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Kb. 462, January29, 1859>[ THE LEIBEB, 1...
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LITERATURE, SCIENCE, ART, &c.
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LITERARY CHRONICLE OF THE WEEK.
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The proverb that expectation always exce...
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DIARY OF LADY MOUGAN. . Passages from li...
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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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Kb. 462, January29, 1859>[ The Leibeb, 1...
Kb . 462 , January 29 , 1859 >[ THE LEIBEB , 139
Literature, Science, Art, &C.
LITERATURE , SCIENCE , ART , & c .
Literary Chronicle Of The Week.
LITERARY CHRONICLE OF THE WEEK .
The Proverb That Expectation Always Exce...
The proverb that expectation always exceeds reality lias certainly been falsified by the Burns ' s celebrations - which were held on Tuesday last throug hout all parts of the United Kingdom . We have not yet had time to hear of what was done in America and our distant colonies , but as- Scotchmen have notoriously a great passion for emigrating , and as neither immensity of distance nor lapse of years can make them lose either their nationality or their accent , we may safely predict that equal enthusiasm was displayed . Perhaps , in some Southrons , there may be a disposition to regard this enthusiasm for the bard as somewhat exaggerated .. We are apt to forget that we English are demonstratively egotistical , and that we
celebrate ourselves and our heroes at our dinner festivities , not once in a century , but every week of our lives . When the Times complained of the Burns celebration , and asked if we had nobody to do likewise by , the writer should have remembered that the'birthday of Shakspeare has been observed as a festival ( though , it is true , but in a meagre way ) every year for a hundred years , and that the celebrated anniversary held at Stratford-upon-Avon in Grarrick ' s time was quite equal in the display of enthusiasm and of relics to anything that was d ° on Tuesday last . We grant , however , that this celebration " was the glorification of the , actor rather than the poet , and AVas the laughing-stock of all sensible people .
A comparison of the varioi ; s accounts which have appeared leads us to believe that the most successful festival was that held at Glasgow . That at Edinburgh seems to have lost by the absence of Lord Brougham , whose vivacious presence was but poorly compensated for by a didactic letter , and . whose place was scarcely -fittingly filled by the eminent Scotch judge chosen . At Glasgow , the great celebration in the City Hall was presided over by Sir Archibald Alison—hardly , perhaps , the greatest historian the world ever saw , yet undoubtedly a Scotchman of crreat note , Other names , too , of
good report are to be found among the list of guests : Colonel James Glcncairn Burns , the venerable son of the poet , whose brief but very eloquent and touching speech found a way to every heart ; Judge Haliburton ( the immortal " Sam Slick" ) , who astonished his audience by giving them a lecture on the colonies , instead of some side-splitting Slickisms ; the venerable Sir David Brewster , who docs not include among his many accomplishments that of public speaking } Samuel Lover , the author of " Rory O'Morc , " whose genial presence and smart , happy jokes were received with all the enthusiasm ¦ f'li arr Afi & fmrmri Riv Iiiirwl i * rtri rrf \ f \ n nilM lrtd I Si" » r * f Q Vri * ItfttvV wvi
UAAVJ MVSI . V * V * V *« N ^ Art . IAUU \ UW > I f ^ Vf * * " * ^ -f *^ -r dined off the savoury cockalcekio and the steaming haggis in that hall , and five hundred of Scotia ' s fair daughters " rained influence" from their eyes in the galleries . The " immortal memory " was drunk in bumpers of champagne ; but the wine was soon put aside for the national toddy , and some from the south were as much surprised as gratified to observe that dew which ( as Mr . Lover Happily expressed it ) " is apt to full so thickly in the evening , but docs not evaporate quite so rapidly in tho . momma- " nirniiliit . iiifr amonor tlio Indies in the
galleries . And lot it not be supposed that , tho . enthusiasm that was exhibited was anything but genuine The Scotch aro tv -thoroughly hearty people , and arc proud of thoir \> m \\ . We cannot quite go tho length of comparing him to William Slmkspcnro , nnd wo rooal to mind tho boast of tho Edinburgh pittite on tho first night of Homo ' s "Douglas" - * - JF / iar ' s youi' Wtilly Sltitktpeara noo f Still we oau appreciate bincorily of heart in whatever guiso it comes to us , and wo bclicvo that thoro was not a licnrfc in Scotland that cuma to uo honour to Ilobort Burns that was not thoroughly ni earnest .
