Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-26
Book Notices.


LETTERS AND VERSES OF ARTHUR
RENRHYN STANLEY. D. D., Between
the Years 1879 and 1881. Edited by
Rowland f. Prothero. NJ. A. New York:
Charles Scribner's Sons, 1885. Cloth.
Svo. Az pages. S..
This is q delightful companion volume
10 the Life and Letters Of Dean STAN
ley" by the same author. Ietter-writing
is a great accomplishment and even
though a pious fraud may be suspected
or apparent, the disguise OF private
correspondence is an attractive form iH
which to approach the literary public.
But when 1t is really a private CORE
spondence-thoughts expressed and words
written without any anticipation Of ex-
posure TO stranger ears or eyes-we may
be sure that they give us good insight
into the character OF the writer and a
very fair measure for intelligent appre-
citation OF that OF his correspondents.
These letters, running through the ma
ture manhood Of a sexagenarian. may be
well accepted as a true index or The
heart and mind Of Dean Stanley, and an
such must enhance the loving estimate
in which he has been previously held.
The letters have been selected 1--WE are
told in the preface. "for their general
interest, or for the light which they throw
upon the character. tastes. and habits OF
mind of the late Dean Stanley, and upon
the moral and intellectual influences by
which he was most powerfully affected
They begin with his academic life at
Rugby, In 1929, and end with an unfinished
letter, written a few days before his
death, In July, 1851. They are most gene
rally addressed to the female members OF
his family, or other most intimate friends.
The Dean was an extensive traveller, and
we have here the results of his observa-
tions and reflections in various journey
lngs at different periods OF his life in
almost every country OF continental
Europe. In Egypt. Turkey. and the Holy
Land, and In America. He was an acute
observer-a proficient in the history and
traditions OF the countries he visited
a great lover Of nature, with refined and
educated taste for literature and art. He
writes in a charming. easy style, and few
travellers are more suggestive or pleasing
in narrative and description. Some OF the
letters have very especial interest The
Dean OBLIGATED at the marriage OF the
Duke OF Edinburgh. the second son OF
Queen Victoria, 10 the daughter OF the
Car OF Russia, in January, 1874 and
some half dozen letters written upon the
occasion from ST. Petersburg to the
Queen, I'm London, are, by her permission,
published I'm the volume. Some OF the
other letters have scarcely less interest
than these. He tells US in one OF them
OF HIS exploration under the guidance OF
an ANTIQUARIAN friend of many miles OF
the old Roman wall across the north
OF England from Newcastle 10 SolWey
Firth. In another he tells US OF his visit
TO a country gentleman, who has In his
keeping the veritable skull or Oliver
Cromwell. It will be remembered that
after the restoration OF Charles III. the
bodies OF Cromwell, lreton, and Brad
shaw were exhumed and hanged at Ty-
burn. and their heads, discovered from the
bodies. stuck up on Westminster Hall.
The tradition IS that after remaining thus
exposed for many years, CromwelPs,
preserved from decay by Its embalmment,
was blown down during heavy storm
and secreted by the finder. The Dean
saw It, and says: 1T is its own best Wit
ness. An embalmed head like mummy.
with the marks OF two strokes OF the
axe on the neck. and the ancient oak stan
and iron spike running through Its skull.
The hair still remains. so that you see
the moustache, beard. and eyebrows
meeting. There is a mark Of the mole
on the right eyebrow. The nose is slightly
turned TO the left the under-jaw Is short.
as was his. A very awful apparition, and
/ myself believe 1t can be no ones but
Cromwell's own"
In a letter 20 his mother he tells the
following tradition Of Aaron Burr whom
he denominates the acknowledged vii
lain and genius OF American history:
"He was the grandson of the great
Calvinistic minister. Jonathan Edwards;
was early left an orphan. and was brought
up at the college OF Princeton, In Amefi-
ca. He was boy OF great abilities and
firmness and powers OF persuasion. but
wonderfully ambitious and unprlncipled.
A REVIVAL took place in the college. and
the head OF the college talked 10 him
seriously. and apparently made a deep
impression. Aaron Burr retired to his
room. walked 10 and fro In great agita-
ton, and then said: ! have mazda my
resolve. I viii never think Of religion
again as long as live " In his account OF
burr In other matters he V far from