There seems a positive incapacity to follow out a single paragraph with logical consistindefinite and ill conceived the language is and in proportion as the idea itself is vague and unmeaning.

For if the mind with clear conceptions glow,
The willing words in just expression flow."

Unfortunately the conceptions of Lord John Russell are anything but clear; and we must allow the truth, while we are ashamed of the ingratitude, of Professor Von Reaumer's criticism of his patron, who must feel, with tenfold force, the unkind return of his protégé, as we believe he is the only foreigner who ever noticed Lord John's literary produc

tions, that he wrote as if previous to the discovery of all logic, "vor die erfindung aller rhetorik."

The Establishment of the Turks in Europe; an Historical Essay, with Preface. Murray. Pp. 128. 12mo. 1828.

In 1828 Lord John appears again upon the stage as an essayist; we say Lord John, for though this literary bantling came into the world without paternal acknowledgment, it has been since duly acknowledged. Indeed the impress of the paternal lineaments was so strong that little difficulty arose in the process of affiliation. Professedly, it treats of "The Establishment of the Turks in Europe;" but the connection of the title with the work actually before us is even less discoverable than in other of the noble author's productions. It exhibits but a very shallow acquaintance with the institutions of Turkey and the East, either religious or political. There are many gross blunders, mixed up with gossiping stories. The premier views with a rather favorable eye the doctrines of Mahomet; indeed, appears to look with some degree of relish upon the Mussulman's Paradise. It has one merit, viz., brevity: it is in 12mo.; and the same plea urged by the unfortunate mother of a very diminutive and fatherless baby in extenuation of her fault, that it was a very little one, may here be offered in abatement of critical severity. A short extract or two must suffice.

at night, and executes immediately the sentence he gives. If a baker is found selling his bread by a light weight, he is hanged before his door. If any one is apprehended on the spot where a disturbance takes place, he is instantly despatched, the fraud is hanged instead of the actual rioter. no matter if the apprentice who knew nothing of The purpose is to create terror to the guilty even by shedding the blood of the innocent, and the crime is punished when the criminal escapes."

These are samples of the slip-slop flippant style, the crambe recocta from old travellers' tales, which Lord John dignifies with the title of an historical discourse, and offers as an account of the government of Turkey for more than 300 years.

The Causes of the

The

The year 1832 afforded French Revolution. another proof of the noble Proteus's literary industry, in a book on " The Causes of the French Revolution;" a more flagrant instance of the "lucus a non lucendo," no title ever furnished. It might as well be styled causes of the Chinese war. introductory chapter, from which we have made our extract, promises much; a wide field of inquiry: but it is in fact a mere gossiping book about Voltaire, Rousseau, and the court of Louis, with some anecdotes of the principal skeptics of the age, their writings and coteries. It abounds in the same prurient style of metaphor, in which it is as natural for Lord John to write as for fish to swim.

6

C. i. "The word Revolution,' which was as"The meanest Turk might treat the highest sociated in the days of our ancestors with events Christian with contempt and insult. A Mussul- so fortunate, and has inspired so much terror in man seeing a Greek seated in his shop might call our own, is applied to changes totally dissimilar him forth and make him load his baggage horse in character. When Brutus expelled the Taror perform any other menial service: the oldest quins from Rome, a family was banished, and the and most venerable Greeks might openly be struck office of king was abolished; but the senate reand buffeted by the youngest and lowest Mahom-tained its authority, and the breach in the constietans, all with impunity. The practice of carrying arms leads to the prompt indulgence of every passion. And it may well be imagined what was the condition of men in the constant presence of masters who have pistols at their belts and swords by their sides. The limbs and even the lives of the Greeks were at the mercy of every gust of passion, and they were maimed or murdered with less forethought [compunction ?] than the mildest rebuke is given by an English magistrate. These are the things, which, borne quietly by dastard souls, sink deep in the minds of a people who begin to have a sense of shame or honor. These are the injuries, which, long suffered and long unresented, are yet entered in the great book of a nation, and are at length repaid with a vengeance not less full or less cruel than the wrongs they have endured."