the most celebrated , and the most justly celebrated , are Written . It is the language , the pure and classical language , of Scotland , which must on no account bo regarded as a provincial dialect , any more than French was so regarded in the reign of Henry " V ., or Italian in that of the first Napoleon , or Greek under the Roman Empire . Nor is it to be in any manner of way considered as a corruption of the Saxon ; on the contrary , it contains much of the old and genuine Saxon , with an intermixture from the Northern nations , as Danes and Xorse , and some , though a small adoption , from the Celtic . But in whatever way composed , or from whatever sources arising * it is a national language , used by the whole people in . ' their early years , by many learned and gifted persons throughout life , and in which are written the laws of the Scotch , their judicial proceedings ,
their ancient history , above all their poetry . Its Saxon origin may be at once proved by the admitted fact that Barbour , Chaucer ' s contemporary , is more easily understood by an English reader at this day than the Saxon of the father of English poetry . The merits of the Scoth language are attested , a 3 regards conciseness , by the brevity of the Scotch statutes compared with the English , and , as regards clearness , by the fact that there has been much more frequent occasion , for -judicial interpretation of the latter than of the former . But the peculiar value of the language arises from the great body of national poetry entirely composed in it , both in very remote times and in those nearer our own day ; and there can be no doubt that the English language , especially its poetical diction , would greatly gain ^ vby being enriched with a number both of words and of phrases , or turns . of expression , now peculiar to the Scotch . "
Lord Brougham should remember that his boast is after all but a plagiarism . The Americans are in the habit of declaring that their mode of speaking English is the purest . Of all the items of news this week having an interest purely literary , none is more solemnly important than that which acquaints us with the loss of our greatest living historian , Henry Hallain . A great man indeed has departed from us . Another , name in the obituary of the week is that of the Rev . Charles Val Le Grice , the schoolfellow of Lamb and Coleridge . Many a genial anecdote have we heard from his lips of the school days . and after days of his distinguished companions . In the absence of home literary intelligence we take the following from our contemporary the Critic : —
T . T . de St . Germain— ¦ who determines to preserve his incognito , seemingly—the author of the " Legend of a JPin , " which we noticed on its first appearance ; of " The Art of being Happy" ( "Et noluit consolari" ) ; of u Mignon" ( Wo have seen the egoism which kills , behold the lovo which saves !) of " Lady Clare" ( King in the love of truth and right ) , has published another little book , " La Feuillo de Coudrier , " simple , pure , and engaging as hi ' s others—such a book as a young lady may be found reading without the crimson mounting to her cheek ;
In the Library of Spanish Authors , published in Madrid , appears ( in the Spanish ) the works of Don Gaspar Mflchior do Jovellanos . No more than justice has been done b } ' this publication to tho memory of an upright magistrate , a distinguished counsellor , and a clover man of letters . The name of Jovellanos ie always pronounced with respect by his countrymen . ' They regard him as one of tho rcgoncratora of Spanish literature , •? ¦ In all tho circumstances of his life , iu the midst of crises which traversed his country—gravo ami . terrible crises—Jovollanos displayed tho most brilliant qualities , tho most heroic virtuo , tho most remarkable talent . " These are tho words of an impartial modern writer , Don
Loandor Fernandez do Moratin , a celebrated author , oulla Don Gaapar Molchior de Jovollanos ono of tho most distinguished Spaniards who illustrated tho roigns of Charles III . and Charted IV ., and it is pleasing to seein him tho man of letters , tho economist , tho distinguiwhod poot , tlio eloquent orator , a man tlio most amlablo and tolerant . His ideas and his conduct , woro in discord with tho corrupt ago in which ho livod . "Yot /' saya Moratin , " after having boon outraged , proscribed , obliged to lloo in sjilto of his old age and
infirmities , and to extract himself at tho samo timo from tho fury of his ouaimuti as well as the Injustice ) of his countrymon , tho noblo author of tho ' Agrarian Law could soaroaly Hud an asylum to render tho last sigh , " Qulntaun , In bin introduction to tho " Spanish Poetry of tho Suvonteonth Contury , " makes him a high euloglum , which has tho moro weight ; as their philosophic toiutenuios worq difloront . Tho preaont edition contains a history of ' tho life and works of Jovellanos , or Jovlno , as lib friend Mooondoz used to call him . This portion of tho work , as well as a commentary , id by Sonor Noyodal .
