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Leader (1850-1860), 20th August 1859, Edition 1 of 2, Page 968, COMMERCIAL. ^

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      string used at home . In shart , without paper all Japan would come to a deadlock "; and , indeed , lest by the arbitrary exercise of his authority a tyrannical husband should stop his wife ' s paper , the sage Japanese mothers-in-law invariably stipulate , in the marriage settlement , that the bride is to have allowed to her a certain quantity of paper . " One more extract—a remarkable one—and we must conclude : — " On the 25 th August , Lord Elgin invited all the Commissioners to dinner , and they came an hour before time , bringing a Japanese conjuror to enable bis Excellency to judge of their skill in tricks of legerdemain . An impromptu theatre was soon

      formed of an apartment , one side of which opened out upon the temple garden ; chairs and benches were ranged on the vrell-kcpt lawn , and the Ambassador , Commissioners , the suite , and a large body of officers , formed the audience . The conjuror was a gentlemanly-looking venerable man , clad in ample silk robes . He had as an assistant a wretch who tapped incessantly upon a small drum , and by his remarks , unintelligible of course to ourselves , he served to amuse the Japanese who crowded behind us . __ The old man performed many tricks of legerdemain ' , in a manner that equalled anything we had ever before seen ; but' when he proceeded to show the farfamed butterfly trick , all were fairly wonder-stricken .

      Our Japanese Merlin was seated cross-legged about ten yards from us , upon the raised platform of the floor of the apartment ; behind him was a goldcoloured screen , with a painting of the peak of Fusi-haina , in blue and white upon its glittering ground . He threw up the sleeves of his dress , and showed a piece of some tissue paper which he held in his hand . It was aboutsix inches square , and by dexterous and delicate manipulation ,, he formed it into a very good imitation of a butterfly , the wings being extended , and at the most each was one inch across . Holding the butterfly out in , the palm of his hand , to show -what it was , he placed two candles , which were beside him , in such a position as to allow him

      to wave a fan rapidly without affecting the flame , and then , by a gentle motion of this fan over the paper insect , he proceeded to set it in motion . A counter-draught of air from some quarter interfered with his efforts , and made the butterfly truant to his will , and the screen had to be moved a little to remedy this . He then threw the paper butterfly up in the air , and gradually it seemed to acquire life from the action of his fan—now wheeling and dipping towards it , now tripping along its edge , then hovering over it , as we may see a butterfly do over a flower on a fine summer ' s day , then in wantonness wheeling away , and again returning to alight , the wings quivering with nervous

      restlessness ! One could have sworn it was alive creature . Now it flew off to the light , and then the conj uror recalled it , and presently supplied a mate in the Bhape of another butterfly , and together they rose and played about the old man ' s fan , varying their attentions between flirting with one another and fluttering along the edge of the fan . We repeatedly saw one on each side of it as he held it nearly vertically , and gave the fan a short quick motion ; then one butterfly would pass over to the other , both would wheel away as if in play , and again return . A plant with some flowers stood in a pot near at hand ; by gentle movements of the fan the pretty little

      creatures were led up to it , and then , their delight how they played about the leaves , sipped the flowers , kissed each other , and whisked off again with all the airs and graces of real butterflies ! The audience was in ecstneies , and young and old clapped their hands with delight . The exhibition ended , when the old man advanced to the front of his stage , within arm ' s length of us all , accompanied by his magic butterflies , that even in the open air continued to play round the magician and his fan ! As a feat of legerdemain , it was by far the most beautiful trick we had ever heard of , and one that must require an immense amount of practice . " We have exceeded our usual length in this review , but the importance of the volume , brief as it is , fully justifies an extended Rotice . It is by far the best book that we have yot had on Japan , and confirms us in the good opinion that we have formed of the country and its inhabitants .

