New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-19

| KlCHARD CHENENlA TRENCH, ARCHBISHOP
Letters and Memorials Edited by the Author O
Charles Lowlcr' In two volumes, svo. Lon
don: KcgaD Paul, Trench Co.
It was the express wish Of Archbishop Trench
that no Life of him should be written, and THU
prohibition put limitation on the editor OF his
correspondence which the reader is made to fee
the inconvenience Of throughout these volumes
An attempt has been made to create some sort OF
connection and TO indicate in outline the barest
| facts Of the Archbishops career, but it is but
partially successful and it cannot be said that tho
Letters and Memorials form work OF very high
or continuous interest. The truth is that NJ
matter how high man stands in the scale Of in.
tellect it is impossible to make very attractive
an account OF him presented in the disjonted and
fragmentary form of a collection OF letters. Such
a memoir must be cemcnted and vivifed by a
strong infusion of human personality to commend
IL to other minds and this saving condition hav-
ing been unattainable in the present case, the
result is rather insipid not to say dull We see
the subject of the correspondence. in fact much
more from an ecclesiastical than from a hui
man, point of view, and we are not permitted to
approach him closely enough TO apprehend tho
significance Of much which requires explanation,
the events referred to being either obscure or
ancient history.
Among the things dimly set forth is the fact
that young Trench, going TO Cambridge, there met
Sterling and T. ID. Maurice, and contracted en-
during friendships with both That a man des
tined 10 figure so prominently In the Church
Of England should not only have established, but
maintained, an intimate fellowship with Maurice
speaks strongly for the liberaity Of his views;
though after he became Archbishop some Of his
public acts might be thought to indicate a de-
cidcd narrowing in this respect. Probably there
never was time, however, when he did not dis
sent from many of Maurice's positions. Yet he
recognized the power and purity Of the man, and
ossimilated what he could of his doctrines There
many letters Of Sterling and Maurice and they
are often beautiful, though because OF the alb
strnctness Of the topics discussed they do not
readily lend themselves to quotation. Arthur
IIallam, too, appears frequently in these volumes;
a fine mind, promising greatly, and manfestins
occasionally something Of the scope which justified
Tcnnyson's splendid eulogies in In Memoram.'
Tennyson himself appears to have been an UNI
certain and rather idle correspondent though
doubtless be reserved his strength for more en-
during work Trench when in the enthusiasm Of
youth Joined himself to the wild and always
hopeless conspiracy Of General TorriiOs by which
Spain was to be freed He even went as far as
Gibraltar with the ill-fated expedition, but at
that stage his eyes were opened, and he returned
home, took orders 0nd married
Ills life was very prosperous materially, and
his home life was happy, but he suffered severely
in the successive loss of children. The withhold
ing Of all the more intimate relations of course
tends to bettle the emotional expression OF the
man, but his letters TO his friends, written under
affection, are full Of devotional spirit, and not
less full of human suffering. The literary aspect
Of the letters is disappointing. The Archbishop
III l, ic t,,l
Inc republic OF letters numerous, but there |
IS little that is new TO be found here concerning |
the literary people and events Of his time. The |
greater part Of the second volume is taken up with
detailed account Of the ArchbshOp's great cam
paIgn in the matter Of DisestNb;shmcnt This !
nay have value As a chronicle, but il is certainly |
lot of much interest. While at the University, or |
soon after graduating Trench wrote q tragedy, OF |
which Macready thought highly. What became |
If the play is not stated, only that 1t was never
put on the stage. The chief use OF the letters ,
md memorials seems TO be to show how good "a |
biography could be made OF the Archbishop If the |
writer were given free hand If that Is ont Of |
he question, il is to be regretted, for the world |
would willingly know more and would profit by |
knowing more, concerning an ecclcSiastic OF so
character and so strong and active mind.