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Leader (1850-1860), 27th August 1859, Edition 1 of 2, Page 989, Untitled Article

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    • ' LITERATURE.
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      Untitled Article

      Chevalier Maffei ? " then asked aloud « Is the t fSvalier a Milanese ? " "He is a Tyrolese ^ Jour Highness . " Such were the Lombardian celebrities whom the Austrian governor was in a position to present to distinguished foreigners when they visited those provinces . Happily , this will no longer be the case from the Varo to the Mincio , thanks to the inauguration of the national government , whose mission it is to cancel the Sisgrace of past times . But alas for the fate of the former fiueen of the Adriatic I She is still left to groan beneath the yoke of the foreigner . Of all the people of Italy and Europe , the Venetians have always been the most persevering

      defenders of their own independence . Their traditions of liberty are pre-historic . They united themselves to Kome voluntarily , not by compulsion . Upon the fall of the Empire of the Csesars , they protected their freedom and Latin civilisation in the Lagunes of the Adriatic , and there founded their glorious Venice . For thirteen centuries the Venetian Republic kept aloof fropa foreign contact , was the mistress of civil and political science , and famous in arms , arts , letters , cbmmerce , and riches . Faithful to the glorious and virtuous traditions of their ancestors , and morally strong in the legitimacy of their claims , the

      Venetians have never recognised the domination of Austria , and although compelled to submit to it have always shown their aversion . How boldly they asserted their right to independence in 1848 will be well remembered , and the defence of Venice in 1849 is one of the most glorious pages of their military history . Hard indeed must it have been for the poor Venetians to have received intelligence of the rejoicing and festivity of the Milanese on their happy exchange of foreign

      oppression for the patriotic and fraternal . role which they may confidently hope to enjoy now that they are united to Piedmont . The good king , while paying a visit to the hospitals , uttered a fewencouraging words to a Venetian volunteer , and concluded by observing , you must hope for the test . Repeated already many a time by the poor man and his fellow-sufferers , we trust they may reach the ear and calm the agitation of his fellow-countrymen , who are ' almost incredulous that while Lombardy is rescued they are to be left to their fate .

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      The Siecle , speaking of the prizes ^ proclaimed on Thursday at the annual sitting of the French Academy , says : — " M , Gilbert , who received a prize two years ago fora remarkable eulogiuin on Vauvenargues , obtains this year the prize for one . on Kegnard . M . Gilbert is the young man whose romantic marriage was at one moment a subject of conversation . Although a poor teacher , and the son of a workman , he married the wealthy Madlle . Schneider , whose brother he had educated . The prize for poetry has been carried ofly against 140 competitors , by a young female of twenty-five , a child of the teacher the produce of her lessons

      ' . ^ r A STORY by Mr . Charles Dickens , which has been long talked of , has at length made its appearance in the New York Ledger . It is called " Hunted Down , " and is intended for an illustration of life assurance . The American critics do not seem much struck with its beauties . The New York newspapers positively announce that Mr . Dickens has engaged to give a series of readings in the principal American cities for a consideration of 10 , 000 / . We believe it is true that an offer of this nature has been made to our illustrious countryman , but we are not aware that he has accepted it . Lord Brougham is at present staying at Tynemouth , enjoying the fresh breezes of the North Sea . It is the intention of several of the mechanics' institutes and working men ' s institutes on the Tyne to present addresses to his lordship .

      people , a , living on in the midst of her family of artisans . She has written a charming piece of poetry , full of simplicity ana devoid of all declamation . It is M . Legouye who is charged to read these two prize works . The name of the young woman is Madlle . Ernestine Drouet ; she was pupil of Beranger , who took great pains with her , and at the age of eighteen she obtained the diploma of superior instruction . Mr . Laurence Oliphant is expected to deliver a lecture , on China and Japan , in Dunfermline about the end of Optober , a subject on which , from his o » Dortunities as private secretary to Lord Elgin , he

