Part 14

If Coleridge, in this book, is deprived of almost every thing but his genius, and is even represented as having that a good deal dashed with charlatanry, Southey appears in his most amiable light. The austerity and spiritual pride of the man are not so prominent as the finer qualities of his heart. His letters are admirable. The earlier ones are especially spirited and graphic. He sketches the external appearance of his acquaintances to the life. “I saw,” he says, “Dr. Gregory to-day; a very brown-looking man, of most pinquescent and full-moon cheeks. There is much tallow in him.” Of Dr. Hunter he draws a very animated portrait. “He has a very red, drinking face, little, good-humored eyes, with the skin drawn up under them, like cunning and short-sightedness united. I saw Dr. Hunter again yesterday. I neither like him, nor his wife, nor his son, nor his daughter, nor any thing that is his.” Gilbert Wakefield is despatched in a few words. “He has a most critic-like voice, as if he had snarled himself hoarse. You see I like the women better than the men. Indeed, they are better animals in general, perhaps because more is left to nature in their education. Nature is very good, but God knows there is very little of it left.” The whole of Southey’s youthful letters are marked by sense, enthusiasm and humor. The collection extends almost to his death. In 1826, while he was editing an edition of John Bunyan, he writes to Cottle, noticing a rumor that the Pilgrim’s Progress was a mere translation from the Dutch. “The charge of plagiarism,” he says, “is utterly false. _When you and I meet in the next world, we will go and see John Bunyan_, and tell him how I have tinkered the fellow, for tinker him I will, who has endeavored to pick a hole in his reputation.” This is a most perfect specimen of Southey’s peculiar humor. In another letter Cottle tells him that Mackintosh has said his style was founded on Horace Walpole’s. Southey replies, “my style is founded on nobody’s. _I say what I have to say as plainly as I can, without thinking of the style, and this is the whole secret. . ._ In fact, I write, as you may always have remarked, such as I always converse, without effort, and without aiming at display.” This confession from the most fascinating of prose writers, conveys an important truth with authority.

We have said that this book derives all its value from the letters or recollections of the author’s eminent friends. As such it will be extensively read. Cottle’s portion is done badly, especially in the arrangement of the matter. No person curious in literary history will fail to obtain the book, in spite of the compiler’s deficiencies.

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_The Public Men of the Revolution, Including Events from the Peace of 1783 to the Peace of 1815. In a Series of Letters. By the late Hon. Wm. Sullivan, LL. D. Edited by his Son, John T. S. Sullivan. Philadelphia: Carey & Hart. 1 vol. 8vo._

This book was originally published thirteen years ago. The present is a new edition, with additional notes and references, and a short biography of the late author. The work relates to the political history of the United States, and especially to the questions at issue between the Federalists and Democrats. The author was a Federalist, and the book throughout is devoted to the vindication of the character and conduct of the leading members of his party, and the policy they advocated. The style of the composition is without bitterness, and lacks even the energy we might expect in a political discussion. It is calm, clear, somewhat diffuse, apologetic in its tone, and strikes hard hits in the blandest possible manner. The leading men and measures of the country, from 1783 to 1815, a period when party spirit raged and foamed almost to madness, are taken up in their natural order, and discussed with considerable candor. One peculiarity in the volume will impress every reader. The writer appeared to have felt that he was coming before the bar of public opinion as the advocate of persons under its ban. Instead of assuming a high tone, and dealing sturdy blows to the right and left,—instead of grappling firmly with a question, and exhibiting it at once in all its bearing—he adopts a sly, insinuating, apologizing, round about manner, which deprives his style of vitality, and conveys the impression of a timid thinker. We do not believe that Mr. Sullivan would have adopted this style unless he had supposed that in the popular mind Federalism was identified with projects to dissolve the union, and sell the country to old England. In this we think he altogether under-estimated the intelligence of the people. Many of the men whose character he defends so timidly, need no defender at all; men who, if their merits are to be presented, deserve a hearty and eloquent recognition, unconnected with answers to dead and stale calumnies.

In this volume Mr. Jefferson is treated, not as he will be treated by the historian, but in the spirit of an opposing partisan. No fair and full representation of the man is given, no clear insight is shown of the fitness of the man for the times. Mr. Sullivan does not go very deep into the philosophy of Democracy, nor appreciate its nature. It could not be expected. With all his intelligence and virtue he lived in the times of which he writes, took sides with one of the parties, and judged Democracy by the light of Federalism, not by its own light. No man can fairly analyze what he hates or despises. With this abatement, Mr. Sullivan is eminently candid and judicial in his estimate of the leading Democrats. It would be impossible to point out a single passage of intentional misrepresentation in his book. But of unconscious misrepresentation there is necessarily much, and a person who desired to obtain a perfectly accurate view of political men and measures, could not get it by reading these letters. It must be conceded that it is disgraced by none of that falsehood, bigotry, and blackguardism, which characterize almost every former work on the subject, and which appears now to survive the controversaries from which they originally sprung. Mr. Sullivan was one of those perfectly honest politicians who would not stoop to an untruth, and who possessed the virtue of moderation. He writes like a man who believes every thing he says—a rare endowment in a political author.

