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BEAUTIES OF BYRON . Second Series . III . PROMETHEUS . Titan ! to ¦ whose immortal ores The sufferings of mortality Seen in their sad reality , * Were not as things that god 3 despise ; What was th y pity ' s recompense ( A silent suffering and intense ; The rock , the vulture , and the chain , All that the proud can feel of pain , The agony they do not show The suffocating sense of woe , Which speaks but in its loneliness , And then is jealous lest the sky Should have a listener , nor will sigh . Until its vnifn is orholpss .
Titan ! to thee the strife was given Between the suffering and the will , "Which torture where they cannot kill ; And the inexorable Ileaven , And the deaf tyranny of Fate , The ruling principle of llate , Which for its pleasure doth create The things it may annihilate , Refused thec even the boon to die : The wretched gift eternity Was thine—and thou hast home it well . All that the Thunderer wrung from thee Was but the menace which flung back On Mm the torments of thv rwk
The fate thou didst so well foresee , But would not to appease him tell ; And in thy Silence was his Sentence , And in his Soul a yain repentance , And evil dread so ill dissembled , That in Ms hand the lightnings trembled . Thv God-like crime was to he kind
To render with thy precepts less The sum of human wretchedness , And strengthen man with his own mind ; But baffled as thou wert from high , Still in thy patient energy , In the endurance , and repulse Of thine impenetrable Spirit , Which Earth and Heaven could not vwrulse A mighty lesson we inherit : Thon art a symbol and a sign To mortals of then- fate and force ; like thee , Man is in part divine ,
A troubled stream from a pure source ; And man in portions can foresee His own funereal destiny ; His wretchedness , and his resistance , And hi 3 sad unallied existence : To which his Spirit may oppose Itself—and equal to all woes And a firm will and a deep sense , Which even in torture can descry Its own concenter'd recompense , Triumphant where it dares defy , And making Death a Victory I
IT . WINDSOR POETICS . Lines composed on the occasion of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent being seen standing between the coffins of Hekrt TIIL and Charles I ., ill the royal vault at Windsor . Famed for contemptuous breach of sacred ties , By headless Charles see heartless Henry Uc 3 ; Between them stands another sceptred thing-It moves , it reigns—in all but name , a king : Charles to his people , Henry to his wife , In him the double tyrant starts to life : Justice and death have mixed their dust in vain , Each royal vampire wakes to life again . Ah , what can tomb 3 avail ' . —since these disgorge The blood and dust of both—to mould a George . '
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AN INQUIRY INTO THE PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION OF SHAKSPERE . By W . J . Birch , M . A ., New Inn Hall , Oxon . Author of the " Real and the Ideal / ' &c . London : C . Mitchell , Red Lion-court , fleet-street . Overwrought praise , though less repulsive than exaggerated censure , is hardly worthy of lighter condemnation , Egotism is the soil in which flourish the noxious weeds of arrogance , selfishness , and folly , and the deadly work of the sycophant is to foster those ill-weeds for some selfish or glarish object of his own . Praise of the dead , no matter hew immeasurable or unwarranted , can hardly be productive of evils at all
corresponding to those prodnced by flattery of the living ; nevertheless , applause lavished without discrimination upon the tenants of the tomb , may be Hot altogether harmless . The adorers of a same , are usually less anxious for the establishment of truth than for the popular acceptance of their theories or fancies . Encouraged by the adhesion of those who have not the time to inquire , or the will to think for themselves , the self-confident theorists assume that they are right , and that all dissenters from their views must be wrong . The standard of orthodoxy is set up ( for literature , as well as religion , has its orthodoxy ) , land all who will not "fall down and worship" are pronounced heretics .
The orthodox admirers of Shakspere are an example of the truth of the above remarks Injhis own day the great dramatist was not appreciated at his true woith , nor , indeed ,-was lie for along time subsequent to his death Gradually a truer estimation of the creations of his master-mind came to he entertained ; and at length , Garrick and Siddons , and subsequently Kemble and Kean , by their matchless
personation of the poet ' s " characters" exalted his name to the pinnacle of popularity . Actors , equal to those above-named , no longer dazzle and delight the English people , but what Shakspere has lost in the theatre , has been more than counterbalanced by his gain in the domestic circle . Where formerly a few hundreds read the works of the poet of Avon , thousands and tens of thousands now read
them . Cheap printing has done as much ^—perhaps more than the stage , to extend the fame of Shakspere . Not to be a professed admirer of Shakspere in these days , is to be out of the fashion . Moreover , to be orthodox , one must admire his works according to rule . Woe to the unlucky wight who may presume to judge for himself , and , judging , venture to differ from the orthodox faith as it is in Shakspere . V Mr Knight , in giving his views of the life and character of Shakspere , says : —
Doubts have been entertained as to Shakspere's religious belief , because few or no notices of it occur iahis works . This ought to be attributed to a tender and delicate raserte about holy things , rather than to inattention or neglect . On this assertion— for which there is no foundation out of the prejudiced or diseased imagination of Mr ., Knight—Mr . Birch has founded his " Inquiry- " Our author well says , that after "inquiries into the life of
Shakspere , which have ended in the omission and restoration of a letter in his name , " there is no need to offer an apology " for an inquiry 5 nto the religious character of the man from the monuments he has left behind him . ' ' The iaquiry instituted by Mr . Birch is both elaborate and impartial . He measures tie philosophy and religion of Shakspere not bv anv arbitrary standard of his own , but by the poet ' s own works and words . Nor does he confine himself to one ortwo of theDramas
lie reviews the whole , and shows beyond the possibility of refutation , if not of cavil , that one sentiment runa through , and pervades all —that of hostility to priestcraft , and contempt far spiritual creeds and dogmas . In the limited space to which we must confine these remarks , we cannot do wore than indicate the argument , which extends through a book of four hundred and fifty pages . After a hasty review of the life of Sh akgpere , in the course of which Mr ^ «* " »" that the great dramatist associated with pro-Marlow Ben
