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1314 ; _ T H^E ^ jVE A D EJR.___ _ ;[ffo...
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LITERATURE, SCIENCE, ART, &c
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UTERARY CHROMCLE OF THE WEEK. —?——In int...
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SKETCHES OF ALGERIA. Sketches of Algeria...
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1314 ; _ T H^E ^ Jve A D Ejr.___ _ ;[Ffo...
1314 ; _ T H ^ E ^ jVE A D EJR . ___ _ ;[ ffo 4 g 4 , December 4 , 1858
Literature, Science, Art, &C
LITERATURE , SCIENCE , ART , & c
Uterary Chromcle Of The Week. —?——In Int...
UTERARY CHROMCLE OF THE WEEK . —?——In introducing a literary summary into the Leader , a few words of explanation as to its scope and purport are , perhaps , due to our readers It appears to us that , as in the political , so in the literary world , there is a fund of small matters , each of apparently minor importance ,
but of great importance in the aggregate , each too small in itself to require the expanded discussion of a leading article , and yet each requiring some comment for its illustration . It is , too , for the accommodation of these waifs and strays in politics that the first article in the Leader is designed , and we see no Teason why literature should not be similarly accommodated . In carrying this out , it must be distinctly understood that we do not intend to overstep the
bounds assigned to public journalists by taking any cognisance of private and personal gossip . Such topics only as are fairly within the range of public discussion will be alluded to . Perhaps in selecting the present week for the commencement of this experiment we may be accounted particularly unfortunate , seeing that publishers , exhausted with their first crop of seasonable books , have issued nothing of paramount importance during it . Indeed , it we are tb judge by what las already appeared , and more by what is
announced , there will be rather a dull season in the book trade . To seek to account for this upon philosophical grounds would probably be to undertake a task of difficulty ; no doubt the stirring years of stern and warlike action which have preceded the present have had much to do with the phenomenon . They hare had other work upon their hands than the composition and perusal Of books , and it is only in that class of books whose subjects are intimately connected with matters occupying the public mind that any degree of activity
is to be noted . After a brief breathing space , and should the clouds that lower on the European horizon be happily dispersed , we have no doubt that this matter will speedily right itself . Among the puhbshcrs , Messrs . Murray and Messrs . Longman naturally take the lead , both as to the number and character of the works which they have produced . The former doyen of the publishing trade offers , among some other valuable works , the best book of travels , with the exception of Dr . Livingstone ' s , that has appeared for many
years . We refer , of course , to the Rev . vyilhatn JSUis ' s Missionary in Madagascar , a graphic and interesting insight into a country ana a race of people of whom little has hitherto been known . The Forest of Dean , by the Rev . H . Gr . JNicholls , is also a very valuable work , giving an account , oddly enough , for the first time , ot a remote district of England , of which almost as little has been known as of Madagascar itself . This week witnesses the issue of the third volume of Sir Henry Rawlinson ' s translation of Herodotus — a vxagnum onus truly , for when a great scholar , and a great traveller to boot , who is intimately acquainted with the lands spoken of , undertakes to retranslate the ofttranslated " father of History , " we may be Bure that ho has something both ww and valuable to tell us . And Sir Henry Rawlinson ' s edition has dready achieved a very high reputation among scholars . The fourth volume , which cannot bo
expected for another year , will complete the task . The only important issue by Messrs . Longman during the week has been an exceedingly beautiful edition of Wordsworth's White JJoe of By / stone , as splendid aa thick , prepared paper , fine typography , gorgeous yet tasteful binding , and the graphic pencils of Noel Humphreys and Birkct Toater can make it . One of the olnefest among the splendid Christmas books which tempt the wealthy buyer at this season ifl this . A book to lay upon the velvetcovered tables of palaoos or at the feet of your mistress , vrho would like it , however , all the better if they could And some way of gotting rid of that scent of oil which is tho peculiar and not very agreeable characteristic of these books printed upon prepared paper . Mention of Birket Foster
leads one to observe that he is displaying a facility and a fecundity in supplying illustrations to this roval kind of literature . Wherever there is a Christmas hook there are we sure to find him . In all the beautiful works with which Messrs . Koutled <> e and Messrs . Sampson Low ( who npnear almost to ltave a monopoly of this class ) have glorified the Christmas of 1 S 5 S—and there are many of themhis labours are everywhere apparent . Surely there may be too much of this ! Mr . Birket Foster is a clever illutiator , but his works are characterised by a decree of sameness which sooner or later must become tedious , if they have not already reached that undeniable climax .
