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Leader (1850-1860), 12th November 1859, Edition 2 of 2, Page 18, HINCHBRIJDGE HA. UNT JED—A Ghost Story. ...

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      Miscellanies By Charles Krjfgrsley, Rect...

      tions to be made from documentary testimony . In fact , these arguments all want re-opening , and discussion by men . inheriting the faith which inspired the conduct of the heroic men and women to whom they relate . Among the latter , Mr . Ringsley reckons Queen Elizabeth , whom he would re-enthrone in English hearts as the glorious and Protestant virgin monarch , who was content to "know no other husband than the English people ! " She had vowed it , and well she had kept her vow . In her defence he is sometimes roused to indignation , arid , as it seems to us , justly . Here is a passage which merits reprinting again and again :-

      —" " We must try to realise to ourselves the way in which such men as Raleigh looked not only at Elizabeth , but at all the world . There was , in plain palpable fact , something about her , her history , her policy , the times , the glorious part which England , and she as the incarnation of the then English spirit , were playing upon earth , which raised imaginative and heroical souls into a permanent exaltation—a f fairy-land , ' as they called it themselves , which seems to us fantastic , and would be fantastic in us , because we are not at their work , or in their days ; There can be no doubt that a number of as noble men as ever stood together on the earth did worship that woman , fight for her , toil for h er , risk all for

      her e with a pure chivalrous affection which has furnished one of the beautiful pages in all the book of history . Blots there needs must have been , and inconsistencies ,, selfishnesses ; follies ; for they too were men of like passions with ourselves ; but let us look at the fair vision as a whole , and . thank God that such a thing has for once existed even imperfectly on this sinful earth : instead of playing the part of Ham , and falling under his curse ; the penalty of slavishness , cowardice , loss of noble daring , which surely falls on anv generation which is' banausos , ' to use Aristotle ' s Tvord—which rejoices in its forefathers' shame , and unable to believe in the nobleness of others , is unable to become noble itself . "

      There are also noble papers on the poets . Tennyson is deservedly lauded ; and the merits and influence of Byron and Shelley philosophically discussed . The poetry , too , of Mr . Alexander Smith and Alexander Pope is compared , and what the production of such poetry implies is significantly hinted . Mr . Kingsley looks at all these things in their moral and spiritual aspects , not fearing to be profound in a shallow age . For this we admire him . He has also some fine outspoken thoughts on Burns and his school , doing justice to Robert JNicoll , of whose verses enough has not- been ma ° de .

      There are altogether twenty eloquent essays in these two volumes , each of them deserving an elaborate investigation . This , of course , space will not permit to us . But why regret the narrow bounds within which we are imprisoned ? We have been able to utter a voice which we trust will set readers thinking , and send them to the book itself for the full enjoyment of the writer ' s genius .

      1254 The Leap Eb. [I*O. 503. Nov. 12, 13...

      1254 THE LEAP EB . [ I * o . 503 . Nov . 12 , 135 9 ^ jB ^ MMMWWMMMMMiMMWWBPMWBMMPWWBMMMM ^^ B ^ WB ^ B ^ BMWBM ^^ HHMiMM ^ MMM ^ MiiM ^^^^ BMil ^^^^ M ^ WWMMMI ^^^ MM ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^ '* ' * -nwiaaa ' » . | t * v' * -Mi ^ agaa-w .

      Hinchbrijdge Ha. Unt Jed—A Ghost Story. ...

      HINCHBRIJDGE HA . UNT JED—A Ghost Story . By Geo . Cupplcs , author of " The Greou Hand , " " The Two Frigates . "—Edinburgh : Nimrao ; Lon'don : Simpkia and Marshall . Ma . Cuppi . es commenced his career as a naval novelist ; his story of * ' The Green Hand , " which appeared in " Blackwood's ^ Magazine " a few years back , gave " evidence of his becoming one of the most promising writers of ^ the Marryatt school of fiction . His next story , " The Two Frigates , ' ' confirmed the favourable impression its author had made ; and Professor Masson , in his little book on " Novelists and their Styles , " speaks of him , as one of the representatives of the naval school of fiction . Why , having , according to Mr . Masson , gained a position as a delineator of naval life , ho should write a ghoat story of quiet village life , it is hard to say . AVith the most popular fictionists a " ghost story " is now-a-days a formidable undertaking ; but it is doubly so to a young writer who has Jbardly won his spurs . It would be injustice , however , to judge of Mr . Cupples ' present work by his previous * ones . A writer , of course , is free to choose what subject he likes : but tbjo critic judges of a writer ' s last production by hia preceding one . Compared , then , with " The $ rtro irrigates , " " Hinchbwdge Haunted " is a very iaferior work , la the first place it is not a ghost Btory , and in the second , though the time of the « to * y iis . in . the . reign of George the Fourth , the miners awd cuatoma generally of the characters iwe ; those ofijtho prewnt . day . The ghost story "

