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748 THE LEADER, " ' [Literary. ,
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LITERATURE. SCIENCE, ART, Etc-
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LITERARy NOTES, ETC. ¦ —+¦ — -
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From the Bulletin webcam that a case wil...
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*Ttfoordt (Vuna Mitmlono (n 1'ortogatto ...
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" Their investigations into documents an...
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* IJotwooii tliw Kovornor, tMuut Uolziv,...
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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
748 The Leader, " ' [Literary. ,
748 THE LEADER , " ' [ Literary .
Literature. Science, Art, Etc-
LITERATURE . SCIENCE , ART , Etc-
Literary Notes, Etc. ¦ —+¦ — -
LITERARy NOTES , ETC . ¦ — + ¦ — -
From The Bulletin Webcam That A Case Wil...
From the Bulletin webcam that a case will shortly occupy the attention of the Court of Chancery which will have peculiar interest for the antiquarian world and the lovers of Shakspeare . A namesake of the great poet , who had accumulated a large fortune , bequeathed , by will , 2 , 500 / . for the formation of a museum in Shakspeare ' s house , at ] Stratford-on-Avon , and charged his' landed estate with an annuity of 607 . a-year for the support of a custodian of the house and museum , whose duty it ' . would be to show visitors through them , and to keep a book in which each visitor would be at liberty to write any remarks he might think proper in ' -prose or verse . The trustees , conceiving that the gift of 2 , 500 / . might be contested on the ground of uncertainty , have declined to _ pay the legacy without the direction of the Court , and hence has arisen the litigation .
T ITEUAliY news this week is but scanty—the -Li more engrossing subjects of war and politics occupying men ' s minds to the exclusion of the muses . Fresh battles , incipient treaties , and new cabinets are your only topics at present ; and the last novel , poem , or play is left with uncut leaves , while we devour the last telegrams from the seat of war , or the most recent ministerial or parliamentary crisis . The hard-working and novel-writing ministry of Lord Derby has no longer . the management of affairs ; while the members of the literary world , along with the rest of the population , have to hail the advent to power of a body of somewhat ponderous authors , whose solidity we trust may prove as valuable in transacting the business of the state as it is unattractive in their various composition s in prose and verse .
softness , wear out quickly , and are very expensive . The characters are moulded one by one ; the best workman can scarcel y produce 5 , 000 of them in a day in the rough . They have afterwards to he finished and pass through several hands . . M . Gonibarieu . by an ingenious machine , produces 10 , 000 types at one stroke . Each letter is then separated by a mechanical saw , which divides them with mathematical regiilarity and precision . The consequence of this invention , will be—production increased cent , per cent . ; exactitude and regularity , hitherto unattainable ; the use of harder metal , which will avoid the frequent renewal of printers' materials ; reduction ( by one half ) of the outlay ; an increase of printing , and and an enormous diminution in tLe price of books . M . Combarieu announces , moreover , his intention of producing types in steel , the durability of which will be beyond calculation .
The sale is announced by Messrs . Sotheby and "Wilkinson of the library of some sixteen thousand volumes of the late Rev . John Mitford , known and esteemed in every circle of book-buyers , towards the end of the present season . Mr . Mitford ' s minatures , bronzes , statuary , and his pictures will be sold in July .