fessed Free-thinkers , such as e , Jonson , Raleigh , and Fletcher ; he proceeds to the Plays * prefcriBg to the full inquiry an epitome of the whole . In Titus Andronwus , "Humanity is opposed to piety , and humanity is vindicated . " "UnBmy *} - ?** ***** of the King is eminently calculated to bring piety into lontempt . He is ^ eak , credulous , vacillating , and cowardl y-without dignity and without sense . " " He who drew this character must have intended to insinuate , by a powerful example , the incompatibility of piety and manliness ' , or we must suppose bun inca-
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pable of understanding the force ef words . " in support of this view of the Monarch's character , Mr Birch quotes tne following striking lines , from Queen Margaret ' s speeeb'to Suffolk , in Part II . — " All his mind is bent to holiness , To number Ave-Maries on hi * beads ; His champions are the prophets and apostles J 11 JB weapons holy saws of saered writ ; Ilia study is his tilt-yard ; and hia loves Are brazen imageg of canoniz'd saints . I would the college of cardinals "Would choose him Pope , aud carry him to Rome . And set the triple crown upon his head . That were a state fit for his holiness !'' From Mr . Birch ' s remarks on the Merchant of Yeniee , we quote the
following"TheViUiei-xas in this play are nenrly all profane . An un- 'isguised raillery ia founded upon points of Bacrtd wit . What dramatist , saveShak . spere , ever represented tha diffusion of the true knowledge of ihe guapel , " till it covers tha earth , as the waters cover the sea "— as tending to " raise the price of pork" by the proselviiaHi of the Jews Neither Rabelais , nor Woolston have displayed more ingenuity in realising tbe ridiculous upon a serious sabj » et , than our poet has in this play . Upon what principle , therefore , are we to recognise in Shakspere a " reverential mind , " and in others who fall below him in the same walk of wit , a professed disbelief , it is difficult to determine . Shylock is a while the Chris
character that excites sympathy , tians figuring in the play , only awaken reprehension and disgust . Their scoff * , gibes , and taunts , drive the friendltS 3 J « vr to desperation , and foment the bad qualities he displays ; with coarsa brutality they triumph at his fall . And when robbed of his daughter , his fortune , and his life , Christianity , which , like mercy , stouldihaye dropped as the gentle dew from Heaven , is made still to assail kirn . Gratiano would sooner bring him to the gallows than show him favour ; and he is hunted into the folds of the church , as though it were a den , and the poor fallen and trampled Jew a wild beast . Surely , Christians were never before set by a Christian in so execrable alight ?"
In Henry the Fourth " Fatetaff is the hero of profanity . " " Let , " says our author , " the partisans of Shakspere ' a seriousness spend halfan-hour with Falstaff 1 " In good truth , Mr . Knight must have been wilfully blind , when , with this play before him , he asserted for Shakspere " a tender and delicate reserve about holy things P' Falstaff joke 3 on Bardolph ' s nose ; and on his replying that it does him no harm , Falstqff' says : — " No , I'll be sworn ; I make aa good U 86 Of it as many a man doth of a death's head , or a memento
mori : I never see thy faee , but I think on hellfire , and Dives that lived in purple ; for there he is in his robes , burning , burning . " This play positively teems with similar instances of the poet ' s " tender and delicate reserve about holy things 1 " Much more of the same kind the . reader will find in Henry the Fifth , where the subject oiFahtaff ' s death is made the subject of joke upon joke by his surviving companions . The " tender and delicate " levity throughout the Merry Wives of Windsor , of which Falstaff is the hero , needs no
comment . Mr . Birch's review of Measure for Measure , the Tempest , King Lear , Macbeth , Othello , and Hamlet in particular , deserves comment far beyond what the limits of this notice will ad * mit of . In Othello , " Cassio drunk is religious . What reverence could be intended by these contemptible exhibitions of lottish piety ? The Lord ' s Prayer seasons the merriment » f his inebriation . " Mr . Birch ' s treatment of this play is pecu * liaily valuable , from the light he throws upon the character of Iago .
"The chief objection to this $ lay hasbsen , that Shakspere has sot given sufficient motives to Iago , who weaves the plot , and produces the catastrophe . But Shakspere , particularly in the first act , shows an anxiety to supply such motives . Reto'iation for injuries , ml or supposed , mixed up with a good desl of enry , and a bad disposition , blindly impel Iaao to whemea of revenge . He had th& mortification of teeing his own merit set aside , and Cassio ' s preferred . Iago was a brave arid experienced soldier , with a character for honesty which could not have been acquired without worth , while Cassio was but a theorist in the art of war , owing
his advancement to interest . Causes of this kind , we know , have , in modern times , maddened some men into assassins . But Iago thought he had received mueh greater provocations than those enumerated . Both Othello , who bad been instrument tal in forwarding the view 6 of Cassio , and Casaio , who had wrested from him the objects of hi * ambition , were thought by him to fiaTe . profited by the infidelity of bin wi ' e . * * * Iago , therefore , wished Othello to feel towards hh Des * demona the poison which ha said gnawed his vitals at the thought of the relation between Othello and his wife . "
This is only a portion of the critique . The whole should he read and thought over by those who take an interest in the creations of Shaksptere , "Had , "say 3 Mr . Birch— "Had Shakspere never drawn but the character of Hamlet , as it now stands , and left his other creations reli gious , he would have stamped himself as once a sceptic . " " Could he be less than a sceptic who drew Hamlet with the weight of argument in his favour ? His wit so pointed , his objections so subtle , his balances so determined . None could delineate such a character but he who understood it , and none would exalt it ( as Shakspere does ) but he who approved k .
11 Of Hamlet ' s scepticism , his famous soliloquy , begining 'To be or not to be , ' is a demonstrative proof . Nowhere in the whole range of literature are theproe and cons of life and death put with such perverse force . That there may le an hereafter is the ancient position of the doubter . The Christian knows that there is a world to come . He is satisfied upon that point . He neither scruples , nor questions it . But Hamlet passes beyond mere doubt . He put the moral disadvantages of the Christian belief .
