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No. 454, December 4,1858.] THE LEADER. 1...
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THE MAGAZINES. BtACKWOOD—is more than us...
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A Lady's Cajrtivity among the Chinese Pi...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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The Paper Duties. Th^Tax Upon Paper. The...
ducted on a larger scale than heretofore . This , in fact , is a natural tendency in a society rapidly progressing in the arts . The recent history of the publishing business , to which the committee principally belong , and of another business—the circulating library-r-closely connected with it , would furnish striking examples . In the case of the paper inanufacture , it is notorious that the great improvements in machinery during the last thirty years have led to the employment of larger capitals and to more economical , because more extensive ,
operations . . The assertions that certain sorts of paper may always be bought at less than prime cost , that " were the manufacturer wise he would stop his mill at once , " and that the reason why lie does not do so is , that " few men are wise enough to stop a losing trade when they have embarked capital in . it , " are manifest exaggerations , which are answered by the fact that the paper-makers have in the last twenty years voluntarily increased the quantity annually manufactured in Great Britain from eighty millions to one hundred and ninety millions of
pounds . The question of the comparative . merits of direct and indirect taxation is , again * clearly too ¦ wide for the Association ' s object . We will only just suggest on this point that the income-tax collector is no more popular than the exciseman . The claim for the abolition of the paper-tax stands upon higher ground , and must not be placed on the level of the malt or hop duty . The Association are contending for an important object , but they must certainly amend their logic . No better fortune could fall to their opponents or those who are anxious to delay the repeal , than to find them , when the struggle shall have arrived , resting their cause upon such arguments as these .
No. 454, December 4,1858.] The Leader. 1...
No . 454 , December 4 , 1858 . ] THE LEADER . 1317
The Magazines. Btackwood—Is More Than Us...
THE MAGAZINES . BtACKWOOD—is more than usually readable this month . But we protest against tales or relations of any kind " to he continued ; " that is a " dodge " — an old one , it is true—proper to be confined to cheap serials . The first article , which bids fair to be a very interesting one , "A Cruise in Japanese Waters , " has this defect—we will add , the only one . " What will he do with It ? " by . Sir E . Bulwer Lytton , progresses . " A Pleasant French Book " is a notice of J . B . Biot ' a Melanges Scientiftques et Litte ' raires . The writer has brought his author into pleasant and prominent view , but we think the cloven or the polemical foot peeps out in that portion which refers to Galileo and his persecutions at
Rome . According to . M . Biot , the received traditions are all wrong—Galileo was not tortured or ill-treated by the inquisition ; the Pope did not -absolutely deny the truth of the philosopher ' s new theories as much as he deprecated the open attack on his poetic powers—Galileo eld not utter in an aside the memorable sentence , after being compelled to recant on his kneea the heresy to which he had given vitality of the earth revolving round the sun , that for all he had said , it did revolve round the sun . It is the fashion now-a-days to find out that our ancestors were in error in almost everything 1 , and that the relations handed down to us of waited
remarkable events and sayings have only for the corrections of clever modern litterateurs , to bo for over set right . For our own part , wo orq a little difficult on these points ; wo ore inclined to adhere in many instances to old traditions in preference to new lights and readings . ** The Indian Mutiny and Land Settlement" copies in for an article . " Cousin John ' s l ' roperty" has a smack of tho liveliness and simplicity of tlie magazine stories of a bygone period . " Sermons" does sen-Bible justice to Mr . Caird as a preacher , and " Mr . Bright ' s Absurdities" will bo applauded by his opponents and denounced as exhibiting tho taint of party feeling by his friends . hut th
Frabert-on tho whole , ia heavy , ere arc several capital articles , among tho best of which is a " Iteview of Carlylo ' s Frederick tho Great . " Tho writer is evidently disposed to deal tenderly with one who gained so largo , a portion of his fame in Frascr but he will not allow personal partiality and past triumphs to blind his judgment or bins bin decision in reference to tho real merits of this groat but ecoentric writer ' s last production . " Our New Treaty with Japan" is addressed mainly to the commercial classes , It contains much information that will have its value , if rightly received . " Snake Birds" is a long article on tho peculiarities Of several ornithological curiosities . ' *? People who are not Respectable" ia written in an uncharitable spirit , and deals with characters that ought to find no mention in any respectable work , of whoso real private history the writer is evidently unacquainted . "India in a Aoeia" puts one or two Indian questions and
Indian heroes in a somewhat novel light . The other articles are of average merit . The Eclectic Review—opens with an article which shows that even an old and a well-worn topic
can be made new , instructive , and amusing , in able and earnest hands . The article on " Dante" may be read throughout with relish and profit . " Rambles of a Naturalist" deals out some well-deserved knocks to M . de Quatrefages for his intense and illiberal nationality , and at the same time pays a just tribute to his well-directed and exhaustive labours . * ' Fiji and Fijians" is a sketch of tlie normal condition of the Fijians and the abnormal condition to which missionary labour has brought them . We hope the missionaries have not deceived themselves as to the extent and Christianising effects of their labours . " Ooulita , " the " Quarterly Review of German Literature , " and " Brief Notices of Books , " complete the number for this mouth .