Messrs . J . W . Parker issue another series of " Cambridge Essays , " which they introduce as " the concluding one , " an announcement which cannot fail to be received with satisfaction by those who hold that even academical learning and good ^ English may become disagreeable when allied with views narrowed within the boundaries of a university and a pert intolerance of everything beyond . The fust article in the series , that on "iNewspapcrs and their Writers /' is by A . J . Beresford Hope , who ought to know something of his subject , seeing that he was one of the former proprietors of the Morning Chronicle , and wrote letters in the columns of that journal under the well-known signature of P- C . L . Mr . Hope has also the credit of being largely concerned in the Saturday Recieic .
The magazines for the mouth , in good soo'h , are not brilliant . Japan is the only Way which the great turbid stream of events has cast up to its service , and it is cunning to note how eagerly they have plucked at it , albeit , with the exception of a few letters to the Times , nothing has been added to our knowledge of the subject for two hundred years , unless Commodore Perry ' s very American account of his visit there ever be taken for reliable
information . Blackwood , Fraser , Bentley , have all japanned their pages thickly . Speaking of this , what a pity it is that the genial entertainer of the public , Mr . Albert Smith , did not prolong his stay sufficiently to take advantage of Lord Elgin ' s treaty and give us some insight into life in Jeudo . That would have been a novelty indeed , and well worth the delay ; for Shanghae and Canton are not new to us , but of Nangasaki , Takaboko , and Simoda , we know not much .
Among the events of the week few will create more amuscmement and less astonishment than the escapade of that garrulous old gentleman , Sir Francis Head , in favour of the hero of the coup d ' etat . Of the whole faggot of French sticks surely this is the rottenest . Because the revolution interfered with trade and damaged the commercial prospects of an old rag-picker whom Sir Francis picked up in the purlieus of the Temple , and rendered business less
brisk with the gravediggers of Perc Lacbmsc ( revolutions usually have a contrary tendency ) , we nre to be told that Louis Napoleon was the man for the crisis , and that he is now no despot , his people no slaves . This is about as logical as Sir Francis ' s other proposition—that , because the workmen in the ateliers forbade political discussion during working hours , therefore they prefer to have their mouths gagged and their papers prohibited from entering into such discussion at any time .