      is peculiarly qualified to instruct . his hearers . The library of the late Baron de Humboldt , bequeathed by him to Jiisold valet , has been purchased for 40 , 000 thalers , the Vienna journals state , by Lord Bloomfield , Minister of England at Berlin . The prospectus of the lectures to be delivered during the ensuing Michaelmas educational term by the several readers appointed by the inns of court has alsp been published . ¦ .. ,, „ , „ , - We find the following in the Critic ;— " Mr . Bohn ia shortly about to publish a new edition of the complete works of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu , edited

      by Mr . Moy Thomas . Wo navo aireauy uuu «« wvsion to notice very favourably this gasman ' s literary labours in connection with some of the most interesting volumes in the series of Aldjne poets . The forthcoming edition of the works of tho clever and eccentric lady in question , will contain , wo bq-Sdve much new and curioils matter concerning Sf and many of her contemporaries . The editor as-wi know , possesses a very accurate knowfedgeofthYperiod of literary history and w « look sfes ? ss ? stf s $ ssb ^ # Uotooer

      will BrobaWy appear on tho 15 th of next , ond ? B wrfea Ve continued monthly or quarterly accord ing to the wish of tho majority of subscribers , TboTubJ cripUon lias been wisely fixed at tho vow low sum of 48 . per annum . Wo have examined tho ftOT ? Solmen pages of tho ¦ proposed index . , and hoartily approve of ita plan . It is to contain , in alplmbetioal order the titles of all books and pam-SSoUl P « WI » hod from time to time . It will probably also include extracts from tho leading reviews

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      the act of its predecessor , and repudiate a state commercial agreement , thereby destroying private mercantile interests , and injuring public credit . Suppose an ocean postal mail contract entered into , and confirmed by the usual seals , signatures , and documents . Steam-ships are immediately ordered and constructed , wharves and warehouses are built , leased , and purchased ; transit , coaling , and other arrangements are made ; stations and depots organised , officers and servants are appointed ; and lastly , shares are taken up by those in whom still greater confidence than they might otherwise have felt , is created by the Government grant . We are of opinion , that were such a thing to take place , as the repudiation by one government of the contracts of its predecessor , the law would supply a remedy , so far as individual persons are concerned . But in

      of a nation are . not involved ; and , secondly , it is a renewal of a contract at a distant period of time . Four new swift steamships are already , we understand , being rapidly constructed for the Gal way line . But , after all , this is a lesser evil . If an act of re ^ pudiation on the part of a Government should cause even the disasters of the British Bank , it is nothing in comparison with the indignation and odium that would be evoked in Ireland by a course so fraught with folly and peril . We anticipate no such calamity , but the sooner that an official announcement is made of a nature calculated to set the minds of Irishmen perfectly at rest on this subject , the better , we are inclined to think , it will be for all parties . ^

      the case of the Galway grant , no legal indemnification of the losses of a company , its shareholders , and all immediately connected with it , would satisfy the people of Ireland they had not sustained a last deadly wrong by the arbitrary suppression of a conceded right . No ministry could stand against the storm that would be raised . No Irish constituency ; not even , we believe , that of Limerick , would return a member unpledged to . oppose , the Government that had dealt so deadly a blow at Ireland , as the repudiation of the Galway contract ! There would be no precedent for such an act save among some of the repudiating States of America , which alleged that their legally elected government was corrupt , and that . consequently the agreements into which they had entered were void .

      The pen of . a Sydney Smith , which characterised this conduct on the part of some of our American kinsmen , might well be employed in the defence of Irish interests , were a similar repudiation to be similarly defended . The King of Portugal has just granted a subsidy to an Eng lish , Portuguese , and Brazilian company , of which the Duke of Saldanha is a director . What would be thought if his Majesty should quarrel with the Duke , and arbitrarily set the contract aside ? ' It is needless to dilate on the outcry that would ensue .