Thk Dublin University Magazine . —This number is worth steady reading from beginning to end . It would be uniformly good were it divested of a few blemishes , which j appear to us to be the result of hastiness , or want of sufficient information on the part of the writers . The five first articles" Christianity in India , " Lever ' s " Gerald Fitzgerald , " " Recent Cambridge Literature , " " Rides upon Mules and Donkeys , " " The Black Chamber "may pass without criti cism . So might have passed " Statistics on Irish Prosperity , " had the writer not relied too much on figures—than which nothing is more deceptive aud misleading—as proofs of particular views . We shall be sincerely glad to find that the prosperity is as sound and certain as the writer wishes us to believe , but we cannot rely on his
comdrinks heartily , has large calves to his legs , and is a tolerably good natured animal . Knight ' s Histor y of England . No . XXXV . ( Bradbury and Evans ) . —This is a short number but the deficiency is to be supplied before the volume closes . The narrative is well sustained and is full of interesting matter ; and amongst other sad stories contains the useful one of the Massacre of Glencoe . The author shows pretty clearly it was the murdering of one set of savages by another , but the treachery is abhorent , and must ever remain a foul disgrace to all connected with it . . Routledge ' s Shakespeaee , Parts XXXI . and XXXII ., Cymbeline . ( Routledge , Warnes , and Routledge . )—This double part concludes Henry VIII . and includes the whole of Cymbeline , a play of which the only known copy in the folio abounds in typographical errors . The present editor is no less speculative than his predecessors in his conjectures , and is more bold in his emendations . The construction of this play , both in versification and general contrivance , must suggest some doubts as to authorship in those not bigoted to the old stereotyped notions on the subject . But thf t is a heterodox line of thought that every editor seems to shun , at least on this side the Atlantic . The illustrations to this poetical play are better , and the artist seems to have been roused by his subject . The paper and printing are unexceptionable . Davenport Dunk . By Charles Lever . No . XVIII . ¦ ( Chapman and Hall . )—This very clever story approadhes a close , and there is no perceptible abatement of vigour in the present number . We must say , of all the serial writers , Mr . Lever seems to preserve most of his original verve and freshness .
parative statistics as furnishing us with any clue to the real truth in respect of Irish crime and Irish pauperism . The figures , as given to us , certainly show that crime in Ireland is less in numbers than crime in England 1 —but they prove nothing . The proportion of Irish crime in England is something incredible—in Ireland English crime is next to nil . Then , again , the paupers in Ireland may apparently be fewer than the paupers ia England according to the figures , but let it be recollected that the numbers both of outdoor and indoor paupers in England are vastly swelled by Irish pauperism . Noticing " Chronicles of Castle Cornet" as a good tale , we come to "Recent Novels , " the work , we think , of a clever but young writer . " Remonstrances of a Radical " we commend to the attention of Mr . Bright ' s
adparalysing action of the Roman Catholic priesthood . " Behind the Scenes in Paris" improves greatly in interest , but we recommend the writer to beware of " comparisons . " It may be all very well for him to praise French Roman Catholic Sisters of Charity , but it is not fair or honest to do so at the expense of English Protestant Sisters of Charity . " The Ugly Snuff-box , " " The Ancient Order of Batrncliians , " " Christmas Carols , " and the " Review of New-Books , " have all their points of interest .
