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_l°jg- — ¦ ' •¦ ¦ THE LEADER. [3Sfo. 398...
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WZ l*~*l*+^ • *-**v*u«Hv»
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Critics we not the legislators, but the ...
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The first part of a new story "b y Mr. T...
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Vfc have had time only to glance through...
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The Magazines, for November, instead of ...
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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Transcript
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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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_L°Jg- — ¦ ' •¦ ¦ The Leader. [3sfo. 398...
_ l ° jg- — ¦ ' •¦ ¦ THE LEADER . [ 3 Sfo . 398 , November 7 . raw . ¦ ¦ ' : —— 1 ' - - ~ ¦ ¦ ' - ¦ „_
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- Citwntnre . ¦ ¦ » — ' ¦ ¦ ¦
Critics We Not The Legislators, But The ...
Critics we not the legislators , but the judges and police of literature . They do not make laws—they interpret aad try to enforce them . —JEdinbtorah Review .
The First Part Of A New Story "B Y Mr. T...
The first part of a new story "b y Mr . Thackeray is the event of the week , and its perusal must have helped greatly during the last few days to mitigate the depressing influence of this wretched November weather . By a kindly social ordinance , the autumn of the natural year is . made . the spring of the literary one , so that just at the time when the parks and gardens become drizzled and desolate , grey and . dim , beyond endurance , the publishers add to our fireside delights by the issue of their choicest works . Of the new leaves thus providently supplied , none will be more welcome than those which introduce the Virginians to English society . The sketch of the two brothers . on the well-known yellow cover is already a familiar picture in a thousand English homes , as the history of their early days has already delighted a thousand English hearts . We have little more to do than announce Mr . Thackeray ' s reappearance , and express the delight we have felt ia reading the first instalment of ~ his new story ..
-The Virginians is not a tale of contemporary American life , or , indeed , of contempora ^ jlife at all , but ^ of society in England , and- ^ iuTerTca during the second 4 taif" -oTIIielast centuryr ^ iHs-,-indeed 7 a ~ sorr of sequel to Estuond , the thread of the same family history being resumed only two generations later , Colonel Esmond ' s grand-children being the ' Virginians' of the new story . In this Thackeray has followed his favourite plan of reint roducing the characters of his previous stories , so that in every new book : of his we meet people with whom we are already well acquainted . The consummate art with which he does this has all the unconsciousness of nature , and adds immensely
to the sense of perfect reality , which is the great characteristic and rare charm . of bis writing . The opening chapters of the new story contain some admirable illustrations of this peculiarity . Note , for instance , the fine tact , which , suggests rather than introduces the picture of Colonel Esmond ' s declining years spent in the retirement o £ lu > Virginian home . We see him saddened rather than embittered by the 'bankruptcy trflhe heart' which he had suffered in early life , regarding all men and all things with a quiet seriousness , a little sceptical , a little indifferent perhaps , but always kindly , generous , and humane . Here is the picture with the introductory paragraph , which sketches tlie Transatlantic scene of the story , and illustrates the subtle art of the writer : —' ¦
The gentry of Virginia dwelt on their great lands after a fashion almost patriarchal . For its rough cultivation , each estate had a multitude of liands—of purchased and assigned servants—who wero subject to the command of the master . The land yielded their food , live stock , and game . The great rivers swarmed with fish for the taking . From their banks the passage home was clear . Their sliips took the tobacco off their private wharves on the banks of the Potomac or the . James river , and carried it to London or Bristol , —bringing back English goods and articles of home manufacture in return for the only produce which the Virginian gentry chose to cultivate .
Their hospitality was boundless . No stranger was ever sent away from their gates . The gentry received one another , and travelled to each other ' s houses , in a state almost feudal . The question of Slavery was not born at the time of which we write . To be the proprietor of black servants shocked the feelings of no "Virginian gentleman ; nor , in truth , was the despotism exercised over the negro race generally a savage one . The food was plenty ; the poor black people lazy and not unhappy . You might have preached negro emancipation to Madam Esmond of Castlewood , as you might have told her to let the horses run loose out of her stables 5 she had no doubt but that the whip and the corn-bag were good for both .