Perhaps the most valuable portion of this book is its anecdotes of numerous men whose private character is but little known to this generation, and of numerous events of which history has taken little note. To the future historian of our country the work, on this account, will be very valuable.

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_Budget of Letters, or Things which I Saw Abroad. Boston: Wm. D. Ticknor & Co. 1 vol. 12mo._

Under this somewhat quaint title we have quite an original book of travels. It consists of a collection of private letters, written by an intelligent lady of Providence to her friends at home, and printed exactly as they first came from her pen. They are accordingly honest transcripts of real impressions of objects thrown off in a clear, careless style, and strongly infused with individual peculiarities. Even her “O dears!” and “goodness me’s!” and “I verily believe!” are retained. Such a book has, of course, a great deal of raciness. Those objects and scenes which professional tourists linger most lovingly over, and in the celebration of which they indulge in so much premeditated rapture, our authoress fearlessly describes according to her own perceptions. Many of her opinions are, doubtless, crude, and much of her criticism of little worth. In logic she is fond of giving the lady’s reason. There are many things on which she passes judgment, of which she knows little or nothing. Some objects she saw with her eye and not with her mind. But, taking the book as it is, in all its freshness and individual truth, and we can hardly bring to mind a late publication of a similar nature, which excels it in interest, or one more likely to be pleasing to the tourist. There are a hundred little incidents, scenes, and annoyances, which most travelers forget as soon as experienced, which are made quite interesting in this book, and constitute its original feature. We hope this will not be the last work of the authoress.

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_Chambers’ Miscellany of Useful and Entertaining Knowledge. Boston: Gould, Kendall & Lincoln._

This is a fac-simile of the Edinburgh edition. It is composed of a series of articles on a wide variety of subjects, including history, biography, sketches of travel, science, poetry, &c., &c. It is published in weekly numbers. No publishers in Europe equal the Messrs. Chambers in tact to discern the popular taste, and enterprise to meet it. The present work has had a large circulation abroad, and is well calculated to be popular here. Each number is complete in itself.

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_The Anatomy of Melancholy. What it is, with all the Kinds, Causes, Symptoms, Propensities, and Several Cures of it. By Democritus Junior. With Translations of the Classical Extracts by Democritus Minor._

There is scarce any volume to which the scholar turns with such constant and ever recurring delight as Burton’s Anatomy of Melancholy. It is a store-house of rich and rare learning, and abounds, beyond any parallel, in apt and original quotation; but this is, at last, its least merit, for the author’s own vein of thought, though quaint, is vigorous and manly, and is enlivened by arch and graceful digressions, full of classic wit and sturdy English humor. Dr. Johnson justly characterized the work as “a valuable book—perhaps overloaded with quotations—but there is great spirit and great power in what Burton says, when he writes from his own mind.” The doctor said that it was the only book that ever took him out of bed two hours sooner than he wished to rise. The copy before us is published in Philadelphia, by J. W. Moore, 193 Chestnut street, and in New York by Wiley & Putnam, 161 Broadway. The volume is well printed, in large and distinct type and upon good paper. We are rejoiced to see so excellent a reprint of our old favorite.

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_Memoir of Elizabeth Fry, with Extracts from her Journal and Letters. Edited by Two of Her Daughters. 1 vol. Philadelphia. No. 193 Chestnut Street._

The career of this distinguished and untiring philanthropist has excited deep interest and admiration on both sides the Atlantic; and her memoirs cannot be read without an increased respect for a character at once so exalted and meek, so brave and gentle. The account given by Mrs. Fry of the early religious struggles which resulted in the devotion of her life to God and her fellow creatures, will be found full of thrilling interest to those who have themselves known the night of doubt, and the joy that cometh with the morning of assured reconciliation with Heaven. The details of her prison labors are also rich in instruction. We commend the work to the attention of those who believe, with us, that there is no study more noble than the life of the just.

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_Ireland’s Welcome to the Stranger, or an Excursion through Ireland in 1844 and 1845, for the Purpose of Personally Investigating the Condition of the Poor. By A. Nicholson._

The authoress of this volume, a lady of Irish descent, seems to have been so deeply impressed with the sufferings of the unfortunate children of the Emerald Isle, that she determined to visit and minister to them in person. She appears to have effected this purpose with very inadequate means, often afoot, and under privations which most of the sterner sex would have shrunk from. Her opportunities for learning the true condition of the lower classes were ample, and seem to have been improved with intelligence and judgment. Her descriptions are life-like and animated; and the book is to those for whom the subject has interest a pleasant and instructive one.