It ' makes calamity of so long life . ' It makes us endure the ' proud man ' s contumely '— 'the whips and scorns of t ime *—• the oppressors wrong * —and a thousand e * il 3 which the brave would trample under foot . He pursues the disparaging comparison farther . ' It makes cowards of us all '— ' resolution ' loses its ' native hue , ' and ' enterprise is turned away' at its fell glance . Nothing bolder than this has been written on this theme . Language can no farther go in favour of disbelief . "
The review of Hamlet extends through fifty pages , and is tie gem of the work . Mr . Birch says : — " In the season of 1845 , when English plays were acted at Paris , the French critics at once recognised Hamlet as a character which they thought peculiarly French . They said Shakspere had anticipated a state of mind produced by the literature of the past and present centuries . " Hallam says , that"Hamlet betrays the workings of the author ' s mind . " As regards the justice and propriety of
determining the opinions of a person from his writings , Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton say 3 ;—" In the mind of man there is always a resemblance to his works . His heroes may not be like himself , but they are like certain qualities which belong to him . The sentiments he utters are his at the moment ; if you find them predominate in all his works , they predominate iahis mind . * * His works alone make not up a man ' s character , but they are the index to that living book . "
This is universally admitted , when the characters of Byron , Burns , Shelly , and others are brought under discussion , but denied in the case of Shakspere . "Why so ? The critics would be puzzled to give a good and sufficient reason for this distinction . Perhaps they adopt as a serious sentiment the satire of Isabella ( in Measure for Measure . ) " Great men may jest with saints ; 'tis wit in' them ; But in the less , foul profanation . " , , This book has fallen like a bombshell amongst the orthodox worshippers of Shakspere . Tbe critics "have ( as the Scotch say ) a' gane wud I" One of the ungentle craft declares
that this volume is so full of inconceivable blunders that were there the slighest spark of cleverness in it , we should conceive it put forth in jest . " Another critic , while repudia ting Mr . Birch ' s conclusions , acknowledges his " ability and research , " and describes his book as " a monument of research and wisdom . '' One critic gracefully speaks of Mr . Birch as " a viper , ** on the assumption that he ( the said viper ) is " gnawing" at that old " fife" Shakspere . But another of the tribe—the prince of the weekly reviewers is fairly puzzled whether to set our author down as & bigot or an atheist This is the bert poBible testimony to
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Mr . Birch ' i impartiality , and a sufficient an . swer to the gentleman » f the " viper ** and the " file . " One critic—the orasleof a superan . nuated Gazette—has fairlyUaken the lead of his brethren in their crusade against this work . Most appropriately , he begins and ends with Dogberry , for assuredly he has " writ" himself " down an ass . " He abuses Mr . Birch as an " over-righteous critic , " and fiercely denounces his " cant" and " intolerant spirit . " Evidently the poor creature either has not read the book he professeB to rariew , or if he has done so he i 3 too great an ass" to understand what he has read , or too great a knave to write truthfully and impartially .
Mr . Birch ' s defence against such critics is best given in his own words ;—" The author wishes to ba considered mer « ly as an inquirer , aot as a censor . He deskes not to jud ^ e Shakspere for his sentiments , but only to exhibit them . " This from the preface , and in another paragraph : — " Not less than the most enthusiastic admirersof Shnkspere do we admire the versatility of his powers—we rejoiw at his genius , and are proud of the reputation he has added to the national character , but these very circumstances make the inquiry more interesting —what were the peculiarities of his philosophy and religion .
The late Daniel O'Connell asserted Shnkspere to have been a Roman Catholic . Most if not all the poet ' s biographers have set him down a Protestant . We say to our readers , read this book , and along therewith read the works of the dramatist in full , and having done so you will hardly be at a loss to determine the peculiar character of the Philosophy and Religion of Shakspere ,
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HAYMARKET . ' Hamlet' was revived at this theatre on Monday evening . The part of Hamlet is one to which Mr Charles Kean has devoted long and deep study , and one oa which he lavishes a great amount of artistic ( kill . The character is , indeed , identified with the most brilliant triumphs of his professional career . Hamlet was the first character in which Mr Kean appeared before a London audience in January , 1838 , when he performed it twenty-one nights . Without losing one jot of ihe passion , Mr Kean Sings over his whole impersonation a dreamy grace which is remarkable in his first entranee , and which is preserved with a thoughtful consistency
throughout . The scene in which Horatio announces the app&ar&ne * of the Ghost , Mr . Kean manages with great effect . He is conversational in kis tone , without being prosaic—startled , hurried , and shocked , witkout for a moment falling from the lofty poetical vein which runs through the character . The third act » of coum Mr . Kesm ' s best triumph , ana in the last scene , his fine fenemtr produced its usual effect . Mrs . Kean made a fascinating Ophelia . Her attitudes , when , aot speaking , were models of timid grace ; and in the mad scene she kept up the fixed , yet unintelligent stare , which is a symptom of the
malady ; even while crouched upon the ground , she sings her snatche ? of song to herself . Mrs Warner made her first appearance at tbe Hayroarket for four years as the Queen ; and phytd the part with all her accastomed energy and truth . Tilbury was a good Polrnius , making up for the part with great skill ; and Keeley gave the Gravedig «; er with all tbe bearty unctioa which he loves to bestow upon humorous Shaksperian ' bits / Mr . Howe played Horatio carefully and intelligently . At tha fall of the curtain , Mr . and Mrs . Charles Kean , and afterwards Mrs . Warner , were summoned by the audience .
