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    Notices] THE LEADER. 773

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    property, or to read it intelligibly, »s...

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    WOMEN", PAST AND PRESENT : Exhibiting th...

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    Lliadkha Of The Kkfojtmation— J-Ulhor, O...

    They did more for the race than . for themselves . Luther ' s and Calvin ' s belief in diabolical agency was , and remained to the last , says ourauthor , " absolutely credulous and fanatical , as to be matters of mere blind amazement to us " now . " He adds , however , we regret to say , with truth , that it is yet " rather the form of credulity that is changed , than the spirit of it that can be said to be extinguished , after some things that we have seen in our day bearing upon this very subject . " Even before his death , Luther ' s reformation outgrew its projector , and he lived to be less popular than Carlstadt and the mystics . He was also inferior

    to Zwingle and his party , in the matter of Consubstantiation . In fact , it is those who lie nighest to their age who are best fitted to initiate its reformation . The truth is , says Dr- Tulloch , "that Luther was not characteristically a scholar , not even a divine , least of all a philosopher . He was a hero with work to do ; and he did it . His powers were exactly fitted to the task to which God called him . As it was of Titanic magnitude , he required to be a Titan in human strength , and in depth and power , and even violence of human passion , in order to accomplish it . " The remaining sketches , are , of course , inferior

    in interest to that of Luther . Calvin , however , was a master-mind , but not of the active and heroic class . His nurture , unlike that of Luther , was tender and aristocratic . Gradually he was won over to Protestant views ; there was no sudden crisis . He spent his life in speculating , writing , and -working out a logical system , and maintaining a controversy with his opponents . Some of the latter were , according to the custom of the times , treated as heretics , and not without severity . Theological hatred , even among reformers , was mortal . Persecution was cherished as a principle by all parties . A man had to test the sincerity of his principles by Jiis life . This was a _ condition whieh none seemed disposed to questionT

    Toleration was not yet born . Predestination , the Eucharist , and the Trinity were doctrines guarded with all the terrors qf death . The language of controversy , too , even In the less fatal cases , was more abusive than logical . This great contest was between the orthodox and the libertines . The sway of Calvin in Geneva was that of a dictator , severe , but temporary , and , for the time , salutary . Under it , " Geneva became—strange as it may seem —the stern cradle of liberty , an asylum of Protestant independence against the gathering storms of despotism on all sides . Freedom of thought and action was crushed for tlic time under an iron sway , but in behalf of a moral spirit which , nursed by such rough discipline , was to grow into potency till it became more than a match for Jesuitical

    state-craft in many lands , and—from the very limitations of its infancy , only expanded into higher and healthier forms of development . " No rational excuse , however , can be offered for tho murder of Servetus . J ? ut , as we have said , martyrdom was the normal rule in these cases . The Church was then , indeed , the Church militant , aud Calvin was riot merely the champion , but the creature of predestination .

    Of Latimer and Knox our review must be more rapid , In England Church reformation is not attached to a name , and we have not Calvins or Luthors , but fellow-labourers , sufferers , and witnesses , not leaders , of the truth . Unlike Latimcr , John ICnox was not a mairtyr , but a victorious pleader . lie was a rugged soldier , but a conqueror , and left his impress on an entire people . In conclusion , we may recommend Dr . Tulloch ' s book as

    Notices] The Leader. 773

    Notices ] THE LEADER . 773

    Property, Or To Read It Intelligibly, »S...

    property , or to read it intelligy , » s a ge naturally to bo desired by both author and etudont . That Mrs . Mary Howitt should wish to show her power in dealing with so wide ana higfc a subject , ono so well calculated to asBOCiato itscfc with W feelings and Bontimants , might lmye been oxpeoted 5 and wo nro happy to acknowledge tuat the work is in every respect worthy of her reputation , Tho epoch that she has to commemorate JB of tho last importance . From tho ond of tho fifteenth century wo may divto our modern cjvui-

    Property, Or To Read It Intelligibly, »S...

