Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 5th August 1854, Edition 2 of 2, Page 20

Page 20
Page 20
20 of 24

On this page

  • Departments (1)
    • _ -. . , •* , • ± £ j ? r0 U^tTOlltt* \
  • Text (7)
  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Lewelz, Pastures. Lawcll Pastures. By Th...

      —the perpetual misunderstanding , the insensible gene which they communicate to the unfortunate individual who makes a third in their society , the atmosphere of unrest and irritability which surrounds them when together , the agreeable qualities and companionableness of either when apart . It is perfectly true that Edith is ill and nervous , sick of isolated sympathies , and moped to death , at Velindra . ; it is also true that Erskine has few tastes in common with h . er , and repels her by Ms somewhat unrefined and cynical tone of feeling . But for all that , he is nearly as much to be pitied as she is . If he wounds and irritates her , she torments and ^ mzzles him . He is scarcely less a victim—to the tyranny of her silent martyrdom . Each revenges on the other the wrongs inflicted by fate , the mistake of their union , and its indissolubility . They are neither of them schooled in the great lesson , the only resource left for married people , who have played their stake for mutual happiness , and lost it—to carry their chain peaceably with as little tugging and jerking as may be . Probably we all know similar histories in actual life ; but we are not aware that the subject has ever beea more successfully dealt with in action .

      740 The 1 Lea Deir; [Saturday,

      740 THE LEA DEIR ; [ Saturday ,

      A. Batch Of Books. We Propose, As Usual,...

      A . BATCH OF BOOKS . We propose , as usual , to include in this article those publications which either do not appear to us of sufficient importance to claim a separate notice , or which We have been prevented , by want of space , from noticing otherwise than briefly . Mr * ITeale ' s Ixlamism , * from bearing the imposing form of a History , claims our first attention . The author informs us , in his preface , that his object was to produce a complete history of the empire of the Saracens and of the- ' Ottomans down to the present time . The book , is not an interesting one . As Mr . Neale has bestowed much time and labour in its compilation , we doubt not the facts he narrates are substantially correct ; but the style is often laboured , and it is written from a narrow and inerely English

      point of viety- We are not content to dismiss the great political problem of the decadence of the Ottoman power with the conclusion that its rulers were " chosen instruments of vengeance in the hand of the Almighty , " that " where the Christian religion is not made its foundation-stone , sooner or later that kingdom will assuredl y ¦ fall . " We were surprised , in Mr . Neale ' s cursory review of ttue important reforms instituted by the late Sultan Mahmoud , and carried out by the reigning prince , to find no mention made of tlie celebrated Tanzimat , or new system of government organisation , from whichwriters , no less well informed than sanguine , have predicted the regeneration of the Ottoman empire . tjnder the general title of Indian Leisure , ^ Captain MacGregor presents us with a somewhat heterogeneous collection of translations , commencing with the sonnets and odes of Petrarch

      . Not having a Petrarch within reach at this moment , we feel bound to say that we are unable to verify the fidelity of the translation , except in the few instances where memory comes to our aid . Faithful , therefore , these translations may be , but poetical \ they certainly are not . The essay on Othello is an attempted refutation of Coleridge ' s view of the character of the noble Moor , treated by Captain MacGregor with supreme disdain . We cannot carry the license of reviewing so far as to inflict on our readers a criticism of a criticism of a criticism ; we can only say that if -vve agreed with Coleridge before we began Captain MacGregor ' s essay , we agreed with him still more after we had finished it . Mr . Routledge has published a , convenient edition of the works of GrayJ and some contemporary poets , in a neat volume , very prettily illustrated , which it is unnecessary to do more than notice . The short biographical sketches prefixed to the works of each poet are carefully written by the Hev . K . A . Willmott , who edits the book .

      Minstrelsy of War § is the title given by Mr . Alfred Richards to gome very enthusiastic lyrics , breathing intense enmity to what he calls " the Peace Chimera , " and no less cordial sympathy with the struggling nationalities of Europe . These poems occupy only a very small portion of the volume ; the remainder is filled by selections from the previously published poems of Mr . Richards , and extracts from his tragedies . Rambles and Recollections of a Fly FisJivr \\ appears to be a useful manual for the student of this science , so fascinating to its votaries , and so incomprehensible to the uninitiated . To the general public the book will not be peculiarl y interesting . It is tuned in the key of quiet enthusiasm observable in all the disciples of Izaak Walton , distinguished as a class by thoir enjoyment of xiature , and tone of kindly feeling towards every thing—except fishes . The Amateur Gardener

