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Leader (1850-1860), 19th August 1854, Edition 2 of 2, Page 17

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      August 19, 1854.] Th£ Leader. 785

      August 19 , 1854 . ] TH £ LEADER . 785

      R*Ey* ¦Tlli^Ltllitirb A/Ha'vuthw * ^^^

      tmmn .

      Critics Are Not The Legislators, But The...

      Critics are not the legislators , but the judges and police of literature . They do not make laws—they interpret and try to enforce them . —Edinburgh JReview .

      If The Direction Of Our Speculative Inqu...

      If the direction of our speculative inquiries -were always determined by the facts and exigencies of the passing hour , there can he no doubt that at present a considerable proportion of the scientific intellect of Hurope would be engaged in perfecting a theory of cholera . It requires hut a glance at the shoals of dissimilar receipts for the treatment of the disease brought forward in the newspapers , to see how far short Practical Medicine is of any certain knowledge of the mode of dealing with the disease , in its developed stage . But this uncertainty of medical practice in the disease is only an indication of the deeper ignorance which exists as to the nature and conditions of epidemic-diseases in general . Heckeb ' s celebrated book on the Epidemics of the Middle Ages , is little more than a compendium of historical

      information respecting notable epidemics ; it contains nothing of any speculative value as to the theory of epidemics . This field of inquiry is still open for men of science . Occasionally , we see a , hint or suggestion on the subject ; but no man seems to have devoted himself perseveringly and exclusively to the investigation . With regard to Cholera , there [ seem to be two favourite tracks of hypothesisi One set of speculators evidently suppose a specific atmospheric virus , a cholera-poison generated in spots and propagated ; and some go so ; far as to affirm that this virus consists of floating organic matter , a fungus ^ "which the microscope could render -visible . On the other hand , many take refuge in phrases aboiit " electricity having something to do with it '— electricityj asis well known , being , in our present state of science ,

      a convenient limbo for alL .. unknown causes . We remember seeing in a medical journal an electrical theoiy of disease in general ^ the purport of which was , that all the diseases to which flesh is liable migitt be divided into two classes— -one class , consisting of diseases of the fever fcihd up to rabies and madness , forming a scale of positive electrical : derangements , in Vhiqh the human electricity of the subject was unduly raised or augmented in relation to surrounding objects ; the other , consisting of diseases of the pros ~ traltion order , terminating in cholera , plague , and such like , forming a corresponding negative scale- This is hopeless ^ looking enough ; but we see the electrical theory appearing vaguely in various other forms- ^ -as in the talk of those who maintain that the cholera influence , whatever it is , is as much telluric as atmospheric . ¦ On the whole , all that can be safely said ,. is that there are times-when , over great tracts of the -. earth , or even round the entire planet , there creep such- ' alterations of the _ cphditiohS 2 chemical , electric , and other , necessary to human life , that a per " centS § e of the human beings then alive sink before the stroke . Sometimes , as in those great epidemics of ivhich we read , that destroyed entire communities , and more than decimated the human race , it seemed as if the earth , as a whole , were relapsing , so to speak , into the pre-Adamite state . After such shocks , however , the rebound was always remarkable . Human energy and activity of every kind seemed increased . On such hints , indeed , one might generalise farther . If there are alterations fofr the worse—apparent relapses towards the pre-Adamite condition of the planet , may there not bo alterations for the better—tcntatiyes of the earth , so to speak , after an ensemble of conditions , chemical and electrical , favourable for the efflorescence and outburst of Humanity into something higher ? May not the ensemble of the planetary conditions amid which we live be changing from day to day and from generation to generation ? And , as it is axiomatic that from the inmost mineral core of the earth outwards to the last thoughts and poesies and philosophies of its human inhabitants , there must be a correspondence and connexion , why may not the moral alternations wo see in history— -from ages of revolution to ages of calm , from ages of intellectual fecundity and originality to ages of intellectual sterility and commonplace , from a seventeenth to an eighteenth century—rest ultimately on an unseen basis of costriical undulations and vicissitudes ? There may be a scientific moaning , after all , in the stringing together by " ancient writers of sucU phenomena as wars and pestilences , and famines , and groat comets , and flights of locusts , and murrains among cattle , and violent earthquakes .

