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    word is as old as the language itself , being found in the translation of Higden ' s clironicle by Trjsvisa—a contemporary of Chaucer—who , however , writes "before the Canterbury Tales were begun . As this is the earliest prose chronicle in the language , and the passage refers to Richard XL , whose name is just now on every one ' s lips , we will extract a sentence or two . After describing Bolikgbkoke ' s lauding at Ravensburg , Tsevisa says , in explanation of the welcome he received , " For the people were so oppressed with the officers of Iting Richard , that almost all the commoners of the land were ready to await on the Earl of Derby , hoping to be relieved by him . Incontinent tidings came to King Richard , being in Ireland , how he was landed , and that the commoners drew fast to him . Anon he made him ready and came over sea to England , with all his host , and arrived in Milford Haven . "

    Sir WiLXiAMi ' s letter is further curious from its allusions to the customs and superstitions of the country people ; but having said so much about it already , we must leave its further consideration to the students of Shakspeare , who will be sure to appreciate it as a valuable contribution to the materials already collected for illustrating the poet's era and historv .

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    Of the twelve articles in the current number of the North American Review , the most noticeable are those on " Raskin ' s last Volume , " and " Oliver ' s Puritan Commonwealth . " The writer of the former manages to infuse fresh interest into the well-worn , discussion touching Classical and ¦ Romantic Art , by extending it beyond the narrow limits to which it is usually restricted , and connecting" it with a philosophical inquiry as to the general relation of Art to Nature . The discussion of the latter point , however , is vague and unsatisfactory , the conclusions arrived at being purely negative . The paper on " Oliver ' s Puritan Commonwealth" reviews a work which must " be a novelty in American literature—an elaborate history of the early Government of Massachusetts , written entirely from the Cavalier and Royalist point of view , in which the

    heaviest charges are brought against the Puritan founders of the state . The author naturally seizes on and exaggerates those questionable acts of the old Commonwealth men which policy seemed to dictate and justify , but the work being based on a thorough examination of original documents , is valuable as a contribution to the history of the period , and may have its use in . helping to keep the balance of historic judgment true . Other readable articles of the number are one on " Holidays ) " a geuial account of national sports , written in a philosophic spirit ; a lively sketch and criticism of " Robert Herrick , " doing justice to the mirth-loving author of the Ilesperides ; a paper on " ContemporaryFrench Literature ; " and one on ' " The British Essayists , " which , however , is scarcely worthy of the subject . .

    The Irish Quarterly Review opens with a paste-ancl-scissors article , entitled " Odd Phases of Literature , " chiefly remarkable for the entire absence of literary art , and for eccentricity of literary style , of which the following sentence may serve as an example ; "M . Habert , of the Academy , author of the Temple de la MoH , which is one of the most beautiful pieces of Trench poetry , changed and rechanged , daring three years , the metre of this work , in order that it might attain the beauty , polish , and elegance , which he ambitioned "

    Two following papers , on "Suicide : its Motives and Mysteries / ' and "The Irish Poor-Law , " are much better . The facts given in the latter seem to show that the legal provision for Irish pauperism has not proved so entirely successful as Sir G . Nicholls , its historian , imagines . The other articles of the number are a gossiping one on " The French Opera at Paris ; " a long and savage attack on Macaulay as an historian , entitled "How not to Do It . ; " and a criticism of the " Church Establishment in Ireland , " headed " The English Polly Fort . "

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    ^ We have too long delayed to offer a hand of hearty welcome to a young and vigorous coutemporary iu Paris , in whose success we have fclfc a lively and attentive interest . The most hopeful aud endurin < r alliances between nations are those of the head and heart , and we rejoice at every fresh attempt to throw down the barriers erected , between nations , and to promote the intellectual and spiritual development of our common humanity . When a Francois Yicroii Hugo interprets Shakspeare to his countrymen in a loving and reverential spirit , we feel that something more has been effected towards a cordial and lasting amity between France and England than all the full-dress amenities of diplomatists and even the doubtful osculations of royal and imperial cousins arc likely to accomplish . Emperors vanish , and even Garters slip down ; but the language and literature of two great nations outlive many Garters and many crowns . The Great Exhibition of ' 51 did

    iterature and art ; giving selections from French and English writers ; translations from either , with occasional notices of new Erench books , Art and Drama criticisms , a compact and lively column of TalE , and a good advertising sheet of English books . We have no doubt that as M . A . Leboy proceeds , he will work out his programme more fully and completely ; a very choice selection is necessary to avoid the defect of meagreness ; and , by all means , let us have more from his own pen ; his article on Madame RiSTOBr , in a recent number , makes us angiy with him for his too frequent silence in the Alliance Litte ' raire . We wish him and his very laudable undertaking an increasing and enduring success . It is an example that deserves to be recorded .

    much to draw England and France closer to cacli other ; the war gave an outward and visible expression to the feeling , and the deep reaction among the intellectual classes of France iu favour of free England since the gross darkness prevailing in France , has perhaps above all quickened and developed the mutual regard . May it be everlasting ! A happy idea it was of M . Almionse Limoy , one of those young men of high character and culture , in whose ardent but chastened aspirations resides all the hope of the Franco that is to come—a happy thought , we say , it was to create an organ of close and constant communion between the literatures of the two nations , giving to the French reader a glance at the intellectual life of England in all its manifold activity , and to the English reader a brief summary of the literary movement m France . This scheme is well and simply expressed by the titic of his int cresting publication , V Alliance Litturaire . It is devoted exclusively to