Mr , Jacob Bell died at Tunbridge Wells oh Saturnday jlast , iat the age of forty-nine . Mr . Bell was President of the Pharmaceutical Society , of which he may be said to have been the founder , and was the supportei' for a long series of years , lie was a munificent patron of British literature and art , and a liberal supporter of many literary , scientific , and charitable institutions in London , while at the same time eminently xiseful in the private walks of benevolence . Anything relating to Montalembert must be of interest to the lovers of literature , and we therefore notice here the elegant memorials which he has presented to his advocates , of his regard for their
services at the late famous trial . M . Berryer aiid M . Dufaure declined to receive any . remuneration for the professional services they rendered to their distinguished client , and M . de Montalembert , appreciating tlie delicacy of their conduct , ordered two statues in silver to be made ; one of Demosthenes , copied on a small scale from the statue in the Museum of the Vatican ; the other of Aristides , on the model of that in the Museo Borbonico at Naples . The statue of Demosthenes is presented to M . Jierryer ; that of Aristides to M . Dufaure . The former tears the following inscription : — " Hiuk antiqui Demos thenis effigiem Dcmostheni nostro ,
Petro Antonio Berryer , quern patronum ac tiltoreni habuit die xxi Dccembris , 1858 , Carolus , domes d « Montalernbert . —' ¦ ' Quid si ipsum tonantem audivisses 1 > " These last words , spoken by - #£ schines after his banishment from Athens , were not more applicable to his great rival than to M . Berryer . The words engraved on the statue of Aristides , presented to M . Dufaure , are—• " Hanc prisoi Aristidis efflgiem Aristidi nostro , Julio Dufaure , virtute ct eloquentid prajcellenti , gratus obtulit ac dicavit , Curolufi , Comes do Montalembert , accusation 0 Majestatis oxsolutus ao vindicatus die xxi . Decora * bria , ra . dccclviii . ' "
The vacancy in the French Academy , it is supposed , will be filled by Pliilarete Chasles , the interpreter of Shrtkspeare and promoter of English literature in France . Philnrote Ohftales has been brought up in England , a WestminsU-r scholar , and 1 ms a thorough knowledge of the English language . His works uro greatly admirou" by classical students , and havo done much to forwai'd the inquiry into KngHeu poetry and literature which is at this moment nt its very height in France . A discovery , which , it * it fulfils the expectations of its inventor , is fraught with grunt consequences to the world of letters , has just boon miulo public in Franco .. ' TI 10 , myrla-type of'M ' . Combariou has boen tmbmitted 'to tho Government and accepted lor inspection , which in a marYollous invention , intended to ell ' utit an immense revolution in tho art of printing , llltherto the charactora used in printing havo been composed of a mixture of lend and antimony 1 these characters , by reason of thoir extreme
*Ttfoordt (Vuna Mitmlono (N 1'Ortogatto ...
* Ttfoordt ( Vuna Mitmlono ( n 1 ' ortogatto al Ito Carlo Alhvrto , nor Jatln' 1 Clbrmlo . iOtl ulttmt Htvotghiicntl Italian ! , Ul V , A . OunUorlo ,
" Their Investigations Into Documents An...
" Their investigations into documents and correspondence only recently become available , have amply demonstrated that in the extraordinary complications of his position and the conflicting elements of deep-rooted ambition , moral timidity , and religious scruples by which he was perpetually agitated , lav the clue to the ambiguity of his conduct , and his apparent falseness to the professions of his jouth . " The interval between the transactions of 1821 and his accession to the throne , had been passed by the Prince of Carignano in retirement and disgrace . The King , Charles Felix , never thoroughly forgave his countenance of the constitutionalists at that
period ; and Austria , penetrating the desire for national independence by which he was possessed , pursued him with unrelenting animosity . Little ' known until Gualterio ' s revelations , the history of . these manoeuvres against Charles Albert is full of interest . It was at first seriously contemplated to set aside his right of succession as the nearest male heir , in favour of his son Victor Emmanuel ( the present King ) , then an infant of fourteen months old , an arrangement of which the French Minister at Florence , the Marquis of Maisonfort , did not fail to point out the inevitable results , —' a . regency of fifteen years , and a sure road for Austria to possess herself of all Italy . '
THE VICISSITUDES OF ITALY , SINCE THE CONGRESS OF VIENNA . By A . I ,. V . Gretton . —ltoutlodg-c , Warner and Koutledg-e . This is a most serviceable and timely work . It tells a plain unvarnished tale , that tlu-owa a clear and decided light on the transactions of Italy , and its relations with Austria , France and Sardinia . It is partly grounded on llanalli ' s Istorie Italiane ; in fact , is in some sort an expanded analysis of that book . The events besides are brought down to the present time ; at least to the moment when Victor Emmanuel piiblished to the Sardinian parliament , that he was " not insensible to the cry of anguish which reaches us from so many parts of Italy . " Let us endeavour to i * etrace their ^ course , adding : such reflections as may arise during the
recital . The narrative begins : — " The fate ot Italy , at the present moment , hangs upon , that of Piedmont . " This is the keynote of the whole . Ten yeax-s ago things were in a different position ; nevertheless the Congress of 1815 is the ' fatal standpoint , when the temporal authority was restored to the Papacy , and Austrian domination was re-established and extended . The Pope and other sovereigns returned with obstinacy to the traditions of their youth , ftnd refused to make any concession to the spirit of the