    sation : then , too , were made the greatest geographical discoveries , among them , what our authoress calls " the mighty hemisphere of the west . " The previous knowledge of America by Scandinavian adventurers was incomplete , premature , and of no practical or permanent importance . No ; it was appointed that the sixteenth century should inaugurate that wonderful era , which has not yet expired—a cycle that has not yet run out . The true history of America , perhaps , begins with the landing of Fernando Cortes in 1519 . This man gained an empire by his daring , and his example induced emulation in others . But why repeat the tale of disappointed hopes ? Soon came the dismal conflicts between the French and Spanish immigrants : nine hundred Protestants were sacrificed to the bigotry of Melendez . Then followed the terrible vengeance of Dominic de

    Gourgues . His exploits inflamed the imagination of the English Sir Walter Raleigh . All that relates to this , however , has been written , and neqds no repetition here . Let us come at once to the seventeenth century . The colonisation of Virginia distinguished the commencement of the new era . The story of the energetic John Smith arid Pocahontas is well known . She was destined , however , to become the bride , not of the man she had saved , but of honest John Rolfe , who brought her to England , where , so absurd were then the notions prevalent regarding royalty , the enthusiast husband narrowly

    sophy of it distinctly enough ; but when , at the end of her work , she has to allude to Mormonism and spirit-rapping , forgets the philosophy' of such instances altogether , and surrenders her judgment to the general superstition . The story of tne progress of the colonies , and the growth of the whole continent in national freedom and independence , is deeply interesting . The story of the great war , and the mi g hty revolution , and the exploits of Washington , is exciting in the extreme . That of the administrations of

    Adams and Jefferson , and of Madison , and the war with Great Britain is mournfully instructive . Then , again , there is the Mexican War , the Annexation of Texas , the increase of territory California , the great national works , and proposed transit routes across the Isthmus uniting the Atlautic and Pacific oceans , and the great Pacific Railway . Mrs . Howitt has fairly brought her history down to the present time , and produced a work of permanent interest . It is

    published with great advantages , having been beautifully printed and profusely illustrated , a . ml will , no doubt , obtain a wide circulation . It is , in other respects , made to depend entirely on its intrinsic merits ; for Mrs . Howitt lias condescended neither to preface nor introduction . She starts at once on her history , pursues its course along tlie waving lines of its legitimate interest , and leaves it to speak for itself . This is bold and independent enough : but she is justified in this noble attitude that she has assumed ; having , notwithstanding a few faults , accomplished an excellent work .

    escaped being called to account for having married , being himself a commoner , an Indian princess . In 1621 , Virginia received a written constitution- —one similar to that of England , and which , fortunately , remained to be the model of all the Anglo-American governments . Yet , on the 21 st March , in the same year , the scattered white population were massacred by the Indians , without ^ it would seem , any provocation ; only Jamestown and the nearer settlements , which had been forewarned , were spared . Reprisals were afterwards taken by the settlors , and wrong begat wrong ; nevertheless , the spirit of liberty took deep root in the

    colony . Charles I . regarded it as a source of revenue derived from tobacco , arid endeavoured to gain for himself the sole monopoly of the trade . And it so happened that the Virginians took a liking to the royal cause ; accordingly , when Charles II . became a fugitive , Virginia was filled with cavaliers , who in their new home met to talk over their own and their country ' s sorrows , and to nourish loyalty and hope . We have no space to enter into the history of the colonisation of Maryland , or of Massachusetts ; but we must linger a moment with the Pilgrim Fathers . Mrs . Howitt compiles her narrative from the veracious chronicle of worthy old Thomas Prince , The Mayflower , with its important freightreached the harbour of Cape Cod , Nov . 10 ,