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STANDARD . We visited this neat little theatre on Wednesday night , when The Waits , ' ( a Christinas storf ) , and the pantomime were performed ; ? The Waits' is a domestic drama of deep and thrilliag interest , and is too tiue a picture of the horrible Poor Lawthe cruel and domineering disposition of overseers and other officials—and th « biiter sufferings and degradation of its unfortunate victims . Tummins , ' who pays rents and taxes and cares for nobody , ' is a good description of a portion of the middle class—of indifference to tbe
wants of the poor , whilst there is an exception in the character of Twits , « who is frequently doing acts of benevolence , aiid can ' t resist it . ' It also holds up the ' Squire' to public odium for the coolness with which he orders the destruction of his tenants' cottages , for the makiug the Grand Marlow Railway , and shows with what ease guilt may be attached to poverty , until the denouement traces it to the aristocracy . We wish this class would visit the Standard , not only for the benefit of the manager , but then- own . Such pieces are ca ' cuated
• To mak the warld better yet . ' Thef plot is excellent , the dialogue racy , and fall of admirable hits , while the interest never flags . We cannot but j&o justice to the excellent acting of Messrs . Freer , Gate 3 , Honnor , Herbert , Lewis . Rayner and King , and Mrs . Honnor , Mrs . Daly and Mias Terry . We strongly recommend all our friends to see The Waits . ' The Pantomime is a splendid affair , and the plot has great claim to originality . The scenery 15 excellent . Harlequin , Columbine and Pantaloon acquitted themselves well , and the inimitable T . Barry ( as Clown ) kept the audience in a roar . We must not forget the Sprites , Messrs J . and G . Andrew , who are . rightly designated ' The Flying Wonders . ' i ^ -
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The Atmospiikre . —The atmosphere rises above us with its cathedral dome arching towards the heaven of which it is the most familiar synonyme and symbol . It floats around ua like that grand object which the Apostle John saw in hia vision— " iv sea of glass like unto crystal . " So massive it is that , when it begins to stir , it tos » es about great ships like playthings and sweeps citiep and forests like snow flakes to destruction before it . And yet it is so mobile that wo have lived years in it before we can be persuaded it exists at all , and the great bulk of mankind never realise the truth that they arc bathed in an ocean of < iir . Its weight 13 so enormous that iron shivers before it like glass , yet a soap-ball sails through it with impunity and the
tiniest insect waves it with its wings . It ministers lavishly to all the senses . We touch it not , but it touches us : its warm south wind brings back colour to the face of the invalid : its cool west winds rpfrosh the fevered brow , and make the blood mantle in our cheeks : even its north blasts brace into new vigour the hardened children of our rugged clime . The eve is indebted to it for all the magnificence of sunrise , the full brightness of mid-day , the chastened radiance of the gloaming , and the clouds that cradle near the setting sun . IJut for it the rainbow -would want its triumphal arch , and the winds would not send then : fleecy messengers on errands round the heaven 3 . The cold ether would not shed ite snow feathers on the earth , nor would drops of dew gather
on the flowers . Tho kindly ram would never fallhail , storm , nor fog diversify the face of the sky . Our naked globe would turn its tanned unshadowed forehead to the sun , and one dreary monotonous blaze of light and heat dazxle and burn up all things . Were there no atmosphere , the evening sun would in a moment aet , and , without -warning , plunge -the earth in darkness . But the air koeps in her hand a sheaf of his rays , and lets them slip but slowly through her fingers ; so that the shadows of evening gather by degrees , and the flowers have time to bow their heads , and each creature space to find n place of rest and nestlo to repose . In the morning the garish sun would at one bound burst from the bosom of nig ht and blaze above the horizon ; but the air watches for his oomins , and sends at first but one little ray to announce his approach , and then another , and by and by a handful , —and so gently draws aside the curtain of night , and slowly lets the
light fall on the faqe of the sleeping earth , till her eye-lids open , and , like man , she goeth forth again to her labour until the evening . — Quarterly Review . The Frigate Bird . — The following is the account oiven by the Bishop of Korwich at the late meeting of the Inswich Museum of Natural History : —lie had sent ' to the museum that day a spocunen of the frisate bird—which was literally a tenant of the air ; it lived in the air , slept in the air , and never came to the shore except in the breeding season . The explanation of this extraordinary phenomenon was as simple as possible . It was admirably constructed for the state of its existence . It had an enormous pouch beneath its throat , its skin was loose , its bones and arteries were like air-vessels ; and with an extraordinary expansion of tall and wings , it could by imbibin" a quantity of air , and rarefying it within its body , become , in fact , an air balloon . In this manner it floated in the air oven during sleep .
Damages Rbcovbred against a Railway Comp » t . —J . Addison , Esq ., Judge of the iKinoaster County Court , has decided that the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway Company were liable for the value of three hampers of herrings , which the person to whom they were consigned had refused to take in , as tbef wr ^ e unsaleable , frwa delay in the U&Ittit .
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THE LAND . THE REMARKABLE TRIAL OP THOMAS SPENCE , THE AGRARIAN REFORMER . [ The worth y shopocrats , and the cowardly portion of the working class , -who last April gave their services as " specials" to prevent the peaceable manifestation in favour of tho Charter , will find matter for reflection ia the following letter read ( from « The Restorer of Society to its Natural State , " ) by Air . Spbnce , in the course of his address to the jury . ]
LKTTHR VI . London , September 25 th , 1800 . CmzEx , —The Other day one of the labourers belonging to the East India WarehouacH being in my company , and knowing he could coaftde in mo , opened his mini pretty freely concerning the prs-3 ent « ota , and told me that several of thoir people had been discharged for saying they would bite off tho ballets from their cartridges if they were ordered to fire at the mob , for , continues » e , wb in general wish the people well , and their cause , and would be sorry to hurt them , but I do not like their breaking of lamps and windows . Besides , adds he , they are too audacious and provokine . I .
myself , being struck On the head with a stone . You should keep better company , said I . How can they pry into your heart to know whether you inciln *{ Jeni well or not ? But they are at no loss to Know that your appearance against them -with , arms m your hands is to keep them in awe , and encourage the monopolisers and all their oppressors , therefore V \ V 0 U d l ) e tll 0 ught to mean well to the people , and the redress of grievances , lay down your arms , for that w the best way to manifest to both parties that you will not abet , nor countenance such rapa-Cltyi " Kjllt if you value your place more than your conscience- or humanity , think it but right to be knocked on the head .
