our shores be attempted, still more, if it succeed, to him, rather than the intrepid press of England, will every Englishman point and cry-Thou art the man!" voting papers to be distributed to the ratepayers; but in all To place the filling up and issuing the voting papers in In collecting the voting papers, to require all the ratepayers, owners, and proxies, to take their own papers filled up to a place to be fixed by the overseers, and that one guardian and two overseers shall sit and receive the same, at which time and place all persons not having received a voting paper to attend, may fill up the same, and deliver it to the person then presiding for the ward in which he is entitled to vote. To require that voting papers shall be left at the place of business, as well as at the residence of the ratepayer and own›r of property. Voting papers to be open to the inspection of ratepayers during one day previous to the declaration of the election. ELECTION OF POOR LAW GUARDIANS. A case which shows the liability of the present system to be instrumental to jobbery and fraud has just been made patent in the township of Leeds. At the close of the last election of guardians for the North Ward the following names and figures were presented by the returning officer, who is the clerk of the union: This extraordinary discrepancy between the number of votes given and the number returned, doubtless arose from mistake. But when clerks of guardians have so direct an interest in retaining in office those to whom they may have been indebted, or may hereafter look, for increase of salary or other advantages, it is expecting too much from human nature to place the entire election, as at present, in their hands. We understand that the Leeds Board of Guardians have transmitted a number of suggestions, of which the following is the substance, to the Poor Law Board in London: All nominations to be made not later than two o'clock p.m., on the 26th day of March. The clerk shall make out lists of persons nominated, and post the same on the outside of his office, not later than nine o'clock a.m, on the 27th day of March, and in all wards where more than the number of guardians required for the ward shall be nominated, the clerk shall, on the 26th day of March, give notice to the persons so nominated of the fact of their being so nominated; and unless they shall send notice as per article thirteen, of their refusal to stand, their names shall be inserted in the Without expressing our concurrence in all these hints, or considering them as, by any means, exhausting the catalogue of necessary improvements upon the present system, we cannot help giving it, as our opinion, that the co-operation of two assessors with the union clerk in the task of making up the returns, could not fail to work well. We have had the opportunity of forming the highest estimate of the honourable feelings of many of the gentlemen who fill the office of union clerk, and these, we are certain, would be glad to be relieved from a delicate as well as onerous position, in which the very best motives may be liable to be misinterpreted. of coroner. A few years ago, certain justices of the peace for the county of Middlesex took a dislike to the office Personal feeling was said to have been excited by Mr. Wakley's election to that ancient office. Be this as it may, various obstructions were offered to that gentleman, which had never embarrassed his predecessor; and an attempt was made to impair the usefulness and efficiency of the institution by interfering with its ancient and immemorial usage in a very important particular. For, whereas the person in custody upon charges of homicide was always heretofore present to hear, and, if so advised, reply to and disprove the evidence against him; and was, in the case of an adverse verdict, committed by the coroner's warrant, and none other, for trial at the assizes;-the prisoner was now withheld from the inquest altogether, and the tyrannical and un-English system engrafted perforce upon this-the most free and open and popular of our English courts of judicature-in violation of the spirit and letter of the whole common and statute law of this realm and people, of conducting an investigation as to the guilt or innocence of a suspected party behind his back. in full by the clerk, but the subsequent lists, al- But the system pursued both in municipal and poor-law elections, of the individual voter signing and handing in his paper without any previous public discussion, either of the matters requiring to be attended to by their representatives, or the qualifications of persons who have been proposed for election, is fraught with very grave evils. The principles of the common law and the universal practice of our ancestors in their county, hundred, borough, and ward "motes" or meetings, Would here teach us an excellent lesson. In every tioned officers being the more ancient, and as expressly declared by statute, the "principal conservators of the peace in their counties," had obvious reasons for attending to the intimations of the latter. Thus it is that constitutional privileges are sacrificed, and palpable deviations from the practice of centuries sometimes effected in opposition to the wishes of the community at large, in compliance with individual feeling or opinion. Upon the present government coming into power, Mr. Wakley, whose courage and ability have never been wanting in defence of the poor and of popular rights, communicated with the Home Secretary. Viscount Palmerston had before shewn himself one, not only of the ablest, but also of the most constitutional and thoroughly English ministers that ever held the seals of office. Estimating the absurd technicalities alleged against the usage of centuries at their true worth, his lordship gave instructions that this usage should be restored. The suspected person was accordingly produced at the inquest touching a recent case of drowning in the Regent's Canal. The jury having, at their first sitting, returned a verdict of wilful murder, re-assembled, on the 14th February, to sign their inquisition. After this duty had been performed, the coroner (Mr. Wakley) proceeded to explain the circumstances which had rendered necessary Lord Palmerston's interference. He said "Without the production of an