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      ] NEW NOVELS . FRESH FIELD , By WUlinm JohnBton , M . A ., Author of " Nightshade . '' —James JBlttokwood . TUB PARSON AND THE rOOK . A Taloofllnzclwood . By Atmtyn Or ahum ., In 3 vols . —T . C . JNowUy . " Ereshhexjd " is a groat step in advance of Mr . Johnston ' s previous work , " JNightshado , " and one of the most readable notions the season hns produced , There are little error , s of detail in the working out of the etory that wo should mention aid the work pretend to b , o more than a slight tale

      in one volume . "Nightshade" was a ver ^ disagree- ; able novel , as all novels must be that go into theological discussions . Mr . Johnston has this time wisely taken the more legitimate field for the novelistj and the result is , presents us with a work that bears witness that he has closely studied human nature . The character of Arthur Freslifield , and the story of his early love , is a simple and touching piece of writing , ' and we .-should say could only be told from real life . Mrs . Croker and her parrot are two as disagreeable personages as one could wish for . Mr . Turley is just one of those

      satellites of the law who collect debts ; get up cases ; find out persons addresses , and forage out their antecedents ; and it would niatter little to him what character one bore—he would be sure to prove a case against them , " because he knows the law so well . " We had marked an extract giving the death of little Charlie , but find our limited space will not admit of it . It is a beautiful description , and one not likely to be forgotten- by the reader . Of George Freshfield and Emma Nevellce , the lovers , it is better that the reader should learn their tale of love at first hand , as we might mar

      its reality by transferring it to our canvas . " The Parson and the Poor " is a novel of more than average merit , and gives good promise for Mr . Graham . It is one of those works that every one can read and be well amused with , without being bored with long descriptions of scenery that are rarely interesting to the reader . The interest of the story commences with-the beginning , aiid is sustained to the last . The characters are naturally drawn , and are of that class which present the reader with a good picture of genuine English life .

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      Irish Quarterly Review . —No . XXXI v . opens with a paper on Predictions and Coincidences , taking for its text Pr . Hibbut ' s Philosophy of Apparitions , and Dr . Abercrombie ' s Inquiries concerning the Intellectual Powers . The subject of dreaming is entered into with considerable ingenuity . One curious instance of prophetic dreaming is given . " The governor of Dover absolutely refused to let Harvey embark with a party about to sail for the xinrc nsonable

      Continent . The prohibition appeared , as there was no reason given for it ; but when news arrived that the vessel was lost , and that all on board had perished , the governor sent for Harvey and told him why he had prevented his going—it was in consequence of a command conveyed to him in a dream that he had done so . It would , indeed , seem that it was providentially ordered that one whose great discovery was to benefit the human race should not be lost . "

      Other instances are given , such as Sir Henry Digby ' s vision , which made his fortune ; and sbmfe of the force of imagination in producing death at the expected moment . In many cases , however , it is evident that imagination had no part . Some extraordinary examples of sympathy are also recorded . But we cannot follow the article in its details , which are legion . This , however , is all : —the critic adds no theory to account for the phenomena . A review on I / Abbe Bautain , and his book , La Belle Saisdn a la Campagne , occupies a large space ,

      under the title of " Christian Philosophy in Wprd and Work . " The biography of the abbe is included in the criticism . M . Cousin was his master , and Jouffroy his fellow-student ; and aspired to the character of philosopher . He lived to be conscious of the vanity of his ambition , and to fall back on the early faith of childhood . ' He became a reader of the Scriptures . A nephew of Kotliscliilcl , M , Theodore do Ratiefoourne , who attended his Lectures at Strasburg , was deeply impressed with his teaching , and carried it out in practise , by attempting the regeneration of his own race .

      There is also an interesting article on Lady Morgan j and the number concludes with the usual Quarterly Record of the Progress of Reformatory Schools , and Prison Discipline , and the Appendix . Altogether it is an entertaining miscellany ; but there is something wanting . There is more of anecdote than of thought .