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    It may be observed that any new phenomenon in London periodical literature is pretty sure to be followed at a not particularly respectful distance ( in point of time ) by a similar phenomenon in Edinburgh . The Leader , we believe , has had its Caledonian imitators , but whether they have been ( too much ) ' Scotched—not killed , ' we know not . The other day an admirable volume oi Edinhzirgh Essays appeared as a pendant to the Oxford and Cambridge Essays ; and just now we have received a copy of a new Edinburgh Weekly Revieio , based apparently upon our Peelite weekly contemporary published in London . The type and the . distribution of the articles , the careful abstinence from the vulgarity of news , and from the prejudice of uniform opinions , appear to be closely followed ; perhaps the politics of the

    Edinburgh Weekly Revten ' arc more clearly liberal and less politely eclectic than those of our nearer neighbour . If we might , at this early stage of its existence , be permitted to offer a word of counsel to our Edinburgh contemporary , it would be—to spare its readers too many opinions in the same number ; not to affect a premature cynicism in politics ; not to exhaust ingenuity in the plausibilities of obstructivencss , under the delusion that How not to do it is an essentially statesmanlike proposition ; not to affect a superciliously lofty tone in speaking of journalism collectively , and indeed , of

    all other journalists but those of the Review ; not to betray an exclusively Common or Combination Room point of view of public affairs ; not to carp with feeble virulence at the greatest names in our literature ; not to engage : in Quixotic expeditions to put down inconveniently stubborn superiorities ;—in short , to follow the obvious example of its London prototype , aud to be direct , hearty in sympathy , and generous in tone . One more word of caution : a month ' s reading for a week ' s consumption is too much of a good thing , arid suggests intellectual dyspepsia . Ne quid nhnis , even of Peelite politicslaud scholarly eclecticism .

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    V THE LIFE OF SIR CHARLES JAMES NAPIER . The Jjtfe and Opinions of General 8 h' Charles Napier , G . C . B . By Lifiuteaant-Generai Sir William Napier , K . C . I 3 . Vols . HI . ana IT . Murray . This is a defensive and offensive history , but is not the book that posterity will accept as the biography of the Indian general and administrator—the only great man in the Napier family . Besides being written in the style of the conquering hero , it is exaggerated in all its views ; it is unfair , indiscreet , and reckless . Sir William Napier may rest assured that the Napiers , small and large , will have to prove their titLes to military and literary fame in a court in which the Napiers will not sit as judges . In other words , independent narrators and critics will deal with , them and their prowess , and some wrong will be done to the hero of Meeanee if he do not find a more judicious biographer than his stentorian kinsman . He was himself petulant , fiery , and impetuous ; but a noble simplicity was mixed up with his

    arrogance ; his headlong irritability was tempered by a sense of humour ; his " life and opinions , " however , have fallen into the hands of a soldier who imitates in every paragraph the din of battle and the pomp of processional triumph . At the same time , he is by no means careful to conceal the bitternesses that spring up in the Indian Napier ' s heart , and sprinkles his pages with scatterings of abuse , acrimony , and personal rancour . The book gains in piquancy what it loses in dignity . In fact , we have never met with four volumes of more goodly reading ; they are full-flavoured , varied , intensely characteristic . Of course the indiscretions of the biographer only render the biogi'iiphy the more original and attractive . But some of Napier ' s writings are painfully virulent . Tue third volume opens with the administration of Sindh . All this Indian matter has its peculiar interest ; but we prefer to glean among the personal illustrations and allusions . These come thick and last

    •" ¦ The thanks of Parliament ! Who cares for them ? Not I . To bo thanked oi reprimanded by Parliament is nothing to me . The thanks of Joe Hume , par exemple after his Greek loan . I want no thanks from the place-hunters who infest St Stephen ' s . I care indeed for Peel , and the Duko of Wellington , and Roebuck , anc half a dozen fellows having either ability or conscience , but not for the mass con gregatcd there . " The papers , he said , " would abuse the God Almighty , if he came oi earth . " lie himself is formidable in abuse , but his satire is sometimes pic turesque ; this is a miniature of Wulleo , a hill chief : —

    " lie is exactly like an owl , with white hair , long hooked nose , great beard , and tw enormous black eyea -which were fixed on mo without a move or wink till I had don speaking : then he said to the interpreter , Is it true ? May I go ? Yes ! Up h jumped , How out of the room like a bird , and never stopped till ho got to his hilla . " He talks of vile editors and blackguard proprietors , calls an article in th Edinburgh a lying production , written by a man who well knew he wr telling falsehoods , complains of scoundrelly factious editors , and pauses < philosophize : — * ' " Whence we come we know not ; what we do we know not ; what ia around us v know not . Merciful God ! what are wo ?" " But we have a part to perform in this drama ! yes ! so haB the bug that bites ua

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    April 25 , 1857 . 1 THE LEADER . ______ 401

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), April 25, 1857, page 401, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2190/page/17/