_The Westminster Review, No. XLV, for July, 1835. American Edition,
Vol. IV, No. 1. New York: Theodore Foster._
Article I is "Philanthropic Economy; or the Philosophy of Happiness,
practically applied to the Social, Political, and Commercial Relations
of Great Britain. By Mrs. Loudon, Author of 'First Love,' 'Fortune
Hunting,' and 'Dilemmas of Pride.' London: Churton, 1835. 8vo. pp.
312."
Mrs. Loudon's Economy has excited great attention in England, and her
work is highly lauded in the present instance. As an able and
chivalrous champion of the cause of the people, she deserves all the
encomiums which she has received, and we are not in any degree
disposed to pick a quarrel with her Ethics, which, to say the truth,
are as little to the purpose as her political, or if she pleases, her
philanthropic Economy, is most effectually to the point. We have not
seen her entire publication, but merely judge of it from the copious
extracts in the article before us. Her answer to the objections to the
ballot is forcible, and coming as it does from a lady, its value is
quadrupled in our eyes. The Notice of her book concludes as follows.
"It is plain that Mrs. Loudon is a splendid woman, and has, at one
effort, taken her place in line, among the political economists upon
the people's side. She is fortunate too in having fallen upon times
when 'the spread of education is, in fact, rendering the _peaceable_
continuance of abuses impossible.'"
Article II is "Venetian History. Family Library, No. XX--London,
Murray, 1833." A compendious History of Venice, and apparently forced
into the service of the Review "will I, nill I," without any object
farther than the emptying of some writer's portfolio, or common-place
book. It is nevertheless an invaluable paper.
Article III is "Memoirs of John Napier of Merchiston, his Lineage,
Life, and Times, with a History of the Invention of Logarithms. By
Mark Napier, Esq. Blackwood, Edinburgh; Cadell, London, 1834. 4to. pp.
534."
This is a Review of exceeding interest, and evidently from a mind
thoroughly imbued with a love of science. It enters largely into the
subject matter of the book reviewed, and defends Napier from the often
repeated accusation of having derived his principle from the works of
Archimedes, Ditmarsus, and Byrgius. A short account of the
philosopher's treatises on Arithmetic and Algebra, as they appear at
the end of the Memoirs, is given in the conclusion of the Notice. We
perceive that Mr. Napier has here taken occasion to observe that
Horsley, Hutton, Leslie, and Playfair, are mistaken in supposing
Albert Girard the first who made use of the expressions _majores
nihilo_ and _minores nihilo_ in relation to positive and negative
quantities.
Article IV is "An Essay on Musical Intervals, Harmonics, and the
Temperament of the Musical Scale, &c. By W. S. B. Woolhouse, Head
Assistant of the Nautical Almanac Establishment."
This is a short article in which the book under review is condemned
for inaccuracy and misrepresentation. The Essay itself is another
instance of the interest now taken in the mathematics of music.
Article V is "A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Artists: comprising
Painters, Sculptors, Engravers and Architects, from the earliest ages
to the present time. By John Gould--Second Edition, 2 vols. 12mo.
Wilson, Royal Exchange, 1835."
The work in question is spoken of as having been composed--"conceived,
planned, and probably in part executed among lowing herds and
obstinate swine." It is preceded by an historical, biographical, and
professional introduction, apparently of no very great merit. The
Dictionary is called a most laborious, and on the whole a very
successful compilation. "The chief matter of some hundreds of volumes
is condensed into two small duodecimos. As this is all it aims to do,
by this only can it be fairly judged, and not by any standard of
original criticism."
Article VI. "History of Scotland. By Patrick Fraser Tytler, Esq. F. R.
S. E. and F. A. S. Edinburgh. Vols. i-v. 1828-1834."
This critique speaks of Tytler's Scotland as displaying much research,
and considerable skill, as well as impartiality, but the greater part
of the article is taken up in reviewing some of the leading features
in Scottish History.
Article VII.--1. "The Forms of Deeds and Documents in England and
France, compared and exemplified, in a Letter to the Lord Chancellor.
Paris: Galignani. London: Saunders and Benning, 1835."
2. "The Mechanics of Law-making. Intended for the use of Legislators,
and all other persons concerned in the making and understanding of
English Laws. By Arthur Symonds, Esq. London: Churton, 1835."
The authors of the works here reviewed have attempted to unfold, and
to show the worthlessness of, those technical mysteries which have so
long enveloped the science of Law. The "Forms of Deeds, &c." is from
the pen of Mr. Okey. He gives several examples of English and French
Deeds--printing them on opposite pages. The difference in conciseness
is said to be four to one in favor of the French, while in clearness
they admit of no comparison. The greater brevity of the French
documents is attributed to the existence of a Code. "The Mechanics of
Law making" insists upon the necessity of reform in the arrangement,
language, classification, and contents of the British Acts of
Parliament, and in the agency by which the laws are 'prepared, made,
promulgated, superintended, enforced, and amended.' The Review is
brief--but concurs heartily in the necessity alluded to.