Her father may have thought otherwise , being of a sceptical turn on very many points , but his doubts did not break forth in active denial , and lie was rather disaffected than rebellious . At one period , this gentleman had taken apart in active life at . borne , and possibly might have been eager to share its rewards ; but in latter 4 * vys lie did not seem to care for them . A something had occurred in his life , which had cast a tinge of melancholy over all his existence . lie was not unhappy—to those about him most kind—most affectionate , obsequious even to the women of his family , whom he scarce ever contradicted ; but there had been some bankruptcy of his heart , which his spirit never recovered . He submitted to life , rather than enjoyed it , and never was in better spirits than in his last hours when he was going to lay it down . Having lost his wife , his daughter took the management of the Colonel and Iiin affairs ; and he gave them up to her charge with an entire acquiescence . So that he had his books and his quiet , he cared for no more . When company enmc to Castlewood , Be entertained them handsomely , and was of a very pleasant , surcasticnl turn . He was not in the least sorry when they went away .
" My love , I shall not be sorry to go myself , " he said to his daughter , " and you , though the most affectionate of daughters , will console yourself after a while . Why should I , who am bo old , be romantic ? You may , who are still a young creature . " This he said , not meaning all he said , for the lady whom ho addressed was a matterof-fact little person , with very little romanco in her nature . A-S a pendant to ColoneL Esmond we have a picture equally admirable , and far more elaborate , of Be & uioo Eamanrl—the proud and . self-willed beauty of the earlier story . She is also grown old , but you still recognize the triumphant coquette who had trilled with and seared the heart o-f Esmond years ago , now somewhat faded in complexion , somewhat coarse in figure , and somewhat facile in tone and manners ., but still retaining tmccs of her former beauty , ' still t he lady of high race and polished society ; a little punished by her cruelty , a little remorseful at having thrown away Esmond ' s noble and devoted heart ; , and touched with irresistible tenderness at the sight of his grandson—the living picture of her old lover in his youth . Here is the sketch ; —
Had the well-remembered scene ( for » ho had vimted it often in childhood ) a freshness and charm for her ? Did it rccal days of innocence and happiness , and did its calm beauty Boot lie or please , or awaken remorse in her heart ? Her manner was more than ordinarily affectionate and gentle , when , presently , after pacing the walks for a , half hour , the person for whom she was waiting came to her . This was our
young Virginian , to whom she had despatched an early billet by one of «« t T woods . The . note was signed B . Bernstein , aud informed ^ r . fsZuaVn ^ that his relatives at CasOewood , and among them a dear friend of hia ^ aSfl were most anxious that le should come to ' Colon * EmtmTs kou *? £ Ww '> And now , accordingly , the lad mad e his appearance , passing under the old Sht doorway tnppmg down the steps from one garden terrace to another ™ bat faW Ins fair hair blowing from his flushed cheeks , his slim figure clad in Wurniti t £ handsome and modest looks , the comely face and person , of the younK lad iwX the lady . He made her a . low bow which would have done credit to "VerlaUlJf % held out a little hand to him , and , as his own palm closed over it she laid tho i » SKtc e nhi 3 rUffle ' She l 00 ^ very kfndly and affectionately £ *& £ " « I know your grandfather very well , Harry , " she said . « So you came yesterday to see his picture , and they turned you away , though you know the house vras his of
Harry blushed very red . " The servants did not know me . A youn * centlem ™ came to me last night , " he said , '» when I was peevish , and . he , I fear wastinsvT spoke rudely to my cousin , and would ask his pardon . Your ladyship knows that in Virginia , our manners towards strangers are different . I own I had expected another kind of -welcome . Was it you , madam , who sent my cousin to me last nMit ?" " I sent him ; but you will find your cousins most friendly to you to-day You must stay here . Lord Castlewood would have been with you this morning onlv I was so eager to see you . There will be breakfast in an hour ; and meantime von must talk to me . " We will send to the Threj Castles for your servant and your w gage . Give me your arm . Stop , I dropped my cane when you came . You shall be my cane . " * " My grandfather used to call us his crutches , " said Harry . " You are like him , ' though you are fair . "
" Yon should liave seen—you should have seen George , " said the boy , and his honest « yes welled with tears . The recollection of his brother , the bitter pain of yesterday s humiliation , the affectionateness of the present greeting—all , perhaps contributed to soften the lad ' s heart . He felt very tenderly and gratefully towards the lady who had received him so warmly . He was utterly alone and miserable a minute since , and here was a home and a kind hand held out to him . No wonder he clung to it . In the hour during which they talked together , the young fellow had poured out a great deal of his honest heart to the Mnd new-found friend ; -when the dial told breakfast-time , he wondered to think how much he had told her .
