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movement whereby the sound is made to echo the sense . " The Bride of Corinth , " as we have said , Tuidbubtedly possesses high merit—hut its perfection ( if it be perfect ) is that of structure ; the verbal construction is rather coldly correct , or technically artificial . "We suspect that by the English reader " The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus" -will be prer ferred . The translators apologise for not rendering the poems , entitled as a series , "in the manner ot the antique , " in the classical measures of the original . Their apology was needed . Justice cannot be done to these poems in any other measures ; and their theory on this score we are bold to consider erroneous . On the whole , however , we think that their task has been admirably performed .
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FOREIGN GRATITUDE . Narrative of'Services in the Liberations of &hili , Peru and Brazil , < $ c . By Thomas , Earl of Dundonald , G . C . B . In Two Volumes . James Ridijway . What man of liberal education , possessing a spark of chivalry or love of daring , can see or hear the name of Cochrane with indifference ? During the early part of this century , when our navy was engaged in those gigantic contests which left it . undisputed , mistress of the seas , when acts of personal valour were so common that it was rather the exception than the rule for a seaman not to have
distinguished himself , Lord Cochrane was pre-eminent for his daring . Zejplus brace des braves ; some of his acts appear like romance rather than reality . Who does not remember with pride his leading of the fire-ships into the Basque roads , or the wonderful pluek that dared attack , and capture too , a large Spanish frigate , in the Speedy ten-gun brig ? Recalling these feats , and comparing them with what was done , or rather left undone , in the Russian war , we almost , sigh for the good old times . Lord Cochrane was driven from our service ; " but he promises us , " should God spare his life" ( for he
is now eighty-three years or age ; , other volumes relating to his early career , with explanations of the intrigues which brought this calamity upon the country : for a calamity the loss of such an officer undoubtedly was ; his subsequent restoration being jprimajizcie evidence that , his dismissal was unjust . In the year 1817 , being thus out of employment , and too active , too enterprising in mind and body to remain idle , oiir author accepted the command , or rather formation , of the Chilian Navy , and , under circumstances which rendered the smallest success ^ wonderful , brought it to such efficiency that
in two years he swept the Spaniards from the Pacific , ensured the independence of Chili , and secured that of Peru . In this service his deeds supported his former reputation . The cutting out of the frigate Esmeralda from under the batteries at Callao is almost unequalled in the annals of naval daring ; and we may recommend the capture of Valdivia to the perusal of modern naval men as one more proof , if proof were needed , that stone walls as against ships are only formidable to those who fear them . It was as due to the country , as to Lord Cochrane
himself , that these volumes should have been written to disprove the abominable calumnies heaped upon this distinguished hero . By members ot his own profession , to its shame , he has been termed a buccaneer , —a pirate by those lie served , —and by men to whom he gave liberty , " a thief of the seas . " But these were either tho contemptible enviers of his fame or the real " thieves of the seas" who used the services and lives of Cochrano and his men to purchase national independence and personal freedom , and rewarded their benefactors by leaving thorn to starve in nakedness . Such arc the almost incredible and damning acts of dishonesty and cruelty that will rest for ever as a stain upon the honour of the Governments of Chili and Peru .
We believe that during the whole two years and a half of his command neither lie , his officers , or seamen , dver received ono farthing of pay , nrize money , provisions , or clothing of any kind . After havjtag put to sea they actually sustained themselves as best they could upon their prices , with the oxception of the soteuro at Ancon of money belonging to tho Chilian Gbvernmput , but wliioh the traitor Eton Martin was applying to his own purposos . After the return of the squadron to Valparaiso no notice -was taken of their condition , and an address , signed by all tlio captains , was forwarded to tho Government , of whioh tho following is a short extract : — - B , ^ Permit us , therefore , to cull to the notice of tho Go *
yerriment that since our return to Valparaiso with our naked crews , even clothes have been withheld ' for four months , during which no payment has been made , the destitute seamen being without blankets , ponchos , or any covering to protect them from the cold of winter , the more severely felt from the hot climates in which they have for nearly three years been employed . With ships and seamen thus neglected , with treachery , fraud , and insult to contend with , did bur hero proceed with his duty ; and , having brought it
to a successful termination , left the Chilian service in disgust , not only without any substantial reward , but actually without mere pay or prize money . These would have amounted , according to the rules of any other service , to probably 100 , 000 ; ., and it was not until thirty years afterwards that the ungrateful , and , as regards this transaction , contemptible state he had saved , took advantage of the ruin it had : brought upon its deliverer to settle with him for 6000 / . in full of all demands .
