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term function , sometimes meaning the activity of an organ , and sometimes merely the general property of tissue . But this question is too wide to be entered upon here . Mr . Dallas , in his treatise on the Invertebrate Animals , which is bound up with Dr . Smith ' s Botany , falls into the same philosophical confusion . He says for example , that the cilia which cover the bodies of infusoria are " moveable at the will of the creature . " We do not make this a reproach to Mr . Dallas ; he is but employing current language . But must he not admit that to speak of the " will" of an infusorial animalcule is somewhat startling , if the idea be realised ; and , moreover , must he not , on reflection , admit that so far from the movement of these cilia being volitional , they are incessant—resulting , as we conceive , from the simple contractility of the tissue placed in an element which incessantly stimulates it ?
Of Mr . Dallas ' s two treatises , that on Invertebrate and that on Vertebrate Animals , we cannot spealc so confidently as of Dr . Smith ' s Botany , because we have not had leisure to read them with the same close attention j nevertheless we have read enough to be aware that it is no dull compilation , repeating with little variation what is to be found in every other handbook . It is clearly written , carefully compiled , well illustrated with diagrams , and executed with conscientious zeal . As an introduction to the study of Zoology it seems to . be the very book which was wanted ; and the cheapness of cost brings it within very moderate means ; four shillings and sixpence secure Dr . Smith ' s Botany and Mr . Dallas ' s Invertebrata ; another five shillings and sixpence will pay for the Vertebrata . We have been thus circumstantial in our notice of these volumes , because
it is very important that popular works of science should be , what they seldom are , popular and scientific ; and because the treatise on Physiology in the first volume of this series is just what a ~ popular work should not be . Let us add , however , that this first volume , which contains so poor an account of the principles of Physiology , contains an account of the skeleton by Professor Owen—il maestro di color die sanno—and a brief account of the Races of Men , by Dr . Latham . The three volumes thus devoted to " Organic Nature make up a valuable series at alow price .
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SAMUEL ROGERS' TABLE TALK . Recollections of the Table Talk of Samuel Rogers . To which ia added Porsoniana . Moxon [ second Aivnai . n . ] Wre resume our notice of this pleasant volume , and may begin by some theatrical glimpses : — I saw Uarriokact only onoo , —tho part of Ranger in The Suspicious Husband I romoinbor Unit thoro was n groat crowd , and Unit we waited long in a dar t pnnHago of tho theatre , on our wny to tho i > ' \ t . I \ v «» then a little boy . My fathei had promised to tako mo to boo Unrriok in Lour ; but a fit of tho mumps kopt ix * at homo . Before his going abroad , 0 amok ' s attraction had much decreased ; Sir Wulian
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close to tie bay , and almost under , and full in view of tbe Russian riflemen stationed at La Pointe ; and the ping of a "bullet instantly warned you that those same riflemen were not asleep . Hence , it -was impossible to obtain a view of the bay itself . There was no shelter round this projection as there was in the trenches . You came erect under the full and close fire of tbe enemy in front and the most outlying Zouave gave a very significant smile when I asked whether that was as far as it was safe to go . " The danger of the entire ravine , " he said , "is not equal to those few feet reaching to the water . Parbleu ! I should not recommend Monsieur to bathe , let tbe day be ever so hot . " It is worth seeing what our author has to say about the attack on th « Redan . He was there and saw it—as well as the clouds of dust and smok « would permit . " We do not take his testimony or his views without question , but they are worth considering , and the scene is well placed before you . If is near Stoay Hill and the commencement of the left attack .