It is thus , citizen , that needy , mercenary , and interested men , though of more than vulgar ' knowledge , assist in rivsting the chains of their tcllovr creatures , instead of contributing to break them . Pie upon it ! that men should show more courage and steadiness in defending the cause of their masters , though ever so bad , than tho cause of their fellows and equals , though ever so just , till at length they arc deprased to a atatc below humanity . I have often thought how much superior the condition of reptiles is , to that of human naturo , in the present perverted state of things . A worm pays no rent ; the earth whilo ho lives is his portion , and he riota in untaxed luxuries . And if perchance a crow or other creature should pick him up , why that is only death , which must come
in nome shape or other to us all as well as he . But in this respect he had the advantage of us that while he lived he paid no rent ! And herein are all the creatures to be envied . Thus , though one species preys on another , there is no bondage or slavery m the case ; it is only plain death . Could our oppressors free us from death that Vould be something gained , ia the lieu of our liberty . But onrs , Goahelp us ! is entirely a losing game . Insteail of saying us from destruction , " . they accelerate our death a thousand ways . For by their villanous wars and artificial families they dig millions of untimely graves . Blame me not then , citizen , for SO earnestly pressing a system which I firmly believe would entirely abolish all political evils , and render tha state of Man as happy as it ought to be . I remain , &c .
[ The Mowing letter krepleto with wisdom , ] 1 ETTEU Vir . London , October 8 th , 1800 . Citizen , —Monopoly is injustice , let it be of what kind it -will , vrhctner of goveminent , land , or trade , therefore I cannot help abhorring that national thirst of ours after the universal trade of the world to the prejudice of all other nations . But this external monopoly is plainly the offspring of our internal monopoly . For the same covetousness which is nourished at home by the oppression of fellow citizens expands like ambition in its maturity till it grasps at the whole earth . Neither Avould
the moon or planets elude our harpy claws , could WO but find a passage thither , and we should soon have eompanics established to monopolise this celestial trade also . Ought not , therefore , such avaricious madness to be pitied , and like other madness to he cured by force ? I think it possible . And , if so , for the peiioe of the world , it certainly should be accomplished . But , bo not surprised , citizen , when you seo me again recur to my old specific : for I am fully _ convinced that my simple plan of destroying the impious monopoly of land is the grand panacea that will cure all manner of erila ariaing from avarice and ambition .
Consider , citizen , whether a nation who had no Public Stocks to traffic in , and whoso land , as I propose , should all belong to the parishes , would hunger and thirst after the riches of the world to the pernicious degree that is now common . For , observe , though they should acquire the riches of Peru , they could only speculate in fair and honest trade and manufactures . For , as I said , the parishes being so well able out of their rents to supply every exigence of the government upon the spur of the occasion , there could not possibly bo any National Debt or Funds . Neither could they root or concentrate their acquirements in land to give their names to , as the FsJilmist says , and invest them in their worthless heirs . So that men would learn to
moderate their desires , and cease to aspire after boundless wealth , which they could have no means of consolidating . Neither could such a nation be fond of conquering for the same reasons , because if they wished for the continuance of their own constitution at home ( which I believe they would not willingly part with ) they must be careful how they introduce a sudden inundation of wealth from abroad . So , if they w . cre forced by an implacable enemy to conquer him , they would be systematically compelled to establish in that country their own constitution , as the best means of rendering it in future a pacific and good neighbour . It would be highly dangerous to their system of liberty and equality to have their citizens pompously
established abroad liko princes , under the denomination of prefects , governors , Ac , and swelling into unmanageable power on the spoils of foreign provinces . The histories of all republics will wofully teach them to beware of such destructive rocks . But , you will perhaps say , the revenues arising from foreign conquests and provinces , appear very alluring and flattering to any people , and if brought home to the national treasury might , in proportion to their quantity , lessen the land tax of the parishes . But this would be a deceitful and dangerous easement . For a government that draws gre . it riches from sources which do not immediately affect the people , as from loans , mines , foreign tribute , or subsidies , ia suro to creep by degree 3 into
absolute power , and overturn every thing . It is for this reason I would not have the land national , nor provincial , but parochial property , that the people might be as much interested as possible , \> otn in the improvement of their estates , which thus would be always under their eye , and in the expenditure of all public monies , which would be paid straight- out ot their revenues , even while in their hands , and when just going into their pockets . The government being supplied in this hard hut honest way , by the general land tax sent regularly , ¦ would neither he suffered , nor require , to have a rich treasury . Therefore a government so supported , without revenue officers , and very few placemen at home , and none abroad , would not be very
uangevous to liberty . You may he apt to think this discouragement to the monopoly of foreign trade and conquest will tend to bring on a national apathy and disgust to labour and business , and that stimulative motives ¦ w ill be wanting to prevent the return of barbarism . No such thing , citizen : such a people will have incentives enough to industry , and to improve , rather than decline , in civilisation . In the first place thoj will all be well educated , having schools , and libraries , at the expense of the parishes . Reading promotes refinement and sensibility , and a taste Tor elegance in cloths , furniture , and every department in life . Now , it is only labour , industry , and ingenuity , that can administer
gratification to this multiplication of refined desires ; therefore trade , manufactures , and the arts must needs be greatly encouraged . And as all nations , however barbarous or civilised , have naturally a taste for foreign productions and luxuries , and will do anything they can to acquire them , so may we expect this people . A working and ingenious people can never want wherewith to barter for the produce of other climes , and , if so , -will have trade enough without having recourse to the expedient of great , avaricious , me nopolising companies like us , who , for their private ends , disturb the peace of the whole world , setting nation against n ; rtion , and people against people , till the -whole earth and sea is turned into an UCel dema .
