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Leader (1850-1860), 12th November 1859, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1254, Untitled Article

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      tions to be made from documentary testimony . In fact , these arguments all want re-opening , and discussion by men inheriting the faith which inspired the conduct of the heroic men and -women to whom they relate . Among the latter , Mr . Kingsley reckons Queen Elizabeth , whom ¦; . he would re-enthrone in English hearts as the glorious and Protestant virgin monarch , who was content to "know no other husband than the English people . " She had vowed it , and well she had kept her vow . In her defence he is some-: times roused to indignation , and , as it seems to us , justly . Here is a passage which merits reprinting again and again .: —< - ¦

      < " Wemust try to realise to ourselves the way in which such men as Raleigh looked not only at Elizabeth , but at all the world . There was , in plain . palpable fact , something about her , her history , her policy , the times , the glorious part which England , and she as the incarnation of the then English spirit , were playing upon earth , which raised imaginative and heroical souls into a permanent exaltation—^ a fairy-land / as they called it themselves , which seems to Us fantastic , and would be fantastic in us , because we are not at their work , or in their days . There can be no doubt that a number of as noble men as ever stood together on the earth did worship that woman , fight for her , toil for her , risk all for

      her , with a pure chivalrous affection which has furnished one of the beautiful pages in all the book of history . Blots there needs must have been , and inconsistencies , selfishnesses , follies ; for they too were men of like passions with ourselves ;¦; . ; but let us look at the fair vision as a whole , and thank God that such a thing has for once existed even imperfectly on this sinful earth : instead of playing the part of Ham , and falling under his curse ; the penalty of slavisliness , cowardice , loss of noble daring , which surely falls on any generation which is ' banausos , ' to use Aristotle's word—which rejoices in its fore-: fathers" shame , and unable to believe in the nobleness of others , is unable to become noble itself . "

      There are also noble papers on the poets Tennyson is deservedly lauded- ; and the merits and influence of Byron and Shelley philosophically discussed . The poetry , too , of Mr . Alexander Smith and Alexander Pope is compared , and what the production of such poetry implies is significantly hir ? ted . Mi * . Kingsley ^ looks at all these things in their moral and spiritual aspects , not fearing' to be profound in a shallow age - For this we admire him . He has also some fine outspoken thoughts on Burns and his school , doing justice to Robert Nicoll , of whose verses . enough has not been made .

      . There are altogether twenty eloquent essays in these two Tohimes , each of them deserving an elaborate investigation ; This , of course , space will not permit to us . But why regret the narrow bounds , within which we are imprisoned " r" We have been able to utter a voice which we trust will set readers thinking , and send them to the book itself for the full enjoyment of the writer ' s genius .

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      HIJSrOHURIDQK HAUNTED—A Ghost Story , By Geo . Oupplcs , author of " The Green Hand , ' " The Two irrigates . "—Edinburgh : Nimmoj London : Simpkin and Marshall . ' Mb . Cufm . es commenced his career as a naval novelist ; his story of " The Green Hand , " which appeared in " Blackwood ' s Magazine " few years back , gave " evidence of his becoming ' one of the most promising writers of the Marryatt school of fiction . His next story , " The Two Frigates , " confirmed the favourable impression its author had made ; and Professor Masson , in his little book on ? ' Novelists and their Styles , " speaks of him as one of the representatives of the naval sohool of fiction . Why , having , according to Mr . Maason , gained a position as a delineator of naval

      life , he should write a ghost story , of ( juiet village life , it is hard to say . With the most popular fictionista a " ghost story " is now-a-days a formidable undertakings ; but it is doubly so to a young writer who has nardly won his spurs . It would be injustice , however , to judge of Mr . Oupples ' present work by his previous ones . A writer , of course , is free to choose what subject he likes : but the critic judges of a writer ' s last production by bis . preceding one . Compared , then , with " The T 7 wp SPrigotes , " " Hinohbndge Haunted " is a very inferior -work . In the first : place it is not a ghost 8 tory , < ttnd in the second , though the time or the Btorywvm the reign of George the JVmrth , the n ^ uiusTa and , customs generally of the characters ase fthjq ^ , of th « pjpeswt , day , Xhe " ghost etory "