age . The intellectual expansion of the nineteenth century was disregarded , and they thought to return to the contracted and narrow views of former ages . In 1820-21 occurred the revolution at Naples , and soon after were exemplified tlic treacheries of Ferdinand I . Almost simultaneously Piedmont rose to demand a representative government . Charles Albert , p * rince of Carignano , then regent , favoured the demand by his neutrality , but incuiTed suspicion , when he yielded for the time to the stern uncompromising refusal of the king Charles Felix . Piedmont for awhile bowed •* . « . 4 X . 0 1 ;« n /> Jnl -mim l < lii + in 1 H ? l 1 fill 111 HI 1
J'Vfftion broke out in the Roman States and the Duclry of Modena ; the revolted provinces , however , were speedily subdued by Austrian troops . Then it was that Chrirles Albert ascended the Sardinian throne , not " yet cleared from suspicion , and at a time of general distrust . Mazzini likewise appeared , to complicate matters still more . Ho was then Jin advocate of the city of Genoa , and addressed a public letter to tlio new king , calling upon him to give liberty to Italy , and warning him of irreparable ruin should he refuse or hesitate . Mazzini wag for his boldness banished ; and , in
revenge , founded the revolutionary society of the Oiovine Italia , which aimed af , the substitution of one republic for the several monarchies into which Italy was sub-divided . Our author is deoidodly opposed to Mazzini , and reads in tho records of the Giovino Italia onl y " n succession of desperate and foolhardy expedition * , ill combined and precipatately carried out , invariably leading to the axe , the buflot , or tho dungeonand yet fruitless in teaching a lesson of wisdom to their originator , or in shaking the blind confidence of his followers in thoir chief . ' What follows must be cited in extenso . " The pages of Cibrario * nnd . Gualte . riot must l > o searched for tho vindication of Churl oh Albert from tho odium of those- procoodhitfH ,
" Foiled in this design by the vigilance of France , who was unwilling that the Imperial Government should obtain so great a preponderance , the Aulic Council next intrigued for the repeal of the Salic law , which had always existed in Piedmont , in favour of the eldest daughter of the late King married to Francis IV ., Duke of Modena , the most despotic and the most hated of all the Italian Princes . Here again the intervention of France , and of the Emperor Alexander of Russia , to whom Charles Albert especially addressed him self , did him good service , although so late as 1830 Metternich and the Duke appear to have harassed him by their machinations . Even when he was seated on the throne , Austria scarcely attempted to disguise her jealous vigilance . It was intimated to him that
no change would be tolerated in the political direction of Piedmont , neither might he recall from exile or patronise any of the constitutionalists of 1821 . A skilful agent , the- " © punt of Uombelles , subsequently notorious as the fourth or fifth husband , or lover , of Maria Louisa , Duchess of Parma , was sent from Vienna to watch his movements . His Minister of the Interior , 1 / Escurena , exercised a still closer surveillance , and reported to heiul-quarters the . minutest details of his life and correspondence . Once , when irritated at the King ' s desire to give the portfolio of finance to the advocate Gallina , of well-known anti-Austrian tendencies , he so far forgot himself as to threaten that if he persisted in his resolution , Kadetzky would march on Turin and compel him to abdicate .
" Conscious that he was in no condition to resent these indignities- —that on tic slightost pretext an overwhelming Austrian force would have swept down upon Piedmont , Charles Albert was content to bide his time and dissemble alike his patriotic designs and his profound resentment . It thus appears that public events have had to work themselves out of ambiguity into clearness ; and that there has necessarily buen . much unjust suspicion cherished against individuals whose thoughts and deeds were apparently ,- hut only apparently , at variance . Charles Albert , it id confessed , aspired to found an Italian monarch v , and was well . disposed to Catholicism . In fact , lie had to accommodate himself to the Jesuitical
network in which the whole country was enveloped . But he was careful to see meanwhile to his military standing , at which Austria was not a little displeased , and in 1838 even hinted that it would bo advisable for him to reduce his army to a lootin «* more commensurate with tho size oi hi . i dominions . The suggestion , which was received without comment , of course met with no compliance . And these false relations still continue to subsist . We must leave it to tho recollections oi our readers to trace for themselves tho , unhappy mto of Sicily , anil of tho Peninsula in 1845 , usi wel as tho lamentable condition of the Pontilic . l Mates under Gregory XVI . Throo JL'lodmontebo created a great sensation by their writiiitfs—UioOei ti , CesaroBalbo , and Massimo < I'Azeg hu-which , u » All . Urcttou ' s opinion , vindieiilutUo conduct ot Clunk * Albert . Then came the accession of lio . JNonc . and the marvellous spectacle of » rciornuiw 1 opi . Need wo state its issues ? Muttcrniyh had determined on converting tho revolution into a sedition , in order the more easily to ileul with it . : "And tho corrosnondonoo * found in tho government archives at Milan , after tho flight ol tho Aus-
* Ijotwooii Tliw Kovornor, Tmuut Uolziv,...
* IJotwooii tliw Kovornor , tMuut Uolziv , im « l tlto l ' mlri Vlg'iiu , ii . Jcuult jji'lost .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), June 18, 1859, page 16, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_18061859/page/16/
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