_The London Quarterly Review, No. CVII. for July, 1835. American
Edition, Vol. III, No. 1._
Article I.--1. "Narrative of a Second Voyage in search of a North-West
Passage, and of a Residence in the Arctic Regions, during the Years
1829-30-31-32-33. By Sir John Ross, C. B., K. S. A., K. C. S., &c. &c.
Captain in the Royal Navy, London: 1835, 4to. pp. 740."
2. "The Late Voyage of Captain Sir John Ross, R. N. to the Arctic
Regions, for the Discovery of a North-West Passage; performed in the
Years 1829-30-31-32-33. From authentic information, and original
documents, transmitted by William Light, Purser's Steward to the
Expedition. By Robert Huish, author of the 'Memoirs of the Princess
Charlotte,' 'Treatise on Bees,' &c. &c. London: 1835, 8vo. pp. 760."
3. "Report from a Select Committee of the House of Commons, on the
Expedition to the Arctic Seas, commanded by Captain John Ross, R. N.
1834."
This is, in many respects, a clever and judicious Review, although
abounding with much vulgar abuse of Captain Ross, whom it accuses, not
only of gross ignorance and misrepresentation, but of several minor
indecorums, such for example, as "the opening of a subscription shop
in Regent Street--the sending of a set of fellows, usually called
trampers, but who call themselves agents, to knock at every
gentleman's door, in town and country, not humbly to solicit, but with
pertinacious importunity, almost to force subscriptions--the getting
up of Vauxhall and panoramic exhibitions, and some other circumstances
not worth detailing." It hints something also, of the Captain's having
procured the literary aid of "a practised embroiderer of periods, one
Dr. M'Culloch." Huish's book is treated with derision, but the
Quarterly cannot resist the temptation of giving additional currency
to a malignant accusation of cruelty, brought by this very man Huish,
against the Captain. The charge is republished in the Review--with a
hint, that it is quite as likely to be true as not. The Article
concludes with a hope, that if the Government should determine upon
another expedition, its direction may be given to Captain James Clarke
Ross, and Back, appointed his second in command--and roundly asserts
that Sir John Ross, C. B., K. S. A., K. C. S., &c. &c., is utterly
incompetent to conduct any enterprise of the kind, to a successful
termination.
Article II. "Journal of Frances Anne Butler (Fanny Kemble,) 2 vols.
Post 8vo. London: 1835."
The tone of this Notice is very similar to that of the Article on the
same subject in the Edinburgh for July--perhaps, upon the whole, not
quite so complimentary. The Reviewer is of opinion, that 'Master
Fanny's' Journal was from an early period, if not from the first line,
intended for publication, and that the entire thing is arranged for
stage-effect. Both these suppositions are highly probable. Indeed for
our own part, we never had a doubt about the matter. The personifier
of Julia, of Nell, and of Lady Macbeth, wished to make it apparent
that she could mingle up in the same page, simplicity, frivolity and
dignity. She has succeeded to a miracle, and we think nothing the
worse of her performance for its premeditation. The critic finds
fault, also, with Fanny's _transparent_ affectation--a charge from
which we have neither the wish, nor the ability to defend her.
Affectation is the Promethean fire of a pretty and intelligent
woman--and provided always the things, the qualities, or manners
affected are not _in se_ disagreeable or odious, it is very seldom
worth any one's while to quarrel with it. As for the _transparent_
part of the accusation, it betrays a want of philosophical acumen.
Affectation, when we cannot see through it, is no longer affectation.
The political fal lal of the fair lady is, of course, made a matter of
high merit by the Quarterly Review. "Her observations," quoth the
critic, "evince a depth of penetration, and a soundness of judgment,
rare in any one, but wonderful in a person of her age and sex." A
chuckle also is elicited, by Fanny's astounding conviction, that
"America will be a monarchy before she (Mrs. Butler) is a skeleton."
Article III. "The Last Essays of Elia." London: 12mo. 1833.
This is an Essay on the Essays of Lamb by one who thoroughly
understands the man. And there are not many men who _do_ thoroughly
comprehend him. Altho' not the greatest among his contemporaries he
was the most original--and his writings are, we feel assured, a true
copy of his individual mind. He was one of those men of infinite
genius, so rarely to be met with, who unite the most exquisite
daintiness and finish of style with a vigorous and dashing _abandon_
of manner. This manner has been called affected--but it was not so.
That his thoughts "were villainously pranked in an array of antique
words and phrases" was a necessary thing. The language of the times of
James and Charles I. was as natural to him as his native air--it was a
portion of his intellect. As a critic, Lamb had no equal, and we are
moreover half inclined to agree with the Quarterly, that there are,
amongst his poetical pieces, some as near perfection in their kind as
any thing in our literature--"specimens of exceeding artifice and
felicity in rhythm, metre, and diction."
Article IV. "History of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries,
illustrated by original documents. By Frederick Von Raumer. Translated
from the German by Lord Francis Egerton, in 2 vols. 8vo. London,
1835."
Frederick Von Raumer, the author of the work here reviewed, is the
same who wrote the 'History of the House of Hohenstauffen,' noticed in
a former number of the Quarterly. The present History is spoken of
{62} in high terms. It is the result of the author's residence in
Paris in 1830, and consists of a series of extracts from MSS. in the
_Bibliothèque Royale_--chiefly the despatches of Ambassadors. Lord
Egerton's translation is favorably mentioned.