. Titan—has a number of excellent articles for this month . " The Confession" is a clever resume of a clever French work . The " Phases of Lunatic Life" remind one of passages in the Diary of a late Physician . " A Few Words about Ireland , " point out the changes that have been made in tlie social conditions of the country , but also forcibly point out the drawbacks to improvement presented by the unindustrial habits of the people , and especially the
Thk English Woman ' s Journal . —There is more variety than usual in . the contents of this number . But is not an article on Decimal Coinage , though with the eminent initials of "A . de M . " appended , somewhat too recherchd for this kind of publication ? ' ? A Night in Westminster" is a very good and truthful article . We hope it will be attentively and extensively read , as it will servo to bring charitable minds and promoters of popular progress , without personal debasement , into familiar contact with the condition of ono largo section of the poor and the working classes . _
. This Anx Journal , —The Illustrations aro— "Tho IJunch of Grapes , " by G . Metzu , engravod by G . Levy , a fine specimen of tho burin and of the 1 oniorBlike management of light and shade . Zuchnrelli ' s Waterfall , engraved by E . Uadclyifr , is a lovely bit of landscape with figuros . The engraving of tho Statue of George Stuphenson is by J . G . Baker , But why did Bui ' lly copy so closely the poad and tho raiment of Sir K . Peel as seon In Choap »» de ? Tins Pakknts * Caijinkt of Amubkment and
Inbtkuotion . New Edition . ( Smith , Elder and Co . ) —An established favourite , which has had tho high approval of Miss Edgeworth , and requires nothing more to be said in its favour . Turn Virginians . By W . Thackeray . No . XIV . ( Bradbury and Evan ' s ) . — -The story labours along not without some delicate touches of character , but still languidly , and without that vigour and force which havo generally characterised this author ' s works . The hero , Harry , is a great mistake ; no one cares for a man merely because he eats and
The Magazines
A Lady's Cajrtivity Among The Chinese Pi...
A Lady ' s Cajrtivity among the Chinese Pirates . Translated by Amelia Edwards , from the French of Mademoiselle Loriot . ( Routledge and Co . )—If we were not well assured that this book is founded on fact , we should regard it as a clever , romance , .. very much after the Captain Marryat pattern , How the lady was taken prisoner by the r pirates , what sufferings she endured , and how providentially her liberation-was effected , are here simply and touching !) ' detailed . We can promise a good shillingsworth of amusement for the investment . Tales for the Twilight . By Joseph Verey . ( James Blackwood . ) - ^ Six tal es and six poetical pieces make up this volume . The tales for the most part are slight and brief , and have appeared with some applause in some publication—at least so the author informs us . The prose and verse are of equal merit , and this is all we can say about the book .
Gray ' s Poetical WorAs . ( Sampson Low , and Co . )—Capitally printed , illustrated , and bound , fit for the gentleman ' s library-table , or the lady ' s boudoir . Of the poems , it would be " throwing a perfume on the lily " to bestow one word of admiration upon them in the present day . , ' Milton ' s VAllegro , ( Sampson Low , and Co . )—Messrs . Sampson , Low , and Co . deserve public thanks for the way they send out their elegant publications . Binding , paper , " print , and embellishments , are all exquisite—together a fitting shrine for one of our noblest poets' noblest works . If we -were inclined to bo captious it would be at the seeming want of duo appreciation of illustrations
tho poet ' s idea evinoed in one or two of the . For instance , as a pictorial exponent of Milton's " neathanded Phyllis , " the artist , II . J . Townsend , has understood tho line literally—bo has given us a buxom lass displaying a , couple o neat hands conspicuously in front , in the attitude in which we are accustomed to see Mrs . Jordan depicted as " The Country-girl . " This , we humbly venture to suggest , is not the correct reading . Then . again , we havo in tho " milkmaid singing blyth , " a verituble stage heroine , with wide-open mouth , warbling vigorously on a low stilo . This idea does not , we opine , quite rise Up to the poet ' s conception . These , however , are minor defects—the bulk of tho illustrations aro finely artistic and woll suited to the subjects .
Once upon a Time . By Cluirles Knight . Second Edition . ( John Murray . )—As full of curious and real information as D'lsnieli ' s "Curiosities of Literature , " and as pleasant reading as the most amusing of our popular serials . Tho work has already rocoived tho stamp of popular approval , ami wo have « o doubt that this second issue , which is got up very nicely indeed , will soon bo exhausted . When tho third edition is called for let us recommend tha author to expunge , some passages in which his peculiar politics ami economics nro put forward rather too prominently . The book ought to bo road by everybody , but Mr . Knight ' s politics and economics nro not lilioly to bo everybody ' s .
Martin Ruttler ; or , a Boy's Arfoentvrea in the Foretsa of Brazil . ( Nolson and Sons . ) -Mr . Jiallnntyno a productions aro prodigious favourites with hoys . luo Coral Islands , " " Tho Ungavn , " the " loung * ree Tradors , " aro already well established In their afloctions . Martin Hauler must now bo added to tho list . Favourite Pleasure Books for lovng People . Illustrated by Abaolom Wolmort and Harrison Wulr , and printed in colour * . ( Sampson Low , and Co . )—All our moat cherished nurapry favourites uro reproduced in a
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 4, 1858, page 13, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_04121858/page/13/
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