"The chief of the police at Constantinople and other great towns goes round in the day time and

tution was filled by the election of two consuls, who held for a year the greater part of the authority which had before been exercised for life by a royal head. In modern times, when the Dutch rose against their Spanish masters, kingly supremacy was done away but the chief persons of the country were called, without confusion, to the government of the state. So when the English revolted in 1688, and the Americans nearly a century afterwards, the powers which had been abused were taken away from one person, but were transferred, with new engagements and restrictions, to others, who naturally and easily succeeded to the confidence their predecessors had forfeited. But the French Revolution is a revolution of another kind. It led rapidly to that which we often speak of, but scarcely ever see, namely, anarchy. All that had previously formed a title to respect became an object of proscription; neither wealth, nor station, nor character, nor

law, nor even the revolutionary governments kinds of pine and fir, selected with the assistance themselves, had any permanent influence with of Philip Miller, and thinned by his own care. the people. The state was left to the guidance Indeed, on this last point an anecdote has been of men who would for ever have remained ob-related by my father characteristic of his disposiscure, had they not become eminent in crime. tion. In the year 1743, the duke planted the large The ruling assembly was converted into an arena, plantation in Woburn Park, known by the name where each gladiator trod in the blood of his com- of the Evergreens,' to commemorate the birth of rades; and when his turn came his fall was ap- his daughter, afterwards Caroline, Duchess of plauded with as much savage delight as that of Marlborough. The space was something more his antagonist had been but a few moments be- than 100 acres, and was before that time a rabbit-warren producing nothing but a few blades of grass, with the heath or ling indigenous to the soil, and without a single tree upon it.

fore.

"It is our purpose, however, not to describe the French Revolution, but to inquire into its causes. The singular spectacle of deeds so cruel, in the midst of a nation so polished, must excite the mind to observe and reflect. The duty of the historian requires more than a lamentation over the horrors of this terrible period; nor will it be enough to show that reforms quietly accomplished would have been better than a violent convul

sion.

"In making these inquiries, it is no part of our business to justify those who overthrew the monarchy. No one accustomed to calm reasoning can allow that the popular voice is an infallible rule for the guidance of measures of state; but although the people are conducted by leaders to the choice of wise or pernicious remedies, it is not to be denied that they are seldom mistaken as to the existence of grievances. Let us observe, then, the conduct of the king, the nobility, and clergy, let us inquire in what manner the government acted upon the condition of the nation. When we have thus ascertained the nature of the evil, it will be instructive to visit the sources of public opinion; to weigh the merits of the political and moral philosophers who foretold a change, and who pointed out the road to arrive at it. Never was a nation more prepared for revolution by previous discussion; never did a nation in revolution wander so much without chart or compass, through stormy seas, in darkness and in danger."

"Neque semper arcum tendit Apollo." From 1832 to 1842, the noble littérateur relaxed his literary bow, and himself to gave rumination, probably refreshing himself for a more vigorous assault on the temple of fame. "On ne recule que pour mieux sauter." The production of 1842, is, however, a very humble flight. "Correspondence of John, fourth Duke of Bedford," selected from Originals at Woburn Abbey, 3 vols. ; each volume ushered in by a prosy Introduction. The dull duty of an editor admits of little scope for talent; but we cannot avoid recognizing a certan fitness in the noble lord to fill the place of gentleman-usher to an author's club.

The nature of the Introduction may be judged by one specimen, an anecdote of the duke.

"Besides building, the Duke of Bedford took a warm interest in planting. The evergreen drive, at Woburn, was planted by him with various

"In the course of a few years, the duke, perceiving that the plantation required thinning, in order to adinit a freer circulation of air, and give health and vigor to the young trees, he accordingly gave instructions to his gardener, and directed him as to the mode and extent of the thinning required. The gardener paused and hesitated, and at length said, 'Your Grace must pardon me if I humbly remonstrate against your orders, but I cannot possibly do what you desire: it would at once destroy the young plantation, and, moreover, it would be seriously injurious to my reputation as a planter.' The duke replied, 'Do as I desire you, and I will take care of your reputation.' The plantation was consequently thinned according to his instructions, and the duke caused a board to be fixed in the plantation facing the road, on which was inscribed, This plantation has been thinned by John, Duke of Bedford, contrary to the advice and opinion of his gardener.'

