On this page
-
Text (5)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
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.
-
-
Transcript
-
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.
Untitled Article
test against JDtjmas , who lias taken thr . novel , transferred the scene to England , heightening the reality by afw touches of couleur locale , such as can be afforded by Mrs . Snabt , Mr . Stiff , and the " village of Wirclcs worth" substituted a visit to le grand poete , Pope , for the original visit to Gtellebt , taken , in short , the story just as lie found it uiIjafontainb , ¦ with only Dttmas additions in the way of " sentiment , " description , and dialogue . Thus , where the hero first sees the heroine , Lafontaine simply remarks her freckles on . a pale face ; but for Dumas this is a point d ' orgue , and he favours us with pages about her Leghorn hat , her white muslin dress and blue sash , her hair , &e . &c . —the rhetoric of millinery .
Two out of four volumes are thus " repossessed" from Lafontaine . In the other two he starts off at a tangent—perhaps to " repossess" himself elsewhere ; a description of Holland House and of Lord and Lady Hol-Xakd will amuse the English reader—if indeed the whole work do not . Not the least amusing part is the cavalier allusion , towards the close , of the use he has made of his predecessor . Has literature a parallel to this man ?
Untitled Article
The dispensations of the mysterions Providence that watches over pensions puzzle us . A letter in the Times of yesterday draws attention to the fact that Mes . Hogg , the Ettrick Shepherd ' s widow , and three " bonnie lasses , " the Ettrick Shepherd ' s daughters , need the notice of those in "high quarters . " "'Sib Feancis Head , Bart ., " has his 100 ^ . a year from her Majesty , in consideration of his not invaluable services to literature , and in spite of the fact that he is not , like ; those whom poor Hogg has left behind him , totally unprovided for ; and tlie widow of Joseph Tbain— -whoever he may have been—has hers ; but Mes . Hogg , it appears , is too old to push her claims in person , and has no indefatigable
friend in power to sue for the little pension for herself and her daughters with which the niggard bounty of the Crown recognises departed genius , and pays its Royal tribute to real greatness . Lord Aberdeen should think of this , and let Scottish nationality triumph over Scottish parsimony . Lady JN " icoiiAS , we are glad to learn , has at length been remembered . A pension of 100 Z . a year , not extending , we regret to find , over the lifetime of any of her numerous family , has been granted her in recognition of the devoted labours of Sie Haeeis , who so long and so enthusiastically toiled in a field of labour never likely to be pecuniarily
productive . This , however , comes too late to look like an act of grace , and appears , when we consider the date of his death , rather as if conceded to influence in " high quarters " than as if proffered in honest generosity to an unquestionably worthy recipient . De Quincey ' s name is not published in the pension-list . When will it be ? We suppose the properly-constituted authorities are investigating his claims , and will-look through his works some day . Meanwhile , they are studying the publications of Me . Tbain , and buying up at second-hand bookstalls ( where they may be had very reasonably ) those of Sie Erancis Head .
Untitled Article
I BOOKS ON OUR TABLE . A The Assurance Magazine and Journal of the Institute of Actuaries . October , 1853 : ¦ . "' C . and E . Layton , Fleet Street ' THIS complete repository of essays and facts on life assurance makes progress . . The opening article exposes the inadequacy of existing data for determining the rate of mortality among select lives , and brings very clear reasoning and sonic ; convincing facts in support of the opinion asserted by the writer . The following j from an article on the stamp duties on fire insurance has a popular tone , inciting ti ub to quotation : — I " This primary objection , which applies to every tax of the kind , however small , I becomes strikingly apparent , in tho coho in question , by the disproportion of the duty i levied to tho actual charge for premium required to cover tho ri « k . In eases of common ! hazard , tho duty is double the premium . To insure UMH . on a private house , the ! charge for premium is 15 * . ; the duty levied and paid at the no time , is 30 . V .: mo ' that I a man impelled by motives of prudence , to relieve himself from a contingent risk , which highly responsible parties are willing to cover for l . v . Cxi . , in called upon to pay , 'Js . to tho revenue , in order to give validity to the transaction . " It will be observed that the premium in the ease of small amounts is higher than for larger Hums ; but it is to be borne in mind that the expense and trouble to the Oflico for small insurances bear a much larger ratio to ( be premium than for larger sums . Tho same printed receipts , entries , postages , notices for renewal , indorsements , are necessary ; but no one who knows the course of business can doubt that a reduction of duty would bring such an increased ^ number of policies of this class that a considerable