accused party in such a ease, to talk of justice being done was a mockery and a cheat. The question then arose, why should a suspected arose the question as to what course was to be pursued to bring all parties to an understanding? He was aware that abandon such a system. Mechanics' schools may afford valuable instruction, but I doubt if there is any school that reads such practical lessons of wisdom, and tends so much to strengthen the mind, as assisting as jurymen in the administration of justice. I think, therefore, that this is a subject which deserves very serious attention. We have the strongest reasons for dissenting from the Lord Chancellor's estimate of the work person be withheld from appearing before a coroner's jury? person had a most salutary effect, more especially upon the ing of the County Court system. Nor, we are per Upon what ground of policy, or what canse was there to justify a person accused of the heinous crime of murder mind of the prejudiced or evil-disposed witness. In the being so withheld? That was a plain question, and required duty; at the same time, he had not done less than his duty, as plain an answer. Supposing false witnesses were bent on swearing away a man's life, what check was there so great to the vicious inclinations or malice of a false witness as the presence of an accused party? Having held many thousand inquests, he could declare that he never found any check so great to a malicious or a false witness as the presence of the accused party. He would therefore contend that suspected persons ought to be present on such occasions, to say anything they might think proper in their own defence and as a check to evil-disposed witnesses. If they reflected for one moment upon the coroner's duties they must see that the great object of the inquest was, if there was a criminal, to discover if possible who that criminal was, so that he may be brought to justice. 'Oh,' it was said, 'that might be left to the magistrate. But why, he would ask, should it be left to a tribunal inferior to the coroner's court, which was one of the most ancient in the kingdom? The coroner's court had for centuries been found the most useful in detecting the really criminal, as well as in protecting the liberty of the subject. It was a court of record, and the coroner was sworn to do his duty as the representative of the Crown, while the jury were also sworn to discharge their duty irrespective of the coroner, without fear, favour, or affection. Why, then, should the coroner's court stop short when they had ascertained the cause of death, and that such death had resulted from the criminal act of another? There was no law requiring the coroner's court to stop at that point, while there was law as well as custom to justify a coroner and jury in going beyond that point. The statute was the 4th Edward I., and until after that act was passed there were no justices of the peace in this country, coroners, lieutenants, and sheriff's being the conservators of the peace. Since that statute there was no act which deprived the coroner's jury of the power of finding out a criminal, and coroners' juries would violate their oaths if they stopped short simply at the cause of death when they found that death had resulted from criminality. Of late years difficulties had been thrown in the way, in the metropolitan districts in cases of homicide, of having accused persons before juries, although it was done all over England besides. Since he (Mr. Wakley) view with him upon the subject. He concurred in the pro which was saying a great deal for a public man; and he had no doubt the jury would take the earliest opportunity of letting Lord Palmerston know that they were fully alive to ciples of local self-government and constitutional selves. suaded, can his Lordship's proposed Registration it has been shewn it would be in practice-be scheme-centralizing in principle, and costly as sustained against the objections so ably urged by Lord St. Leonards. These, however, are subjects which will require a separate consideration. Lem Books. [Works intended for notice in this journal may be forwarded to Messrs. Saunders & Stanford, 6, Charing Cross, addressed "To the Editor of The Constitutional."] Notes and Queries. Vol. 6. THOUGH this can scarcely be considered a work affording matter for review, yet the completion of its sixth volume furnishes an opportunity for a few remarks or suggestions, which we think are called for, and which may tend to improve its general utility. We hailed the publication, on its first appearance, with pleasure, and its reception proves how far it has been generally appreciated. There is, however, a want of vigilance in the general conduct of the paper, so as to avoid the occasional repetition of matter, and typographical or other mistakes which cause some trouble to its readers. instance, at p. 317, the editor refers to Pasquier, vol. viii., p. 53. We not being aware of any edition of that author consisting of so many volumes, referred to our copy of Pasquier, 2 vols. 8vo., and found the subject alluded to in Liv. viii., c. 55, A CONSTITUTIONAL MINISTRY. 66 We have elsewhere referred to Lord Palmerston's interposition to restore the ancient practice of Coroners' Inquests. The refusal to adopt Sir had been in office that difficulty had frequently occurred. When Lord Normanby was Home Secretary he had an inter-guishing Grand Juries;-and to abolish the Lord F. Thesiger's ad captandum proposition for extinpriety of the accused being present, but did nothing; and Lieutenancy of Ireland, is also much to the credit there was a conflicting jurisdiction in the case of an accused indications of a healthy spirit of resistance to needof the present administration. Amongst other person between the coroner and the magistrates. Lord John less innovation, the following observations of Lord Russell concurred, but did nothing. Sir James Graham pro- Cranworth, in his diffuse but comprehensive speech upon Law Reform in the House of Lords, on the 15th of February, are worthy attention from the 'depravers" of our Saxon institutions: cured the presence of suspected persons. With Sir George Grey he could do nothing. To Mr. Walpole no application was made, or he believed it would have been successful. His last appeal was to Lord Palmerston. His