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      INCREASE OF CURRENCY . THE Economist , we see , agrees with us that the present increase of paper circulation is due to the increase of business . But our contemporary stops short of the real thing , and assigns it to a rise in the rate Of discount , or a high rate of discount , which is itself only a consequence of increased business . Bankers will at all times use their money as closely as possible , and the general

      belief is that as the rate of discount falls they . beeome anxious offerers of money . They would , therefore , use it as closely up with a low rate of discount as with a high rate , but there is then no demand for it . The demand for money occasioned by increasing business enhances the rate of discount , and is , therefore , like the increase of paper , only a consequence of the cause to which we assign the latter .

      We are entitled on this ground , as well as on many others , to infer that an increase of currency is necessary for' every increase of business . We might expect , therefore , that currency of all kinds should go on increasing as business increases ; but as it is only an expensive instrument of commerce , invention is continually directed to the means of , lessening the quantity required . One great merit of banking is that it saves currency . The

      quantity of currency is oil the whole continually lessening in proportion to the business done ; but every extension of business with any existing currency requires more of it , till some improved means are found out of transacting business with a less quantity . Such facts show the extreme injuriousness of laws for restricting and regulating the currency . The legislator can no more know the wants of commerce than he can know

      beforehand that the harvest will be good ; and he can know nothing of the inventions by which the use of currency is continually spared . He might as well lay restrictions on engineers as on bankers . Like the former , the latter invent and promote means for conducting the business of society at a diminished cost .

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      MISAPPROPRIATION . It concerns the commercial public especially to be informed , on the authority of a gentleman who was offered the Presidency of the Board of Trade by Lord Palmerston , that the 4 , 000 , 000 ? . or 5 , 000 , 000 / added to . our expenditure and taxation this year is perfect waste . " But for such a waste , " says Mr . Gobden , " the customs duties might be modifiedtrade might be relieved from many existing ineumbrances , the winq duties might be reduced , and the bonds of peace betwixt England and France rivettod" almost beyond the power of rupture . We

      cannot conceive any statements more interesting commerce and better deserving notice in this part of our journal . Mr . Cobden ' s observations at Rochdale accord with some we have already offered to our readers on this subject , but they come with great weight from him , because Lord Palmerston thought him " worthy of a seat in his Cabinet . Mr . Cohden is himself of opinion , and so are the men of Lancashire , that he is well adapted to the office of President of the Board of Trade , and , therefore , whatever falls from him on the * subject of trade is especially worthy of the attention of commercial men .

      That our to-ado , in spite of the profession ministers of both parties , is yet very much and very unnecessarily restricted is certain , nnd it is equally certain , that as long ns a pretext can bo found in a neoessity to raise n large Customs revenue for continuing these restrictions , they will not bo removed . The exorbitancy of our taxation , therefore ,,, stands in tho way of currying out free trade principles . The same taxation , too , which hampers our industry , nourishes national

      dissensions and impedes the extension and success of trade . Trade , and nil connected with it . is the part of society which grows the fustost nnd suffers most from restrictions . It is emphatically tho new part of society , as contra distinguished from agriculture , which is old . On trade , therefore , all restrictions fall heavily ; nnd if commercial men wish their business to bo extended , and their class to increase , they must oppose nil unnecewnry tftX " ation . Taxation always oarries restriction _ wit " it . The statesman who keeps down taxation i

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      Mr . IIkrubut Fishkb , tho eldest son of the Kev . Canon Fisher , tho rector of tlio parish of Poulshot , Wilts , hns beou appointed prfvuto tutor to his Royal Highness tho Prince of Wales during his sojourn at Oxford .

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      Moorbs' National Airs ( No . III . ) still continues to prove tho care taken in its editing by Mr . C . W . Glover . Nisw Zhaland IIandkootc . —E . Stanford . A now edition of a work very useful to intending emigrants .

      Commercial. ^

      COMMERCIAL . ^

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      968 THE LEADER . [ No . 491 . Aug . 20 , 1859 ^

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 20, 1859, page 968, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2308/page/20/