rcrs from insular prejudice narrow ness Robert
Hall aud Edward living. the two most celebrated
rcarhers of the day, rather than stars
they doubt eloquent bu! " elOquenee." We are
Informed by the author, ais very highly esteemed
" men of strong head" The Waverlcy novels rx-
oiled as the remarkable literary productions of The
lgr. No works Of fiction glowing ana pure. so fu
Jf animal splits. THROWN of IN such rapid
uccrssion to 50 great multitude 0; readers A tie
aObeness Cf the r-t Of uCderD English gentlemen
be ascIhcd TO Tie mag alton Of Shakespeare Tie
}rnns Of iiS later time made more sweet IN hear
" the author OF Wavercy. The poetry az Kens
which hrst quality, riDened in corner ami
rOpped seeds which twenty sesIs later bore such fruit
Is no other nation could match. Wordsworth had little
more than peasants knowledge OF modern le bur 10 e,
ritter slender outfit, with much toll, ana
OF time, little fruit, has ultimately muci
TatIt from tie hearts OF admlrug aud delighted
ea&ers Mr.. COry's Judgments evidently prompted
" his decided personal tastes, rather ii an y pm
iples OF artistic composition; their earestncss IL
eiIed under the disguise of hppancy but the persal
his volume will all doubt of his sincerity as
'eli as OF his ability.
Ea,sa Iy iionAcE I3wAnp 20, FuEYEss Pm D. ~ = Vol
The comprehensive breadth of treatment,
Exhaustive tbOr0ugbncss Of cution, cOpiOusess OF
pecia erndo!, and chase enthusiasm Of tone. which
lark the previous Sbakespearean labOrs OF Mr. IuTcs,
less conspicuous In the present volume. II
ibts the page with the text the various read
lgs Of the different editions OF King Lear from the
irest Quaro tie latest critical edition, together
18th choice selection Of notes aud comments from the
pVrtunt sources, which valuable only
clue dtIiOn 0f the text, but for the history Of Shake
'earean criticism. The Appendix to the volume
jus separate essays treating of the text OF the play
date OF composition. the OF the plot the dnra.
Of the action insanity actors, costumes aud Tac's t'
rsoa OF the story OF Lar, together with from