Here I found a French soldier seated on the ground just behind a heap of stones . He made room for me , and I sat down beside him . The wind was perfectly blinding ; and , unprotected as my face was . ( for I had no spectacles , as many had ) , it was absolutely painful ; but I imitated the Frenchman , and crouched down during the severe bursts , only raising my head at the intervals of cessation . From this point I could see much better ; but the want of a continuous view was very disheartening . The Frenchman told me fchafc he had seen our gallant fellows get into tbe Redan , but he said he bad only seen one attacking party enter , and that they bad suffered inost severely in the approach . " But you are sure they are inside ? " I asked . " Oh , certain , " he said ; " and at the first pause of the wind you will see the musketry fire in tbe Redan /' - The roll of musketry pealed incessantly . It was like one continuous fire caused by machinery . When after a few minutes , I caugbt a sight of tbe Hedan , I distinctly observed that there
were two fires opposed to each other inside tbe -work ; and , as far as 1 could judge , ours was most stoutly maintained . At tbe same time , though tbe corpses lay thick about tbe abattis and ditch , and I could occasionally distinguish , some of . our nien on tbe parapet , or in small and straggling numbers in tbe open , the space between tbe abattis and the Redan , was perfectly bare of moving masses , and the Frenchman got into a violent passion . " My God ! " said be , " where are your supports ? Where are your reserves ? Do they expect that handful of men wliom I saw enter to maintain tbat place ? Why , look—lobk , " be said , " they are only in a narrow space round the angle—they have not advanced into tbe interior . Poor devils ! bow can they do it ? " I t ^ jed to assure him tbat supporting parties had entered during tbe intervals when we could not see ; but be far too well understood the business , and silenced me by every remark he made . " If any large numbers had supported , " be said , " you would see their fire advance . It is , even
ANOTHER WAR BOOK . Sevastopol . Our Tent in tlie Crimea ; and Wanderings in Sebastopol . By Two Brothers . Bentle ' y . Of what we may call the amateur productions in the Crimean campaign , or rather a part of it , including the crowning struggle , this volume maybe reckoned to stand among the best . It is the work , as the title-page indicates , of two brothel ^ inflamed ^ som ewhat with the common fever , who could not rest until they had seen what was doing in the Crimea . One Drother 9 unfortunately , fell ill just before the last bombardment , and returned home invalided ; the other was able to stay out the play ; and he has given us an aecount which all will read with interest . They are " Travelling Gents , " as the camp folks call them ; but they are several grades above the " T . jjtr . " who concocted Inside Sebastopol . Consequently their volume is less
taken up with flippant notes of travel over the well-worn Levantine and Italian routes ; and as they remained longer in the Crimea , and had better guiding than that Munchausen of the Redan , so do we find that they give us more trustworthy descriptions of the scenes visible to the intelligent in the camp . The brother who remained the longer in the camp describes mam ' things , and describes them well—as the field of Inkermann , perhaps the best non-military account of that battle ground , and the best outline of the battle , that has yet been published ; a visit to the French trenches during the firing ; a visit to the English trenches , under fire % sketches about the camp ; the lifelike portraiture of what could be seen on the 8 th September ; and some very fair accounts of the interior of Sebastopol . The style and manner of these volumes is without pretension . It is the style of the English gentleman , and convinces you , by its frank unaffectedness , that the author believes what he writes .
It would be unfair not to give some specimens and to call attention to the evidence of this witness in the matter of the Redan . Here is an account of a conversation over the breakfast-table of a French officer . Our readers will value it at this moment : — There were present four officers , besides our host ; all men who had seen rough service in Algeria . In deference to tbe ignorance of tbe two English civilians , the conversation turned at first on general subjects , but tbe bias was strong—too strong for a long restraint , and within a quarter of an hour discussions bad arisen on purely professional topics—on tbe merits of the Minie " , on tho Russian shells that had caps instead of fusea—ou tho late battle , &c . I was struck , both on this occasion and others , by tbe invariable tendency of Frenob officers in their intercourse with oach other to converse on subjects connected witb their profession . I do not refer to " promotion , " or the " lust lino step , " but to matters of a military scientific nature Such , is not the case in our army . There
aropro-, bably , two reasons for the difference . The Fronoh officer , iu ninety-niue cases out of a hundred , has nothing bub bis sword to look to . His regiment is bis home , and the army tho object of bis warmest attachment . Mauy of our officers enter tlie service as a gentlemanlike occupation for their younger years . They look forward to leaving it when tired of moving and of regimental life , or when the governor shall , in dying , leave bis son the old ostato . They are not domiciled in tho army for good . Again , the Freuob , officer trusts , in a groat measure , to his skill and knowledge to briug him into notice , and ensure his rise . Tho English officer looka to patronage or purohaao . If lie baa interest or monoy—well ; if uot , the Bystoni aots like a damper , a dead drag upon efforts unrewarded , and kuowlodgo without fruits . Our system gives us officers of a superior rank—of higher casto —and this bus undoubted advantages ; lout tho French army must possess a larger aggregate of professional talent . Would it bo impoeaiblo to unite iu ono the good of on , oh ?