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Lord John takes care to add, that the said plantation, which the noble duke so gallantly thinned, has been pronounced by Mr. Forbes, in his "Pinetum Woburnense," as "unequalled by any other plantation in the kingdom, which may be chiefly attributed to the judicious thinning applied to that plantation when young. De minimis non curat lex." Not so Lord John; no matter is too petty to occupy his notice; even trimming up a plantation, to record the triumph of a Duke of Bedford over his gardener. Swift says, · No man ever made an ill figure who understood his own talents, nor a good one who mistook them." How fares it with LORD JOHN RUSSELL? Has he achieved the “ γνωθι σεαυτον,” or has he mistaken his vocation in attempting to add a literary reputation to his hereditary honors? The list of his works denotes sufficient activity. We have

Essays and Sketches of Life and Character," 1 vol. 1820.

"The Life of Lord William Russell, with some Account of the Times in which he lived." 2

vols. 1820.

"Essays on the History of the English Government and Constitution," &c. 1 vol. 1821.

"Don Carlos, or Persecution." A Tragedy in Five Acts. 1 vol. 1822.

Correspondence of John, Fourth Duke of with what to do; whereas business, to mercurial Bedford;" with Introduction. 2 vols. 1842.

merits. We regret that we cannot, upon the whole, sum up in Lord John Russell's favor; that we cannot favor his pretensions to literary rank, even in the smallest degree. The noble lord may call, it is true, eleven witnesses, 4to., 8vo., and 12mo., to support his pretensions; but, if well advised, he will rather trust to the merciful consideration of the court than rely upon their testimony: for the said witnesses, though decent enough in their exterior clothing, when made to disclose their evidence, will infallibly damage the noble defendant's cause, and for ever strip him of all LITERARY CHARACTER.

A LITERARY PARTY IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

1785, and was called regularly to the English bar. He died 19th June, 1795, aged 55.

Next to Boswell is seated the great Dr. SAMUEL JOHNSON, the Colossus of English literature. He was born in Litchfield, Sept. 7, 1709, and was the son of a bookseller. His great talents were early displayed, and soon after his marriage in 1735, he went to London, as a literary man. His first adventures were exceedingly unpropitious. His fortunes began to mend with his acquaintance with Mr. Cave, the printer of the Gentleman's Magazine; and his first performance

THE accompanying Plate presents a group of the most remarkable men of the last century, whose names are inseparably identified with the history of English literature, and the influence of whose genius and writings has not yet ceased to be felt. Though their names are familiar as household words to the intelligent lover of literature, it may not be inappropriate to characterize in a few words, the several eminent personages portrayed so strikingly by the engraver's skill. At the extreme left of the picture is JAMES BOSWELL, the well known friend and biographer of Dr. Johnson. He was a native of Scotland, and became acquainted with Johnson after hav-in that work was a Latin Alcaic Óde, inserted ing travelled in Europe, and acquired an eager love of literature and of the literary character. His attachment to Johnson was sincere and enthusiastic; and as his intimacy with Johnson was founded upon the basis of reciprocal esteem, it is a happy circumstance that he began early to collect and digest the materials for the life of this extraordinary man, and therefore the publication of the work in 1790, was received with that avidity from the public which is the best tribute to the memory of an illustrious character, as well as to the judicious execution of the biographer. Besides Dr. Johnson's life, he published an account of his tour to the Hebrides with the great moralist-two well-known letters to the people of Scotland, and essence of the Douglas cause, when it so much engaged the public attention. Boswell had a strong predilection for the literary enjoyments of London, and he not only visited the capital frequently, but at last settled there in

in March, 1738. From 1740 to 1743 he was laboriously employed in the service of this periodical work, and during that period, wrote the parliamentary debates, valuable not as the effusions of orators, but as the bold composition of a man of genius on such subjects as were supposed to engage the legislators of the age. In 1738 he published his London, a poem, in imitation of Juvenal's third satire, which was well received, and honored with the commendation of Pope, and passed to a second edition in one week. Besides his valuable contributions to the Gentleman's Magazine, he in 1744 published the life of Savage, a work of great merit, which, in the elegant language of pathetic narration, exhibited the sufferings and the poverty of a friend, whose calamities he himself had shared and bewailed. He began in 1747 his edition of Shakspeare, and published the plan of his English dictionary. This gigantic work was undertaken under the patronage of the