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    LATTER-DAY POETRY . Th < i Mystic ; and other Poems . My Philip Jamea Bailoy , author of " Fust us . " Chapman and Hall-Man in Paradise ; a Poem in Six Boofts : with Lyrical Poems . Hy John K < lmnnd Roado . JLongmiin » n < l Co . It is with sincere regret that we find ourselves cnllcd upon to notice these two volumes of poems . Uoth authors are men of faculty ; both have written versca which nre worth the rending ; both have claims to respectful treatments and both avo here to bo seen dancing in o kind of mental elevation , nrnl '" unaeennly fashion . The two poems before us belong to the order of the Hltra-niyHtU'iil , ftfl indeed , so fnr its Mr . Ikilcy is concerned , is declared in th <; very title . The

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    renders it more like an Encyclopaedia than a handbook . M . de la Rive is no compiler at second hand . He is eminent as an experimentalist and discoverer ; almost unrivalled as an expositor , and thoroughly informed of all that European laborers have been doing in this field . The size of his work is , therefore , considerable , but it should be reck oned as a merit , for the space thus occupied is not swelled with idle learning , or idler rhetoric—it is compact with solid material . The book could only have been smaller by being something quite different in form and purpose . It is emphatically a treatise , containing both the theoretical and practical aspects of the science ; and is so clearly written that even the tyro may make it h s introduction to the subject , while the most accomplished electrician will find it an invaluable .

    summary ... ... , The most interesting sections of the present " volume are , perhaps , those devoted to the sources of electricity . The ancients were vaguely conversant with the influence which heat exercised on the production of electrical phenomena . Pliny—that repertory of the knowledge and ignorance of his time—mentions the hard violet , or deep red stone , which , when heated in the sun , or rubbed , attracts small light bodies . At the end of the seventeenth century some Dutch merchants brought from Ceylon a peculiar stone , which was called tournamal , or ash-attractor , because , when placed upon heated ashes , it attracted them and then immediately repelled them , although with cold ashes no such effects wexe visible . This stone we now know as the

    mineral tourmaline . In 1757 JEpinus , having two polished tourmalines to set in a ring , instituted a series of experiments , and thereby established the first laws of the development of electricity by heat . He proved the presence of free electricity in the heated tourmaline , by the attraction and repulsion , it successively exercised upon light bodies . He even drew a spark from it , which was visible in the dark . But the most important observation he made was of the simultaneous presence of two electricities in the same tourmaline , one being confined in one part , the other in another , these two constituting the electric poles . He further conceived that those electric poles , in the unequally heated tourmaline , are contrary to what they are in , the equally heated tourmaline . Canton cleared up the contradictions by proving

    that it is not the absolute temperature , hut the change of temperature , which renders the tourmaline electric ; the electricity of each pole varies according as the change is a heating or a cooling . Bergmann completed this view by showing that when the tourmaline is placed in a medium of its own temperature , whatever that may be , it is never electrical ; transported into a colder medium , it immediately acquires the two electric poles , which state ceases as soon as the tourmaline , having abandoned its superior heat , is of the same temperature as the medium . This important law is not only true for the crystal as a whole , but equally so for each of its molecules separately , so that if the' two poles are arranged so that one is heated while the other is cooled , they have the same electricity at the same time .

    This rapid sketch of the history of one law , will indicate the nature of the progress which science has made in all the other questions of this extremely « 3 officult subject . We must be content with such brief indication , and send the reader to M . de la Rive's masterly treatise for the fullest exposition of all that in 1856 is "known about Electricity .