The . second volume relates entirely to Lord Cochrane ' s connexion with Brazil . Here his services were of a still more extraordinary description , although less dashing than those on the western coast . His blockade of Bahia with one single vessel , the enemy ' s squadron numbering thirteen sail—his daring-entry into that port with his flagship in the dead of night , and his . pursuit of that squadron for days and nights during its retreat to Portugal , were " achievements which few but he would have attempted . They , however , emancipated Brazil from the Portuguese yoke ; but instead of the gratitude which such aid should have inspired , opposition , bad faith , arid even persecution , were Cochrane ' s euerdon . Following the example of
the Chilians , the Brazilians left the squadron unpaid , impounded its prize . money , and condemned the admiral in . the Prize Court to heavy damages . In explanation of such wickedness and folly , _ it should be told that poor Brazil had , placed her infaut liberties in the hands of her enemies , the Portuguese , who did their best to strangle them in their birth . Such intrigues were , for many years , too successful . They drove Cochrane from the service , they lost the sovereign his crown , and they have created confusion in the empire almost to the present day . This it is which accounts for the periodical popular risings of the Brazilians against the Portuguese ; . but these ifc is to be hoped will cease as the causes are removed .
Lord Cochrane next saved to the empire its norfhern provinces , which had revolted and proclaimed an independent republic ; but we cannot' say we are so well satisfied with his Lordship ' s explanation of his proceeding at Marauham , to which exception has been taken . After the treatment his squadrons had received in Chili and Brazil , we can see how he was justified in forcing the Junta of Maranham to refund 100 , 000 dollars ; and we have no doubt that this sum was honourably disposed of ; but it does appear to us incredible that Lord Cochrane should have transhipped his flag tp the Pi ran ga with the
sole view of taking a cr \ iise to a colder climate , when by sailing south he would have attained the same oibjeot , and would not have been guilty of leaving his post . We are forced to the conclusion , therefore , that when Cochrano left Maranham in the Piranga , he purposely— 'fearing tho consequences of his act if ho returned to Rio—set sail for England , and that when he got there , he detained his trigatc until he attained his object , namely , dismissal from the Brazilian service . If this , our impression , is right , Lord Cochrano was wrong not to avow the whole truth ; for , the war being over , ho might ; have justified the step by reference to the known hostility of tho Portuguese faction . Wo trust , however ,
that these volumes will cause tho Brazilian Government to do him tardy justice . That Government lias now a wide reputation for good faith , that it wcro pity should bo tarnished by continued ingratitude * and injustice to its deliverer , The present prime minister , the Marquis of Olinda , has already given his opinion that Lord Cochrane ought to bo paid his claim in full . Upon this distinguished man , and , indeed , on others in tlio Administration—Souza Franco , for instance—whoso liborality and sense of justice are not exceeded oven b y thoir powers of intolloot , the last appeal of tho Ill-used veteran will surely not bo thrown away . Lot , however , the experience of Lord Coohrano bo a warning to British offiaers against tendering thoir sorvicos to foreign states without some " material guarantee . " Wo rojoico that those volumes have appeared , They provo boyond question tho chivalrous character and tho reasonable diuintorostednoss of our gallant oountryman . They
show that he was no mere sailor of fortune , bat a statesman of enlightened views , and a lover of rational liberty .: , ^ , . Clearly and graphically written , with here and there a pleasing dash of sentiment , they will interest not only the profession , but all who love to read of daring men and daring deeds .