      is this : An old man ( supposed to be dead , Mr . Gupples ?) suddenly appears in the little village of Hinchbridge , and becomes rich nobody knows now ^ and nobody cares to inquire of him , on account of his exceeding irritable temper ; consequently he is suspected of the worst crimes by the villagers . Ultimately , however , he turns out to be the brother of the widow at the Grange , which establishes his respectability . Of course there is a love story , but old

      the character of this disagreeable and snappish man and his serio-comic servant are by far the most entertaining personages in the book , and their sayings and doings create in us the most interest . Though the faults are those that the most superficial reader of fictions will observe , the work will not the less be read when once it is taken up . For ourselves , however , we would rather the writer had written a sea story than one of village life—a subject on which he is evidently unqualified to write . ¦ . .

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      Asstjrance Magazine and Journal of the Institute of Actuaries . ( Vol . 8 , Part V . )—The paramount utility of this work should recommend it to general attention . The principle of assurance is applicable to . everything , and in all cases is of beneficial operation .. But care and caution are re quisite in the business arrangements , and the casualties to which it is liable should be looked boldly in the face . To this topic the leading article of this journal especially directs attention . The conditions under which assurances are liable to forfeiture should not be severe , nor should they be exacted with rigour . The article is followed by another , concerning the medical estimate of life for life assurance . After sixty is voteda very dangerous age , Obesity , too , is objectionable , and so is excessive spareness .

      The period of marriage , also , especially with fast livers , has its . perils . And what of the Use of tobacco ? Why , this : " The habit of . smoking tobacco , which has recently been the subject of _ so much illogical argument , deserves a passing notice . There is no evidence whatever to show that this practice , when had recourse to in moderation , and not complicated with spirit-drinking , at all tends to shorten the duration of life . Addiction to it In great excess may , doubtless , induce dyspepsia , nervous affections , possibly paralysis — certainly delirium tremens . " These articles , with others on general subjects , such as a Uniform Decimal System , the First American Life , Underwriter ' s Convention , and the foreign intelligence , make altogether a very good number .

      Parent's Cabinet contains , as usual , six articles of considerable merit . North British Review ( No . LXII . ) . — This number contains a series of important articles on important topics . Here is one on Baden Powell's " Order of Nature . " The reviewer is an outspoken critic ; he dislikes especially Mr . Powell ' s Doctrine of Miracles . There is also an excellent article on the new Exegesis of Shakspeare , and the question of races . Some acute remarks are made , and the theorist is met with mingled praise and blame . The remaining papers aro of fair average excellence . West . of Scotland Magazine ( Now Series ) , No . LXI , ( Hutcheson Campbell ) . —The table of contents presents subjects of interest , which , for the most part , are intelligently treated .

      Historical { Magazine Notes and Quehies ( No . X ) . ' —This periodical is always entertaining , and the number before us contains much to amuse and edify . , . < , Poetical Work ; s of Thomas Moore . —Part VIII . contains hia satirical " and humorous poems . X « b Follbt ( No . 158 ) . —In addition to , three beautifully coloured engravings , we have two large cuts of present fashion , . acuompanied with descriptive letter-press , and light amusing literary articles . RonTMflDGB'B Shakbpisarh , edited by II . Staunton , and Illustrated by John Gilbert . — -Parts XLIV . and XLV . contain Antony and Cleopatra , and Titus Anrlronicus .

      Routi , mi > ge ' s Illustrated Natural History ( By the Rev . J . Q . Wood , M . A . ) .- —Part VIII . is capitally got up , and richly illustrated .

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      authorised interpreter of the Scriptures . Of course he points to Swedenborg as supplying the need , and ' therefore , as eminently practical in his purpose and life * asserting at the same time his inspiration Until , however , the term inspiration be properly defined , and it : can be declared that Swedeiiborg ' s in- " terpretation is final and thoroughly complete , It may readily be perceived that little real way is made with the argument . Swedenborg ' s merit consists in his having given a scientific scheme of religion ; but a much higher is possible , under the direction of philosophy , in an age more favourable to such investigations than the present . Handbook of Geological Terms and Geotoqy ~ Bv David Page , F . G . S . — William Blackwood and Sons . .,

      This is a laborious , but most eligible work . The trouble that the compiler has taken to save other people trouble is immense ; and we o ight to be exceedingly thankful to him for the result . The matter ,, as he tells us , has been gleaned and sifted from a great variety of resources , and the arrangement has required the utmost care and caution . The science is presented besides in its newest aspects ; and to the geologist the value of the work , from its accuracy and extent , will be priceless . Notes on the Wounded from the Mutiny in India , with a Description of the Preparations of Gunshot Injuries contained in the Museum at Fort Pitt . By George Williamson , M . I ) ., Staff Surgeon . —John Churchill .