Lordship had listened with the greatest attention to all that was urged, he said but little, but did a great deal, which was far better. His Lordship truly remarked, that being new in office, he was not exactly acquainted with the powers that he could exercise. But his Lordship had a most powerful mind, and could grasp such a question as this with great facility, and there could be no doubt that his Lordship's conclusions would be just. The learned coroner here alluded to the limited powers, under the statute law, vested in police magistrates, as compared with the coroner's court; while he regretted the limited powers of the former, he could not be blind to the superior power of the latter. The magistrate had no power to order a post mortem examination, whereas the coroner could issue his warrant for that purpose; under the same authority doors could be broken open and walls demolished. But a magistrate could not carry on an inquiry without coming to the coroner's court; whereas the latter tribunal, without appealing to any other authority, could go into grave-yards and cemetries, and even break open churches and get dead bodies from the vaults, in order to forward the ends of justice; but the magistrates possessed no such power. Therefore would he (the coroner) ask why the powers of this court should be frittered away, and give to another court powers which the statute did not sanction? Sure he was, that when it was borne in mind the protection that this court afforded to the weak against the strong, the bulk of reflecting persons would be in favour of it. But now 66 "It has been said that the trial by judge, instead of by jury, has been eminently successful in the county courts. Undoubtedly that has been the case; and it has been a matter of inquiry before the Commissioners whether the same principle may not usefully be extended to the cases tried in other courts-whether you may not give up the machinery of a jury, and leave it to the judge to decide the question in dispute. I think, in considering such a matter, we ought not to lose sight of this fact-that, in sanctioning an arrangement of that sort, we should be taking a step towards unfitting for their duties those who are to send representatives to the other house of parliament, who are to perform municipal functions in towns and who are to exercise a variety of those local jurisdictions which constitute, in some sort in this country, a system of self-government. It may be very dangerous to withdraw from them that duty of assisting in the administration of justice. I do not say that I have conclusively made up my mind on the subject; but I must say it is a subject to be approached with very great delicacy and caution. My noble and learned friend, who has had the advantage, both as a judge and an advocate, of attending in assize towns, and of seeing the proceedings of the courts, cannot, I am sure, have failed to observe, that at the end of the assizes those who have been summoned as jurors quit the assize-hall a much more intelligent set of 58. For So again, in p. 580, we are referred to "Martin's Work on Privately Printed Books," 2 vols. 4to, whereas we believe it exists only in one volume 8vo.; besides, a much more suitable reference would have been Dr. Hume's useful work entitled "The Learned Societies, and Printing Clubs," &c.: London, 1817, cr. 8vo. When we speak of repetitions, we allude to such as appear in pages 230 and 279, relating to Alain Chartier. At p. 571, we have Nompesson for Mompesson; and in another page, vol. 4, instead of vol. 3, of Lamartine's work. Though the Editor has very properly urged upon his contributors the necessity of distinct and specific references to the books and authorities used, yet we continually see articles inserted which are open to complaint on this account. We may notice those from W. W., of Malta, who is habitually mysterious. In one place he tells us, a few years ago M. Vassallo published a book," without adding either title or date, or furnishing any means of ascer taining what the work is, though we presume he alluded to one entitled "Motti, Aforismi e Proverbii Maltesi, raccolti, interpretati e di note esplicative e filologice corredati, da Michel-Antonio Vassallo. Svo. Malta, Stampato per l'Autore. 1828." But W. W. rarely supplies the source of his communications, for at p. 485 he cites a sentence without any reference; in p. 486 he quotes Stowe's Chron., but not the page; at p. 509 he says he "read in Galignani," but where or when or what this is, he does not inform us; at p. 520 he writes of an old Spanish proverb, and that "he has the book open before him in which it was published nearly two hundred years ago," but not a word of the title or date of it. Now we submit that, in a publication, one object of which is to give and obtain exact information upon points important to bibliopoles and literary men, such articles ought not to be inserted, unless these wanton omissions be supplied editorially or otherwise. We think, also, that much room is uselessly occupied by the full heading of the title being repeated in every number; and that the table of contents and notices of book's might without injury be omitted; the former being rarely resorted to, and the latter being little more than advertisements, and affording no means of judging of the works themselves. The mode in which the work is classed, appears to us rather to confuse than to facilitate in searching-for instance, we have " Notes," "Minor Notes;" "Queries," "Minor Queries;" "Replies," "Minor Queries Answered; "Replies to Minor Queries;""Miscellaneous." genius gave it birth. These exceptions I loved; they grew is engaged as nursery governess to the children But to return to our heroine. At Villette she ture in almost all her best characters, is power; ether; and those dark weeds plastered upon it are not trees. Several very well executed and complacent looking fat calm, self-sufficing, self-conscious stoicism. Currer women struck me as by no means the goddesses they apBell is a worshipper of power, of Spartan endur-peared to consider themselves. Many scores of marvellously ance, to an extent which would be almost heathen, finished Flemish pictures, and also sketches, excellent for were it not tempered by a tenderness and warmth fashion books,displaying varied