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FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.
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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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she as suddenly reappears in a manner as wonderful as it is unexpected , the author still affording us iiO clue wherewith to arrive at any solution of the enigma , we confess ourselves not- a little annoved and disappointed . But the most ^ unaccountable mystery is that which surrounds the young artist Miriam , which name , we speedily become aware , is merely assumed , her original coo-nonien having heen connected with some de « d of darkness too terrible to be detailed . This young lady ' s footsteps are dog-ged by an unwearying- persecutor , who first makes his appearance as tjhe " spectre of the catacombs , " and is evidently acquainted with Miriam ' s former history , which knowledge he makes the vehicle ot unmitigated torture to ' his victim . Owing to this and other circumination is ht to the highest
stances , the reader ' s imag wrougup very pitch of excitement and expectation ; and , just as he naturally concludes that the whole myth is about to be satisfactorily elucidated , the author breaks oft the thread of his story , as though he had got it into an awkward entanglement , and his only means of extrication was in snapping it asunder , thereby leaving the reader in a kind of mental stupor , not quite certain whether there might not be a fourth volume lying somewhere on his own-table , or that of his librarian , who may have neglected to forward him the entire set . Thus , notwithstanding the high poetical appreciation every where apparent throughout this novel , its brilliant descriptions , and lofty sentiment , it is impossible for any reader to arrive at the termination without experiencing a feeling of irritation and dissatisfaction .
Which is- Which . s or , Miles Cassidys Contract , which some of our readers may remember as having , not long since , embellished the weekly " numbers of the National Magazine , is here reproduced wider the more imposing form of two considerably bulky and nently printed '¦ volumes . Notwithstanding the numerous class of readers " who must have become familiar with this story when it originally appeared , we have-no doubt that it is . destined to command in its present shape an extensive circulation . We are fully justified in making this assertion by the work itself ,, which possesses all the elements of popularity . The style is natural and fluent without any attempt at flowery metaphor , jwhich is sometimes lamentably out of keeping with the ' general bearings of a story , and always -mars- its simplicitv . The author here contents ; himself with drawing- his
incidents" as closely together as possible , thereby rendering the interest of his reader both concentrated and permanent . All his characters are drawn with a life-like consistency and individuality that could only have been accomplished through an intimate acquaintance with human nature . . The portrait of " Miles Cassidy , " which is the first introduced upon the scene , and indeed the latest to quit it , " haying- performed ' the principal part throughout the drama , is a perfect masterpiece of singularity combined with , highsouled integrity , illustrating how easily one half of the world can misconstrue tlie actions of their-neighbours ; being unacquainted with the individual peculiarities by which the conduct of every man is regulated , we are apt to pervert the purest and noblest of motives according to onr own sophisticated views and selfish considerations . written
¦ Netletj Ilallis a novel very carefully and pleasantly . It indicates considerable talent and considerable research on the part of our author . The current of events is made purposely to take a polemical direction—in a word , to advocate the lawfulness of marriage with a wife ' s ! sister . The argument on the subject , indeed , forms a sisnifiennt portion . The scriptural doctrine , as proved by Dr . M'Cnul ;* is clear enough on the point ; it is not so technically and closely s tated in the novel , but the points sire correctly oited and skilfully arranged . In point of composition , this little romance is a careful and superior work-. The style indicates learning :, and there is throughout a discrimination of character which shows in the author a philosophical turn of mind and . much study of human nature . The argument of the book niay syrve to illustrate the difference between Art and Life : that , while the farmer is obedient
to rule and law , which predispose the harmony of Retails assembled in the artist ' s work , the latter is not so scientifically regulated , but leaves much to caprice and the will of the individual . The manners of a particular period , however , sanctioned by the , respectable portion of society and those who nrp placed in authority over it , are not always synonymous Ayith thosemorals which the thinking mind liluls to . ho true , consistent nt once with the feelings of the heart imcl the laws of nature . In life , there aro always needed new forms of legislation , as corrective of past errors ; while in art every work enounces nnd illustrates its own lawi and loaves it as an exemplar jwd model for the guidance of future labourers in the name inexhaustible field . Of true morals , however , the principles aro eternal ; nnd , working in secret at the base of society , gain in strength from day to day , nnd at length secure the support oi pubho law and general custom .
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( special . ) Paris , March U , 1800 . " Nor only Paris , but every spot in Franco hns been afflicted by this " fourth winter , " which has seemed nil the more wintry for corningimmediately after the warm , sunny weather of the last week of February . Certainly , Jf therein one thing movo uncongenial than another to tho truq Parisinn , it is wintry weather . The majority of them are convinced that tho existence of ho abfuird n season ia ono
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of the most objectionable of the freaks of the great French" deity , Fate ; , a season Vlien one is not able to sit out on the Boulevards in . the balmy air of evening , sipping the fragrant coffee , chatting with a congenial friend or in luxurious isolitude , watching ; the blue curls of smoke rise from one ' s cigar into the bright atmosphere , and meditating lazily de omnibus rebus et quibusdam ctliis when there are none of those enchanting excursions to St . Cloud or Asnieres , in which a fine day , a recherche dinner , and a pretty companion go far to make life more than tolerable—Oh , decidedly , winter is a fatal mistake . Imagine , therefore , the wrath consequent upon the aggravation of such a mistake , by bringing cold , snowy weather into March , which , in Paris , is generally like an English May . Well / it is lucky that this mistake was not persevered in too long 1 ; yesterday the frost vanished , and we have had two capital Spring days .
