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Leader (1850-1860), 18th September 1852, Edition Country of 2, Page 21, We sho-uld do our utmost to encourage th...

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      • Stb William Hamilton. Discussions On V...

      m _ediaeval in its cast , his subtlety and vigour of thought , his earnest language , and his commanding influence , which is not to be confined to any one quality , but springs from the native force and life of his intellect , irr esistibly attract readers to him and endear him to all pupils . He has been a power in his time . His influence over the minds of younger men , especially in Scotland , is not to be mistaken ; and considering how little is written to bear to after times a testimony of his powers , it was a real regret that his contributions to the Edinburgh JReview weie not _gathered into a separate volume , the more so as they had been _republished in France and Italy . This regret is now at an end . The volume before us contains all his contributions , together with a considerable amount of matter altogether new . As a companion volume to his edition of JReid ' s Works (" alas ! still incomplete ) , this will be very welcome .

      The volume opens with his celebrated article on Cousin ' s Philosophy , in which he shatters all ontological theories of the Absolute , and does good service by so doing . We cannot , however , restrain the expression of our surprise , that Sir William should still continue to speak of Cousin with such flattering respect , now that the unworthy tricks by which Cousin g ained his reputation as a savant and a thinker have been exposed . The second article is on the "Philosophy of Perception , " a masterpiece of learning and acuteness , in which poor Thomas Brown is terribly mauled , and reduced to insignificance . Among other things we note , en passant , that this article , defending the utility of metaphysical studies , finds nothing better to be said of them than that they are mental gymnastics . Sir William says , that the comparative utility of a study is not to be principally estimated by the complement of truths which it may communicate ; but by the degree in which it determines our higher capacities to action . And this is true . But Sir William , and all who side

      with him , seem to overlook the fact , that Positive Science is equally efficacious—not to say more so—as a mental exercise , besides communicating available truths ; while the moral , psychical and religious questions hitherto claimed as the exclusive property of Metaphysics , are equally the objects of Positive Philosophy . The third article is a merciless mangling of the Hev . Arthur Johnson ' s translation of Tennemann ' s History o f Philosophy . The fourth , an elaborate review of certain treatises on Logic . The fifth , an account of George Dalgarno ' s work on the Deaf and Dumb , with a history of the treatment of that question . The sixth , reviews Arthur Collier ' s Idealism , and closes the philosophical section . In Literature , we have the celebrated article on the authorship of the Epistolae Obscurorunt _Tlrortttn , and an article on the revolutions in Medicine etpropos to Dr . Cullen ' s Life .

      In Education we have , first , the long ,. elaborate , and triumphant refutation of Whewell on the Study of Mathematics as an exercise of Mind , in which the exclusive study of Mathematics is shown to be disastrous and enfeebling , instead of invigorating . We should have much to say on this article did time and space permit ; meanwhile it is one our readers ought attentively to study . The rest of the volume , except the valuable appendices , is occupied with discussions of University Hetbrm . A copious index is added , which , in such a library of learning as this volume , is more than ever indispensable .

      Ar02105

      Books On Our Table. Switzerland And Savo...

      BOOKS ON OUR TABLE . Switzerland and Savoy . With a Map . D . Bogue This , the second of Bogue's Guides for Travellers , contains plain and serviceable directions for all kinds of tourists in Switzerland and Savoy , in a . pleasant and portable form . It will take a long while before Murray is driven out of an Englishman's notions of " _indispensables ; " but if Mr . Bogue continue resolutely to produce accurate and available Guides he will gain his public at last . _Micltaud ' s History of the Crusades . Translated from tho French hy W . Rohson . v HI . Georgo Boutledge . Tms , the third volume , completes Mr . Eobson's translation of Michaud ' s learned and indispensable work on the Crusades ; a worthy undertaking worthily executed , An ample index is judiciously added . Nile Notes of a Hamad ji ; or , the American in Egypt . By G . W . Curtis .