costumes in the handsomest of affection, and an intense yearning for sympathy applied. And yet there were fragments of truth here and materials, gave evidence of laudable industry whimsically and friendship, which humanizes and Christianizes there which satisfied the conscience, and gleams of light what would otherwise be hard and cold. This that cheered the vision. Nature's power here broke through type of character, familiar to us in her former in a mountain snow storm; and there her glory in a sunny southern day. An expression in this portrait proved clear books, is reproduced in Lucy Snowe, the heroine insight into character; a face in that historical painting, of Villette. She is introduced to us-a silent, un- by its vivid filial likeness, startingly reminded you that demonstrative, but yet thoughtful and restless dear as friends." child-as a visitor at her grandmother's, Mrs. Bretton; where we also meet with three other Now, without assuming to define what should principal characters, Mrs. Bretton herself, warmbe denominated a note, or a minor note, we are hearted, but stern in manner, her son, John quite sure, from our own experience, that diffi- Graham Bretton, a handsome, open-hearted schoolculty is frequently occasioned by these sub-divi- boy, with "faithless eyes," and "Polly," alias sions. Besides, there are many articles which Pauline Home, a weird little child of six years are neither notes nor queries, but rather essays, old, as precocious as "Eva" or "Little Nell," yet and sometimes so long as not to come within the withal more natural and childlike. A few chapprovince of the work. This remark will likewise ters find Lucy friendless and homeless, worn and apply to what is allowed to too great an extent in "aged" by misfortune and struggle; then comes a periodical of so limited space, namely, recon- her companionship to Miss Marchmont, a crippled dite, abstruse, obscure discussion, either of contro- and suffering woman-one of those beautiful epiversial theology or obsolete mystical learning;- sodes which rest in the mind. At her death, left and to the insertion of so many articles on photo-friendless again, with £15 in her pocket, Lucy graphy, which are more fitted for a work devoted to the mechanical department of art, than for this; and also to many of the advertisements, which it would be desirable to confine to literary subjects. feels a "drawing of the spirit," as the Friends These observations are thrown out with the most kindly feeling, and a wish to see the "Notes and Queries" improve and prosper; for, notwith-hanging all. In my reverie, methought I saw the Continent standing all we have said, the work is a delightful medium of communication, extending even to other and distant countries, and we always eagerly look for its hebdomadal appearance. Villette. 3 vols. 8vo. Smith, Elder, & Co., London. Amidst the dismal waste of ordinary novel-literature, it is pleasant to meet here and there with an oasis of three volumes characterized by originality, depth, and power. Poor things most novels are; not introducing us to a new circle of acquaintance or giving us a deeper understanding of classes of people, of whose outward seeming alone we before were cognizant; but rather exhibiting a set of dancing puppets, moved by palpable wires, or at best animated by a sort of spasmodic life. As dreary, too, are they in scenery and sen. timent as in character; filled with descriptions, meant to be graphic and terse, but really commonplace with points which are not salient, details which are not suggestive; and ballasted with sentiments which, if old, are mostly truisms, and, if new, sickly and false. Such, whatever may be their faults, are not the characteristics of the author before us; prim old ladies and "proper" young clergymen may dislike the characters; but characters they are; real flesh and blood, with weaknesses and shortcomings like the best of us. Her incidents may be sometimes unnatural, approaching what in other hands would be melo-dramatic; but these incidents, indeed all the external life and action, is subordinate to the internal history, the mental biography, which excites our deepest sympathy and interest from its correspondence to passages in our own inward life. While the beauty and power of her descriptions is a continual charm, and forces us to read, again and again, parts which in most novels we quietly skip. Then, again, a few pages further, her feeling it was cold, though it rained. There is nothing more beautiful and true than "I rather liked the prospect of a long walk, deep into the old and grim Basse-Ville; and I liked it no worse because the evening sky, over the city, was settling into a map of black-blue metal, heated at the brim, and inflaming slowly to a heavy red. I fear a high wind, because storm demands that exertion of strength, and use of action I always yield with pain; but the sullen downfall, the thick snow-descent, or dark mist of rain, asks only resignation, the quiet abandonment of garments and person to be drenched. In return it sweeps a great capital clean before you; it makes you a quiet path through broad, grand streets; it petrifies a living city, as if by Eastern enchantment; it transforms a Villette into a Tadmor. Let the rains fall, and the floods descend." of Madame Beck, proprietor and mistress of a At last she meets with a Faults there are: the tone is sometimes unwomanly, even masculine; what strikes us as a sort of assumed roughness, is perceptible in the des. criptions and occasionally in the dialogue. In the latter there is perhaps more banter than is quite natural. Everybody banters everybody else, which is sometimes provoking, when we want quiet, and inappropriate, as in much of the conversation between Mrs. Bretton and her son. Might we hint too that there is a trifle too much talking in French: to one who understands the language, and can appreciate its idiomatic vigour, it is rather a charm, but many it will annoy, even if it be not deemed pedantic. However, let us stay this detractive process: such piles there are of perfectly faultless yet insufferably prosy books, that when we find one like Villette we can well afford to lay aside mere criticism, and thanking its author for it, as we do most sincerely, advise our friends to get it and read it. We