      The Sting Of Mr. Ruskjln's Eloquent Pamp...

      The sting of Mr . Ruskjln ' s eloquent pamphlet on the Crystal Palace , is contained in the following passage : — •* It is Indeed inrjpossiblo to liinifc , in imagination , tho beneficent roswlta which may follow from tho undertaking thus happily begun . For tho first limo in tlio history of tho world , » national musoum is formod in which a whole nation i » interested ; formed on a bcaIo which psrmitB tho exhibition of nionutnonta of art in unbroken symmetry , and of tho productions of nature in unthwiwtod growth , *—formod under tho auspices of noienpo which enn hardly ow , and of wealth -which can hardly bo exhausted ; and placed in tho clouo neighbourhood of u metropolis overflowing \ vnl » n populution woury of kliour , yot thirsting tor knowledge , whoro contemplation may bo consistent with rest , and instruction with onjoyment . It ia impossible , J , repent , to estimate tho influence of snob , nn institution on the minds of tho TYorklng-omBsos ^ How miuiy hours onco wasted may now bo profitably dedicated to pursuns » n which interest wi \ s first awakonod by somo accidental » litfi > lay in tlio Norwood jwacoj how innny coriBtitntiont ) , almost broken , may bo roatorod by tlio liouliliy temptation into tlio country nix 1 !— - how . mjuiy intellects , onco dormant , may bo vousod into activity within tlio oryutal walla , ' und how those noblo results inny goon multiplying and inuroiiBlng und ue « nnp iruitBovouty times Bovcn fold , as tho nation pursucH it « vureer , —are quoatlotm ua lull ot hopo as incupablo vf ttalculution . Uut with all those grounds for hono there nro othera

      for despondency , giving rise to a group of melancholy thoughts , of which I can neither repress the importunity nor forbear the expression . 41 For three hundred years , the art of architecture has been the subject of the most curious investigation ; its principles have been discussed with all earnestness andacuteness- its models in all countries and of all ages have been examined with scrupulous care , and ' imitated with unsparing expenditure . And of all this refinement of inquiry , — -tins lofty search after the ideal , —this subtlety of investigation and sumptuousness of practice , the great result , the admirable and long-expected conclusion is , that hi the centre of the nineteenth century , we suppose ourselves to have invented a new style of architecture , when we have magnified a conservatory . ' We think this a wholesome and much-needed protest . " Not so most people , however . The last sentence is calculated to give great offence ; and there are many who , after it , will relish the onslaught made on Mr . Ruskin by Mr . Perct Jones , in his "Spasmodic Tragedy" of Firmilian . Two victims of the Spanish inquisition are led to the stake in the ** ' Tragedy " - ^ -ihe one an Anabaptist of the Low Countries , named Teufelsdrockh ( our readers will recognise who that is ) , the other a heretical " Graduate , " accused of having blown up a church . The " Graduate" is , of course , Mr . RusKMr . His behaviour at the stake is thus described : — - " SECOND GENTLEMAX . " Yet was he quite calm : A little pale , perhaps , but noway moved By all their hooting . When he reached the pile , . He craved permission of the Inquisitor ^ To say a-word or tTO ) . That being granted , He turned him straightway to the raging crowd , Which , at tiis gesture , stilled itself awhile , And spole in parables . ¦ ' . ' ' . ' .-. . - . .. . . ¦ . ¦ . ¦ . " FIRST GESTLTGMAN . ¦ ' . . ¦ . " ¦ . " Hovv mean you , sir ? .- - . ¦ . ,., " ¦ ' Did he confess his guilt ? .. - ¦ ¦ - ¦ ¦ ¦ - . ,. ¦ ' '¦ ¦ ' "¦ .. " SECOND GENTXEMAK . .. ' '¦¦ ¦ ¦ ¦¦ ' . ' ¦ .. '¦¦ ¦ ' * In faith , not lie ! His speech was ^ worse than auy commination . He cufs'dthe city , aadhe curs'd the church ; He curs'd Xtiahouses , and he curs'd their stones . He curs'd , ' in short , in suchmiraculouswise , That nothing wa ^ exeiBpted from h ^ ban . - : Then , sir , indeedthe peoj ? le ? s wratlit was roused , Anda whole storm of cats , cametumbling in , Combined with baser missiles . I was fain , Kot wishing to be wljoily : singular , To add rny contribution to the rest . Yet he curs ' d on , till theFamiliars gaggedhim— ...- . - Bound hirn unto the stake , and so he died- " Will it be believed that some newspapeTs ^ avg ^ llen into the trap prepared for them by Professor knotix , in his clever preface , and actuallyreviewed the Tragedy as a serious poem by Mr , T . I * . Jones , a new candidate for poetic honours , living at Streatham ! No doubt , this auto da fe of IRlTi Ruskin is in grateful remembrance of his Edinburgh Lectures .

