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December 1.6, 1854.] THE LEADER. 1193
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THE HOSE AND THE RING. The Rose and t7ie...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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.' ¦ .,. - Foreign Policy. Thirty Tears ...
system deserved the curses of posterity . It is only since the settlement of Europe in 1815 , which so firmly established the power of Russia , and Undermined every other throne on the Continent , that the importance of Turkey has been seen . Because we now witness the singular spectacle of the two most enlightened nations of Europe going to war , with the approbation of every sincere and wise friend of freedom and civilisation , for the purpose of keeping the Turlfcs at Constantinople , the loss of which by the -Greeks was four centuries ago considered the most grievous calamity that ever befel Christendom , some sanguine spirits forget how very recently this policy has been decided upon , and are ready to denounce Lord Aberdeen as a traitor for not supporting the policy which he really originated . . The readers 6 f some journals will think it an incredible paradox to assert that it was Lord Aberdeen who first as Foreign Secretary proclaimed it to be the duty of England to maintain the independence and the integrity of the . Turkish Empire . Nevertheless , such is the fact .
THE PEACE SOCIETY ONE CAUSE OF THE WAR . The future historian will some day have to record what an important part the Peace Society has played on the breaking out of the great war for the security of Eiifope . The Emperor " of Russia trusted to the orations of the fanatical' votaries © f peace in 18-53 y a « liu formerly trusted to the speeches of the Opposition ¦ When he dictated the Meaty of Adrianople . E & perierice , the surest of guides in political affairs , had taught him that in 1829 the Duke of Wellington and Lord Aberdeen , with their eyes-open to the consequences of the unfortunate treaty , had . been obliged to acquiesce hi it : and that even Sir Robert Gordon , the brother of the English foieigu secretary , had advised the Sultan to accept those hard conditions of peace rather than , continue a ruinous war . How could the northern autocrat expect that the result woiild have been different in the present day ? Were not some of the members of the Peace Society as influential politicians as the noble lords and honourable gentlemen who scouted the idea of defending Turkey twenty-six years ago ? ¦
LORD PAI / MERSTON ' S TRAINING AS A STATESMAN . Though an Irish peer , Lord Palmerston had not many powerful friends to push him over-the heads of nble-rivals . He owed his appointment to the important postof Secretary-at-War entirely to the reputation which he so early acquired , 3 T 6 r neatly twenty years he performed the duties of that department with such efficiency and success as may perhaps have been equalled , but have certainly never . been , surpassed . He was hot the slave of routine , but a zealous , administrative refortaer . The intricate details of military finance ^ and the regulations of the army were subjected'to his careful supervision ; and immense improvements were effected , for which he neither received nor expected popular apjilause . Few people hut those intimately conversant ¦ with this department , ever knew how much Lord Palmerston had done for the efficiency of the service , or even had the least-idea of his great administrative abilities . When he entered the Wax-office he found everytliiiig in the greatest confusion ; but after his long tenure of this important place he left it a model of order and industry .
At this time Lord Palmerston troubled himself very little about the personal differences of Castlereagh and Canning . He had not yet become tlie ardent friend of Canning , and he confined his activity to his office . He was the Secretary-at-War , and Secretary-at-War he continued to be until it appeared that Lord Palmerston and this department could never be disunited . Through all the season of youth aiid early manhood , through all the changes of administrations , through all the vicissitudes . of empires , in war and in peace , Lord Palmerston remained Secretary-at-War . During that time the most memorable events in European history occurred ; the most important domestic and foreign questions , were discussed ; -while year after year he sat silent throughout the greatest debates , year after year he contented himself-with moving the army estimates : in discussions on foreign policy , when .. Lord Castlereagh was Secretary for Foreign . Affairs , he scarcely ever opened his lips- Such taciturnity ,
when Lord . Palmerston ' s powers as an orator and his actions in future years are considered , is truly wonderful and almost incredible . When Canning became Foreign Minister , Lord Palmerston's consciousness of his great abilities slowly awakened , He gradually overcame what must be called , however surprising it may seem , his habitual modesty . He . spoke well on the affairs of Spain . He spoke well and more frequently on . other topics . He began to announce sonie decided opinions on , the political and commercial qnestions of the day . Tor Mr . Canning he now felt warm admiration , and adhered to him "with generous fidelity when . this injured statesman formed his ministry , and so many influential Tory politicians sent in their resignations and positively refused to serve under a Prime Minister favourable to the claims of the Roman Catholics . Lord Palmerston had now a seat in the Cabinet , though he still held his old office .