      ' s Year Book *§ is a reprint , with additions , of som & articles which , appeared ia the Gardener ' s Chronicle during the years 1846-9 . It is sensibly and practically written , and is really addressed and suited to amateurs , -who will find many useful hints in its pages . A new edition of Ten Thousand a-Year ** scarcely requires a word of introduction . Dr . Warren , as wo may now take leave to call him , has bestowed upon it a " rigorous and final revision . " It has " loft his hand for ever , to take its chance of appearing before posterity . " Laden with now * Jslamism ; its Rise and its Progress ; or , the Present and Past Condition of the Turks . By F . A . Ncalo . Author of " Klplit Ycara in Syiia . " ( J . Muddon . ) f Indian Lcusicrc . Petraroh . On the Character of Othello . Agamemnon . The Ilenriad Anthology . By Captain Robert Guthrio MaoGrogor , of tlio Bcng . il Retired List . ( Smith JUIuor , ana Go . ) v ' % The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray . Thomas Parnell . William Collins , Mathew Green , and Thomas Warton , edited by the Kev . Robert Aris "Wulmott , Illustrated bv Birkot Foster and E . Oorbould . ( ltoutlcdgo . ) J § Minstrelsy of War ; wltft Selections fi-om Miscellaneous and Dramatic I ' oevis ; bV Alfred B . Richards : author of " Oroosus , King of Lydia , " a Tragedy ; » Cromwell , " n Drama , & o . & c . ( James Bluokwood . ) ' || Hamblea and Recollections of a Fly Fisher . Illustrated with an Appendix containinq ample instructions to the Novice , inclusive of Fly-making , and a Hat o , r really weful Flies by Clorious , ( Chapman and Hull . ) u ' *§ The Avuitwr Gardener ' s Tear Book . A guide for those who cultivate their own Oardens ^ tn the princi p les and practice of Horticulture , by tlio Uov . Honry liu rgcBH LI D and Ph . D . Morabor of the Itoyul Society of Literature . ( Ailum m » d CIuu'Ioh JLflack , Hdiuliurprh . ' « " * Ten Thousand a-Year . By Samuol Warren , D . O . L ., I ' . U . S . ( Blackwood . )

      honours , the learned , 'D . C . L ., loved of Disraeli , and cheered by undergraduates at Oxford , bids adieu to the labours of his youth . Since the early days when he had scarce emerged from obscurity , he has passed through strange vicissitudes . He has , at length , won fame , and , as he evidently wishes the world to know , has made acquaintance with one peer ! We quote an extract from the preface to the new edition : — " The author hopes that he will not be judged in too harsh and exacting a spirit , in respect of anything to be found in this work ; but that some licence may be allowed one whose aim is not alone to instruct , but to amuse- He has received , from time to time , it great number of letters , one or two of them suggesting that he has . sinned in respect of some of the matters above referred to . A Peer wrote to him to complain of his having intended to ridicule the aristocracy , by the character , sayings , and doings , attributed to the Earl of Dreddlington and Lady Cecilia ; and some months afterwards , he received an extremely violent letter from a . linendraper , accusing him of an intention to render that

      respectable calling odious- To charges such as these he is not concerned to give an answer . As reasonably might members of either House of Parliament , or of either branch of the legal profession , deem themselves wronged and misrepresented , because certain unworthy and contemptible individuals belonging to them , are placed in unfavourable contrast to those constituting the great bod y of worthy and honourable members of these classes . The author lately , however , received an earnest and courteous remonstrance from an eminent Dissenting minister , against the alleged tendency of Ten Thousand a- Year to exhibit disparaging views of Dissenters generally . The author solemnly disclaims having ever heen actuated by such unjust and unchristian . feelings and intentions . He knows much , and gr « atly to the honour of Dissenters ; and would consider himself acting , unworthily as a member of the Church of England , if he presumed to speak , or leave on record , a single disrespectful word concerning any denomination whatsoever of professing Christians . It the Reverend Dismal Horror' and ' the Rev . Smirk Mudnint' typifV bad specimens of Dissenting ministers , surely the ' Keverend Morphine Velvet' and ' tho Reverend Gideon FleshpoV are by no means desirable representatives of the Church of England clergy . "

      Another republication deserving notice is the first series of Laing * s Notes of a Traveller ( Longman ) . This admirable book recommends itself , and it is something to know that it can now be bought at a shilling a volume . We have only to notice one more -work , a pretty little Irish story for children , The Cabin by the Wayside , * pleasantly written , and inculcating good doctrines , sympathy and patience .