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    especially the customs that regulate the accession to property , because th ey " have strongly operated in preserving it in . the same family . " The elder son on the death of his father , has the house and a certain portion of the land ^ and annually purchases from his brothers and sisters their respecti ve shares ' There is real equity in this , for the younger brothers and sisters have shares , which they sell , or keep , at their option . Mr . Le Quesne , however , chiefly lauds the Conservatism of the population , though , as we have said , he does not share the bigotry of some of the islanders , who think that because a law is local it ought to be everlasting . Thus , in Jersey , any individual may go before the Court , and , without producing evidence , declare his neighbour in a state of bankruptcy . Describing the functions of the Lieutenant-Governor Mr . Le Quesne writes : —

    Authority is by law grven to the lieutenant-governor over strangers coining to Jersey ; but the law has in a great measure become a dead letter , as it is opposed to the liberal spirit of the age . By the code of laws of 1771 , it is enacted that strangers shall not be allowed to dwell in the island , nor to marry women of Jersey , without the permission of the governor ; and a disobedience of this enactment was to be followed by expulsion from the island ; but strangers of good moral character , being Protestants , were to be received with encouragement although , even these wexe to give security , if thought necessary . Tie right of ordering foreigners out of tie island is still possessed , and is sometimes , though rarely , exercised by the lieutenant-governor . It is a great power to entrust to any man ; and it should te exercised only in extreme cases , and with great discretion and judgment .

    Tlie small extent of the island , and its contiguity to France , are the political reasons why foreigners are not allowed to possess landed property in Jersey _ , and why they have been subjected , particularly in former days , to the rigid superintendence of the governors . In time of war , on a frontier point , the commanderin-chief must possess powers for protection and self-preservation , ¦ which in time of peace and amity must be dormant ; but it would not be ¦ wise , from the small size of the island , to repeal the law whereby foreigners are forbidden to hold any rea 1 property in the island . The islanders , as a body , regard with extreme jealousy any legal innovation introduced by the Imperial Government . But , says Mr . Le Quesne , a change is taking place in the public mind of Jersey . It is generally acknowledged that innovations are necessary to destroy the monopoly of the legal profession . Against old customs , which are harmless , few objections lie . They are often picturesque 3 and , as civilisation undertakes to destroy the picturesque ,

    their quaint outlines and heraldic colours may be usefully preserved . Tlm& the compulsory attendance of the feudal barons , once a-3 ear , at the Assize de la Cour d'Heritage , almost null as it is in effect , illustrates in the eyes of our generation the manners of our Norman ancestors , and is valuable as a relic . But the essential maxims of legality , in our opinion , should " be assimilated throughout the Empire ; because there is no reason , in morals or policy , why arbitrary power should be hateful in England and tolerable in Jersey . Mr . - Le . Quesne admits that the Lietitenant-Governor exercises a prerogative inconsonant with the spirit of the age ; and the result , logically , must be , that this functionary should cease to possess any authority beyond that of the executive hand which puts into operation the undoubted principles of the law . To trust the Governor of Jersey with powers undefined by statute , is as absurd as it would be to invest the Lord Mayor of London with the privileges of a censor .

    THE CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY OF JERSEY . A . Constitutional History of Jersey . By Charles Le Quesne . " Longman and Go . Jersey has an area of nearly forty-five square miles , and contains fifty-seven thousand inhabitants . But it prides itself , neither upon its extent , nor upon its population , but upon the antiquity of its laws . Jersey , indeed , is a little Japan in the British Channel—with legendary privileges , which , bad or good , it values , because covered -with the rust and dust of time . The old Norman institutions still flourish in that self-loving little island ; few , even of the Norman laws , have there been abolished . The Jersey Jury of Appeal is still composed of twenty-four men - , in the Legislature there are still twelve jurats , who sit for life , twelve doctors of parishes , ex officio , and twelve constables or representatives . The Courts are independent of those at Westminster . In

    actions relating to real property , the Clameur de Haro is to this day heard . The Clameur de Haro is an antique and peculiar institution such as we might expect to see illustrated on middle-age tapestry , or in a pre-Raphaelite painting . The " Royal Court " has the highest jurisdiction in Jersey . When , before any other tribunal , a decision is pronounced , the person that believes himself aggrieved may fall on his knees , in the presence of witnesses , and invoke the name of Rollo . He cries , " Haro , Haro , Haro , a l ' aide , mon Prince , on me fait toit . " Haro is a corruption of Rollo , or "Ah Rou , " the name by which the famous Duke was actually called . As soon as these words are pronounced , every workman within hearing must cease from his employment ; tlie Court must be adjourned ; no cause then in suspense can be decided , until the royal judges or the Sovereign in Council has

