New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-21
NOTES ON BOOKS.

LONDON, Decf mber 30,
The fourth series has appeared oil the admi'aoio
nssays which Mr.. Froude entities, snort o'"".o'
on Great Subjects The present Volume, lie 'eiiS
"a FLIED manly with REPRINTED articles concludes
the series 1t contains the well-known Lie anu
Times q Thomas Beckett q discussion OF inc OA'oiu
connter Reformation and the Cathol'ciz!ng WORK
of Pusey and Newman; Orisen an" eoie"s
Cauliostro of the Second Century; ana TWO lighter
pspers which once sparkled in the duii pages Vi 'c
now dead Fraser. Some Of these, as OF former SUI
;ects as Mr. Froude remarks. are not great pn' nc
,.lectad the title which served Tor three voiuines
h.,ore this on account of the unity Of purpose
which is present throughout. His short lreiace -
strongly marked with the pessimism which has
tinpsd 80 much of Mr. Froude's later work. In tue
following passage there is also an autobiography
ica interest
3The Essays have been written at intervals, as
accession or nv own general work suggested, dur
ing the last thirty years. and they cobtaih my
Thoughts cast in various forms, on the pfooiems
with which the present generation has been per
plexed. We have lived through period OF change
change spiritual. change moral, social ana point
ical. The foundations of our most serious convic-
tions have been broken up; and the disintegratlon
of opinion is so rapid that wise men and foolish
are equally ignorant where the close OF this wan
inc century will find u.s. We are embarked in
our own wills, and indifferent whether we submit
or resist; but each of us is sailing In boat OF his
own. which, as he is hurried on. he can guide or
leave TO drift The observations and experiences OF
n single voyager Tho ia drawing heal the end OF his
own tourney may bave interest for others VINO
are floating down the same river, aud are alike uh-
able to conjecture whittier they are bound
Mr. Froude. who speaks as men in the full vigor
of intellectual and bodily strength sometimes will,
is perhaps sixty years old. He has done, ITO doubt,
the greater part of his work; or. as once heard
CARLYLE say of himself, sixteen years ago. has
delivered his message. critics have qnarrelled
with the historical part of it, and Will Doubtless
continue to quarrel. But Mr. Froude will none the
less 20 down to posterity as u writer who made
History luminous ana human; who has Kept alive
the traditions of English literature; who IN an age
of eccentrlcity and affectation and vulgar corrup-
tion of n noble tongue, has been conspicuous for
the purity and vigorous elegance of his diction 80
Is he in an age of scepticism for sincerity OF con-
yctton and in an age that takes some serious mat
ters in fppant spirit. for loyalty to his own soul
ana fidelity to unpopular beliefs.
The extract have gwen from the Preface is only
one of many autObiographcal fragments TO DO
found in this volume The letters the Oxford
Counter Reformation abound IN them. those iet-
tiers. which are the most valuable and interesting
part OF the book, first the light in periodical
known as Good Words, a monthly of wide circula-
tion in quarters which one seldom hears of. /
cannot recollect that they provoked much discus
sion when they appeared. Yet they are IN all Ways
most remarkable papers. and kno" not where
else Ia the compass of ninety pages Can be found
sketch of the recent religions or ecclesiastical rev.
olution in England comparable to this 'or Drill
iancy for broad views, for picturesque narrstive
for general ruthfulness and intimate knowledge
e.. 4hQ mn Qf
of the now party Mr. Froude him self WIS in near
relations to others of the Tractarans; at one time
he was asked to help in that particular branch of
the Romanizipg scheme which took on literary
form under the name of the Lives of tile Saints
and he came very directly under the influence OF
Newman. lie describes himself as curious and
interested spectator OF the turmoil, though he
wished to be, and believed at that time he was, q
Disciple 1t Is certain that in neither character
separately could he have seer and known as much
n. IN this double capacity. His accounf of Keble
must shock the more devoted admirers Of that ami
Able and p,ous soul. But there is not a touch of
malice In it, and II is probable that Mr.. Froudes
Judgment upon his poetical and spiritual efforts
will remain the final one.
Keble, however. must'always be secondary fig
ore The true chief OF the Catholic revival. as Mr.
Froude describes him. and as most people have long
aimee agreed was John Henry Newman. Compared
with him, SAYS his old friend aand pupil in his en-
erretic way all the rest were but ciphers and he
the indicating figures. To Newman whole letter
ia given. II oil else should perish that has been
written about him, and all his numerous volumes,
this would preserve him. There few more adj
mrable portraits IN literature few higher tributes
IN nobility and simplicity Of character. i may
ouote one passage. and with that must leave
fascinating subject:
Greatly as Newman's poetry had struck me- lie
WAS himself all that the poetry was. and some
thing far beyond. l had then never seen SO I'M
pressive person. l met him now and then in
priyate; | attended his church and heard him
preach Sunday after Sunday he Is supposed to
have been insidious. to have led his disciples to
conclusions TO which he designed TO bring them
while his purpose was carefully veIled. Ho was
on the contrary the most transparent of men, He
told what he believed to be true. He did not
krow where it would carry him. No one who mas
ever risen TO any great he ght In this world refuses to
move till he knows where he IS going. He is lni-
RELIED in each step which he takes by "a force
within himself. He satisfies himself only that the
step is right one and lie leaves the rest to ProvI
dence Newman's mind was world VIDE. He was
Interested everything which was going on in
science, In politics. in literature. Nothing too
large Tor him, nothing too trivial If 1t threw light
upon the central question, what maH really was,
and what was his destiny. He was careless about
his personal prospects He had no ambition to
mako a career, OF to rise to rank and power Still
less had pleasure any seductions for him. His
natural Temperament was bright and iightj his
senses. even the commonest, were exceptionally
delicate. l was told that though he rarely drank
wine he was trusted to choose the yintagos for
the college cellar. lie could admire enthusiastically
any greatness of notion and character, however re-
mote the sphere Uf 1t fIom his own"
ilxaf 4 Ao Inn nti nnf
Newman but it is obviously true 80 far as it goes
You will find the likeness completed in the book
itself and some light thrown on the dark question
Anu IL hannannd that an inIellect 40 antle and so