    , 1620 . All on board signed a convention before leaving the ship , thus forming themselves into a civil body-politic . It was winter , and the cold caused tlio death of many . After sufferings and wanderings , Providence directed them to their destined station . The next story of great interest is that of Robert Williams , the free-thinking pastor of Salem ;—but we must hasten forward . America had now become tlio place for the persecuted of all opinions ; yet they did not all escape persecution in the New World . The Quakers were victimised in Massachusetts . . On this part of her history Mrs . Howitt , of course , dwells in great detail . John JWiot preaching to tho Indians is ono of the best pictuieepisodos in the first volume . But Rhode Island , 01

    ibl privile A POPULAR HISTORY 0 V THE UNITED STATES 01 ? AMKUICA . lty Mnry Ilowltt . Illustrnttd wlt |> numerous engravliiR'n . H voIh . Longman , « row » , Clrcon , Longman , and Koborts The history of America lias boon so remarkable , both in respect to the principles which it develops , and tho puocoss of those p rinciples—and success , ¦ with so many , is the tost of truth—that to write it

    at lon « tU , through a liberal charter unarms *« .., became a secure refuge , for liberty of conscience . The settlement of Pennsylvania forms an intorestin » chapter . On such subjects , Mrs . Howitt feels Herself especially at home . Iho discovery of tho Mississipp i is a great event , m winch a a poetic imagination much delights . Tho English Revolution of 1688 aflbotad the American colonies . It , however , produced no ill Art-ants in Virginia ; but it destroyed tho claims of

    Lord Baltimore in Maryland . William Venn , more fortunate , recovered Ins province , and , otter " a low ? baptism of sorrow , " was nblo to return to it It , and other provinces , however , underwent various ) modifications . , It is now that wo begin to moot in American history with those upirltua manifestations which in those days have travelled into England . Mrs . Howitt relates , at largo the caae of the Salem witohorart , and states tho philo-

    Women", Past And Present : Exhibiting Th...

    WOMEN " , PAST AND PRESENT : Exhibiting their Social Vicissitudes , Single and Matrimoiiial Relations , Rights , Privileges , and Wrongs . By Jolm Wade .--Chas . J . Skeet . It was in Rome that woman was first treated with proper respect . The outrage on the s _ ex by the Sabine abduction was condoned by studied respect afterwards . Marks of distinction were conceded to Roman ladies . Chastity was in high esteem .

    The national delicacy was . extreme . Manlius , a patrician and senator , for saluting his wife , in presence of liis daughters , was accused of indecency , and struck off the list of their order by the censors . Women were allowed to share the priestly office . The vestals ranked high ; an insult to them was punishable with death . Such was tho homage paid by ancient Rome to woman . Modern Rome has deified her , and adores her as " the Mother of

    God . " In tracing the steps by which women have risen into importance , Mr . Wade lias committed a not unusual error . He regards the progress of the world as from a savage to a civilised state . There never has been any such progress . Savage states cannot improve themselves—savage tribes are dependent on missionary aid , and without it have never aimed at civilisation . It is u mistake to suppose the savage state to be the state of nature ; it is the state to which man may full from . a state of nature , but not the stato in which lie was originally created . The condition of woiimu in the early ages of the world was anomalous ; now depicted as exercising great influence ; now as

    suffering servitude . I lor counsel prevailed to tho ruin . of tho race , and sometimes to tlic ruin of governments . Where such influence wan not operative , barbarism had supervened ( in inan ' rt or iginal condition . But to characterise men living in cities , and enjoying the uvtriolTife , as barbarians , in 11 misuse of terms , or at any rate an exchange of the relative for tho absolute . It does not follow that because we are more oivilisod than tlie Egyptians , the Hebrews , the * Greeks , and tho Romans , that they wore not civiluu'd ut all . Nor is all progress that appears to be no . Many instances ladies

    modern and ancient are parallel , now as then sometimes squander enonaous wealth on the splendour of their costume . Tlio Paulina of Pliny dressed at supper in a network of . peavla and emeralds that cost forty millions of Hostorou : but " at tho first drawing-room of tho inaunihoont sybarite , George IV ., Mrs . Hour / Unrinjjrt headdress and other parts of hor costume formed a blasso of jewellery estimated nt luilt ' -u-millipn sterling , exceeding by nearly 200 , 000 / . iii vnluo the display of the Roman belle ; " and M ibb Uurdott Coutts once wore at the Queen ' s ) ball a Hmglo dress worth about 100 , 000 / ., and which hIio showed to Thomas Moore . Women both in Grcooo and Homo attained rank

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), June 25, 1859, page 17, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_25061859/page/17/