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But . touWorn * back to that o'ercrowded bark ( SFo home abroad achieved ) , I sadly Me 3 : Ther « pruned'ray flagging vring for ft-esfo essay , Jfcnd launehed anew to seek , in purer 'Sir , A wider prospect , -by a . loftier way : And caught one glimpse , and snatched one trophy rare , And bore it Jbome , antf mused for . inany-a day Oxi sunny realms , where grew that bough so fresh and fair Uow fare the © well , ithou dim and wav » -tossed speck , No -more . for me fit prison or fit lair ! Up more-for me fit cause of dull delay ! Though sore 'iwould grieve me yet to know thy wreck .
ON BCEKE 5 IO A PARCEL OF OZJ > MBS . Wrecks of forgotten thought , or disapproved , "Farewell ! and as your smouldering flames ascend , Read me a parting lesson . As the friend Familiar once , but since less fondly loved IfJ Dire spite of earthly chance ) ,. and wide removed "With earthquake of the heart ! has ceased to blend TVaimath with Bay -warmth , and sympathies extend , Whera mine-are linked-and locked ! Had I but proved 33 arlier . your weakness J Yet not all in vain Do i receive your warning . On JJiie , All anrepressed , though' cautious ; nor complain Of faint essays in tottering infancy . Enough , if cleansed at last from 'earthly stain , Mv homeward march be firm , and pure my evening sky
The volume is fortunately not made up of verses . Yet even the prose was scarcely worth xepublishing . The review essays are the best , but they are not of & ii gfe excellence .- They -show , wiiafc indeed every one knows , that Herschell is a great master of scientific knowledge ; but they show also a more than agreeable proneness to vague , ineffectual rhetoric , and heavy moralisino-. The review of * WhewelTs Inductive Sciences' is the best , and contains a well-thought and well-wrifcten refutation of Whewell ' s views of a jjriori knowledge . The review of ' Quetelet on Probabilities' also contains a lucid-and valuable history and exposition of the ' . Doctrine of Chances ' asit is . called . The review of ' Huroboldt ' s Cosmos " is as ineffectual as an be
article on such a subject coming from a mind so richly stored could well . The -various Addresses' were suitable enough on their separate occasions , though . nev-er striking , and might surely have been left with all other occasional matter undisturbed . In . a ¦ word this republication must be regarded as a mistake on the part of the accomplished author . About one hall" of the volume might have been reprinted without objection , not snore . It may suggest some reflections to observe how a mind so eminent as Herscheil ' s could fall into the mistake of publishing pages so poor as the majority of these ; and we think the desire to be ' eloquent '—without the power of eloquence—which disfigures the prose , may account both for the composition of the verse and the mistake of supposing it fit for publication . In questions of science flerschell is at his ease s in questions of literature he Is without that tact which power and experience give .
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THE GKEEK HISTORIANS , A Critical Eistory of the Language and Literature of Ancient Greece . By William Mure . Vol . V . - Longman and Co . WHATBaraa may be the differences of sentiment excited by Colonel Mure ' e criticisms of Greek literature , there can be but one opinion as to the importance and integrity of his researches . Genuine scholars are not common now that so much antiquity ig seen through German spectacles by writers who quote classic books and names with almost profane facility . The student , drenched with second-hand pedantry , can do no better that consult this critical history , which is in reality a remarkable work , kindling a grateful liorht in the libraries of Greece , of Attica especially . The fifth volume contains two elaborate memoirs on Thucydides and Xenophon , with a third , Cahstuenes otner
on a smaller scale , treating of Ctesias , Theopompus , , ana Attic chroniclers and biographers . To Thucydides m devoted a long an * calm analysis , wanting , perhaps , in sympathy with the master-spirit of Grecian historical art , yet in aim candid , and in effect not unjust . Thucydides , whose biography it would be impossible to write with amplitude and certainty , is to be judged as an historian or not at all , and the first question raised is whether he was acquainted mfch the researches of Herodotus ? The . negative has been asserted in Germany ; but Colonel Mure traces clearly a connexion between the works of * he authors , and produces a number q £ . parallel passages almost identical m form and purport . J } he evidence ia so werwhelming that we consider the point to have been now set at rest . The question between Thucydidea and Cleon is not quite so satisi «?«»«« »»«