Article VIII. 1. "Sur les Créances réclamées de la France par la
Russie au nom du Royaume de Pologne. Paris, 1835."
{60} 2. "On the Russo-Polish Claims on France. (From the periodical
_Le Polonais_, published monthly in Paris, by a member of the Polish
Diet. Number for February 1835.")
3. "A few more words on the Polish question, (_From Le
Polonais_--number for March 1835.")
The author of the work _Sur les Créances_, enters into an examination
of the titles of which the Russian government avails itself "either to
effect a final settlement, or to claim payment of sums which might
ultimately be proved to be due to the kingdom of Poland." The editor
of _Le Polonais_ is of a family to which Poland is indebted for
"several brilliant exploits, not only in the field of battle, but in
the tribute of the National Assembly." His journal is devoted to the
history and literature of Poland--but more especially to its political
interests. The Review enters into some discussion on the Russo-Polish
Claims, and makes it apparent that the policy of Great Britain is
materially involved, in the Russo-French liquidation. "She has
joined"--says the critic--"in refusing to uphold Russia in the
violation of the constitution and nationality of Poland; Lord
Palmerston gave lengthened and clear explanations on this point to
Parliament on the 9th of April, 1833. Tranquilly to stand by, and
witness the Russo-French liquidation, an act which would be equivalent
to a passive acknowledgment on the part of France, of the usurpations
of Russia, would be contrary to the dignity and interest of the
British nation."
Article IX--1. "Thoughts upon the Aristocracy of England. By Isaac
Tompkins, Gent. Fifth Edition. London: Henry Hooper, 1835, pp. 23."
2. "A letter to Isaac Tompkins, Gent., author of the Thoughts upon the
Aristocracy. From Mr. Peter Jenkins. Fifth Edition, with a Postscript.
London: Henry Hooper, 1835, pp. 11."
3. "A letter to Isaac Tompkins, and Peter Jenkins on Primogeniture. By
Timothy Winterbottom. Fourth Edition. London: William Pickering,
1835."
From the specimens of these Pamphlets, given in the Review before us,
we are inclined to think them excessively amusing. Mr. Isaac Tompkins
busies himself with the House of Lords, and Mr. Peter Jenkins gives
the lash to the House of Commons. Mr. T's account of patrician taste
in literature and wit--of courts, courtiers, court-jesters,
buffoonery, &c. are not a little edifying. His book has created a
great sensation. In a note appended to the fourth edition, occur the
following significant remarks. "The Quarterly Review, the organ of the
Aristocratic Church, and of the Lay Aristocracy, has taken the
opportunity of printing the greater part of the work, under pretence
of giving a Review of it. Pretence it plainly is; for there is hardly
one remark added, and not one syllable of censure or objection! Can
any thing more plainly demonstrate that the cause of the Aristocracy
is hateful, even to the very writers who affect to support it? Can any
thing better prove its decline among all educated and sensible men?
Mr. Canning's abhorrence of it is well known, and so is the hatred
with which he was repaid. But in our time, the advocate of
establishments can think of nothing better than giving a very wide
circulation to Mr. J. Tompkins' observations. These Quarterly
Reviewers would not for the world, that these observations were not
generally known." Peter Jenkins concludes his pamphlet with some
remarks on the new liberal government. Winterbottom's letter treats
chiefly of the evils resulting from the accumulation of wealth in a
few hands. "The whole family of Tompkins &c. is good"--says the
Reviewer--"and the public, will be glad to see more of their kin and
kind."
Article X. "The History of Ireland. By Thomas Moore, Esq. In three
volumes. Vol. i. London: Longman & Co. 1835."
This is an excellent and very laudatory notice, of a work which cannot
be too highly commended. The difficulties Mr. Moore has overcome, in
reducing to order a chaotic discordance of materials, with a view to
this History, will, perhaps, never be fully appreciated. It cannot
indeed be asserted that every portion of his subject has been hitherto
uninvestigated, or, that all the questions he has discussed have been
satisfactorily settled; but that, under existing circumstances, such a
book should have been written _at all_, is a matter for
admiration--and that it has been so rationally, so lucidly, and so
critically written, is a fact which cannot fail to elevate its author
immeasurably in the estimation of his friends. The future volumes of
_The History of Ireland_, will be looked for with intense interest. In
them we may expect to find the records of a dark and troubled period.
Moore will speak fearlessly, or we are much mistaken.
Article XI. "A Bill for granting Relief in relation to the Celebration
of Marriages, to certain persons dissenting from the Church of England
and Ireland, 1835."
The Reviewer, here, seems to think that Sir Robert Peel's Bill, with
some little amendment, would meet the case of the Dissenters in the
manner most satisfactory, and, under all circumstances most
convenient. The Dissenters themselves have little to propose, and that
little impracticable.