      II . Vizetelly . l _' _lns is tho fourth volume of tho pleasant series of " Keadablo Books . " Wo like it less than its predecessors . Mr . Curtis , though a man of talent , has " great nflee ' . tations , " and thero is somothing mechanical in tho caprices of his stylo . There '" t ; senile ; amusing Notes , however , made on the Nile , and tho book is well illustrated . ¦¦ I ™ Satires of Juvenal , Persius , Sulpicia , and Lucillus . Literally translated into ¦ _fcug lwh I _' _reise ; . By tho Um . Lewis Evans , M . A . ( Bohn ' s Classical Library . ) T . II . G . Bohn . "i s is the ; latest addition to Bohn ' s Classical Library , and is ono of the most ( _'ire > iul . Besides tho literal prose version , the metrical _translations of Gilford aro ' _< eel , and in the notes many of Dryden ' s happy lines are quoted by way of variorinii _readings .

      Lxerciseg ; Or, Scripture Reference* For...

      Lxerciseg ; or , Scripture Reference * for Schools nnd ' Families . By _Misfl Arm . 'Ihe 7 V / . o , _B > Theobald A i ,. J ' ' y « f ><> t ! ker _' a Daughter . B y Hannah Lawranoo . A . _Cookshaw A _Wiitl i - " ' l < yf"ir . By W . It . ItohoHmm . Bradhnry and Rvnnn Ittimhrs , " * " th « _M' « nck / 'Vo . i « ,. r into North Spain . By Limit ,. March . Itie ; har < l Bp . nl . loy 'I'lte , Jfe _. J '" _;^ f \ ble » in North and South America . By . 15 . Hullivan . _Itidtard _Bonllety ' _t'he Pi , Si " ' ; T "" ' or > ( A" Attainder . 3 ve . lH . _Hioharel Beintloy lour Library - The . Gentleman tf the Old School . By G . P . It . _Jamon . It'im ,,,., ; ,,., . HimmH anel M'Intyre ) The />; . / , "nJP _<>* f « t « Church . Uy _Non-Cloriems . _Lehman anelCo '''he _[^ Z ' _TSSSl" _^ ' _„ . __ . . " **» V _«* S <> a' < : aiti ,,,. '/• _"' " / _lawfor Boys and Girls . Addoy and Co _MticiihJi ' . _VtT i ? " / " Melds . A Guide for the Emigrant in Australia . Addey and Co 'l'l >« llc _, l * S ,, '' mr' ! 1 _^< l \ h _! cclesiastical Journal . ' _Biitipkin , Marshall anel Ce ) _KrlHscn _? _^ _M'XXVrt . ' J . Watson ' ,, f _»> Full Sr ' , % _% \ th e _funvtionn if the lungs . By fl . 8 . Fitoh . . Ij . 11 . _Chandler A " > _'i " _rfLfS ? r _™ _*™«™» . By _Vinefox . W . and If . ( 1 . _Canh Tf ( _VAtd'TiT ' _?" , _" . _^ _^ atur _» l ItiqhtM qf Man . . lame ,,, _Watnon J- ost _latter Book . The Child ' a Second Lettor Poole . By Cr , J . Il . olyoake . ¦ _Wovrllti ' i , _Srhn ,, / » it-. _Jaiiiew Watflon . Vh "irs and _it'JS ' _^ _^ i ' J- - _Novollo JT " , t , tel . ' _NefJSSSf ' i * Ir "P"f Position in Churches . By W . flpark . . T . A . Novello J l * nd « r , Ode Aii , f _° alat < < i , in _Vottal Score . . 1 . A . Novollo . ' ' _™* nder ' a _Feait , in Vocal Score . . I . A . _JNovollo

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      We Sho-Uld Do Our Utmost To Encourage Th...

      We sho-uld do our utmost to encourage the Beautiful , for the Useful encourage itself . —Gobthe .

      V. December 12,1861. ^2^0 You, My Dear G...

      V . December 12 , 1861 . _^ 2 _^ 0 you , my dear Giorgio , I must write this time , because I have such § ¦ $ 1 ! things to tell that I would rather address to your own manly eyes ¦§/ _£ than to the sisterly eyes of our dear Helen . Not that there is _!§^|§ anything which , upon a necessity , I should fear to tell to that most noble lady ; as there is nothing which reverent truth may not tell to reverent truth on behalf of truth and life . Courage is not less a woman _' s duty than man ' s . A woman who cannot venture alone wherever love and

      good deeds may call , is not worthy , and cannot undergo the full strength of love and faith ; but he is a recreant , who , in idleness or indifference , can suffer a woman needlessly to be alone where an esquire would be fitting . So the man that can familiarize a woman ' s eyes to the direct view of that which is vile is a traitor ; although weak are the eyes which cannot look npon the fallen , weak is the heart which is deterred by the dread of squalor from holding out a _Sincere firm hand of help to the degraded . "Wherefore , although I know full Well that what you possess Helen will read , I will rather speak of these things to you , and let them reach her through the freedom which is consecrated by the love between you .