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_The Celebrated Treatise of Joach. Fortius Ringelbergius de Ratione Studii: Translated from the Edition of Van Erpe. By G. P. Earp. With Preface and Appendix, by W. H. Odenheimer, A. M., Rector of St. Peter’s, Philadelphia. Philadelphia: Carey & Hart._

This treatise is a most valuable one, and the translation strikes us as deserving praise. The Rev. Mr. Odenheimer has greatly added to the excellence of the book by his preface and appendix.

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_Essay on the Fairy Queen. By J. S. Hart, Professor of the Philadelphia High School._

Every reader knows that Spenser’s “Fairy Queen,” although marked by striking and exquisite passages, is not calculated to be a popular work, in consequence of the faults of the narrative. Professor Hart has, in the essay before us, with the mind of a poet and the skill of an artist, removed the objection alluded to, and presented the narrative in an attractive style, introducing into his remarks many of the most beautiful passages. The obvious result of his labors will be to bring the remarkable and brilliant parts of this poem familiarly before the public, and make many persons acquainted with Spenser who would never have undertaken the task of laboring, like miners, through a mass of rubbish to arrive at the pure ore. The publishers are Wiley & Putnam, of New York, and they have issued it to the world in a manner worthy of the excellence of the work itself.

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_The Boy’s Treasury of Sports, Pastimes and Recreations._

A most delightful book for the instruction and amusement of the young, has just been issued under the above title, by Messrs. Lea & Blanchard of this city, from the London edition. It is indeed a treasury of knowledge for juveniles, comprehending chapters on various kinds of sports of the field, green and play-ground, on archery, angling, the care and keeping of animals and birds, authentic chemical experiments, &c., &c. There are nearly four hundred engravings interspersed throughout the volume, explanatory of the different subjects treated upon, and well calculated to illustrate the text. On the whole, we regard the “Treasury” as eminently calculated to be both useful and popular, and think the publishers entitled to praise for presenting to our youth so rational a means of amusement and instruction.

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_The Legend of Latimer, a Zurich Tale, with other Poems. By William Nind, M. A. London: F. & J. Rivington._

We have before us a copy of this pretty little volume, prepared in handsome style by the publishers. The main poem has for its subject the celebrated Latimer, who, with his co-laborer Ridley, suffered martyrdom during the reign of “bloody Queen Mary,” and is marked with considerable merit. Some of the minor pieces are also worthy of praise, of which we would particularly instance a poem entitled “The Secret of the Universe.”

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_Pictorial Life of La Fayette._

Messrs. Lindsay & Blakiston, of this city, have recently published a Pictorial Life of Gen. La Fayette, embracing anecdotes illustrative of his character. The eminent services rendered by this distinguished Frenchman in our struggle for national independence, and the chivalrous attributes of his character, render every thing connected with him interesting in the eyes of the American people. We are, therefore, glad that the enterprising publishers of the volume before us have caused it to be prepared, so that our youth may have an opportunity of becoming acquainted with the merits of the gallant marquis, and learn from his example, a lesson of devotion to the cause of popular liberty.

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_Pictorial Life of Gen. Marion._

Tradition has transmitted, and the pages of history recorded too many instances of the daring hardihood, patient endurance, and indefatigable perseverance of this celebrated partisan warrior, not to have rendered his name familiar as a household word throughout the whole length and breadth of our land. A volume, just issued from the press of Messrs. Lindsay & Blakiston, gives an epitomized but highly interesting memoir of his life and deeds, and describes, in a graphic and spirited manner, a number of the scenes of strife in which Gen. M. was engaged. The preface to the volume, after alluding to the inscription on the tomb of Marion, at Belle Isle, St. Stephen’s Parish, South Carolina, states that “this volume is presented as an humble echo to the labors of those who would keep the memory of such men green among the people;” and as the design is a laudable one, so must we regard the publication now under notice as admirably calculated to effect the object intended.

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Transcriber’s Notes:

Table of Contents has been added for reader convenience. Archaic spellings and hyphenation have been retained. Obvious typesetting and punctuation errors have been corrected without note. Other errors have been corrected as noted below. For illustrations, some caption text may be missing or incomplete due to condition of the originals available for preparation of the eBook.

page 217, of butcher’s shops in the ==> of butchers’ shops in the page 218, appellation of _têtes-carreés_ ==> appellation of _têtes-carrées_ page 239, and pillared collonade, ==> and pillared colonnade, page 266, that the Elliot’s would ==> that the Elliots would page 271, sevez-vous il faut ==> levez-vous il faut

[End of Graham’s Magazine, Vol. XXXI, No. 5, November 1847]