It would be strange indeed if a celebrated political quarrel and subsequent reconciliation could occur without provoking an allusion to the wellknown ninth ode in the third book of Horace " Ad Lydiain . " The last case of such an application is , however , by far the happiest and the best wo have ever yet met with . In his very readable article on " Horace and his Translators , ' * in the lust number of tho quarterly , Mr . Houuay gave ( procured , wo presume , from private sources ) a very olegaut
trans-So far so . good ; the . GloU has also " reason to believe that the following will be found a fain adaptation under existing cir cumstances : " Derby . While Peel ' s old Ministry could twine Thy lot political with mine , Ere yet on corn we disaj , Teed , As colleagues \ ve were blest indeod . Gtaddy . Whilst thou diu'st feel no rival flame Nor GliuMy next to Dizzy came , O then thy daddy ' s echoing name Excelled its since Homeric fame . Derby . My heart from Peclite lives outworn , By Dizzy * s corkscrew curls is drawn ; My forfeit life I'll freely give , So Diz—my better life—may live . Gladdy . My bosom burns to yield possession Of all my charms to Uiight next session ; I'll face two several deaths with joy , So fate but spare my broad-brimmed boy . Derby . What if our ancient love awoke , And bound us with its golden yoke ? If Diz were sent some Indian venture , Aud Gladdy his old place re-enter ? Gladdy . Bright as the Ajoriiiny ' Star is B ., Thou , rougher than the Adrian Sea , And fickle as light bark , yet I With thee would live—with tliee would die . Such notes as remain must be briefly dismissed . JVIiv Samuel Carter Hall , ¦ founder , once proprietor , and always editor of the -Art Journal—a periodical which has now attained its majority by completing its tvventy-lirst year—has projected two lectures on the . "Authors of the Age ; " and on . Wednesday evening gave a preliminary rehearsal at his own . residence in Ashley-placey " Victoria-street , before a select circle of litcrurv and artistic friends . The audience was friendly but critical , and when we say that two hours were fully occupied without exciting the slightest symptom ot weariness , a better compliment could scarcely be suggested . The lectures consist entirely of the personal reminiscences of M . r . and Mrs . S . C . Hall , respecting the celebrated persons whose iutimaey they have enjoyed during their long connexion with literary circles " . The portraits are all of the dead , and they are drawn with a friendly , loving hand . They are all exceedingly lifelike , calling up tlic memories of the departed with a truthfulness which is always interesting and often affecthig . Those of Amelia Opie , Thomas Moore , Miss Landon , the Et trick Shepherd , and Ilood , were especially admirable . Perhaps the painful circumstance of Miss Laudou ' s death are dwelt upon with too much minuteness : but when we remember what subsisted between Mr . and Mrs . Hall ami that unfortunate but gifted girl , strong feeling may be permitted to excuse it . In our opinion Air . Hall estimates too . highly both Thomas Moore ami Hood ; but here again friendship pleads at the bar of criticism , and the court will not be too severe . A letter by Thomas Hood to Sir Kobert Pod—the last he ever wrote—excited a very profound feeling among tlic audience . "We do not doubt that these lectures , whenever they arc given to the public , will prove attractive in the highest degree . ¦ One more item of literary gossip and we uavc done . It is whispered Ilmt the unhappy squab wo which has agitated the Garrick Club , as to whotlier or not Mr . Edward Yules 'hus as much right W caricature Mr . Thackeray as the latter lias to caricature other people , is in a fuir way of being so tlca in a quieter mid more satisfactory manner wan making it tho subject of a lawsuit . Mr . xnws » to express sorrow for his oilbuce , Mr . 'lhnckernjJj to withdraw his harsh letters , and tho latter ww then write to tho commit too requesting t icm w rccal tho exile . This will bo a lit ending to bucu na important matter , and will prove ( hat m ii Garrick Club , at least , they have ciirnuU to poilto tiou the art— Kugis nikloro ponclua .
Intion of this ode from 1 lio accomplished pen o | Mr . Gladstone . Owing , however , to tho negligence of either the printer or the reviewer , two very important mistukes occurred . " Thressa ChloU" was rendered " Tluacian" instead of " Thrtfician Chloe , " and "' pro quo bis potior m < n i" ' ytx 9 translated " ton several deaths . " To sot this right , Mr . Gladstone himself sent a perfect copy of his translation to tho Time * , whero it duly appeared , with nn editorial intimation that " we have reason to beliovo that tho following will bo found to bo ft correct version . ' '
Sketches Of Algeria. Sketches Of Algeria...
SKETCHES OF ALGERIA . Sketches of Algeria durlny tho fttb / th »»'« '' By U **' tonant ColoHoniufcjU M . Wuhnsloy . , ., « Chapman ami lift" - W » renew our aomiaiutaiioo witli Colonel WtthiiUg with pleasure Many will remember tho mowuw of onfortttiinnont all ' ordod to them by ty * { f ""'^ of a Vu-shi-lJasaufc , nud many more will have
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 4, 1858, page 10, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_04121858/page/10/
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