Surely nothing can bo wanting to encourage both , trade and labour , but open ports , liberty , ana bccurity of property . For whcre a ' ro tho people so barbarous that will not trade , and be stimulated by it to labour , hunt , fish , and exert their abilities to tho Utmost , for articles to traffic with , unless interrupted by some malignant tyrannical power ? So , as nothing can be got Without labour , there can be no reason to fear that u people so cnli ghWned , and enjoying such unparalleled security , under laws of their own making , can ever degenerate into sloth and all its disgustful consequences . " Wherefore to conclude . As mediocrity of wealth has always been found to be the never-fa ' iling source of knowledge , good taste , industry , aaO . toppiaws ,
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I , " . —^^ —§ and of all the virtues , I can harbour no apprehension for the welfare of my commonwealth . I remain , &c . [ In the following Letter , Spexce shows how traders jind aoamen "would benefit by the adoption of his system . ]
JtElTKIt Till . London , October 9 th , 1800 . CirrzE . v , —I have often amwsed myself with comparing the superior degreos of happiness which I suppose people of such or such callings and stations in life would enjoy m my commonwealth , abovo what tlier may now enjoy under the present system mariS ^ * me Uke a glanee 'lt the JVu'Jl 3 t - place as m ' ' , ommon ^ Hh can have no mt « rcsfc m war , as made appear in my last so the sailors can have no press-gangs to fear nArflS u the De - P lace ' as f . ) M ) $° yetmamt is 8 upportod by one simple tax which is the land Ux and therefore has no occasion to raise any revenue on trade either on exportation or importation , the manner will bo free tram the plague of Custom Houso
He being thus at liberty to fetch and carry liko a man on land from one village or town to another , LT 1 M ^ bo , Fcted that every man and ^ ° / l ;^ essel wlli tlirn merchant , and condition with their master for a certain portion of C ° 'T ? r -, their S ° 0 d 3- Sailors having such liberty and privileges would soon become quite another set of people than what they are at present Ins oad Of that debate , careles / reproblte chal racter , wluek the common men now generally acquire they would become provident and sober , and sohcitouB toprovide for thoir families and their own
. subsistence in their old age . In consequenee of such improvement and the dosirable commodities conveyed by them from elimo to dime , they would always be welcome and respected wherever they came , as a most valuable class of men . In short , citizen , their improved condign would be beyond all description . Vor as all the children of the commonwealth would partake of the education of the country before they were suffered to go to business of any kind , so would those who went to sea .
As tv-e must abridge we pass over Letters IX ., X ., and XL , the least interesting of the series . The mere political reformers are properly shown up as hmnbuga in
LETTER XII , London , October 18 th , 1800 . Citizen-, —I am pleased to find that you coincide with me m my political opinions and plans . You also tell me you have perused my constitution of a perfect commonwealth , and my other little pamphlets on the same subject , and approve of the whole . This is some satisfaction and encouragement , and I rejoice , not as a vain author , but as a well-wisher to mankind , because if these writings be capable of convincing and animating one man of sense , they may by parity of [ reasoning be supposed m due time to convince millions .
It is natural enough of you to wonder why none of the modern champions for the rights of man should take notice of my scheme in their books and harangues , though I have been diligently publishing it these five and twenty years , iu gvcat variety of shapes , and hare sold many thousands of copies . , » l ' i- ' ' ' tliOu e ntiiey could not be ignorant ( for I did not , poor as I have been , conceal my ideas under a bushel ) yet your surprise will cease when you reflect on the purity of the plan and the selfishness and avarice of the human heart . Can any think you , but real lovers of justice and equality admire a constitution framed according to tile exactness of nature ? That suffers ' no national or confiscated estates or domains to be dealt out in
portions amongst the orators , writers , and generals who may contribute to its establishment ? That make 3 no partial distinction of its children into happy elect and rejected reprobates * That admits the very babes and their mothers , the blind and the lame , the dumb and the eloquent , to an equal participation of the rights of nature ? I say will such a levelling constitution as this do for jiroud men of abilities and conceited excellence ? No , surely . Our reformers would have showed themselves Israelites indeed , in whom there was no guile , had they heartily patronised , and pressed on mankind so disinterested a scheme . * Then you may say , wh y trouble myself further about Such a crooked race ? Let them still co on
m their old way , changing names without the substance , and setting up one set of lords and monopolisers , on the ruins of another , as they have done from the beginning . Indeed , citizen , with grief I behold the indirect and suspicious modes which the professed reformers of this world take to deliver it from oppression . For instead of striking at the root they only aim at the branches , so that like some prolific vegetables the more it is hacked and hewed , the more it spreads ; For the very chips and cuttings take root , and bocome distinct plants . But yet I hope , that when the cup of villany is full , and men are fairly tired
out , and havo lost conceit of their inconsistent democracies and other forms of government ; When they perceive that inamelukes and citizens make but an incoherent mass ; and that men , who though under the specious name of citizens , have the estates and power of lords and princes and use them as much to the injury of mankind : "When they are fairly sick of the wars , the artificial famines , and all the other evils , springing from this bitter root of landed monopoly , that then they may turn their eyes to my ijust constitution , as the last , and only remedy against all political evils . I remain , &c .
Letter XIII . is devoted to the subject of Public Hospitals , and contains suggestions , dictated by humanity and common sense , for the reformation of * those institutions , "\ Ye quote the following extracts from Letter XIV ., the last of the series : — "When 1 contemplate the meagre and beggarly appearance of the workiag people at this deplorable period , and at the same time hear their deep and desperate exclamation ^ sighed forth from their broken hearts , I cannot help thinking but that we are on the eve of some very great commotion . This is the time then for plans of various sorts to be ready , that the nation may have it in their power to chose one that will prevent the liko
misfortunes in future , for it is a melancholy thing to see a people after being compelled to throw their burdens off their backa , stand quietly liko stupid beasts till they are laid on again , for want of knowing better . . * * * The question is no longer of a lukewarm complexion , or bare curious investigation , for vain men to show their abilities in debating upon , we must now study for life or death . The question I say is no longer about which form of government is moBt favourable to liberty , as simply heretofore considered , but which system of society is most favourable to existence , and capable of delivering us from the deadly mischiefs of great accumulations of wealth , which enables a few rich unfeeling monsters , to starve whole nations , in spite of all the fruitful seasons God Almighty can send .
After having read tho entire pamphlet from which we have quoted the above letters , Mr Spexce proceeded to address the Jury in defence of his doctrines and scheme of reform . His speech and the conclusion of the trial will be given in next Saturday's Star .
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* Defence . Now this extreme purity and disinterestedness of the scheme , having bean the rwison why it has not all tlie . se six and twenty years been able to create a powerful party , the government and the rich had no occasion to be alarmed at it , and accordingly were not . 13 ut this 1 know , it lias an odd appearance , after twenty-six years' forbearance to put a man in danger of a prison for such old opinions . It is some tiling like parricide . —mi ^ .