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THE BOOK OF JOB . The Booh of Job ; the Common English Version , the Hebrew Text , and the Revised Version . With an Introduction , and Critical and Philological Notes . By T . J . Conant , Professor of Hebrew in Rochester Theological Seminary . Triibner and Co . This is the first part of a learned work on an interesting subject—the oldest dramatic production in the world . The " revised version" is very carefully done , and has many points of excellence . It . is the move to be welcomed , as the received translation in King James ' s Bible is perhaps the most inaccurate of all the books that compose it . Tile
argumentative character of the drama renders it necessary that it should be translated with the nicest precision . In his " Introduction" Mr . Conant deals intelligently with the commentators , particularly Ewald and Hengstenbcrg , to whoso views he severally objects , leaving his own , meanwhile , to be inferred . But , after all , the grand solution of the whole , as a poem , though obvious enough on the very face of the record , is comp lacently passed over by all the writers . ' We iind in it the earliest traces of the classical idea , thai ; the struggles of mankind form dramas and spectacles
for the gods . The action of the Book of Jpb is initiated to satisfy one of the angels , whether the hero , was not susceptible to certain temptations , and the trial is . ¦ p ermitted . by the Supreme to gratify the curiosity of his minister . Why superior spirit ? should require this sort of investigation , or wh y they should be permitted to indulge in this species of amusement , is a transcendental question not susceptible by its nature of an answer . The Book of Job justifies it on the ground of its perfect innocence . There are some amusements which arcsports to one party and death to the , other . The trial and temptation of Job were not of that kind . They were overruled for his benefit , and brought Him out in an attitude of triumph both ! in regard to
his temporal fortunes and his moral nature The last , indeed , is the one great triumph of the argument , the former only its result . He is made to feel that the most righteous man is necessarily yet a sinner , inasmuch as he is human , by the very constitution of his nature and its original projection , lie is willing , therefore , to submit to any put ward evil that may serve as a corrective to his inward proclivity , however painful it may be . This we find , from his answer to his wife , that he was willing to do from the iirst ; but he miscalculated his powers of endurance . Tho most patient of men , he was yet not patient enough , and was forced at last by his sufferings to doubt the justice of their iniliction . But at tho point where his natural heroism fails , divine power ( as in many subsequent Grecian dramas ) interposes and restores tho overtasked
victim to more than his former position in worldly rank and moral dignity . The difficulty about , EUliPj which Mr . Gonant and tho commentators he has consulted cannot see their way through , is boat solved by tho Vlutohinsonian interpreters , as what tho theosophists term a thcophany ; But this is a view which scarcely belongs to mere literary oriticism , and may therefore properly enough not bo entitled to a place in tho work before us ; perhaps it is exclusively of a theological character , and an assumption besides that would entirely preclude nil controversy . This would not well harmonise with the purposes and interests of thoso who would fain live by it , as the JSphcsian traders did by their Diana .
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THE QUARTERLIES . Tina Westminster Rjkviisw . —Tho Anglo -political urticlo Of tho present numbor , an ossay on " Reform of Parliament , " touches on extension of fluflYnge , bal lot , prevailing defects in tho process of legislature , tho nocossity of life peerages , &c , nml is interesting . ' . With respect to aeorot voting the roviowor has sagaciously hit a blot when 4 io nrguoa that instead of intimidation being removed thereby tho rich and arbitrary will still have tlio power of establishing a rolgn of terror unless Byrttonwtlo taciturnity or decoit is to provuii among tlio elass ot voters who now suflbr by intimidation . Tho evils ol botching legislature might bo lessoned , tho author thinks , woro Parliament to discriminate between laws
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78 THE LEADER . [ No . 460 j January 15 , 1850 .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 15, 1859, page 78, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2277/page/14/
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