      Although , however , but little importance may be attached by sensible and well informed men and the mercantile portion of the community to the threatended disturbance of the Irish mail postal contract , it is a pity that a final assurance has not been made , ere the rising of Parliament ! since the disturbing question has been once mooted . The Irish are credulous by nature and mistrustful by habit . They were slow to believe that such an act of justice would be conferred on Ireland , and difficult to persuade that it really had been done . No sooner , however , had the grant been confirmed by a British Government , and the" last doubt of the least confiding Irishmen been on the point and verge of dismissal to the limbo of O'Connellite glory , when a

      • fresh contingency arises , which invests the whole matter with \ mcertainty again . " I told you so " is the cry of chronic distrust . " Ireland is still to be the victim of cruel impolicy and wrong . " Then comes an article of our contemporary , the' * leading " journal , which spoke of the hard-earned money of the Englishman being lavished on the Celt , in the most barren and reckless manner , and speaks of Ireland as if she were an unprofitable colony , or rather an alien country ; as if the money to be given for the subsidy were scattered over the Goodwin sands , or sown upon some rooky island in the uttermost part of the world . Whereas , the benefit likely to aoerue to this country and her exchequer , from this act of bare j ustice to Ireland , is

      incaleu-THE IRISH MAIL SUBSIDY . Ibishmen are , naturally enough at this moment , somewhat in a ferment on the subject of the Mail Contract Committee . It has been hinted and suggested , and , in some select coteries , positively affirmed , that the Oalway subsidy is in danger of repudiation by a too . virtuous Government . Consequently , grand juries , boards of guardians , and all the various corporations , and local associations throughout Ireland , with few exceptions , have been speechifying , memorialising and petitioning against so rampant an injustice and preposterous an exhibition of impolicy as interference with a grant , which constitutes the most popular act of grace ever conferred by . the hands of the Saxon , since the establishment of the Union , and we need hardly specify

      for how how long a time before . We do not think that the Irish people have any real occasion to be alarmed . Certainly , they do rig . h , t to exhibit some degree of sensitiveness , while there is still any scintilla of a doubt about the matter . Had the merchants , landowners and professional men of Ireland shown the same zeal , energy and unanimity formerly—had they interested themselves as they now appear to . do , there would have been nn Irish steamship line long ere tho undertaking was started , and carried out by an enterprising Manchester individual , which bids fair to inaugurate q . new era of prosperity and consequent * tranquiljty in Ireland . Wo hold it to be impossible

      to disturb this contract , in spite of the hint thrown out by the late committee , that they were desirous that the other contracts should undergo the ordeal of Parliamentary investigation . Let them do so , by all means , we say , if any good can possibly arise . But beyond an indiscreet hustings speech of angolio Purity , compared with Sir James Graham ' s vehement orations , we do not believe , from what we have seen and heard of the circumstances under which the Galway subsidy was granted , that there " exists a einglo fact which ought to militate against Us stability . Even in an ordinary case , the proof of fraud or corruption , of bribery and connivance , should be clear and undeniable , before a Government can annul

      lable . We may count it in specie , or estimate it by the blessings of pacification . We are at present paying about ( 500 , 000 * . a year for an Irish constabulary . The amount spent in prisons , in trials , and the organisation and maintenance of the coercion system , can scarcely bo estimated . England will gain by increased and more rapid' communication with her best market—the United States , and her most important colonies of North America . She will gain commercially , by improved and more frequent postal and telegraphic communication . Is it possible that any one can be really blind to this , or must we reluctantly attribute an advocacy so unpatriotic to something beyond prejudice ?

      Wo cannot for a moment yield to the beuof that in this most " exceptional" case anything will bo really done to violate the engagement into which the late Government entered with the Galway Line Company and tho Irish people . If so , it is a pity that any doubt should bo allowed to remain in the public mind , either in this country or in Ireland , as to the stability—we will not say confirmation— -of the grant . In tho Dover contract affair there is a great and striking difference in the circumstances , without referring at all to the merits or demerits of any of the parties concerned , either on ono side or tho othor-j the late Government or the contractors . That difference lies in two facts : —• In tho Dover case , firstly , the interests , the loyalty , and the prosperity

      Untitled Article

      LITERARY NOTES OF THE WEEK . ¦¦ -

      ' Literature.

      ' LITERATURE .

      Untitled Article

      No . 4 Q 2 . Aug . 27 , 1859 . 1 THE LEADEB , 989

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 27, 1859, page 989, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2309/page/17/