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,, The Buoxapautists asd Odillox Barrot . —It is about three years and a half since that Jerome Buonaparte paid a visit to Paris , where lie had an interview with various personages ; he also endeavoured , through M . Joly , to procure an introduction to some Republicans . I was present with MM . Ilccurt and Grandmcsnil , at an interview which took place at M . Joly ' s . In the course of conversation , Prince Jerome told us that he had been very well received by M . Marrast of the National , and that he regretted to see the journal La Reforme constantly opposed to his cousin Louis . " Do you not think , " he said , " that if my cousin wero to otter his sword to the cause , which the democrats are preparing to bring to that arbitrament , it would greatly tend to benefit them ? " "The name of your cousin , " I replied , " would have its effect in the provinces , but it wnnld meet with invincible opposition from the
real and decided democrats ; moreover , his two attempts , at Strasbourg and Boulogne , have dcprivedhim of all consideration as a military leader . " M . Jerome then added , that M . Odillon Barrot , whom lie had scon , had said to him , " 'i'he Orleans dynasty ia not li '^ ed , it may fall on the death of the Kin" . Your cousin has committed some errors , but you " whose name ia unsullied , might have a fair chance , should the opportunity arrive . "—Memoirs o f Citizen Causddiere . [ M- Odillon Barrot , who is re-IKirted to have made the above curious overture , is at present at tho head of the ministry of the Prince Louis Napoleon . ] More of the Cuurance System . —The entire population of Toomevara , we are informed , with the exception of two tenants , are under notice of ckctment , at the binds of Mr . Hassey Dawson , ' the owner of that once populous village . — Tipptmry Vindicator .
A Lawtbk s Revesoe . —An attorney , who wooed a farmer ' s daughter , having been rejected , sent in a bill of £ 9313 a . 4 d . for 275 attendances , and giving a < iy « j « on femil } ' matters ,
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Tim juxd . " If man lias a right on the earth , ho has a rifrhfc to land : enough to raise a habitation on . If | h ' -u » a right to . live , he has a risrht to land enough to till for his subsistence . Deprive him of any one of . these rights , and you place him at the mercy of tlioeo who possess them . "—JSvaiusRadical , JVo . ' l . " The earth , the air , tho water , and all their pro duce , are tho common patrimony of humanity . Every ono has a right to onjoy those common bounties to such an extent as shall not be prejudicial to ihe rest of mankind . "—Jamt * Napier Bailnj . " What monopoly inflicts evils of such magnitude
as that of land ? It it tht sole barrier to national prospirilti . The people , the only cro . itors of wealth , possess knowlodge ; they possess industry ; and if they possessed land , they could sot all monopolies at defiance ; they would thon be enabled to employ maghinery for their own beuofit , and tho world would behold with delight and astonishment the beneficial effects o ( this mighty engine , whon properly directed . "—Author of the " Rtpro . ifofBmtut . " Slavbrt Abolished . —Slavery has been abolished at Cayenne . The blacks assembled in thousands , and th . \ nkcd God and the governor for tbt ? ir liberty .
rorcLATio * op Top ' s . —In the reign of Charles the fcccond , no provincial town in tho kingdom contamed 30 , 000 inhabitants ; and only four contained so many as 10 , 000 inhabitants . A Comparison . —A clergyman on one occasion Stepped into a public garden , in which old Adam , its owner , was diligently engaged in grubbing up a plenteous crop of weeds , ¦ w lnoh had overrun . a portion of the ground . Cloricus condoled with the old man on the trouble the operation occasioned him while the latter , aftor clawing his casuality for a .
momont , and , " When swe thinks on ' t , : \ ftt > r a ' , — ' whatever is , is right ; ' for weeds are like sinners ; and if it worena for weeds and sinners , thero would be nae need for gardeners or ministers ; nao uso foe you or I , sir . " Chauitt . —We should give ag wo would receive —eheorfullr , quickly , and without hesitation ; for there is no grace in a benefit that sticks < & tfe& fingers . Forobb Notrs , —Some forged note * of tho Bank of Ireland , accurately executed by moans of tho daguerreotype , aro at present in circulation . IVv are marked C . V . So . 57 , G 49 , and dated July ' 27 &i , 18 iS .
Pauper Kshqratios . —Five thousand female paupers wore to bo transmitted , from various unions in Ireland , this week , to Plymouth , preparatory to their boing forwarded to Australia . POWKK OV THB PRESS . —The UanU Iwlepew . lttlt says : — " The prcsu is very powerful—but it can't after all induco its correspondents to write only on one side of the paper when thev want thoir letters printed . " Amkiucax Slavhrt . —The New Orleans Vicfimma has an advertisement of a runaway young slave , almost white , who " talks French , Italian , Dutch , English , and Spanish . " — "What a wretch of a girl ? to deprive Andre Grasso , her owner , of so valuable a , property .
The Wastb Laxds . — Some agriculturists ara urging the culture of gorso on waste lauds , ft is OXCullont for the feedW ot young catch ' , and tho land on which they nre thus turned "' is gradually improved and rendered fit for cultivation . " A Flt ' s Spero . — By fair comparison of sizes , what is the swiftness of a raco-horsi- clearing his milo a ininiite to the speed of the fly cutting through its third of the samo distance in the saino time ' i And what tho speed of our steaming giants , the grand puffers of the age , compared with " the swiftness of our tiny buzzers , of whom a monster train , scenting their game afar , may even follow partridges
and pheasants on tho wings of steam in thoir last flight as friendly offerings * . —Episode * of buect Life . A MlLMO . VAIKK WITH A IIkAIIT . — ill tllO will of Edward Shippon Burd , recontly deceased iu Philadelphia , vferc several lc ! jacit ' . s " such ass ar « seldom found in the wills of the wealthy , we apprchi'ml . One is of a house in Locust-street , and 1 , 000 dollars to the nurse of a deceasod daughter ; another is of 1 , 500 dollars to the widow of a deceased faithful servant , and of 1 , 600 dollars to "her daughter ; a third is 1 , 500 dollars to an old cook ; another 1 , 100 dollars to a chamhermaid , and an equal amount to coachmen , waiters , < fcc . — liurritt ' s Christian Citizen .