will conclude with one more extract-a pleasant passage from amongst many. Lucy has just discovered that M. Paul Emanuel, with whom she has been perpetually quarrelling, has (though living himself a hard and lonely life,) for many years spent most of his income in providing for aged Priest, Père Silas, his former teacher; and for a cross-grained old woman, who years before, when rich, had been the cause of blighting his happiness for life : : an "But in short, Monsieur, now I think of it, you must live somewhere. Do tell me where; and what establishment of servants do you keep?' With a fearful projection of the under lip, implying an impetus of scorn the most decided, he broke out,-'Je vis dans un trou! Miss,-a cavern where you would not put your dainty nose. I inhabit a den, Once, with base shame of speaking the whole truth, I talked about my study in that college: know, now, that this 'study is my whole abode; my chamber is there and my gal-(mimicking my voice) they number ten; les voilà!' drawing-room. As for my establishment of servants," Villette possesses, in an equal degree, the leading characteristics of Jane Eyre and Shirley, From correct and deep appreciation of nature losing nothing moreover in sentiment or execu- will ever arise keen perception of the true and tion from the three years which the author has false in art, especially when joined as in our author judiciously allowed to elapse since the publication with thorough independence and hearty contempt of the latter, and being utterly free from anything for the merely proper and "respectable." either in plot or character to which the most the following description of a great picture prudish could object. The author's peculiar indi-lery accords with feelings which we have hardly he grimly spread, close under my eyes, his ten fingers. I viduality colours them all; her spirit breathes everywhere, and this unavoidably takes away from their variety; for that intense self insight which enables her to reveal the hidden springs of human life, necessarily makes all her delineations of character and action only translations, as it were, from her own spiritual history. One fea dared to express even to ourselves. How just as scarce as an original and good book; nor did I, in And black my boots,' pursued he, savagely. I brush my paletot.' "No, Monsieur, it is too plain; you never do that,' was my parenthesis. Je fais mon lit et mon ménage; I seek my dinner in a restaurant; my supper takes care of itself; I pass my days laborious and loveless; nights long and lonely; I am ferocious, and bearded, and monkish; and nothing now living in this world loves me, except some old hearts worn like my own, and some few beings, impoverished, suffering, poor in "Hein? muttered he again, "I liked it much, Monsieur; with the steps ascending to the door, the grey flags in front, the nodding trees behindreal trees, not shrubs-trees, dark, high, and of old growth. And the Boudoir-Oratoire,-you should make that room your study; it is so quiet and solemn.' "I see you have entered into my secrets,' said he, but how was it done?" So I told him how--the commission on which I had been sent, the storm which had detained me, the abruptness of the lady, the kindness of the priest. As I sat waiting for the rain to cease, Pere Silas whiled away the time with a story,' I said. "A story! What story? Père Silas is no romancist' "Shall I tell Monsieur the tale? Yes, begin at the beginning. Let me hear some of Miss Lucy's French-her best or her worst-I don't much care which: let us have a good poignée of barbarisms, and a bounteous dose of the insular accent.' "Monsieur is not going to be gratified by a tale of ambitious proportions, and the spectacle of the narrator sticking fast in the midst. But I will tell him the title-'The Priest's Pupil.' "But,' said he, the swarthy flush again dyeing his dark cheek, the good old father could not have chosen a worse subject; it is his weak point. But what of The Priest's Pupil?' Oh! many things.'-'You may as well define what things-Imean to know.'-' There was the pupil s youth, the pupil's manhood-his avarice, his ingratitude, his implacability, his inconstancy. Such a bad pupil, Monsieur!-so thankless, cold hearted, unchivalrous, unforgiving!' "Et puis?' said he, taking a cigar. "Et puis, I pursued, he underwent calamities which one did not pity-bore them in a spirit one did not admireendured wrongs for which one felt no sympathy- finally, took the unchristian revenge of heaping coals of fire on his adversary's head, You have not told me all,' said he.-'Nearly all, I think; I have indicated the heads of Pere Silas s chapters. You have forgotten one-that which touched on the pupil's lack of affection-on his hard, cold, monkish heart.'-True; I remember now. Pere Silas did say that his vocation was almost that of a priest that his life was considered consecrated "By what bonds, or duties?' "By the ties of the past and the charities of the present." "You have then the whole situation?'-'I have now told Monsieur all that was told me.' Some meditative minutes past. "Now, Mademoiselle Lucy, look at me, and with that truth which I believe you never knowingly violate, answer me one question. Raise your eyes; rest them on mine;" have no hesitation; fear not to trust me,-I am a man to be trusted.' "I raised my eyes. "Knowing me thoroughly, now; all my antecedents, all my responsibilities, having long known my faults, can you and I still be friends?'-'If Monsieur wants to have a friend in me, I shall be glad to have a friend in him.' "But a close friend, I mean-intimate and real-kindred in all but blood? Will Miss Lucy be the sister of a very poor, fettered, burdened, encumbered man?' "I could not answer him in words, yet I suppose I did answer him; he took my hand, which found shelter in the comfort of his. His friendship was not a doubtful, wavering benefit--a cold distant hope-a sentiment so brittle as not to bear the weight of a finger: I at once felt (or thought I felt) its support like that of some rock." Ethnology: How are the Varieties of the Human Race to be accounted for? By Samuel Ogden. THE Pamphlet before us is another proof that literary pursuits and scientific research are not incompatible with the more matter-of-fact avocations of trade and commerce. The author, a Manchester merchant, has found time, amid the duties of the counting house, to push his enquiries into one of the most abstruse branches of science—and he now gives to the world, in very unpretending form, the conclusions which he has arrived at on the subject. 