HISTORY OF MR . UttQUHAKT . A . blockade had been established by Russia along the Circassian coast , and its existence communicated through the ambassador at Constantinople to . the British Government ; but as the ministers , without positively denying , did not think fit to recognise the justice of the claim which the emperor was enforcing , the blockade had never been notified in the Gazette . This passive resistance did not satisfy the insplrer of the Portfolio , and the small circle of which he was the centre . Lord Palmereton was against his will to bo driven into a war . A certain back-stair influence was brought into play ; confidential communications were held with Sir Herbert Taylor , the king ' s private secretary ; hints were given ; some obscure officials , who were supposed to know the opinions of their chiefs , looked mysterious ; and Mr . Bell , a merchant , was inspired with the design of sending a cargo of salt to Circaasin , and of thus bringing tlxo question to an issue . . . Mr . Bell eagerly desired tlie Government to authorise his commercial and political
designs ; Lord Palmerston cautiously abstained from giving him the least encouragement . Trusting , however , to the promptings of what ho vaguely termed the Foreignoflico , though contrary to tho obvious meaning of the letters of the Foreign Secretary , Mr . Bell , like tho ontorprising and patriotic merchant that ho was , sot put for Constantinople . There tho regulations of 1831 and 183 G wore shown to him by no Ichs a person than the English , ambassador . Tho risk to be incurred was now plain . Mr . Hell hesitated , and thought of abandoning his cherished project of giving the Circassians tho opportunity of purchasing his excellent cargo of salt , -whatever tho fiscal regulations of Russia and the stringent law of blpckado might say to tho contrary . Tho secretary of the embassy was excited 5 ho felt that the great moment of bin life waa now drawing near . Ho advised Mr . Bell to proceed , notwithstanding tho language of Lord Pnlinorfitou and Lord Ponsonby . Was not tho private secretary of the
king more powerful than tho Bcurotnry of state ? So thought Mr . Urquhurt ., and m full reliance on his wiwlom , tho Vixen entered tho Muck Sea , and at last let go her anchor in tho bay of Soiuljonk Kalfc . No time was lost in informing the natives of tho salino comforts with which th « ttloop was freighted . Hut before anything could bo dono , down came a ltunoiun brig-of-wnr ; tho Vixen waa seized , carried jguomiuiftnaly into Sebiwtopol , and conilrtcutod utt a contraband trader . Mr . Boll culled on tho Englinh Government for -vungonnco ; full reparation at loant ho expected to rcceivo . Ila implorud U 10 urmiHtnnco of tlno Hoiiho of CoinmoiiH . But wh ' utover might have boon tho justice or tho injustice of the proceodings of Kunaia in Circaaaia , Lord Palmcraton felt tliut . ho niiint either acqwussco in t . hc lognlit . y of tho 'Confiscation , or go to w « r in vindication of Mr . Boll nnd hia sloop Vixen . Tho pacific alternative wnu preferred : Mr . Hull avub ruined ; and bin noino appeared in the
Gazette , where he complained that the notification of the Russian blockade had never been . - . .. But the name of Mr . Bell and of his ship would long ago have been forgotten had they not been associated with the fall of the ingenious Secretary of the Embassy at Constantinople , who was unquestionably the prime mover in the business . Lord Palmerston could only take one step . Mr . Uiquhart had applied for leave of absence ; he was informed that he could not be permitted to return to his post ; but the minister kindly assured him that he -would keep the reason of his dismissal a secret even from the ambassador at Constantinople . This consideration for his feelings did not satisfy Mr . Drquhart . Trusting to private influence , relying on the . friendship of Sir Herbert Taylor , and on the remembrances of
kindness in the highest quarter , he had proudly ventured to brave the impotent displeasure of the Foreign Secretary . But he found , ^ o his dismay , that the Secretary cf State , as the responsible servant of tlie Crowji , was iiot the ' , contemptible automaton that he had supposed him to be . Mr . Urqiihart was dismijss ' eci ; But he has never t > een able to consider calmly the reason of his disgrace . He imagined that he had fallen a victim to his honest and uncompromising patriotism . Dark suspicions entered his mind . He had long been a marked man for his opposition to Russian intrigues His ruin had been resolved upon ; and though holding the seals of the Foreign Office of England , he w * as convinced that the English minister was a Russian agent . " With the restless energy of a man labouring under one idea , and stimulated by the goads of wounded vanity and disappointed ambition , Mr . Urquhart . from that moment became the relentless enemy of Lord Palmerston . . ' - - , ¦ ,- ;
From these extracts , it will be seen that the book is one full of suggestive matter , much of which , is of a kind to provoke controversy . We leave the writers ' s main paradox of the identity-of ' the policy of Lord Aberdeen and that of Lord Palmerston , as well as the minor paradoxes asserted insohie of the . extracts , to the judgment of the reader . Differing from the J bo 6 K 1 n many respects , we yet like it . It is certainly bolder in its sentiments a . nd more' ^ respectful to the extreme continental liberals thare-was : to { be expected from arwriter professing to takeDowning-street fer hi $ r stiind-punkt . . ¦ ¦ "We wisn street Jbora Aberdeen
• Mpwnmg- ana -worna endorse so / me bi the language of their * apologist , and declare his interpretations of their policy ; to be correct . If-the '• ¦ ¦¦ waiter ' s' view is correct , why do not Lord Aberdeen arid Lord Palrnerston throw their arms round each other ' s necks publfcly f and theinseivfes put an end to the prevailing fallacy that they are antagonists ? After all , there is a leanness , a narrowness , an officialism , about thebook . " The author , with a good deal of the speculative tendency himself , professes to keep clear of " abstractions" and " speculations '' as having no bearing on practical British statesmanship . This is common language , but it is sad stuff ; There never was a-g ^ reat Foreign Minister yet but he was swayed in his every act by •* speculations . " In fact the precise business of : every man € 5 to'fill his mind permanently with the biggest and best speculations he ea . n get , and daily , > tvith all his cunning , work as much of them as he can into the cracks and crevices of passing " affairs . "
December 1.6, 1854.] The Leader. 1193
December 1 . 6 , 1854 . ] THE LEADER . 1193
The Hose And The Ring. The Rose And T7ie...