J ? orhi \ ps the most amusing cxamplo of national egotism disphvjrod in this business js that part of ¦ Lord Brougham ' s lottor to Lord Ardinillan in winpli ho assorts , tho purity of tha Sootcli dialool ; , ¦ Ah . Q passugo is too good to bo lost , ami will boar potation : — . p " But it is also fit that wo should on this occasion consider | a wiUvt language Wuma ' s poonui , at least by far
Diary Of Lady Mougan. . Passages From Li...
DIARY OF LADY MOUGAN . . Passages from lify Autobiography . By Sydney Lady Morgan . , Bentley . The age of Lady Morgan is a theme upon which , she has forbidden the world to speak in a , lively poetical remonstrance , recently addressed to a eontemporary critic ; but forbidden themes are proverbially tempting , and this particular one has been , \ ve are afraid , too long the food of gossips to be given up even in favour of the claims of gallantry and politeness . It is said that her old enemy , the late Mr . Groker , urider whose merciless attacks her reputation throve so wonderfully , once searched the
registers in Dublin to settle this important point , and secure a new weapon of offence . How far back into the pre-Fitzgeraldite and pre-Emmettite days of the history of Dublin city must we go for this fact , which bids fair to become an historical secret , and load future ¦ ¦ * ' Notes and Queries" with interminable columns of debate ? Mr . Croker appears to have given up the search without success ; nor did he find the advertisement in the Dublin paper announcing the appearance of the infant Miss Sydney Owenson , daughter of the ^ manager of a-.-certain theatre there , to sing a song before the footlights , though there are some who have seen it , and who , although they cannot now find the exact date , are ready to depose to the fact upon their honour .
" Born in May , 1783 , " say the " Men [ and Women ] of the time ; " but then we know too well what various breaths blow the thousand noisy trumpets of that useful book of reference to put entire faith , therein . We happen ourselves to have a copy of the little pamphlet of . her poems published in Dublin with the date of 1797 . But we are growing scandalous , and will drop this interdicted subject . Old or young- —eightyfive , or if the still charming authoress ^ insists upon it , only eighty- —who can take up this " odct volume" of her '• ¦ " Autobiography" without the kindliest welcome ? Wonderful Lady Morgan I
who so bravely , light-heartedly , waged war in . the forlorn ho p e of liberalism , in times that are even now historical , and who is still ambng ^ us , witty , lively , full of life , and loving life , and holding to the woi-ld ' s good word of praise as much as ever , never happy , we suspect , if her name ceases fora moment to fill the public mouth ! It was but the other day that we learnt from the papers , with deep / regret , that she was ill beyond hope of recovery , and now , cheerful and well again , she starts upon , a new literary journey , and writes witty verses in defence of " herself to the public journals . Was this but the favourite prima donna ' s ruse—the " positively last appearance , " which has no other meaning or object but to stinmlate the
momentarily flagging attention of the public ? We saw with regret the straw-covered street , the muffled knocker , the numerous carriages of inquirers who left , as the uewspapovs told us , two hundred cards a day at her door . Have we all been decoived ? Well , let us ask no more questions , but go on with the lady ' s •' Autobiography , " the real business of the moment . Lady Morgan ' s " odd volume" consists of a diary Uopt by " herself in the year 1 S 1 S-19 , and the correspondence of herself and her husband with thoir numerous friends in England and on the Continent . Her . work on Franca had alreadv made her famous , and its success suggested a journey to Italy , and another book of travels . Her diary opens with tho following entry on this scheme : — KiUlaro-stroet , Dublin , August , 1818 .
Well ! uptil this blessed day wo havo remained uncertain and uncomfortablo about our wishod-for journey to Italy . Tho indocieion orisea from feeling , imidoneo , and precaution . I do not like to loavo my dear sister in her proscnt dolicato situation . Tho expense will be onorniouti ) , and tho pecuniary return is uncertain , till at least wo hoar from Colburti , to whom wo havo notified pur
intontion . „ Tlio decree against my works by tho French Govorninont still hangd In tt- 'mvem over mo ; and tho attacks of Tory dotnii'tora in Kngland—at tlio head of whom Btands ' tho " Quarttrly "—hro not encouraging . ' Thoy all turn mm , jinuvro chOUoai into political capital in tl » o fund of Illiberal * . llowovor , wo aro both inclined ( our li ' u « l > Aiid and ouraolf ) to prnoood on our mission of doing good by telling truth according to our Improaslone . I , in urv little yvny . and my dear husband , in hie moro
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 29, 1859, page 11, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_29011859/page/11/
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