66 The "vexed question" as to whether the different varieties of the human species are referrible to a common origin-whether in fact we are "descended from one or many Adams"-is discussed with considerable ingenuity, and equal candour; and Mr. Ogden concludes that a plurality of parentage" is not needed to account for the "startling contrasts" in "bodily conformation" manifest "in the three great families of the human race." Although that theory is not countenanced by any direct declaration in the Mosaic narrative, yet it has been held to be by no means irreconcilable with it. We all know the fiery ordeal that other kindred sciences have had to pass through. We all remember how geological theories were denounced as atheistica and irreligious; yet, after all, events proved that it was only the dearth of facts that occasioned the misunderstanding. Religion and common sense will never be really at issue; and science, when the strongest corroboration of revealed Truth. honestly and thoroughly investigated, will prove Mr. Ogden is satisfied to apply the same interpretation to the more difficult as to the simplest teachings of Nature, and is content to deal with facts as they present themselves to him, not fearing that Truth, in any case, will prove a traitor to herself. We will, however, let him speak for himself:Perhaps in the whole science of Ethnology no point has been so keenly discussed as the causes of this wide dissimilarity in the three great families of the human race. If we assume a plurality of origin, and regard the inhabitants of each section of the earth's surface as indigenous to the soil;—if we consider them as specific in their character, and wholly independent in their origin, then that beauty of form and feature which even the unrivalled art of Greece (when seeking to seize and trace its high ideal) could never embody or surpass, if contrasted with the uncouth figure and structure of the sombre sons of tropical Africa, would no longer puzzle us to account for so repulsive a proof of degeneracy. We should not then ask how isolated portions of the globe had first been peopled;-or whence they came;-or at what youthful period in the history of their kind they became thus strangely separated: no trace of relation; no record or custom; neither language, religion, or laws persisting, to indicate theyhave ever been more nearly connected with the great family to which they belong. Those who place implicit faith in the literal meaning and correctness of the Mosaic record will maintain that Eve was indeed "the mother of all living," and they will consequently seek to explain these changes by a reference to the operation of external agencies; to climate, habit, locality, food, and temperature. If the evidence of this influence be clear and conclusive, we may readily embrace the opinion that all mankind have sprung from one pair,- and no longer doubt that the Ethiopian can change his sable garb. We may cease to regard the negrohead as a mutilated cenotaph perpetually commemorating the death of his moral nature. The Caucasian might cease to pride himself that he inherited the permanent type of beauty in his symmetrical form and proportion, But if climate, habit, and food, will thus readily change the whole physical conformation, how is it that no history dates back beyond their origin? It is stated that in a painting from the ruins of Thebes, "conjectured to be of a period early in the times of the Egyptian kings," these varieties are distinctly traced out. Did these varieties spring at once from the parent stock, and have they remained permanently distinct through all subsequent time? If these climatial influences (acting on the tendency to change, constitutioual to the human race) have ultimately caused varieties thus widely differing,how is it that however near we approach the Noachian period these varieties are found equally distinct? External agencies and circumstances had not then had either an extended or a long continued influence. Moreover, these races as though emanating from distinct sources, have descended through ages without intermingling, and remain distinct to the present day. No cases can be quoted of extended and permanent amalgamations of Mongolians with Negros, or of either of these with Caucasians. Mr. Ogden concludes, "on the ground and testimony" stated, that "the evidence is insufficient to support the theory, that climatic influences have caused the structural and complexional diversities of the human family; and, for the reasons cursorily alluded to rather than stated," holds "that the varieties are traceable to a congenital source." If so, "unity of parentage" is preserved even when the "climatic theory" is proved untenable. He winds up his subject with a declaration that will possess some interest for such of our countrymen as are embarked on the stream of emigration, who may now leave our shores with the pleasant conviction, (that is, if their minds are liable," as it has been mildly observed, "to such prejudices,") that neither they nor their progeny will exhibit, under tropical influences, symptoms of retrogression towards the Indian Simiæ, or the African Chimpanzee, nor that a respectable pedigree shall terminate, as some are good enough to say it has commenced, with a chattering monkey or lasci vious baboon." 