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Leader (1850-1860), 18th September 1852, Edition Town of 2, Page 905, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      medieval in its cast , his subtlety and vigour of thought , his earnest l anguage , 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 , irresistibly 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 Review were not gathered into a separate volume , the more so as they had been republished in Prance 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 Meid's W orks ( 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 nattering respect , now that the unworthy tricks by which Cousin gained 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 equallyefficacious—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 Rev . Arthur Johnson ' s translation of Tennemann ' s History of 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 JUpistolce Obscurorum Virorum , and an article on the revolutions in Medicine apropos to Dr . Cullen ' s X / ife .

      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 Reform . A copious index is added , which , in such a library of learning as this volume , is more than ever indispensable .

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      BOOKS ON OUR TABLE . Switzerland and Savoy . With a Map . I ) . Bogue . Tins , the second of JBogue'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 Knglislnnan ' s notions of " indispensables ; " but if Mr . Bogue continue resolutely to produce accurate and available Guides he will gain his public at last . Midland ' s History of the Crusades . Translated from tho French by W . Robson . V <) 1 - m - . George Itoutlodge . Tins , the third volume , completes Mr . Hobson ' s translation of Michaud ' a learned ; md indispensable work on the Crusades ; a worthy undertaking worthily executed . An ample index is judiciously added . ' ¦ Nile Notes of a ITawadji ; or , the American in TJqyjpt . Tiy G . W . Curtis . If . Vizeldly . 'I " 19 is the fourth volume of tho pleasant series of " Keadablo Books . " We like »• less than its predecessors . Mr . Curtis , though a man of talent , has " great a ' * !( -tations , " and there is something mechanical in the caprices of his style . There » ' ¦«! some amusing Notes , however , made on the Nile , and the book is well ' Unstr . ited . ie S < ifires of Juvenal , Persins , ( fitlpicia , and Tjitcih ' us . Literally translated into " ' 'iigliHh Prose . By ( ho Rov . Lewis Uvans , M . A . ( Holm ' s Classical Lihran / . ) ,, , . H . G . " Holm . 11 'U is the Litest addition to Bohn ' s Classical Library , and is one of the- most ¦ hM I l 5 <' rtltl ral I «•<>«< ' version , the metrical translations of ( Jillord are << , and in tho notes many of Dryden ' s happy lines are quoted by way of varion I'eiidingM .

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      - "'ivinex ; or ticri ptuni References for Schools and Families . l \ y Miffll Ann . ' / ' /„ . y . ' ' It . Thoolmlrf . '' I ill ¦"*'"¦ ''/><¦ '' *•«•'» Ihinqhter . My Hannah Tiiiwrnu < i « . A . OoHfHhaw . A It ' ,, // - i /' ' /"" / v " " > - " V VV . II . Rol . orlHOii . Hi-udliiiry an . I Ifivaiw . l << nnl , lc » '' ' . """ "'" ' ' ' ' ' ¦"'• h Frontier info North Spain . My TAimt . March . Uii-luml Hnntloy . 77 ,,. // "" , ' . ' ; ' ' »• "'«*/ ' . in North and South America . My IC . Mullivu . il . Kichard Mondo ' y . 'I'hr l > ' , " ¦ ' "''' '"" ' > " ¦ <»¦ , the Attainder . , 'J voIh . - Kiolmrd . HcntloV . '" ' '' tt'rurii The ( lentfcman of tho Old School . My Q . V . it . . Tfinwn . li ' iniiiintHn a ¦ HimniH and M'lntyre . ''' '"¦ I'i I "" . fil'O' f'it" (¦ /• urch . My Non-OloriciiH . Longman andOo . '' ''"¦ Oh ,, " , !""'¦ " "" k- ' - Addoy and Co . < f l' - < nii ,, " r " JII " ! I <> " ¦/<»• 1 l <»/ i > and Cirh . Aililoy and Co . f ] '' <»¦!>/< ,, ' r /' " , '• " !'"' ° " ' MoMi . A ( tuidr for the . Emigrant in Australia . Adiloy and Co . '' ' In- tte . L ' '""";'"'•/// ' I ' -eoli-xiaHtical Journal . ' Bimirkin , Murnhall and Oo . N l * l > imZ lllrt '' X " XVII . . 1 . WalHoii . ' ! ' /„¦ / ,- „ ,, ' . " . " . " <> " / ' <« l <'< tnctum » of the I . uihjh . lly H . H . FiU-h . 1 ,. 11 . Chiuidldr . A «»•/«/¦• / , '" ! . r '' " t ' ' '• " fi' »»> . ' My Vimn . x . ' W . and F . ( LCuhU . ''' '"¦ Vhiil ' l " tP ' '" , " " N " < " - < il ititfMn of Man . . Immw Walm . n . « * 'rut Idl ! tUr Hook . Tho Child ,, Second Letter Book . My Ch J . } lo ) . yoalf « . N ' » ' < 'IIlt ' Srhn ,, l 1 > , :, JllllMtH WatHOIl . r *'">« nul ! ! "" " / ' ShMk ' ¦ ' ¦ A . TV « v « llo . " «>>< lci : n ,. ' ' '"' / J "' ' "t "> - 1 ' o * ition in Church , * , lly \ V . Hparlt . J . A . Novollo . t'vmleVa Oil // " ' , " "'"' <¦>« !<''«« > »« fiwU Score . . 1 . A . Novollo . w , Alexander , Must , in Vocal { Scorn . J . A . Novollo

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      September 18 , 1852 . ] THE LEADER . 905

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      V . December 12 , 1851 . ^ S ^ O you , my dear Giorgio , I must write this time , because I have such ¦ JJsjBpP things to tell that I would rather address to your own manly eyes t ^ fi ^ j than to the sisterly- eyes of our dear Helen . Not that there is { g ] 0 * $ @ anything which , upon a necessity , I should fear to tell to that most liouiu is winuii levereui iruui aiul ten

      lauy , as mere uvimiig muy 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 know , 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 ; " but of course I must beat the rascal . " So he was laying out his money as fast as he could in 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 , hut 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 check , 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 u disclosure : she did not mind telling me , she said ; smd 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 , sis if expecting a disclosure ; and I was left with Mrs . Johnson and her cousin , I asked what would become of the girl ? " Ah f that is what I said to her ! " cried Mrs , Johnson ; but evidently she had said it more as a reproach than xs ami inquiry of interest' —more for threat than help . The girl had obstinately refused to confess who the father was ; " but I have my impressions , " said Mrs . Johnson , in atone 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 , " said the excellent matron , in the same tout ; as before . 1 plended that , however erring in the orthodox view , her condition might demand some compassionate aid . " She is a worthless 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 ; let us say no more about it . These things sire 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 " the worst of fates ; " it was lenient to ignore her ; and the 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 , tn « young ladies dropped in by degrees ; Miss Selby dried her outraged feelings , and needlework resumed the placid hour . I went to Stanhope ' s , and the transition from that quiet drawing-room to his ' studio wns invigorating . One seemed to burst out of tame custom into the free life of sirt , counterpart of nature . Copies of Titian ' s breathing men-portraits , the fighting gl . idiiitor , a storm by ( iaspar Poussin , pieces of armour , drapery thrown here and there , sketches of models , male and female , n gauntlet touched with rust and with the tints of the psdette near it , a pair of foils cast down negligently on the 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 the two principal figures wort ; the clerical Alfred Conway , sitting

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      We should do our utmost to encourage the Beautiful , for the Useful encourage itself . — Goethe .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 18, 1852, page 905, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1952/page/21/