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    rr — - —j ^ Tof Catholicism high and in-? Ant but we do not share his antagonism to fttecause ^ a Polity-we oppose it because it is a £ ^ Thood If the doctrine were true , its incarnafn t a Poll y would be admirable . The writer , that the spread of Catholicism is not to be f Aalong the ignorant so much as among the Shly cuSed , an ' d among the Socialist working Ses ! That betrays an entire ignorance of the SnS condition of the working classes . If he Squire he will find there is no danger there . Jrrv to observe in so thoughtful a 10

    « r „ We are sorry u ^> - ,. 7 . writer the strange misunderstanding of Auguste Pomte ' s law of human development ( which , by the way , not applauded in Paris-to this day r-oMTE is better known in England , Germany , and Holland than in France ); and it strikes us as curious that the writer should imagine his illustration of the recent no-Popery cry is a refutation of the law . WhenCoMTE said that we hadouthyed the theological era he never meant that there were no longer theologians- *^ would have been

    denying the sun at noon ; but he said that whereas the theological explanation of phenomena was once the only explanation offered , and theology was science , now , for many years theology has been slowly driven out of the field of science , and lingers only in the crypts and dark places . Positive science claims as its own the material world . In politics and morals theology still rules ; but positive methods are slowly and surely encroaching even on that domain , and must finally reign there

    undisputed . The writer says that " Comte ' s law stands aghast" because in 1850 Englishmen have fretted about the trivialities of baptism , and the " aggression" of the Pope . Not so . The law is quite patent in 1850 , as the writer may see if he take a survey of our intellectual condition , and especially if he count the thousands who have abjured theology altogether—not only in science , not only in politics , but even in the more restricted sphere of religion itself .

    The fact of such a writer so misunderstanding Comte ' s meaning presses upon us the intention we have had ever since this Journal was established , of commencing a series of articles upon Comte ' s philosophy , with a view of rendering the study of his works facile and instructive . When some other matters are cleared off we will undertake this ta ^ k .

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    Not long ago Lamartine was in London what he saio here our readers remember with a smile ; but his object in coming here was not the philosophic idea of contemplating the vastness and grandeur of that England which his ancient colleague , Ledku Rollin , discovered to be in a decline ; he came to raise money . Perfide Albion jingles loose silver in its insolent pockets ; why should not French genius put its hand also into those pockets ? To a poet in want of cash the idea was an " inspiration . " Lamaktine came—he saw—he did not conquer . But that may be explained—the man be saw was a bookseller !

    lie came with a modest proposition to one of our notabilities in the trade . lie wanted to make the publisher ' s fortune . Nothing simpler than his plan . lie would write a work into which his whole soul was to be put : —palpitant d'actualitt : it would astonish Europe—and he would content himself with a poor five thousand pounds as honorarium . 1 he publisher would issue it simultaneously in ' 'Ugljind , France , and Germany , and thus secure an enormous profit . The reason why . Lamartink preferred an English publisher being that no 1 ' rench publisher was solvent 1

    Our countryman , with an indifference to Mammon worthy of a philosopher , declined the magnificent proposal ; and Lamahtink returned to France and noLd his work ( 1 ^ Histoire da Directolrc ) to an association of publishers for 12 , 0 ()() f ., winch lu > , hopes to get ; He has also sold his new novel ( uienlioiied by us as completed some weeks ll K <>) , In : Taillcur < l < : Pierre de Saint Point , to the

    Siicle newspaper , wherein it will shortly appear ( a hint for which translators may thank us ) . The mention of Lamartine and his History of the Directory reminds us that Gbanier de Cass agn ac , authorof the paradoxical , but lively work on the Causes of the French Revolution , has entered the field against him , and intends publishing his Histoire du Directoire in afeuilleton . Cassagnac

    is a type of the French journalist—a species of the genre humain , curious to the philosopher . By the way , some of our readers may be glad to hear that a journalist , Edmond Texier , has just written a little work , L'Histoire des Journaux , ouBiographie des Journalistes , which appears to be piquant ; but , now the writers sign all their articles , the book loses half its attractiveness .