66 The whole earth (says our author) is still open to the enterprizing and energetic race of Caucasus, without the fear, on entering the intertropical zones, that they will assume the prognathons type of the Ethiopian, and degenerate into a race with woolly hair, flat nose, thick lips, projecting jaws, and stunted stature. The Caucasian will be the Caucasian still, as little changed in his physical con formation as in his moral characteristics. And that this most cultivated and energetic race will ultimately prevail and spread over the whole earth, there seems little reason to doubt. Wherever we turn we may observe the inferior races retiring before the Caucasian. On the colossal Continents of America one tribe follows another to absolute extinction. The same is the case with the Malay tribes in Australia. The death of the last of the aborigines of Van Dieman's Laud is already recorded. In Africa the Arab race, (a branch of the same stock,) has possessed itself of the whole territory north of the Atlas Chain, and in its turn is being expelled by a more energetic and civilized branch of the same great race. In America, Africa, China, and Austra lia, England has "sown the seed of mighty empires." In fine, all that can be regarded as good and great has mainly sprung from the Caucasian race. The Recommendations of the Oxford University Commissioners, with selections from their Report; and a history of the University Subscription Tests, including notices of the University and Collegiate Visitations. By James Heywood, M.P., F.R.S., of Trinity College, Cambridge. London: Longman & Co. dvo, pp. 560. Crime: its amount, causes and remedies. By Frederic Hill, Barrister-at-Law, late Inspector of Prisons. London: Murray. 8vo, pp. 444. THESE Volumes, from the importance of their subjects, and the deep study and appreciation of those subjects by their respective authors, are entitled to a more detailed notice than, from the late period at which they came to hand, we can this month give them. valuable matter which they contain, in a future We hope to avail ourselves of the number. The Sexuality of Nature: An Essay purposing to shew that Sex and the Marriage Union are universal principles-fundamental alike in Physics. Physiology, and Psycology. By L. H. Grindon, Author of Figurative Language," &c. London: F. Pitman. pp. 76. AN elaborate title to a still more elaborate essay, upon a subject partly scientific, partly mystical,treated, perhaps, not quite so technically as might | have been desirable. We confess that its perusal has not satisfied us that it is important to mankind whether the "principles" referred to are—or are not-universal in nature. sire to investigate this question for themselves, But all who dewill find much curious matter and erudite illustration in the pamphlet before us. Voices for Progress, and other Poems. By T. F. Ker. London: Houlston & Stoneman. 12mo, pp. 140. ONE of the poeta minores provinciales who occasionally publish their effusions for the printer's benefit, and the gratification of friends. The neatness of the volume before us is only surpassed by the variety of its contents-"The Voice of the Scaffold." "The Song of the Postman," and 'The Mill on Fire," agreeably contrasting with "Young Love," King Scandal," "The Voice of the Cricket," &c. &c. We congratulate the author, who we believe belongs to the family of Caxton, upon having contributed so creditable an evidence of "mind amongst the presses." CORRESPONDENCE. THE PROHIBITORY ORDER. WHILE fully concurring in the view expressed in your last number, that the Poor-Law Board ought not to be opposed on the ground of the demerits of the late order in particular, but as possessing excessive and unconstitutional powers of which this order is merely one instance among many still I think the case you have made out would be strengthened by its being shown how this late order will prove harassing and oppressive in some Unions, however beneficially it may operate in others. Now our Union is a fair representative of a large class. It is a country district, yet the staple is manufactures. Embracing a tract of 7 or 8 miles long by as many wide, it comprises sundry small collections of factories, with their "hands," and a large scattered population of hand-loom weavers, whose struggle to compete with machinery renders their living weekly more precarious and uncertain. Our Board, also is a fair sample of the species; contains some men who would grind the poor on principle, some others who only do so in practice, and a few kindly natured men, who neither speak nor act towards poverty as if it were ne: cessarily a crime. Nearly all are large ratepayers millowners, farmers, shopkeepers, and so forth; -shrewd practical men for the most part-with one or two exceptions in the shape of ex-officio Guardians-flowers of the magistracy-pompous men, whose faults (if they have any) are, a tendency to look down on common people," and an occasional proneness to those "strange fantastic tricks" which are proverbially attendant on " little brief authorities”—and never more so than when centralised and irresponsible.-Such then, briefly is our state and condition: and the guardians (for us, the ratepayers) unanimously declare that this order, whatever it may be elsewhere, will be vexatious to themselves and harsh to the poor in our union, and in unions similarly circumstanced. Stress is laid on the fact that it is no new thing, but has been carried out in 500 unions, and been a standing order generally for a dozen years or more. But if exact similarity in the working of the Poor Law be necessary throughout England, then the Board have been guilty of unjust negligence in the exemption hitherto enjoyed by these 100 unions; while, if such similarity be not essential, the precedent is good for nothing, and the case of each union stands on its own bottom. Why, then, are these 100 unions, hitherto left like Punch's "Unprotected female" to their own discretion, to be now suddenly subjected to these stringent regulations? As suggestions they might be useful; but as binding laws they are unjustifiable, unless it be shewn that local powers, hitherto enjoyed, have been abused. But I have yet to learn that these 100 Boards have heretofore administered, or are now administering the Poor Law with more expense to the public, or less benefit to the poor than is the case elsewhere. And if so, some may be so impolitic as to infer that these Guardians, having for 12 years done as well with their own discretion, as the others with the discretion (or indiscretion) of the London Board, said London Board might be advantageously dispensed with altogether! mines, how much more easily would this be done! Supposing, then, that the "order" were of a generally beneficial character, there was still no necessity for its issue. Turning, however, to the articles of the order, we shall see not only that it is not necessary, but that it must be injurious. One of the chief points insisted on in this proArticle 1, providing that relief shall be