The Schoolmaster Wasted . — In St . Giles ' s the following notice was lately posted in the window ofii lodging house , " Hay sack and flour to let , chickens and carrot . " The purport of the notice was , "A second floor to let , kitchen , ami < r ; uTet . " _ Massixger . — One of tho ineilitud plays of Massinger , the loss of which has been so "deeply deplored by Gilford and all lovers of tho EngUsli drama , " Believe- as you List , " has found its way into tho possession of Mr . Crofton C' roker . Pacpkrs . —The number of paupers in lirwit Britain is about 4 , 000 , 000 , or » seventh ol the population of the whole empire—in Ireland , 2 , 3 UU , 0 l ) 0 ; England , 1 ,-500 , 000 ; Scotland , 200 , 000 . Since 1816 the people of England havo paid £ 200 , 000 , 000 for the relief of tho poor .
The Poiitkr Pczxird . —A porter having a parcel to carry to a student in one of the colleges of Cambridgo University , upon entering the " square iue , t with" one of tho collegians ; and asked it he could tell him where ho might meot with Mr . . The son of Euclid replied ( at the same time placing his trencher on ono side of his head , and wrapping hU gown round him , ) " You must crucify the quadrangle , then ascend the grades , and you'll tinu him perambulating in the cubicle near t ' . iu iVuester . " The porter , not knowing the meaning of all tliu , stared ; but recollecting the last word , asked what was a fenester . " A fenester , my man , is the diaphonous part of an edifice , erected for the introduction of illumination . " The porter walked off , grumbling , anil said ho would never ask his way of a , Fftnthwnn a « ain .
A Certain- Curb pon Coh . vs . — One twi .- 'poonful of tar , one ditto of coarse brown sugar , and one ditto of saltpetre . The whole to beVarmed together , and spread on kid leather , tho size of tilt ? corn , and in two days they will be drawn nut . Slow Hoys . —Alfred the Great learned hin alphabet at twelve re . 'irs old ; Molitere could barely read or write at fourteen ; Dr . Carter began liis . studies at nineteen ; Valerianus learned to l'L ' . ul at fifteen ; and Sir Isaac Newton , according to his own avowal , was inattontivo to study , and ranked low in tho school till the ago of twelve . .. Americas Literature . —Mr . Forest , the American actor , who offered prizes of 3 , 0 t ) 0 and l , O' ) i . ) dollars respectively for the two host play . i by native Americans has declared that amid the loads of MSS . sent to him , there is not a play fit for the . static . He has , however , sent 1 , 000 " dollars to Mr . Miles , of Baltimore , who produced a tolerable dramatic
poem . Divorce . —During the last ten years , 200 couples have been judicially divorced in the island of Jersey . Puxobst aud Patriotic . —A pawnbroker writes to inform us , that he doesn ' t see why the Times should mukc 30 much fuss about one ball given in the year for tho distressed Pules ^ as there arc always three balls at the sorrice of the distressed English . I . ndiax Vkrdict . —John Taison , an Indian native of Connecticut , being found up ; u 1 , on a winter mornimr , not iar from a tavern where ho had been drinkm" freely spirituous liquor * tho evening before , the Iniirans immediately aesembiod a jury of their the h Ottho
own tribe , who , after examining otly ^ defunct , unanimously agreed— " That the said T : iison's death was occasioned by the freezing of a Jar ^ e quantity of w . 'itcr in his body tiiat had been imprudently mixed with the rum ho drr . uk . " To Clean Kid Glovks . —First , see that your hands arc clean , then put on your glove- * aud wash them , as though you were washing your hands , ill a basin of spirits of turpentine , until ^ uit « clean ; then hang them up in a warm plaee , or where there is a current of air , which will carry oil' all smell of the turpentine . This method wa-i brought from Paris , and thousands of pound-i have been made by it . Where should all oharming women be buried ?—In beUe-grave-ijuare ( Belgravo Square ) . What lanQ do the ladies like beat to walk in
?—Jloustttuui lit mime . L \ R £ 3 dous Mkciiaxism . —A watchmaker of New-Orleans has completed a tiny watch , which is regarded as an extraordinary specimen of workmanship . The / VcajfMjw says of Lt " . —Thin wonderful time-piece is perfect—keeps good time , lt is about as thick aa three lialf-aimos bid one upon another , including case , crystal , and all , and measures in circumference , just the size of a half-dime . It lias a spring of enamel , gold dial , and steel hands , cylinder escapement , with ten holes jewelled in ruby . It runs twenty-five hours without rewinding . Besides , it is bo arranged as to admit of being worn either in a brooch or finger-ring . Tlie cocoa-trco supples the Indians with bread , water , wine , vino sjar , brandy , milk , oil , honey , sugar , needles , clothe * , thread , cups , spoons , basins , baskets , paper , ship masts , sails , cordage , covering for their nouses , Ao .
Ali'iubktical GoN-r . vDRt .-M 3 . —Why is the letter A liko the meridian 1 Hwmiso it is tho middle of the day , Why is B like a hot fire ? Because it makes oil boil . "Wh y h the letter D liko a fallen angel * . Bccauso by itu association with evil it becomes a deril . "Why U the letter E like the end of time ? Because it is the beginning of eternity . Why i » the letter F like death ? Bocauxo it makes all fall . Why is the letter G like wisdom ? Because it is the bcginuiii !! of greatness and goodness . Why is the letter II lik > . > tho dying words of Adams i " Tliis ia the end of earth . " Vfliy is tho Wttor . I like the American Involution ? Ifecauso it is the beginning of independence . Why is the letur J like the cud of spring ? Because it is the bepnung of June . Why is the letter K liko a P'SV ^' Because it is the cod of rw * . ™« y » « £ letter L like a you . ^ lady giving hor f ^ f W another ? Because it make * her over & Iotoi .
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¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ January 20 , 1849 . THE NORTHERN STAR .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 20, 1849, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1506/page/3/
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