A scene from the visit to tho French trenches during tho siege carries you into tho midst of tho ticklish business : — _ On uoaiiug tho oxtromo oud of tho rnvino , whoro it moot * tho water iu Caroonmg Kay , wo ouiuo upon a largo oncampmoub of Zouavos , who formed tho advanood guard wguiuflt any attack from tho harbour . Thgy wore , of course , oloso under tho rooke situate to tho wont , tho RubhIuu ftro coming from that aido ; and tboy worei standing or lying about under tho fiUndow of tho hill , umoking and chatting in tho moot jovial way . Tho last ourvo of tbo raviuo oro it roaobod tbe water was round a projecting rook beyond them ; tuul half-way round tho projootion tho turtheat picket was stationed . A few yarda more in advance brought you quite
now , only at tbe point where it was at first . Depend on it , you will lose tbe day unless reserves are sent up—and tbat quickly . " The poor fellow muttered his imprecations in the most audible and , to me , the most painful manner . Tbe scene—tbe thought of all tbat was taking place—the glimpses which showed that oirr blood was being spilt like ¦ waters-worked a marvellous effect upon tbe mind , and my excitement rose to a pitch that was almost unbearable . I refused to believe that , once inside tbe Redan , our troops would fee allowed to vacate it again , and we both directed earnest , searching looks towards tbe open space for tbe faintest sign of advancing troops . We saw tbat space perfectly ploiighed with living shot . They swept across it in one continuous stream , sufficient , as I thought , to daunt any soldiers other than French or English from advancing through 3 ucb a raining fire ; but at every moment we fondly hoped to see masses
of men emerge from the trenches , and advance to the kelp of their brethren in distress . " If we look for them so anxiously , " said tbe Frenchman , " what must those poor fellows in the Redau do ! " But they eoaie not—and they never came ! Nearly an hour did tbat Frenchman and I sit there , and during tbe intervals in which we wei * e able to distinguish objects no one large body of men advanced to the support , though tbe firing in the Redan was continued with , great obstinacy . I believe it to be true tbat one or two supporting columns did make an attempt , and reach the parapet ; but it is equally true that the main body of the reserves never left the trenches . After a long . interval , during wbicb nothing could be seen , tbe Frenchman gave it as bis opinion tbat we had z * etired from the Redan ; and it seemed to me tbat Russian guns , which bad certainly been silent while I had been sitting there , began to open fire from points near the salient angle . He considered this conclusive , and I could not but form the same opinion .
This writer does not impute cowardice to the troops or the officers . It will be remarked that he does not say tbe " supports" did not move up to the Redan , but that the reserves did not . He implies great blame to the British chief officers , who did not employ sufficient force to carry the work , although every division was burning to be sent into the Redan . He asserts , and no doubt correctly , that had we taken the Redan the Russian army would have been cut off ; but he does not solve the question , whether any number of men that , by the most liberal computation , could have been sent against th « Hedan , could have taken it ; seeing that they would all have had . to run the gauntlet across the open space swept so closely by the enemy ' s fire ; and that the Redan was open to the rear . The French trenches were close to the
Malakhoff ; the French soldiers dashed into that work , surprised the garrison at the time the relieving of the guard was in progress , and before the relief Imd marched in ; and as it was closed to tno xcar , they were able to hold it with comparative ease and little loss compared to that on other points . The great loss sustained by the French was sustained in the attack on the Little Redan , where , although the head of their snp was within a few yards of the works , they encountered similar obstacles and failed in a similar fashion to the English txt the Great Redan . We cannot quarrel , however , with our author for showing soreness at our share of the glory of the 8 th September , because he shows it in a manner and language that commands respect , if it does not always produce conviction .
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t February 23 , 1856 . ] THE LEADEB . 186
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Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 23, 1856, page 185, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2129/page/17/
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