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Leader (1850-1860), 18th June 1853, Edition 1 of 1, Page 595, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      Lecturing is becoming almost as popular here as in America . Every day we see a new name announced . This week Signor Filopanti has been re-opening the vexed question of legendary Rome ; and James Hannay has commenced his course on Satirical Literature , with Horace and Juvenal—a mere mention must suffice , other pressing occupations having prevented our attendance .

      Untitled Article

      BOOKS ON OUR TABLE . StaieChurchtt and the Kingdom of Chritt . By John Allen . W . and F . G . Cash . The -Britith ControvermlM . Honlston and Stoneman . The Poetry of Geography . By Peter Livingston . Groombridge and Sons . -5 * J ° y on " SUtory and Management of Literary , Scientific , and Mechanic * ' Inttitutions . ** j James Hole . Xongman , Brown , Green , and Longmans . Memoir * of Mary , the Toung Duchen of Burgundy , and her Contemporaries . By Louisa Stuart Costello . E . Bentley . Travel * of Rolando ; or , a Tour Bound the World . By Anne Bownian . George Eoutledge and Co . Crawford . By the Author of " Mary Barton . " Chapman and Hall . Popular Economic Botany . By L . C . Archer . Reeve and Co . Popular JPhytical Geology . By J . Beete Jukes . Eeeve and Co .

      Untitled Article

      THE FEONTIERS OP CHRISTIAN AND TUBE . The Frontier lands of the Christian and the Turk ; comprising Travels in the Regions of the Lower Danube . In 1850-51 . By a British Resident of Twenty Tears in the East . 2 vols . Bentley * ' Theee is a tide in the affairs of books" as well as of men , and the current of political anxiety will carry these able and interesting volumes into

      creeks and corners where perhaps their intrinsic merits would have failed to introduce them . The work is primarily a book of Travels , and admirable both for the sustained gravity and shrewdness of the observer ; it is , however , secondarily a book of political apropos , and this accidental circumstance will be of more service to it than its own merit . It may be read by idlers for amusement ; it will be read by politicians for its calm observation .

      The writer is an English gentleman , whose excellent sense and sagacity claim for him an attentive hearing . The value of his observations is enhanced by his candid admission of having entered Turkey with strong prejudices against its policy and religion , prejudices which only more accurate knowledge could dispel . He left it persuaded of the superiority of Turkish rule over the petty exasperations of Austria and the rapacious immorality of Uussia , The tone may be judged from the

      followingextract : — " One would naturally be led to infer from these premises , that the policy of Bussia must be more advantageous to Wallaclna than that of Turkey , otherwise ifc would not be preferred ; but it is a notorious and undeniable fact , that Bussia is altogether indifferent how badly the internal affairs of the province are administered , provided her political influence be maintained and progressively augmented ;

      while Turkey is as unquestionably most deeply and sincerely interested in the prosperity of the country . The two systems , respectivel y followed , are diametrically opposed to each other . The Bussian policy consists in encouraging corrupt administration , in order that continual dissatisfaction may exist among the population , to act as the sword of Damocles over the prince ' s head , whose submission , in questions of direct importance to her is secured in return for her support in his difficulties She endeavours to keep the province in a state of constant disquietude , and

      the government weakened by personal ambitions and rivalries , which she excites , while both province and gov ernment are exposed to the dangers of popular irritation , occasioned by her intrigues ; and her influence is thus sanctioned by the prince as a ' safeguard against the jealousy of the principal Boyars , and against a passible outbreak of resentment on the part of the people , while it is not only tolerated but even courted by the Boyars , in the hope that it may advance their schemes of aggrandisement and attainment of power , ut the same time that it protects the privilege of their caste . The Turkish system , on the other hand , is to promote , by fadministtiof thrince basis of ta

      every possible meanH , the successul raon e p , as a sbility- and order , and the tranquillity of the population , securing the rights and interest * of every class of society , furthering the material improvements which are so much required , and repressing the abuse of power and malversation of office , which have become so deeply rooted in all its departments , that administrative employment is sought after as a certain source of wealth by easy peculation ; and the tendencv of all the efforts made by Turkey in favour of Wullachia , is to develop the native resources of a province attached to her empire which will tliu . be lengthened on its northern frontier , by the welfare and fidehty of a population

      " In spite of these irreproachable motives , and this unimpeachable conduct on the part of the Ottoman Porte , and notwithstanding that Wallacl . ia has much to by loyal attachment to the Sultan , while the friendship of the Czar « produc SSkrrsti - ess a st ^~ : t E ^^^ s ^ Bm ! „„ " * S , in it , own front ! .. ™ l . y n 1 » 1 . 1 » nd macrunnta * forog .. rival .

      • ttsSK& ^ W M ^ SB « f o ^ unltion ha « greatly contributed toward , their forming « correct estimate of sStftdtsi ^^ F SStS s " ' Z mmtW Z ve done m ,, ch to diminish the respect of the people for the a , g in the ^ ***^ . , 1 )() th unnie 8 wero billeted on the in-IVtZn r » eTurkHXected their property , paid for what they received and habitant-, the Auikh p ^ al ) UU ( lunco provM i etl for

      their involuntary hosts , devouring their provisions , and impoverishing them in every way during the unwelcome occupation of their houses . So remarkable was this distinction , that the inhabitants of one quarter of the town of Bucharest , who had petitioned the Ottoman commissioner , on the entrance of the troops , to be exempted from the obligation of receiving Turkish soldiers as guests , actually applied to him for the advantage of being their hosts , when they . saw how profitable it was to others ; whereas , every possible means are . employed to obtain relief from the burden of entertaining Russian soldiers . The bad conduct of the latter seems to be as much encouraged by their officers , as the respectable behaviour of the Osmanlis is promoted by the instructions and example of their superiors . "