factorily sifted ,, yet Here aiso » u « prow * » ow um « * j * u »« . , . .,.... „„ . „ is vindicated against the demagogue . But with reference . to hu knowledge of Herodotua , the « qeptici 8 in of Dahlmann and AtuUer is almost unintelliffible ; the men were contemporaries , citizens of one commonwealth , -educated under the same system , wrote on kindred topics ; the one practically took , upixnany episodes . that were left uncompleted by the other . It may be strange Aat Xhuqydidea does not m « me Herodotua , but it would have been marvellous had he not heard of hi » labours or his existence . We are glad to find Colonel Mure , when comparing the two writera j passing through a personal argument without a display of violence or partiality . It is so cuatomornr to meet with libels and flatteries among the modern partisans of critic not
Athens . and ( Sparta ,, that it is a positive relief to meet with a depraved by " Mitibrd ' s method , and who can deal with a p hilosopher or a rhetorician of the Pewcleott age without distilling into 1 ms statement the essence pf a Pindaric or flhe venom of a lampoon . Colonel Mure renders full justice to Jthe unbiassed honesty of Tliucydides , pointing wt the same time to hie defects of style and plan .. It cannot fairly be imputed to him as a fault , however , that he seldom touches on the progress of the liberal and beautiful arts in his country . Me . describes himself os the narrator ot a war , ana if he does not mention Sophocles - or Socrates , Phidias or Oorgias , it is because they wore not actora in the ¦ flelopontweian war . It was no
part of his duty to record that contemporaneously with the crimes "" at Melos and Mitylene , the humane maxims of Sophocles inspire l ^ vlr ^ applause , and the sorrows of Hecuba drew public tears at Athe t * historian who described the twenty-seven years' contention of the R 11 States , from its remote origin almost to its close , had a special tasl * w form , and assigned to his work a special name . After a close and- **" the whole , satisfactory criticism of the style employed bv Ti 7 » ' , " ? Colonel Mure passes to Xenophon . * J y ^^ Wes , With Xenophon he has even less sympathy than with Thucydides- he on ¦ dersWm to have been an egotist of a mediocre quality , without powerf 1 * *" tues or ' -dees , wanting in truthfulness as a man and in patriotism as a chLJ ' n ' His partiality is excessive , unscrupulous , and transparent ; he falsifies event suppresses the actions of tliose he dislikes or envies , dilates upon what ' is honourable to himself , and conceals what would be creditable to his rivY * We think this criticism too severe , the more so as Xenophon ' s work
wanting in the proofi of design or regularity which would be necessary t convict him of literary practices so utterly dishonest . We think will Colonel Mure-that an account of Xenophon ' s Memorabilia" was « ru lut proper place m which to introduce a survey of the life and character of Socrates ; but it must be said that he escapes from the law he has laid down and anticipates the evidence by a verdict indirectly pronounced . At the ' same time we note a deficiency of critical application which , when Colonel Mure dismisses the " Memorabilia , " will leave the student in doubt as to the writer ' s estimate of their historical value .
It is not on convivial occasions alone , that Socrates is introduced by Xenophon abetting immorality . Among the didactic dialogues of the Memorabilia , is one between the philosopher and an itinerant courtesan , of the more licentious class of her profession . It having been mentioned to Socrates that this adventuress , by n&are Theodota , then on a visit to Athens , was very handsome , and her lodging much frequented by artists for the purpose of modelling the more striking beauties of her person , he proceeds , * surrbunded by his pupils , to make her acquaintance . The reader whose impressions of his character are derived from other more ideal portraits , will naturally suppose that his object was to reclaim her from her vicious course of life . But on entering he informs her , in highly complimentary terms , that he visits her , as he was in the habit of visiting other professional persons , for the purpose , by his advice and Instructions , of improving her skill and promoting her success ia her
rnlUng -Ho accordingly , in most untranslatably offensive detail , explains his views of the best modes of turning her allurements , both of body and mind , to account ia securing and maintaining her bold on her victims . At the close of the interview , Theo'dota , expressing her gratitude , ^ proposes , naturally , that he would afford her opportunities , in his own person , of snowing how well she had profited by his lecture . But , while admitting that she had inspired him with a desire to partake of her favours , he excused himself on the ground of having more important business on hand . AH this passes ia the presence of those young friends , whom his biographer describes him a& habitually warning against the fascinations of vice and vicious companions . If Xenophon ' s report of this extraordinary interview be correct , whatever may have been the harshness of the punishment , it would be difficult to impugn the justice of the verdict , which pronounced Socrates ' a corrupter of the Athenian youth . ' The brief notices of the-minor Attic historians will be particularly serviceable to the student of Tirecian literature .