      The Practical Nature of the Theological Writings of Eman-uol Swedenborg . By the Rev . Augustus Cllasold ; ' M . A . —Longman , Green , Longman , and Roberts , Tims is the second edition of a letter written by Mr . Olisaold to the Archbishop of Dublin . Tho letter is much « revised and enlarged . " Mr . Cliasold is a terrible logician , and spares nothing In an episcopal writer . Ho condemns all auch out of their own mouths . His argument * consist of a citation of passages from all manner of supposed orthodox writers , and , by showing their contradictions , enforce the need of an

      The invalid depot at Chatham is the school in which the subject of this book has been studiedthe best school , in fact , for the study of the subject . The wounded by the mutiny in India have furnished the author with his chief examples . The larger number of cases consists of gunshot compound fracture of the femur , and . the patients have recovered with good useful limbs—as compared with the numbet of thigh-stump cases , and the total by all wounds . The result is ascribed to the facilities afforded by the doolies . Such- facilities , therefore , should be afforded likewise to European campaigners . The work is profusely illustrated , and oi" the highest utility to the faculty .

      Prince Charlie , the Young Chevalier . By Merideth Johnes , Author of "Boys' Book of Modern Travel , " &c—W . Kent and Co . Mr ., Johnes has dedicated his little volume to the boys of the British empire , from whom we may be sure it will receive a hearty welcome . The life of Prince Charles affords ample materials for an interesting boys' book ; and we only wonder that his life has not been written before , as very little is known of his earlier life ( nor does this work throw much light on it ) , except what is scattered over the pages of history , which few boys care to read , and those that do generally wish to knowmore than the historian is able to give in his pages . Though we may be thankful that the Stuarts were

      not re-establUhed on the throne of England , we may woll afford to sympathise with tho young Prince , who was endowed with such noble < iualUies , and who acted such a manly anil generous part towards his enemies as to those who ventured thoir lives and fortunes for his cause . A 3 known in history , the Prince has all the butter qualities of lus ancestors , but a question arises whether , had he become king , he might not have found that he also inherited some of the baser foul ings peculiar to tie Stuarts . This is a question that tho writer ot tie little book before us does not attempt to solVe $ ne takes the eharacter—the most favourable to tne Prince—ho finds in history , and relates the story ot

      his life in an easy and pleasant manner , with lew comments of a political kind . Adversity 19 a gooa school though a harsh schoolmaster ; brings out the good qualities of sorao-but how many «" under its rule ! How much was " Bonniu Prince Charlie" influenced by the examples of tho bravo and htirdy highlanders ? Mr . Johnos ' s httlo book is a good contribution to our boys' literature . British Perm and thoir Allies . By Thoin .-vs Mooro , F . L . S ., E . H . S . —Routlodgc , Wurne and joutloage . Aw abridffmont of the author's " Popular History ot

      British Ferns , " and comprising the ionw , cluomossea , pepperworts , and horsetails . It is am illustrated by W . L . Coloman , and in most rfpeow provided with what beginners in tho study wui require . Tho native forna of Groat Bvlt »» n W many attractions for inquirers ; and aro oerlft " " ^ objects of exquisite ologanco . Tlioy havo ai o become fashionable ; and groat plouHiiro may we Bocured by their cultivation . Tho study of thoin m tho living : state is most desirable , and to sucu » etudy the work before ua will afford groat « 8

      siatanco , The Child ' s Guide to a Knowledge of the EnylUh CM ' atitution . By a Gentleman . —Simp kin , Maralyn , and Oo . .. nn , i Tins compilation is in tho form of question aJ » answer , and well calculated to fulfil tho writers Intention .

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      SERIALS

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      1254 THE LEADER . [] So . 503 . Nov . 12 , 1859

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 12, 1859, page 1254, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2320/page/18/