    Signing your name seems no sufficient guarantee to the honourable Attorney-General of France . Last week we all read in the papers how the Vote Universel had been fined for an article bearing the signature of a certain Gilland , but written , said the Attorney-General , by George Sand . We knew at the time this was a falsehood . We knew that George Sand was the last person to disguise her opinions—to write under the responsibility of another—but we awaited her own contradiction of the gratuitous insult . This week she has done so .

    Her letter will make the Attorney-General blushif he can blush—it is so calm . She explicitly denies having written a line , or seen a line , of the article ; and , as to the faults of spelling , which the Attorney-General referred to in Gilland ' s private letters as a proof that he could not have written the article , Sand declares that she herself commits mistakes in orthography owing to the difficult and capricious rules of the French language , and adds , moreover , that , in an autograph letter from Rousseau , which she possesses , there are three mistakes in spelling in ten lines .

    Who shall count upon a public ? King Rene ' s Daughter , of which two translations have been played here with great success , with Mrs . Charles Kean and Mrs . Stirling as representatives of the heroine , has met with such utter condemnation in Paris , that the curtain was forced to descend in the middle of the second act—and this too with Rose Cheri , the darling of the public , and the most enchanting of actresses , playing the heroine !

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    " MERKLAND" AND " EASTBURY . " Merldand . A story of Scottish Life . By the Author of " Mrs . Margaret Maitlnnd . " 3 vols . Column . Uastbun / . A Tale . Hy Anna Harriet Drury , authoress of ' Friends and Fortune . " 1 vol . Wni . Pickering . Various reasons induce us to place these two works together , although in point of merit they are wide asunder . Both are written by women ; both contain sketches of female life in sequestered spots ; both err on the side of melodramatic incident ; and

    both have a stronger tincture of religion than is usual in novels . But the advantage is in all points on the side of Merkland . There we have free bright sketches of Scottish life , broad , yet full of detail ; and , at least , one character which reveals a masterly hand ; while with respect to religion , although the authoress is a Calvinist and defends Calvinism—a creed which our readers know is extremely repulsive to us—yet a genuine religious tone , solemn without cant , pious in the piety of the heart and not in the arrogance of the intellect , gives to its pages a charm which no one will resist . We cannot say the same of East bury . There is a great deal of religious talk and religious rhapsody in it . We will not question the writer ' s sincerity ,

    but we cannot disguise the fact that it jarred upon our minds like a discordant note . There is a nasal accent in its piety . Instead of the softening pathos which wo folt in Merkland , it rouses us to indignant opposition . This cannot be right . A religious tone which brings religion into contempt is fit only for the conventicle . Yet what feelirig short of contempt will bo inspired in the mind of any but a Methodist or an " advanced Christian , " by hearing so constantly that all human worth is worthless unless it be done for the Lord , unless the heart turn hypocrite to its own best instincts and say , ' * I do not love thee , my brother , out of tenderness ; I do not sacrifice my comforts or welfare because my heart overflows with love for thee , but because it is pleasing in the sight of the Lord will I do it . "

    This is making Heaven a savings bank ; and Earth a place not far removed from Hell . If Miss Drury wishes to see a truly religious characterone that throws her Lionel Revis into the shade even as a religious being—let her look at Mrs . Catherine Douglas , the central figure , and a grand one , of Merkland . We regret this tone the more because Eastbury is in some respects truly able . There are touches about her model parson which redeem the unreality of the whole ; and the unscrupulous Mrs . Barnard is a real bit of country life which

    thousands will recognize in their own acquaintance : a woman always foraging ; always dropping in upon you , or sending her girls to do it , just at meal time ; coming to your house to write notes ; slack in payment of bills , and adroit in extorting unwilling presents . Sir John Seymour is also happily sketched . As for the melodramatic Mrs . Hargrave and the incomprehensible Lord Eustaceas for Julia Seymour and Beatrice they belong to the regular " stock" of Circulating Libraries , and are perfectly wearisome . In Lady Lovel we expected to find a character from the portrait thus painted : —