      is this : An old man ( supposed to be dead , Mr . Cupples ?) suddenly appears in the little village of Hinchbridge , and becomes rich nobody knows how , and nobody cares to inquire of him , on account of his exceeding irritable temper ; consequently he is suspected of the worst crimes by the villagers . Ultimately , however , he turns out to be the brother of the widow at the ' . Grange , ' which establishes his respectability . Of course there is a love story , but

      the character of this disagreeable and snappish old man and his serio-comic servant are by-far the most entertaining personages in the book , and their sayings and doings create in us the most interest . Though the faults are those that the most superficial reader of fictions will observe , the work will not the less be read when once it is taken up . For ourselves , however , we would rather the writer liad Written a sea story than one of village life—a subject on which he is evidently unqualified to write .

      Serials.

      SERIALS .

      Assurance Magazixe And Journal Op The In...

      Assurance Magazixe and Journal op the Institute of Actuaries . ( Vol . 8 , Part ! V . )—The paramount-utility of this work should recommend it to general attention . The principle of assurance is applicable to every tiling , and in all cases is of beneficial operation . But care and caution are requisite in the business arrangements , and the casualties to which it is liable should he looked boldly in the face . To this topic the leading article of this journal especially directs attention . The conditions under which assurances are liable to forfeiture should not be severe , nor should they be exacted with rigour . The article is followed by another , concerning the medical estimate of life for life assurance . After sixty is voted a very dangerous age . Obesity , too , is objectionable , and so is excessive spareness .

      The period of marriage , also , especially with fast livers , has its perils . And what of the use of tobacco ? Why , this : " The habit of smoking tobacco , which has recently been the subject of so much illogical argument , deserves a passing notice . There is no evidence whatever to show that this practice , when had recourse to in moderation , and not complicated with spirit-drinking * at all tends to shorten the duration of life . Addiction to it in great excess may , doubtless , induce dyspepsia , nervous affections , possibly paralysis — certainly delirium tremens . " These articles , with others on general subjects , such as a Uniform Decimal System , the First American Life , Underwriter ' Convention , and the foreign intelligence , make altogether a very good number .

      Parent ' s Cabinet contains , as usual , six articles of considerable merit . North British Review ( No . 21 X 11 . ) , — This number contains a series of important articles on important topics . Here is one on Baden Powell ' s " Order of Nature . " The reviewer is an outspoken critic ; he dislikes especially Mr . Powell ' s Doctrine of Miracles . There is also an excellent article on the new 'Exegesis of Shakspeare , and the question of races . Some * acute remarks are made , and the theorist is met with mingled praise and blame . The remaining papers are of fair average excellence . West op Scotland Magazine ( New Series ) , No , IiXL ( Hutcheson Campbell ) . ^ -Tho table of contents presents subjects of interest , which , for the most part , are intelligently treated .

      Historical ( Magazine Notes and Queries ( No , X ) . —This periodical is always entertaining , and the number before us contains much to amuse and edify . Poetical Works of Thomas Moore . —Part VIII . contains'his satirical and humorous poems , Lb Foiaet ( No . 158 ) . —In addition to three beautifully coloured engravings , wo have two large cuts of present fashion , accompanied with descriptive letter-press , and light . amusing literary articles . RouTiaopGJs ' s ShakbIfbarbi , edited by II . Staunton , and illustrated by John Gilbert . —Parts XXIV . and XI / V . contain Antony and Cleopatra , ai » J Titus Andronicus .

      Uoutlbdge ' s IrxcsTRATisr ) Natural History ( By the Rev . J . G . Wood , M . A . ) . —Part VIII . is capitally got up , and richly illustrated .

      Authorised Interpreter Of The Scriptures...

      authorised interpreter of the Scriptures . Of course . he points to Swedenborg as supplying the need , and therefore , as eminently practical in his purpose and life , asserting at the some time his inspiration Until , however , the term inspiration be properly defined , and it can be declared that Swedenborg ' s interpretation is final and thoroughly complete , Tt mav readily be perceived that little real way ' is made with the argument . Swedenborg ' s merit consists in his having given a scientific scheme of religion ; but a much higher is possible , under the direction of philosophy , in an age more favourable to such investigations than the present . Handbook of Geological Terms and Geoloqu —By David Page , F . G . S . — William Blaekwood and Sons .