THE HOSE AND THE RING . The Rose and t 7 ie Ring ; or , the History of Prince Giglio and Prince - Biilbo . By Mr , M . A . Titmarsh . Smith , Elder , and Co . If the time of a great writer like Mr . Thackeray were not intensely valuable , ; we could imagine him . writing such a hook as this for , no otj ^ er purpose than to enjoy a malicious satisfaction at the puzzle it wouldbeto . the ordinary rule-and-line critic . The latter individual has long since reversed tb . e true position of the critic —~ th ' at of an indicator to the public— -and , writes now solely from the people ' s point of view , ! caring more cunhihgjy . to foreshpw the popular judgmen t of a vyork , than to giy , e his own honest opinion .. of its merits or dements . " What ,, un ' . the name of all Reyiewdom , is such a critic to say of this last production oH the author of Vq . nity Fair ? . Th , ere will be a hundred different opinions among readers regarding it . Those of the . public who never like Thackeray ' s writings ' , will not like tliis ; of those who do , how conflicting will be the dicta ! Your solemn gentlemen , to whom . Napoleon dibbling in trees at St . Helena is no hero , will loftily regret that Thackeray
should waste his time on such trifles ; others will be delighted to miss his usual bitter tone , and chuckle over the groat satirist ' s imagined return to common sense ; others will not like it because they miss the caustic touches of grim humour so peculiarly Thackeray ' s now , and will not like his merely trying to amuse people at Christmas time , instead of squaring at Vanity Fair in general , and birch-rodding . its principal delinquents , as is his wont ; others will wish Doyle had illustrated the book ; others again would not part with one of Thackeray ' s quaint cuts for all that Doyle ever drew- " It is n pity he has disfigured so pretty a tale by slang , " some will say . — " Thackevsiy never , shines so much as when sketching tbe vulgarities of a * Jeames , ' " will be the verdict of others . In such a wilderness of opinions , what better course can the bewildered critic pursue than to bo a genuine critic for the nonce , and read tho book and give his own opinion . Should he be wrong— - why how many of his neighbours , in tho first circles , make fools of themselves at Christmas-tide !
We have read the Rose , and the Ring with attention and great pleasure . Wo m'o glad Thackeray has -written it . It is a fine instance of absence of literary snobbery . The creator of Colonel Newcome has put aside his mantle of artistic fame , and , stopping into the circle , becomes Mr . Morrymah for a brief season , and adds a large contribution to the fund of human merriment . The man who thiiikn the worse of him for this is simply a snob . We like this book for very humble reasons , and for a ' high one us well . "We like the story as a story—we like tho quiet quizzing of the fairy tales that charmed our youth , potent to us , not patent to the juvenile mind—wo like the abrupt and inconsequential morals suddenly drawn like as in that stupidest Bpecics of children ' s books—take with a tendency—we like the ivduurable cuts , always true to tlio text , generally well drawn , and not unfroquently exuberant with tho raciest fun . Those are some of our humble reasons—now
for our liigher one . A fairy talc , once popular , embodies Homotlung living , ami it' tho artist or pout has one mission nioro than another , it i & to seize tho life thnt ia hidden in old stories , tuid Ure « 8 them in a modem gnrb . Tho chief of recent Gorman poets lias devoted much of his time to thin , nnd not a fow legends and ballads that hud grown to bo dry bones have started up again to modern llfo by a vivid treatment . The Rose and the Ring is not
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 16, 1854, page 17, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_16121854/page/17/
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