      I had resolved to find out the reason why Julia Sidney insulted Mrs . Edwardes the other night , and to that end I set forth to seek her ; but I had not her address , and I knew that Stanhope could give it me ; so I went to his studio . Strangely enough , I had never been in it . Soon after I met him , he went into Somersetshire , where , as you _knoWj I joined him ; and he did not return so soon as I did . On my way I called at the Johnsons ' . The man himself was in his shop , as usual ; the son was out of the way . Johnson was busier than ever : a rival had opened a shop three doors off , more splendid in its fittings , much lower in prices . " It is ruinous , " said Johnson ; " hut of course I must

      beat the rascal . " So he was laying out his money as fast as he could m new shop fronts , counters , and ornamental works : and with an air of malignant glee he pointed out to me his sugarwhich he should lose by , his tea , his spices . " Indeed , " he said , " I am not only beating him , but we find that Fillmore's customers are coming to us . " I left him delighted at this triangular duel in trade , and went up stairs . When I entered the drawingroom , there was a dead silence ; and I soon saw that there was something amiss . Mrs . Johnson looked more than ordinarily sad and stern , in her

      benign black silk gown and white lace cap ; a flush of anger was passing off Miss _Selby's pale cheek , and her slender bosom was panting under its decorous stuff dress ; the younger ladies were shy and embarrassed . Needlework was going on as usual ; and except the altered countenances , there was nothing to mark a difference from the aspect of that room as I had seen it so many times before . Mrs . Johnson , however , was too full of the calamity which had befallen the house to let me go away without a disclosure : she did not mind telling me , she said ; and accordingly I learned that one of the maidservants was about to enter upon the duties of maternity without any official permission . She was instantly sent off , " of course . "

      The girls had all left the room , by degrees , as if expecting a disclosure ; and I was left with Mrs . Johnson and her cousin . I asked what would become of the girl ? "Ah ! that is what I said to her ! " cried Mrs . Johnson ; but evidently she had said it more as a reproach than as an inquiry of interest—more for threat than lielp . The girl had obstinately refused to confess who the father was ; " but I have my impressions , " said Mrs . Johnson , in a tone that made me think of Master William's philosophy of " life . " I suggested that probably the girl , suddenly dismissed , might come to the very worst fate . " Exactly what I told her , " saidjthe excellent matron , in the same tone as before . I pleaded that , however erring in the orthodox view , her condition might demand some compassionate aid .

      " She is a _wbrthless hussy , an impudent jade ! " cried Miss Selby , suddenly bursting out in anger , whose flame exasperated rather than quenched itself in tears . " Now calm yourself , Sarah ; hit us say no more about it . These things are very distressing in families , " continued Mrs . Johnson , turning to me , " and it has agitated Sarah a good deal . " No thought for the poor wretch who was consigned to " thc worst of fates ; " it was lenient to ignore her ; and thc truly good ladies only deplored their own sorrows in being startled by the intrusion of rude nature into so well regulated a house . After a decorous absence , the young ladies dropped in by degrees ; Miss Sclby dried her outraged feelings , and needlework resumed thc placid hour .

      I went to Stanhope's , rtnd the transition from that quiet drawing-room to his studio was invigorating . One seemed to burst out of tame custom into the free life ; of art , counterpart of nature . Copies of Titian's breathing men-portraits , the fighting gladiator , a storm by Gaspar _Pomsin , pieces of armour , drapery thrown here and there , sketches of rtiodels , male and female , a gauntlet touched with rust and with the tints of the palette near it , a pair of foils cast down negligently on thc throne , the Venus de' Medici rising from a mass of dark brocaded velvet , swords of various times and forms scattered in the corners , made up the background of a picture in which tho two principal figures were thc clerical Alfred Conway , sitting

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 18, 1852, page 21, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_18091852/page/21/