      The Subscriptions Raised For Professor W...

      The subscriptions raised for Professor Wilson ' s monument ^ to be erected ia Edinburgh , amount to SOOZ . : the sum required is 1500 Z . ; and it is supposed the difference will soon be made up .

      The Late Decision In The House Of Lords ...

      The late decision in the House of Lords has again unsettled the whole question of the rights of foreign authors over their works -in this country .. By that decision no foreigner can have copyright in this country . Accordingly , our republishers are again let loose upon American works , and may print Mrs . Stowe , or Bancroft , or Pbescott , or Emersoh , without let or hindrance . For some time past British publishers have been purchasingthe works of American authors ; and Messrs . Boiiw and others have had to make atonement and apology for attempts in certain cases to issue other

      editions of the works thus purchased . Now the tables arc turned . No British publisher need now pay an A . merican anything for his book—it is common property . -Naturally enough , our booksellers will revel in the opportunity of retaliation thus afforded on the Americans for their free and easy appropriations of the fruits of British authorship . But it is disgraceful that such a state of things should exist . That it may the sooner be put a stop to , it is perhaps well that the pirating should now go on at a brisk rate —till all parties become roused .

      A Russian Pamphlet.* 0 The Russian Quest...

      A RUSSIAN PAMPHLET . * 0 The Russian Question is already rich in curiosities of litexature . ' The bulletins of the Invalids Russe , and of the Journal de St . Pctersbourg , in which the discomfiture and * disappearance' of the sacrilegious forces ol the allies are duly reported with a fertility of invention worthy of a happier theme , reply almost antistrophically to the business-like despatches of our own commanders . It must be confessed , that from tho declaration of war to tho end of July , the oxploita of our Bulgarian CUobhaun , and tho promenades of our blockading squadi-ons , have left so much undone as to justify

      t \ m imaginative pqeans of the unpunished aggressors . On tho other hand , there has been no slackness in tho operations of the nhti-Russian press . Tho Eastern Question hns boon ransacked , and sifted , and turned insides out , with so dexterous an adaptation of facts to theories and feelings , that it hm become a question with juany , tohare did the Eastern Question l > a ( jiu ? No doubt thoro nro many ingenuous politicians who fancy that it began with the mission of Prince Monschikon , in tlio spring of lust ycur . Mnny , too , will be surprised to hoar that while tho Western proas has pouroU forth vmla of indignation on tho disturber of European peace , « nd tlio reckless violator of treaties , Russia linn omploycd the loiauro of her diploumtiBts and the ^^ GuomTiVOrUmt Son Cniui wTot oca Oons ! - ( inonco . i . 1 W Un IfabilaiU do PEuropa Contincnhde , Uruxollcs , 1851 .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 19, 1854, page 17, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_19081854/page/17/