The time of the story is well chosen , and we may be sure , from Tilvckeuw ' s intimate familiarity with the life and manners of ' The Georges , ' that its social features will be well illustrated . We shall have , however , pictures not only of English , but also of American society during the period of the great War of Independence , and most likely be introduced to some of the leading characters of that stirring era . Already we read of ' Mr . Franklin ' s press at Philadelphia , ' and Madam Esmond ' s ' young friend and neighbour , Mr . Washington , of Mount Vorncm . Why need we speak of the spirit and style of the writing ? la saying they are Tuackera . y * s we say enough . The finished simplicity of the word painting , the scholarly allusion , the dialogue , every sentence of which is a stroke of
character , the qpiiet humour of retort , the keen insight and the large charity , the curled lip of scorn melting into a sad serious smile , and the deep undertone of pathos . with -which he expounds his favourite text , and sums up all human experience into the lore and lies which began in . Paradise and will circulate with the sun to the world ' s end , are all exemplified , and treated in . the author ' s best manner in these opening chapters of the Viryinians .
Vfc Have Had Time Only To Glance Through...
Vfc have had time only to glance through Dr . Livingstone ' s narrative , to be published on Tuesday next by Mr . Muiuiay . The work will immediately be in thousands of hands ; it is the most powerful light ever thrown upon the African interior . This week , moreover , we can only announce Mr . Hutton ' s A Hundred Years Ago , published by Messrs . Longman—a book of curious illustrations , taking the bearings of a century of English history . Mr . Hution has mastered the secret ; of popularity .
The Magazines, For November, Instead Of ...
The Magazines , for November , instead of supplying an antidote . to the natural dreariness of the season , seem rather to suffer sympathetically from its influ ence , They have no marked features of special interest this month . In Blackwood , ' Janet ' s Repentance , ' No . III . of ' Scenes of Clerical life , ' is concluded , but we hope the ' scenes' have not yet conic to an end , as tlicy have been from ' the first admirable pictures of English life , marked by rare delicacy and depth of moral insight . ' "Wh . it will he do with it , ? ' increases in interest as I he story unfolds , though the incidents often violently outrage all probability . ' Cambria and Cottonopolis' Is a pleasant tourist ' s sketch , varied with a good deal of desultory but sensible art-criticism .
Fraser opens witli mi article ' About Edinburgh , ' founded on a volume ot dull and trashy sketches lately published under the misnomer of ' Edinburgh Dissected ; ' the paper in Fraser being only a little less dull than the volume reviewed . The paper on * Hollers and Kingfishers' gives a grnphic and interesting history of that moat brilliant of British birds ; and the one entitled ' Taste of the Day * contains some excellent criticism on a subject , too little under the control ot any recognized or rational principle of art—Ladies' Dress . The best articles in the Dublin Unioersitif Magaziite arc about Scotchmenone on ' Alexander Smith ' s Poems , ' anil the other on ' Hugh Miller and Geology . '
The Eclectic Ji ^ oicw more vigorous than in its younger days , and continues to be the best monthly organ of the Nonconformist body . The November number lms interesting papers on Indian Caste—a subject hitherto little understood—on Flemish Art , on Ancient Husbandry , and English Progress ia Australia .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 7, 1857, page 16, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_07111857/page/16/
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