We Have had quite Spring weather for : the last few days : warm , sunny days * bright with that peculiar clear blue which is scarcely known in England . The Bois de Boulogne presents a magnificent appearance just now , as it is the height of the Paris season , and every afternoon the carriage drives are crowded with equipages of every description , from the splendid coach and liveries of some Russian merchant , who has come to Paris to play the gentleman , down to the hackney cab in which the French paterfamilias gives his -wife an airing amongst " the quality . " The scene is diversified by some extraordinary machines , evidently suited to American tastes , in which a being of comparatively human aspect appears perched above what seems a strange combination of wheels and bars—or you see , gleaming through the branches of the wood , the bright helmets of the soldiers guarding the carriage of the young Prince Imperial ; in a few moments the whole cortege goes , clattering by , and you catch a glimpse of a- little chubby Napoleonic visage indifferent to the
looking out of the window , apparently quite surrounding 1 scene . Impertinent people hint that this child will never be wise enough to know his own mother ; this may be , but there is . no doubt as to his father . Poor little-Urchin ., I wonder whether he will"die in his bed like a decent Christian ! An hour later you espy , amidst the throng of carriages , one that is open , containing two ladies ; and it does not want a second glance to inform you that the Empress is one of them , so much does she resemble her'portrait that used to stare one in the face at ' MACtKAN's in the Hay . m-arkct- * -as much , in fact , as that gentleman . in the grey shooting-coat , riding by the side of the open carriage , resembles a face that I see very , very often in Punch . That ordinary , slylooking- trentlenian in the grey coat , whom one would think the quietest being in the world , is th . e chosen of the . French people , the most important man in Europe . He has been trying to get a little colour into his sallow visage , and clear his brain ; he is now going ; home to dine , and go on with his new edition of the map of
Thfire is nothing very stirring- going on in Paris'just now . The rain of pamphlets sti . ll continues with unabated violence . Everybody in Paris is pamphleteering . The swarm of brochures which come pouring- forth from the various presses , and espousing- various sides of the vexed questions of the day , is " in numbers numberless . Dentu ' s shop , from which issued " Le Pape et le Congrcvs , " the grandmother of all these pamphlets , and which every day sends forth fresh dust to be thrown into the eyes of a distracted public , is like a smoky chimney on a windy day . The French . Iitt 6 rciteiti ;\ f \ . \\\ t ablelike mi
of all sorts of views and theories , nobeing , Englishman in such a case , to let off his doctiinos through lira medium of a journal , is obliged to scribble a pamphlet , which Djjntu kindly publishes . We have " Christ et lo . Pape , " " La Nonvelle . Attiuide de la France , ! ' " Rome et ses Provinces , " " L : i Situation de Ja Papaute " , " and a hundred others on the same topio , of varyingde » Toes of temperature ; though most of them range very high , and on the whole are in support of the papal claim . In fact , to . intlgo from the tone of- the pamphletcerm" - press , ono would suppose that Franco was as orthodox now as in the days of St . Lottis , and that
tho nation was / . onions on behalf of the preservation of papal domination in its entirety ; whereas , as u matter of fact , I believe tho gresit body of tho people is profoundly indifferent as to what becomes cither of his Holiuqss or his see . The fduu of excommunication , which once would have made Iho . pwoplo tremble and quake , is now regarded with calm -derision ; and tho Frenchman to whom it is suggoated merely shrug * his nhouldcrs ( us -Frenchmen only can ) and murmurs a contemptuous " N'importc , " or " en in ' cat < $ gal . " It ' s , all tho same to him , lijchlhoarded do « r , provided the papal interdict does not fly away with hi . s dominoon , nor turn tho eausuord sour , nor bring- wet Sundays . But tho press docs not nfc this time at all ' fairly represent tho national viow ; the pamphleteers aro in a state of excitement , and therefore aro not representatives ot tho fronornl mass , which ia peculiarly undisturbed . Ono is frequently misled in forming an estimate of the feeling of . a people « m any given subject by the biaa in thia or that direction of books and nnmniiinlR . nml fcliA Mutant GXCitOinGllt Clf ft body ot piirtlSHllH may
pasafor » national movement . Tlioro ia one brochure , however , which is just now creating an enormous sensation in Vans ; greater , perhaps , " than avny of its . predecessors—except , of course , the ; trnmOmother pamphlet-mid which I had houio time to wait before I could tret . It came out about a week ago , and had no Booner made its appearance than it was eagerly sought after ; bo much po , . tlint at every nhop wUero I inquired for a copy , tho nnswor was unarii . mouB , ' " We We none loft , hut tomorrow morning- and I am told that tlio printer « an scarcely <\ a hin work quickly «> " > £ Vp , ™ moot the demand . Tho titJo of tln $ popular productionin l » o Liberty of ItSy an < l tho Church , " » n » d it proceeds from the pon of
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JLJXAK' ^ 11 J . / j J-V-fV / V / . J . X / H > JUl / l *» V / l tv . vw ^ j' ^ . vw ^ , y . -vw y * M ... viw yi , vm . — - ^
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* The Anofont Interpretation of Leviticus xvili . 18 . A JLotjtor to the Jtov . W . H . Lytvll , B . A .., l > y the Rov . ' A . M ' Caul , D . D , Wortholm , AtnolntoBli , ivnd Hunt .
Foreign Correspondence.
FO llElON ' CORRESPONDENOP ) .
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Leader (1850-1860), March 17, 1860, page 259, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2338/page/15/
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