      A. Batch Of Books. We Propose, As Usual,...

      ^ L ^^^ a ^^^ J !^ L < " ^ ^^ > ^ Otti »« - ^

      Christian 31ecords. Christian Records: A...

      CHRISTIAN 31 ECORDS . Christian Records : an Historical Enquiry concerning the Age , AutJiorship , and Authority of the New Testament . By the Keverend Dr . J . A . Giles , late Fellow of Corpus Ghristi College , Oxford . . T ¦ ¦ Whitaker and Co . The Reverend Dr . Giles , an officiating clergyman of the Church , of England , in the diocese of Oxford , has given us in his Christian Records , the sequel to his Hebrew Records . Dr . Giles ' s present work is confined to the Gospels , -with a short chapter on the Acts at the conclusion of the volume . The object of the Christian Hecords does not appear to be the disputation or confirmation of any of the facts of the Gospels , but to inquire when they were written . The latter part of the work travels over the same facts as Strauss , but the reverend author limits himself to denying the contemporary character of the writers of the Gospels . Dr . Giles has certainly not the fear of Dr . Paley before his eyes . The critical candour of the Christian Becords is probably unequalled in orthodox literature since the days of Bishop Marsh . Of the spirit in which the work is written a passage from the preface will well inform the reader : ~

      " If the conclusions which I have arrived at , are thought to be not logically drawn from tlie premises which are laid down as their basis , it will be the pa . rt of those who hold a different view of the matter , not to abuse what may displease them , but to refute what may be wrong ; if any one shall be found to admit the truth of my conclusions , but to question the utility of making them public , I reply that the same truth which has furnished rest to my own mind , may bring repose to others also , and that it is dangerous to conceal tlie truth on a subject that concerns us all . Lastly , if any ono shall complain that the rules of ordinary criticism have here been applied to the New Testament , in the same way as to any other book , I reply that in every other path of life the richest commodities are all meted by the same standard of weight or measure as tho meanest ; and that , if those principles of literary discrimination , which have been taught to me , as they are still taught to thousands in our universities at so great a public cost , are to bo warped or modified before tliey can be applied to what concerns us most , it is time that tho public should know how weak are the bulwarks which they have erected , at so great a cost , between error and truth and bow futiloaro the studies on which tho wealth of the nation and the energies of its most valued youth are now employed , and wasted . "

      Books On Our Table. Analectaanlc-Nicmna....

      BOOKS ON OUR TABLE . AnalectaAnlc-Nicmna . Collegit Rccensui ( Illustrari ) Christianas Carolus Josias Bunsen , SS Ihcologise Juris Civilis ot Philos . Doctor . 3 voJs . / i , ;• * * i T » -i i ,,, . , Longman , Brown , Green , and Longmans . Outlines of the Philosophy of Universal History , applied to Language and Relwion . By Christian Charles JosiaH Bunsen , D . D ., D . C . Lt , D . F . H . 2 vols . „ - , . T t a r r . . Longman , Brown , Green , and Longmans , JLygpolylus and his Age ; or , the Beginnings and Prospects of Christianity . By Christian Charles Joaias Bunsen . D . D ., D . O . L ., D . F . H . Second edition . 2 vols . w ,., , -ps > i , ' : t > r i . t , Longman , Brown , Green , nnd Longmans , 7 he , Essence of Christianity . ByLudwig Feuorbaoh . John Chapman A Waterloo Commemoration foy 1854 . By Michael Joseph Barry . Wm . S . On- and Co .

      _ -. . , •* , • ± £ J ? R0 U^Ttolltt* \

      ISnxiUlh .

      Wo Should Do Our Utmost To Encourage Tho...

      Wo should do our utmost to encourage tho Beautiful , for tho Useful encourages itsoir . —QOKTJUCE . D

      A ©Ygr©T?Imi&In]!'§ Imii&[Igii!J]©Ig (§ ...

      a © ygR © T ? iMi & iN ]! ' § iMii &[ igii ! j ]© ig (§ i ? §@© nn irv . III . it \ rn i /» -i-i i Deccmbor 11 . JUiia L / hurcli of England pretends to ignore tho doctrine of Confession and Absolution , Aa I have often said , she teaches that Orders are a profosaion in the sense in which Law and Physic arc professions . The clergy , in this light , are tho mouthpiocoa of certain doctrines . They arc tho appointed interpreters of the Biblo . They doal with tho souls of men . Tliey tell tlua one and that ono , tho ignorant awd tho learned , of mysteries thut no inatinot could diacovor , thai ; no reason cim explain . But they Htand in the presence of judges . All tho members of their congregation can chal-

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 5, 1854, page 20, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_05081854/page/20/