reduction of premium might be confidoiilJ y expected to follow . The case of the honest ' ' and hard-working classes , as to insurance , is oi ' tcii mmlc painfully apparent . Whenever a fire happens in a crowded neighbourhood , the most indubitable evidence in always furnished of tho general neglect by the labouring elans ,. * of this act of prudent preeautio ' ii . To such an extent , indeed , docs tin ' s happen , ( lml , appeals to the public sympathy for pecuniary relief are quite a common nppondngo to the public ; notice of the calamity . Tim middle and mercantile classes find also in the high duty reasons either for altogether neglecting insuring , or reducing the amount , of their policies to an imprudcntLy low level . The tax becomes , in proportion to other rates , really a serious item of charge a per c < tut . ago upon the rental of hounert , equal to the property lax . The tenant of a house of 50 / . per annum , holding on lease , probably insures for CAM . on the building and f > O ( W . on tho contents . The duty is ' Ms ., or a little beyond the amount of the property tax chargeable . for the bouse . ' Opinions thus fairly stated , and on professional matters , touching the interests iSLE Al ) F ¥ / ° * " ' * 1 ! lVO ^ ' v ; l ' - » JU 1 ( 1 » 1 UHt li ; ivo weight .
fl gkV KIP BSPV
Untitled Article
THE RELIGKEON OP THE HEAHT . The Religion of the Heart . A Manual of ' Faith and Dnty » By Leigh Hunt . John Chapman Religion has three aspects corresponding with , the three fundamental divisions of our nature : it is speculative , emotional , and practical a dogma , a feeling , or a guide . Hence the paradoxes we observe of men sincerely orthodox , yet practically atheists ; of others , avowedly atheist , yet practically Christians ; of others again , orthodox both in creed and m . conduct , yet almost wholly without the reverential and ennobling emotions which constitute the whole of
religion some . Dividing mankind in the popular way into those who have a Religion and those who have none—into Believers and Unbelievers , a little experience of the World makes us aware of a secondary division necessary to be established , —namely , those who have religious sentiments , and those who have none . " We exclude for the present all consideration of Religion as a rule of conduct , because it is quite clear that while some men act uprightly , drawing their sanction from Religion , other men act uprightly , drawing their sanction from the verdict of conscience , and their perception of the relations due from one to another ; and as in this secular view the main question is with the result rather than the motive , with virtuous life rather than with the legislative sanction , we may omit it from present consideration .
We start , then , from the proposition that the world may be divided into two classes with respect to Religion , somewhat as it may with respect to Music ( if the illustration be not thought too trivial ) , wherein we see persons so organized as to be keenly susceptible to all the delicacies and varieties of modulation and rhythm , while others are totally insensible to the charm of even a simple tune . A man may have a soul for Eeligion as he may have " a soul for music . " He may also be destitute of the faculty which shall apprehend the one and the other . Hence , in the class of Believers , we shall find persons who to sincerity in creed add a grace of sentiment which is totally wanting in many who , nevertheless , would go to the stake for their convictions ! While in the class of
Unbelievers we shall find persons like the last named , wholly wanting in religious sentiment , and steadfast in their negative creed ; and also persons who , though steadfast in their negations , are nevertheless animated by the most active religious sentiments . In other words , the men of large emotional natures have , over and above their creeds—positive and negative—a common feeling , sentiment , mysticism , if you please to call it so ; whereas , tho men of narrower natures' ( narrower , we mean , in respect of emotive capacity ) have little or nothing beyond their speculative creeds , positive and negative . Thus a man may be a great tlunker , and yet be msensiblo to music ; a great man of science , and yet be insensible to the appeals made to his Religious sentiment ; liis orthodoxy has nothing to do with it .
To the class of thinkers who are feelers also , to those whose eoul is larger than mere logic can compass , and who habitually endeavour on tho wings of . Imagination to soar into regions which transcend Reason , this beautiful book by Leigh Hunt is specially addressed . " There are thousands of persons in England , as well as in other countries , who appear to be of no religion ; who are certainly not of any of the established opinions ; and who join in no sort of worship , public or private . These persons are of all classes . Formerly they were confined to the more educated ; but of late years they have spread among all the others . It is admitted , at the same time , that great numbers of persons of this description enjoy the most respectable characters ; are just in their dealings , beloved by their friends , and fit to set an example to society in every respect but this one .