    disposed of the appeal . If , however , the individual who thus takes advantage of the last resource of law , lms abused the privilege , he is fined , loses his case , and pays all the coats * Another peculiarity in the legal procedure of Jersey , is the form of taking an oath . It is strictly Norman , and dispenses with the Testament and every other book . The witness merely holds up his hand , and declares that , as he shall answer before Almighty God , ho speaks the truth . Hence , men of all creeds can be sworn with equal facility , before the Jersey tribunals . Mr . Le Quesne's narrative is prolix , and often dull ; lout , from its large presentation of original documents and authorities , is historically interesting . Ahc writer , as one of the Jurats of the Royal Court , and a Member of the states , has studied his subject practically . lie has obviously , also , carried on his researches with an acute eye and a zealous hand . Standing apart from those who would abolish all local codea , he nevertheless concedes much to tne artvocatea of Channel Island Reform . But he has a < h-v . nnlniirlfis * ««•„!„ .

    he is " " ° facultv fo F coating out of the best materials a clear or rapid story ; ' J . * J' ° "MMdwt , ov , something less , —a commentator , exact , and discerning , but neither an essayist nor an historian . onlooSJf th « ? ? r ? that a Memb ° r » f the States , a Jurat for life , should Sf rare o ? nV ? ° ° / ? rsey- Accordingly , Mr . Le Quesne discovers many rare qualities xn the laws of that Normanised islet . Ho praises

    The Constitution of Jersey , in fact , is a political curiosity . The island , though it has no native literature , is like a carved cabinet crammed with antique law—not of French origin only , but of German , for the eenteniers and the dijsainiers still exist , and the Constable presides in parish meetings , as under the elective Counts of Germany . At the Assembly of the Assize d'Heritage the vestibule of the Court is lined by men bearing , not bayonets , but halberds , with Charles the Second ' s mace carried before tliern—quite a modern contrast . Then , the Governor who " owes corn pareuce " for '' the bishops , abbots , and abbesses , " answers to his name ; the Seigneurs appear and respond , the Prevot reads his statement of cases , and when they have been tried , the dignified body dines by the invitation of "the Crown . " This high Court has another useful function—that of hispecting the public roads four times annually .

    The constable is called upon to produce a jury of twelve good and impartial men , elioeen from among his parishioners . The jury take an ontli to load the Court through the worst roads in the pariah . These men are called ] os Voyeurs , because , on the march , they see or discover the nuisances which m « -iy oxint , tho encroachments which may have been rnn . de , and tho trees which , interfering with the free vise of the road , should bo removed . Formerly iho procession was on borsebaclc ; now it is otherwise . Tho voyeurs , with tho constable ) , take tho lead ; then follow the vicomte , with a staff , the bailiff and the jurats , accompanied by tho attox'ney-gonoral and tho greffier . Whenever tho voyeurs discover any nni « anco or

    impediment m tho road , or an unfortunate tree which lias boon guilty <> f an encroachment , they make a verbal report of tho sanio to tho Court , wlio innncdintoly order the removal of the nuisance or tho downfall of the tree . Ab all pr <> i > riotoi' 8 of land bordering on the public roads are bound to koop their hetlgoH properly trimmed , and also to have the trees pruned in such a manner as not to oviirliang the road below a certain height , it in a rule that if tho official stall" of Mm viuointo , as ho paces along tho rond , in arrested by an overhanging branch , a rejiorL in nnido to tho Court , who , ascertaining that tho roport is correct , impose a lino on tho owner of tho land . Mr . lie Quesne ' s work abounds in similarly curious details . It has been compiled with diligence and integrity , and though written in a dry , juridical style , will be an acquisition to historical antiquarians .

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    ! 14 , THE LEADER . [ No . 306 , Saturday ,

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 2, 1856, page 114, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2126/page/18/