      One good object will be effected by these volumes—viz ., the strengthening of that wholesome h atred against Austrian policy which all Englishmen should feel , and , when opportunity once more offers , should act upon as well as feel . There is something base in the illogicality of the practical acquiescence in despotism , which the English manifest by their apathy in foreign politics . They are ready enough to be up in arms against the pretensions of the Pope , bufc submit to the pretensions of the Kaiser . That the Madiai should be deprived of the charms of Protestantism seems to Protestant England a fearful and damnable tyranny ; but that nations should be deprived of their nationality , that peoples should be deprived of their freedom , does not seem fearful to the English nation , a free

      people somewhat boastful of its freedom ! These volumes not only nourish hatred against Austria , by revealing the state of the Austrian dominions , but also gives hope and encouragement to liberal minds by revealing the insecure condition of Austrian rule . They reveal the contempt and hatred universally felt by the Sclavonian population for the small proportion of the inhabitants of the duchy of Austria , " and unerring indications are exhibited of the latter succumbing and the former prevailing . " Even the Croats , who in the last war sided against the Hungarians , are no longer to be relied on .

      " But his Croatian subjects are likely soon to be suspected also j for I learnt at Carlovacz , with some degree of certainty , that if another attempt on the part of the Magyars should take place , they will be eagerly joined by the Croats . It appears that the former people still hope to achieve , if not complete national independence , at least more liberal institutions than they have as yet enjoyed under the Austrian rule ; and that another insurrection is projected , which is not intended to break out until its principles shall have sp read over all the Sclavonian provinces of the Austrian empire ; while the Croatians now understand the error they fell into by opposing the Hungarians , and will in future make common cause with them .

      TJiey were induced to follow their Ban in his campaign against Hungary , by promises of political enfranchisements , and of diminutions in their fiscal burdens , which promises have subsequently been belied by him ; and he is now as unpopular among them as he was formerly- revered . Their natural sympathies are all in favour of the Hungarians , although they equally object to a Magyar supremacy ; and the general discontent , which seems to be growing amongst the inhabitants of Austria which do not belong to the Germanic race , is rife in Croatia . It is , therefore , probable , that in the future inevitable vicissitudes of the empire this people will appear in a new light , and a widely different one from that in which they havo lately made themselves known . "

      Consider : the modern Sclavonic race numbers little less than a hundred millions , thus constituting more than a third of the whole European population , yet nowhere ruled by a native dynasty ! " In Austria there ate only six millions of Germans to control twenty-three millions of Sclavonians , including those of Austrian Poland ; and in Prussia , exclusive of the Rhenish provinces , three millions and a half of Germans to four millions of them . These proportions are prognant with great results , for this people is now

      almost everywhere displaying a high degree of national energy . Ihey have given birth to a new branch of literature , and in many of the states incorporated in the German dominions they write vigorously and successfully on their own condition and destinies , especially in Austria , where their dream is national unity ; and thoy evince a stubborn perseverance in the pursuit of this theme , which , it were blindness to deny , must produce , if not its full realization , nt least : i serious endeavour to attain their object . They are essentially nn intellectual and a warlike race , and these two elements of national character , when united , can never fail in generating

      remarkable events . Whatever be their ultimate lssue ^^ andJiuweyer thoy may turn , they will attract the attention ( If Europe t jirul ' 'hifluence its prosperity , becoming consequently most interesting to fiTigllUKl 7 the workshop which suppliew the continent , and the factory whose returns niiiHt greatly depend on the wealth of its customers . It i « , therefore , tinio that the subject should be considered , in order that the probable results of its incipient fermentation may be rightly appreciated , ero they take us by surprise . " Enough haa been done to indicate the political character of this work ; we may return to it on a future occasion for some specimens of itB character as an amusing book of travels .

      Untitled Article

      ^ ItEV . C . BRKC 11 EU ON SPIRIT ItAI'PINfiS . A llr . view of the . "Spiritual Manifestations . " Head before tho-Congrcgatioiial Association of Now York and . Brooklyn . By Charles Hcecher . Bosworth . Mits . Uaywkn has been the great rival to " Undo Tom" in the circles of Gossip during 1853 . Spirit Kuppings and Table Movings have replaced " those dear blacks ! " and Fashion haa run nftor tho Black Art as it before ran after tho Black Misery . It wns right , therefore , that Mm . Ueecher Stowo should havo a brother to succeed her on tho evanescent throne of a season ' s popularity . lie has done his best in nn elaborate little work full of hard words , learned names , Hebrew , Greek , and Scripture . Curious the work certainly is , and may be taken an a specimen of the intellectual disease of our epoch .

      The liov . Charles Beeeher begins by accepting tho facts of " bmritual Manifestations . " Collusion seems to him utterly untenable ; out ho never suspects that where Collusion mils absent ( here may havo been Delusion ; no sooner does ho convince himself that tho narrators wero not impostors , than ho conceives it unnecessary to ask if they wore not dupes . l r or ourselves , wo bolievo them to bo both . Having accepted tho facts , ho proceeds to examine the hypotheses put forward to account for them . He divides thorn into two : — " I . The Pneumatic—Natural Law with Spirits . II . Tho Apneumatic—Natural La , w

      Untitled Article

      June 18 , 1853 . ] THE LEADER . 595

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), June 18, 1853, page 595, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1991/page/19/