    " Very different was the disposition of Lady Lovel , her mother ; in whose benignant face the struggler might read sympathy , and the penitent might look for comfort . Hers was the true religion of long and early growth , which , cherished and watered year after year , had taken root too deeply and spread too widely to leave room for the weeds of uncharitableness and satire . The suns and shadows of a long and chequered life had left many a line on her placid brow : but they were all as things gone by ; she was near her rest , and she knew it ;

    and the light of the city on whose borders she was waiting was reflected in the serenity of her smile . Feeble were her steps and dim her eye ; her hand had wellnigh lost its cunning , and her voice was low and tremulous ; but her work had been done in her hour of strength , and her weakness gave her now no trouble . Her hoary head was indeed a crown of glory , and everyone acknowledged its sway : there was not a house in the neighbourhood , from the highest to the lowest , that did not esteem itself honoured by her acceptance of any services they could render . "

    But nothing came of it ; the description stands in lieu of dramatic action . Miss Lloyd is very truthfully touched , and we give an extract from a scene with her : — " The church clock striking at this moment reminded them how time was speeding on , and one of their calls still unperformed ; and by mutual consent they rose and turned into the lane that led back to the village , to the comfortable dwelling of Miss Lloyd . 'My dear Miss Julia ! my dear Miss Jane ! well , this is a double pleasure , indeed ; ' was their first greeting at the old lady's garden-gate , where they found her with

    basket , scissors , and trowel , performing some of the mysterious agricultural operations wherein she took delight : 'My dear Miss Julia , I must have a kiss after such a long absence—there ' s a hearty one ! I am so gliid to see you . David told me ubout you yesterday , and he said you were looking so well : prettier ih : in ever , and quite a woman . Ha ! ha ! I have made her blush , haven ' t I , Mi 3 s Jane ? And how does your good papa do , and Mrs . Barnard , and Miss Letty , and Miss Hetty ? All well ? So glad to hear it : and dear kind Sir John , and her ladyship , and Lady Lovel , and Mr . Henry , and the dear children ? T saw them all yesterday : quite well ? That is good hearing . Come in , pray come in . '

    " They did eo , as soon as she would let them pass , and begged they might not interrupt what she was doing . "' Thank you , my dears ; you ' re very considerate suppose I just clear up a bit here , to leave the place tidy , against Davy comes in : he ' s so particular , you know , more of an old maid even than I am , and that is saying a great deal , isn't it ? Well , then , I'll go on , as I was saying : I was getting in my little crop of camomile : it is about time ; such a sweet season it has be on for camomile ; I never saw it finer : and I am rather

    proud of mine—all my own rearing : such a line thing , a little camomile tea is , the first thing in the morning : I wish you would try my receipt . You don ' t funcy it , perhaps ? Well , young people are upt to prefer the sweets to the bitters in everything ; you'll think differently by-und-bye , all in good time : but us I was saying about the camomile tea , if you would only persuude your good papa , Miss Juliu , to try it iu . steud of all thut bitter ale : it would do him a great deal more good ; twice as wholetiome , and not ( it all unplcatmnt ; rather refreshing than otherwise . "Will you prornine to try ?'

    " I would , Miss Lloyd , oertuinly , ' fiaid Julia , ' if I thought there was any chance of buccess . X do not like wuuting my good advice . ' ' ' My dear , Inn own sense will tell him : now there ' s Mr . Revis , our Mr . Greuthenrt , as 1 cull him . hu ! ha ! he complained of uuch a headache one day after walking in the sun , and I went him a comfortable jug of camomile tea , ull nicely rendy ; and I liuve never heard him com * plain since ; it is an infallible cure . ' ' * Did he drink it ? ' asked Julia , gravely .

    ' • Of course ho did , my dear ; at least , I never heard to the contrary : but I urn sure he must , he has been so well over wince . There , now that must do for the present , and we'll go in doors ; I have so muob . to Bay to you , 1 don ' t know how to begin . ' '" Never mind , ' said Julia , ' we will go on talking ;

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    is jAN . ) i 85 i . ] gfrr *»*»»* . 15

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 4, 1851, page 15, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1864/page/15/