      This is a laborious , but most eligible work . The trouble that the compiler has taken to save other people trouble is immense ; and we o : ght to be exceedingly thankful to him for the result . The matter , as he tells us , has been gleaned and sifted from a great variety of resources , and the arrangement has required the utmost care and oaution . The science is presented besides in its newest aspects ; and to the geologist the value of the work , from its ' accuracy and extent , will be priceless . Notes on the Wounded from the Mutiny in India , with a Description of the Preparations of Gunshot Injuries contained in the Museum at Fort Pitt . By G-eorge Williamson , M . D ., Staff Surgeon . T—John Churchill .

      The invahd depot at Chatham is the school in which the subject of this book has been studiedthe best school , in fact , for the study of the subject . The wounded by the mutiny in Judia have furnished the author with his chief examples . The larger number of cases consists of gunshot compound fracture of the femur , and the patients have recovered with good useful Hmbs— as compared with the number of thigh-stump cases , and the total by all wounds . The result is ascribed to the facilities afforded by the . doolies . Such facilities , therefore , should be afforded likewise to European campaigners . The work is profusely illustrated , and of the highest utility to the faculty . Prince , Charlie , the Young Chevalier . By Merideth Johnes , Author of "Boys' Book of Modern Travel , " & c—W . Kent and Co . Me . JoiinEs has dedicated his little volume to the

      boys of the British empire , from whom we may be sure it will receive a hearty welcome ; The life of Prince Charles affords ample materials for an interesting boys' bpok ; and we only wonder that his life has not been written before , as very little is known of his earlier life ( nor does this work throw much light on it ) , except what is scattered over the pages of history , which few boys care to read , and those that do generally wish to know more than the historian is able to give in his pages . Though we may be thankful that the Stuarts were not re-established on the throne of England , we may well afford to sympathise with the young Prince , who was endowed with such noble qualities , and who acted such a nianly ami generous part towards his enemies as to those who ventured their

      lives and fortunes for liis cause . As known in history , the Prince has all the better qualities of Ins ancestors , but a question arises whether , hud he become king , he might not have found that he also inherited some of the baser foelings peculiar to the Stuarts . This is a question that the writer ot the little book before us does not attempt to solve ; lie takes the character—the most favourable to tho Prince—he finds in hlatory , and relates the story 01 his life in an easy and pleasant manner , witu lew comments of a political kind . Adversity is a goou school though a harsh schoolmaster ; bring * 0 « the good qualities of some-but how mnnyiftu under its rule ! How much was " Bonnie 1 ' nncq Charlie" influenced by the cxamploa of tho mm and hardy Highlanders' ? Mr . Johnes ' s little boolc is rature

      a good contribution to our boys' lite . British Ferns and their Allies . By Thomsm Moore , JP . L . S ., F . H . S . —Rontledgo , Warno and toutlodgo . An abridgment of the author ' s « Popular History n British Ferns , " and comprising the for us , cU" > mosses , pepperworta , and horsotnils . Jt 19 ""!" illustrated by W . L . Ooleman , and in most ro « P « e " . provided with what boginnera in the "t ""? , *'" require . Tho native ferns of Great Britain I wo many attractions for inquirers } and are ocrtau uy objects of exquisite elegance . They have wbq become fashionable ; and groafc " pleasure niiiy Mu eocured by their cultivation , Tho study of tlioin . in tho living state is moat dosirablo , ami to sucn » study the work before us will aflbrd e ^ a , i

      as-The Practical Nature of the Theological Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg . By the Rev . Augustus Clisaold , M . A )—Longman , Green , Longman , and Roberts . This is the second edition of a letter written by Mr . Olisflold to the Archbishop of Dublin . Tho letter is much " revised and enlarged , " Mr . Oliaaold la a terrible logician , and spares nothing in an episcopal writer . He condemns alt such out of their own mouths . His arguments consist of a eitatiqn of paasages from nil manner of supposed orthodox writers , and , by showing their contradictions , enforce tn © need of « n

      oietunce . The Child a Guide to a Knowledge of the EnglUh Constitution . By a Gentleman . —gimnlti " , MarBttft . Ui Tins compilation is In tjio form of quosAIonMj d answer , and well calculated to fulfll tho wrltore ntontion ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 12, 1859, page 18, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_12111859/page/18/