"it is not so well kiiwn , certainly not so often admitted , that , however deficient these persons may be with respect to any visible religion , there arc multitudes of them who have a strong sense of religion at heart ; who make inquiries on the subject in all directions , vainly seeking spiritual satisfaction ; « ' »»( 1 who are thus driven to wish that they were in possession of some form of religion of their own , not inconsistent with thoso exalted notions which they entertain ol tho Divine Spirit of the universe , and of the duties of beneficence . A great reverence for the character and intentions of the Founder of Christianity in common among them , though they take care to distinguish their opinions of him from thoso which have been dictated by theologians .
" By a form of religion not inconsistent with these sentiments , is meant Oho free from contradiction to the best ide ; is of moral goodness . In the . service ol the church , speaking of it as a whole , including tho scriptural us well aa ecclesiautHJal portions , nothing is to be desired in point of eloquence . It in often affecting , often majestic , always nobly and simply written . Tho authors of it , both ancient and modern , were in earnest , and bro ught to their tasks a great portion of natural humanity , an well as certain induced feelings not ho worthy of it an thoy supposed , though eq ually calculated to make an impression upon existing states of tho human mind . lint not to mention other difficulties in tho way of making a selection from this service , those very feelings , which wen ) thought flo essential » part of devotion , express , and mix up with better things so many rude and mistaken passions , and involve coutradietioiiB , both divine and human , ho incompat ible with tho present advanced Btnta of knowledge and love of good , that they are found to
Untitled Article
' Hundley Cross ; or , Mr . Jorroaku ' a Jltmf . Is . llnullmiy m ,, i Kvans . ¦ ffl" AH < if Reasoning . Hy S . Noil . Walton and Mahttrly . ^ Sttlmlfitr the Solitary . Hy an Epicure . K Hont ^ . y . / jfha Univemal IAbravy . In . Niillmnicl C'ooke . whe llutnry qfPyrrhns . Hy Jacob Abbott . . Nathaniel Ciooke . 7 imie > Jlh / ory qf Alfred the Great . My . Jacob Abbott . Nathaniel Oooke . The Poidund IVorkn <\ f Alexander Vope . Vol . 11 . Nathaniel Oooke . The Mhutratmt Jfamily Novelist—Jtilanc / ta tho JXugntsnot . By W . An < kuw > n . Natlmnlel C ' ooko ,
Pretty Zessons in Verse for Good Children . By Sara Coleridge . John W . Parker and Son Immortal Sewerage—The Beer-Shop Evil . By the Hon . and Rev . S . G . Osbome . John W . Parker and Son Reading for Travellers—Sketches of tjpe Hungarian Emigration into Turkey . By a Honved 1 Chapman and Hall The Drying up of the Euphrates ; or , the Downfall qfTurkey . By J . Aston . Is . •' ' Arthur Sal ] , Virtue and Co Mope . A Story of Chequered Life . By A . W . Cole . 3 vols . T . 'C Ne h * Thoughts on Cholera . By E . Hearne . john Churchill " Sabbath Laws and Sabbath Duties Considered in Belation to their Natural and JScrintn * . * ' ?
Grounds . By E . Cox . Maclachlan and Stewart Poems . By James Payn . Macmillan and Co * Turkey , Past mid Present . By James Hutton , Esq . la . Clarke , Beeton , and Co The Family Friend . 2 d . W . S . Orr and Co The Family Tutor . 2 d . W . S . Orr and Co * Valentin's Text-book of Physiology . Translated by W . Brinton , M . D . 13 s . Benshaw * Bhymesfor the Times ; or , "Mercury ' s" Poems . By J . Jitter . Partridge and Oakey " A Set qf Songs . By E . H . Fitzwilliam . D'AlmaJne and Co . The Trial of the Manchester Bards , and the Botvdon , Coronation . By a Manchester Man . Whittaker and Co . New Government Succession-Duty Tables . Computed by A . G . Finlaison . Chapiftaai and HalL
Untitled Article
1024 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 22, 1853, page 1024, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2009/page/16/
-