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THE ENGLISHMAN IN MORMONLAND . A Visit to Salt Lake ; being a Journey across the Mains , and a Residence i » ilm Mormm Settlement at Utah . By William Chandless . Smith , Elder , and Co . Mb . Chanduess is the first Englishman who has written about Salt Lake . That circumstance confers an immediate distinction upon his book . Moreover , he is almost the first person of any country who has written about them seriously and dispassionately , lie wad among them for u considerable time , and there is an evident reality in all reminiscences and pictures . Those , therefore , who would understand what Mormomsm is , in its actual development , can do no better than read this authentic , though ligut ana
Wo have invariably held that Mormonism is the result of a craving for material luxury , combined with a spirit of ignorant restlessness and passion for excitement among the depressed classes of society , rhose paaaons , these desires , this restlessness transported to Utah , become regulntwi nnj take a special form ; but they exist at homo also , and w » at wo wt aew among tens of thousands of our own uneducated classes is the ™»^ J ""» ings without the same restraint , Mormonism without its Joo , \ yi ^ my without concord , Brigham Youngism unlimited . Bcttoi , ^ " > ' ™ Mormons at Salt Lake than in Lancashire ; for the one pruducjj utter demoralization , the other only a peculiarly shaped society , isot t uu ^ rality takes a high flight beyond the popj > y * pr » iMed plums but tt o mr Ferns , and other foolish though ainuu ' ng chatterers have t' " ^ maligned it , while a deluge of rant has been poured ou . 13011 wUt a u ^ landSy preachers and compilers who k » oir noH » ing wbuteve . o ^ w m tutional order , or of its practical effects . Finstly , Salt UkoJ ^ well-chosen habitation , abounding in beautiful p » Hturoa , with no U » u 1 - :,. «„ .. o » il ,, P Avnnilimt . avnrilffG fortll tV . Ulld 110 t U fcW iUClllUCd "" ft
cultuV ; industry ana trafllc , of course it is liabl j to droug ^ --but the country is in a raw stato as yet , and o healthy cl to ma 1 many deficiencies . Other torritorius . may have buun inoi u ^ ivrt » , none " more safe as an asylum , Utah being encircled by nuuiensc w \ ^ tracta , inorodiOloultto cross tiian the ocean , light , cn a -. 0 . 0 ^ not : no stick or stone gave promise of a city , gonurully wallyi , unu „ with hopes of prospective splendour . About fiAeyn ^»* ' ^ or nenr the Sion of Salt Lake—Amcr . cnns , English , a an . nWiU o ^ largp proportion of Welsh , not a few Frenchmen *«*» Jiuios , ¦« ' » ° hoin ^ anS lUliuns , ono Irishman , o . ic Jew , and ono »^ » r ^ . Tho polygamiats , saya Mr . Chandless , appear to bo in » ^' « J J J"S ' corpo ^ l Mormoaa bolievc in one God otornn ) , aelf-oxifltont and au ionic , 0 1 ^ form a « d aubstanoe , in a spirit world inhabited by hu »>«» « ° u f u , wiH incarnation in the mission of Christ , and m a future 0 ato wl 101 ^ [ a i 0 belong to their first , or spiritual husbanda ; widows ^ uhi v »" p . » cont raot their second apouaea duly until death , reverlirm to tho 01 « n »» a vory nftorwai-ds . Of tho Book and its doctrines , Mr . ChunUiosa b
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69 ^ THE JL E A I > B B . [ No . 379 a 8 ATmm
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Leader (1850-1860), June 27, 1857, page 618, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2199/page/18/
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