given to hibitory order is (Art. 5) that "No relief shall be the aged and infirm one-third in kind, and to the given to any able-bodied male person, while he is able-bodied one-half in kind, has been modified in employed for wages or other hire or remunerathe amended order, the clause about "relief in tion by any person." Now we all know that this kind to the aged and infirm" being rescinded, as regulation was, at first, adopted under the New "it is found that they are plentifully provided Poor Law, to remedy a certain well known evil with broken victuals by their richer neighbours." in agricultural districts, where the farmer-guarA slight alteration, but a very significant one. dians were in the habit of giving low wages to Did, then, the "aged and infirm," in the 500 for- their labourers, and making them up out of the tunate unions, get no such broken victuals? or is rates which the whole community paid! For this a new discovery? The change shews either such unions this rule is well enough. But apforgetfulness of an important precedent, or unac-plied to towns or rural manufacturing districts it countable ignorance of what is now stated as a well known fact. But the fact is, that the ablebodied get even more broken victuals than the sick and the aged, for the very simple reason that they are better able to go to the homes of the donors for it, a very essential item in the arrangement, since the charitable of the present day are not (I suppose from a praiseworthy dislike of ostentation) given to carrying cold potatoes and broken meat about with them in their visitations! It is argued, however, that this relieving in kind will prevent fraud and deception; that money relief is often spent in drink, while relief in kind could not be so disposed of. Admitting the sad truth of the former assertion, is the latter equally true? No! it is well known that when soup-kitchens were established, many of the tickets were got by persons who would have turned up their noses at such fare, rich and good though indeed it was, but who exchanged their tickets for gin at the low eating-houses, where such barter was found a cheap and profitable way of supplying the public with good and wholesome food! It is notorious too, that now when bread and meal or scraps of meat, are given to the cadgers, they generally sell it for keeping pigs, in exchange for drink; and when not broken scraps, odds and ends, but good entire victuals are given in relief, as this order deter may be inappropriate and mischievous. In these Force is unavailable in such cases; the guardians do this, as far as they can, but we all know that such changes are very gradual; the population of a whole district can't change in a day or a year the employment and the habits which have prevailed for generations. Many years must pass, more houses and factories gradually spring upbefore there would be work for all, if all were willing, and during the whole process of change, which the clinging prejudices of the poor render still more slow and difficult, relief is continually necessary in aid of insufficient earnings. In these matters, no two districts are alike; the difficulties experienced here may be, and are unknown in some places; but that only the more forcibly shows the necessity of leaving to men practically acquainted with the pursuits and requirements of their various localities full discretion on such points, instead of fettering manufacturing, seaport, colliery, and many other different populations, with a regulation framed to check one acknowledged evil in agricultural unions. Little need be said upon the only other important article, which directs the Guardians to find work for all paupers while in receipt of relief,since, compared with the two already discussed, this article has created little strong feeling either way. Indeed, the principle of productive labour for paupers, so ably advocated in your columns, is, I am firmly persuaded, sound and practicable. If certain men, either because they can't get work or won't do it, claim to live on what others, often nearly as poor as themselves, have produced, surely the common-sense plan is, to lessen this burden as much as possible, by setting them to produce their own living as far as they can; thus giving at once, the boon most desired by the unfortunate, and the natural test for the idle. But, however just and expedient this may be, the principle is by no means universally admitted, and therefore should be a subject for careful and judicious experiment, rather than for crude and forcible legislation. Its practical application, too, will be more or less difficult at different times and in different districts. To enforce it at once in all,—even if in a few months it were not contradicted, which past experience of Poor Law Orders leads us to expect,-might give great trouble and cause much expense. Now, these three points, with a fine family of exceptions," and a generous proviso, That in doubtful cases the Guardians will be held secure until the matter has been referred to and decided by the Commissioners, constitute the amended "Prohibitory Order." Its inapplicability as a general law I have shewn: Relief in kind may be well in large towns; refusal to assist insufficient earnings may be good, on the contrary, in farming unions; employment of paupers in productive labour may be advisable, when Guardians and ratepayers are able and willing to make the experiment. Let such details be left to the Local Boards; to enforce them all at once, by an authoritative order, evinces a power of control, equally dangerous and unconstitutional. In conclusion, I would urge on all Boards of Guardians, whether they find this order practicable or not, the necessity of helping in the movement for greatly diminishing the powers of the Commission. If this order do not harass them, the same power which thereby now controls us, may soon in other ways interfere as oppressively with them; while, if they wait till they themselves are directly injured to join in defending our common freedom, they may then find too late, that by their present apathy they have lost not only our sympathy, but their own power of resistance. A RATEPAYER IN A COUNTRY UNION. ADVERTISEMENTS. A CARD-DOUGLAS AND BAIRD, of Edinburgh, 13, New Market Chambers, Cross Street, Manchester. |