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Qfi a . THE LEA DEE. [No. 491. Aug. 20, ...
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JSiEW ' NOVELS.
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in one volume. " N ightshade " was a ver...
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Irish Quarterly Review.—N"o. XXXIV. open...
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Moorbs' National Aius (No. III.) still c...
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COMMERCIAL. ^
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INCREASE OP CURRENCY. THE Economist, we ...
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MISAPPROPRIATION. It concerns the commer...
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Transcript
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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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
A Cruise M Japanese Wateks. By Capt. She...
string used at home . In short , " 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 timej bringing a Japanese conjuror to enable his 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 well-kept 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 trieks 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 Pusi-hama , 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 about six 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 interfere'dU 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 frprn 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 conjuror recalled it , and presently supplied a mate in the Bhape of another butterfly , and together they rose and played about the old man ' f an , 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 awaj r as if in play , and again return . A plant with some flowers stood in a pot near at hand ; ?> y gentle movements of the fan the pretty little
creatures were led up to it , and then , their delight how they plaj-ed about the leaves , sipped the flowers , kissed each other , and whisked off ngain with all the airs and graces of renl butterflies ! The audience was in ecstacies , and young and old clapped their hands with delight . The exhibition ended , when the old uian advanced to the front of his stage , within arm ' s length of us all , accompanied by his magic butterflies , that oven in the open air continued to play round the magician and his fan ! As a feat of legerdemain , it was by fur 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 xotice . It is by far the beet book that we have yet had on Japan , and confirms us in the good opinion that we have formed of the country and its inhabitants .
Qfi A . The Lea Dee. [No. 491. Aug. 20, ...
Qfi . THE LEA DEE . [ No . 491 . Aug . 20 , 1859 . . ¦ I ? " . ' . ¦¦¦¦¦'¦ ' _ ' . __ . II I ¦ ' ¦ " "' ¦ ! J 1 JUU-M . 1 ¦ ¦ " ¦ »¦¦»¦ ¦ M ^ IMIIIMIIIMMIimi , ^ ,
Jsiew ' Novels.
JSiEW ' NOVELS .
In One Volume. " N Ightshade " Was A Ver...
in one volume . " N ightshade " was a very disagreeable novel , as all novels must be that go into theological discussions . Mr . Johnston has this time wisely taken the more legitimate field for the novelist , and the result is , presents us with a work that bears witness that he has closely studied human nature . The character of Arthur Freshfield , 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 . Groker and her parrot are two as disagreeable personages as one could wish for . MrvSJETurley 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 matter little to liim 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 . Nevellee , 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 , and 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 .
FRESHFIJCJLD . By William Johnston , M . A ., Author oi "Nightshade . "—Jnracs JRlnolcwood . THE FAR 80 N AND THE I'OOR . A Tnloof Ilwzclwood . By Austyn Gi'iilinm . In 3 yols . —T . O . Ncwby . ' « JTnEBHyiujuo " ia a great etop in advanco of Mr . Johnston ' s previous work , " Nightshade , " arid one of the most readable notions the season has produced . There are little errors of detail in the working out of the story that wo should mention aid the work pretend to bo more than a slight talc
Irish Quarterly Review.—N"O. Xxxiv. Open...
Irish Quarterly Review . —N " o . XXXIV . opens with a paper on Predictions and Coincidences , taking for its text Dr . 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 onable
Continent . The prohibition appeared unreas , 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 lie 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 some of the force of imagination in producing death at the expected moment . In many cases , however , it is evident that imagination hud 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 / Abbc Bautain , and his book , Iwi Belle Saispn il la Campagne , occupies , a large space ,
under the title of " Christian Philosophy in Word and Work . " The biography of the abbd is included in the criticism . M . Cousin was his master , and JouflVoy his fellow-student ; and aspired to the character of philosophor . He lived to be conscious of the Vanity of his ambition , and to full back on tho early faith of childhood . He became a reader of tho Scriptures . A nephew of Rothschild , M . ThC'odorb do Ratisbourne , who attended his Lectures at Strasburg , was deeply impressed with his teaching ' , and Carried it out in practise , bj' attempting the regeneration of his own race . There is also an interesting article on Lady Morgan ; and the number concludes With tho usual Quarterly Record of the Progress of Reformatory Schools , and Prison Discipline , and tho Appendix . Altogether it ia an entertaining miscellany ; but there is something wanting . <• There is more of anecdote than of thought .
Moorbs' National Aius (No. Iii.) Still C...
Moorbs' National Aius ( No . III . ) still continues to prove the cure taken in Its editing by Mr . O . W . " Glover . Nisw Zealand Handbook . —K . Stanford . A now edition of a work vory useful to intend ing emigrants . ¦
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- I - - . I " r . . I . . . - ii- i ni ! Mr . UiannisaT Fishur , the eldest eon of tho Rev . Canon Fisher , the rector of the parish of Poulshot , Wilta , has been Appointed private tutor to his Royal Highness tho Prlnco of wales during his sojourn at Oxford ,
Commercial. ^
COMMERCIAL . ^
Increase Op Currency. The Economist, We ...
INCREASE OP 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 become 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 oil 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 on 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 mjuriousness 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 he 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 .
Misappropriation. It Concerns The Commer...
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 . Cobden , " the customs duties might be modifiedtrade might be relieved from many existing incumbranccs , the wine duties might be reduced , and the bonds of peace betwixt England and France rivctted" almost beyond the power of rupture . We to
cannot conceive any statements more interesting commerce and better deserving notice in this part of our journal . Mr . Cobdcn ' 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 sent in Ins Cabinet ^ * Mr . Cobden is himself of op inion , and so are the men of Lancashire , that he is well adapted to the office of President of the Board oi Trade , and , therefore , whatever f ulls from him on tho subject of trade is especially worthy of t « 0 attention of commercial men .
That our trade , in spite of , thc professions ministers of both parties , is yet very nuu . 'h and very unnecessarily restricted \ a certain , anil it is equally certain , that na long aa a pretext can be found in a necessity to raise' a largo Customs revenue for continuing those restriction . * , they will not be removed . The exorbitancy of our taxation , therefore , stands in tho way of carrying out free trade principles . The same taxation , too . national
which hampers our industry , nourishes dissensions and impedes the extension and success of trade . Trade , and all connected with it , is the part of society which grows tho fastest and sutlers most from restrictions . It is eniphnticuUy tho new part of society , as contra distinguished from agriculture , which , is old . On trade , therefore , «" restrictions fall heavily ; and if commercial men wish their biuiness to be ox tended , nnd then class toiuoroaao , they must oppose all unnecessary taxation . Taxation always carries restriction wit " it . Tho statesman who keeps down taxation i
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 20, 1859, page 20, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_20081859/page/20/
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