From Chambers' Journal. CAPABILITIES. which comes to nothing because it lights in stony places, while only what chances to fall on good ground fructifies. And there is another thing to be considered. The most powerful minds are more or less dependent upon things external to them, in order to be roused into due activity. Such a mind droops like the banner by the flagstaff, till the wind of occasion unfurls it. It may pine, and chafe, and wear itself out in vain re Ir has often been a question whether great men are the producers or the produced of great crises. We see a Cromwell live for forty years a quiet country-town life, till at length a national convulsion arising, he, being strongly interested in the views of one of the parties, dashes forward, and, before passing fifty, has all but the crown of Eng-grets and ennui, like the prisoned huntsman, or, in land upon his head. Again, we see a French sous-lieutenant of artillery plunging into his country's history at a time of similar confusion, and making himself the most formidable sovereign upon earth before he is thirty-five. If we were to limit our regard to such facts as these, we should be disposed at once to conclude, that a man of powerful character is nothing, unless an opportunity arise for his entering upon a grand career. But, on the other hand, we often see a powerful mind arise in times comparatively tranquil, and work great marvels, apparently by its own inherent energies. We see at times what seem to be occasions for the coming forward of great men upon the stage, and yet they do not come. We then begin to think that perhaps a Cromwell or a Bonaparte contributes to some great, though indefinable extent, in producing the events to which his appearance at first seemed subordinate. We suspect that the civil wars of England, and the French revolution, would not have taken the turn they did, but for the potent and overmastering influence of these individual actors. Thus we are prevented from coming to a decision on the point. And, in fact, this is a question which stands unsettled amongst thinking men until the present hour. The question, as it appears to me, can never be definitely settled on one side or the other; for neither view is wholly true. But I believe that the truth preponderates in favor of the argument which considers men as requiring circumstances to evoke their mental powers. Strong, active, and original minds will ever tell to some degree upon their circumstances, be these as impassible as they may; but they cannot tell to a great degree, unless at a time when the social elements are in some confusion. And this is simply because, let a single mind be ever so powerful, the fabric of society and its conventionalities is, in ordinary circumstances, stronger still, so that no one can do more than merely modify it in some slight degree, or prepare the way for future operations whereby it may be affected. If the matter be narrowly examined, it will always be found that, where an occasion for the appearance of a great leader passed over without any one coming forward, the necessary stir of the social elements was wanting. The vis inertia of the mass is what all single minds find fatal to them, when they attempt to do great things with their fellow-creatures. Hence a Luther, rising in the twelfth century, when the Romish church was at its highest pitch of power, would have only broken his head against its walls. As an obscure heretic, his name would have been forgotten in a few years. Such minds as his must, in the course of nature, have arisen at various periods among the conventual brotherhoods; but they would never become distinguished for more than a somewhat latitudinarian way of dealing with the authority of the prior, or perhaps an occasional fractiousness at the elections of sacristans. It is like the wind-sown seed, much of the desperation of forced idleness, or unworthy occupation, waste itself upon frivolities idler than idleness itself. But still it will be for the most part a lost mind, unless circumstances shall arise capable of raising it to its full force, and eliciting all its powers. Here a consideration occurs, calling for some collateral remark. We are apt, at a tranquil period, to pity the men who have to fight through civil broils such as those in which Spain has for some years been engaged. In reality, these men are happier than we think them. They have the pleasure of feeling their faculties continually at the full stretch. Victorious or defeated, hunting or hunted, they are thoroughly engrossed in the passing day; not a moment for the torture of excessive ease. Providence is kind to the men who undertake dangerous enterprises. Even when death comes to them-no matter how dreadful his shape-he is met in a paroxysm of mental activity, which entirely disarms him of his terrors. It follows from these considerations, that there must, at all but extraordinary times, be a vast amount of latent capability in society. Gray's musings on the Cromwells and Miltons of the village are a truth, though extremely stated. Men of all conditions do grow and die in obscurity, who, in suitable circumstances, might have attained to the temple which shines afar. The hearts of Roman mothers beat an unnoted lifetime in dim parlors. Souls of fire miss their hour, and languish into ashes. Is not this conformable to what all men feel in their own case? Who is there that has not thought, over and over again, what else he could have done, what else he could have been? Vanity, indeed, may fool us here, and selftenderness be too ready to look upon the misspending of years as anything but our own fault. Let us look, then, to each other. Does almost any one that we know appear to do or to be all that he might? How far from it! Regard for a moment the manner in which a vast proportion of those who, from independency of fortune and from education, are able to do most good in the world, spend their time, and say if there be not an immense proportion of the capability of mankind undeveloped. The fact is, the bond of union among men is also the bond of restraint. We are committed not to alarm or distress each other by extraordinary displays of intellect or emotion. There are more hostages to fortune that we shall not do anything great, than those which having children constitutes. Many struggle for a while against the repressive influences, but at length yield to the powerful temptations to nonentity. The social despotism presents the fêtes with which it seeks to solace and beguile its victims; and he who began to put on his armor for the righting of many wrongs, is soon content to smile with those who smile. Thus daily do generations ripe and rot, life unenjoyed, the great mission unperformed. Do angels ever weep? If they do, what a subject for their tears in the multitude of young souls who come in the first faith of nature to grapple at the | A happy or a mournful thing for thee? Most passionate longing to o'erreach the clay- And yet, not all in vain! Do not these cravings in the haunted breast A home of such deep peace As eye ne'er saw, nor hath it entered e'er tear And bid all sorrows cease! Is not one great cause of the dissatisfaction which rests on the close of most lives just this sense of having all the time made no right or full use of the faculties bestowed upon us? The inner and the true man pent up, concealed from every eye, or only giving occasional glimpses of itself in whimsical tastes and oddities-uneasy movements of undeveloped tendency-we walk through a masque called life, acting up to a character which we have adopted, or which has been imposed upon us, doing nothing from the heart, "goring" our best thoughts to make them lie still. Pitiable parade! The end comes, and finds us despairing over precious years lost beyond recovery, and Then strive, O, still strive thou which, were they recovered, we would again lose. To keep, amid life's weary wearing din, And, if such be a common case, can we wonder at Polished and pure the immortal gem withinthe slow advance of public or national improve-So thou ere long that perfect rest shall win ment? There must be a design with regard to highly-endowed natures, that they are to bear upon all around them with such intellectual and moral force as they possess, and thus be continually working on for the general good. This we might consider as a sort of pabulum requisite for That the public health-something analogous to air or food with respect to the bodily system. But is this moral necessary of life diffused as it ought to be? Let the endless misdirections and repressions of human capability answer the question. From the Tribune. SATURDAY NIGHT THOUGHTS. BY MRS. E. J. EAMES. THE six days' work is done. The harsh realities, the tough turmoils, Sit thou in Sabbath peace; From care a short release. Wipe from thy dusty brow So closely that the struggling spirit-wings Still on thee, on thee yet The spirit of despondency is strong; With Unrealized below. And now o'erwearied one, thy last waking thoughts give thanks to Heaven to earth's toiling children He has given Ask Him to lift thy heart PARAGUAY.-A letter which we have seen states that, on a stranger presenting himself at the frontiers, numerous interrogations are made as to his occupation, religion, and opinions. He is expressly told that he must neither speak of the form of his own government, nor make any remarks upon that which he finds established, and that if he indulge in any conversation that can be considered political, he will be sent out of the country under an escort of Indians. One of the singular circumstances attendant upon the dictator's death, has been the marriage of a large portion of the population previously living together on very equivocal terms. During his life no one was permitted to marry without his special permission, which was not very easily obtained. Fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, nay even the fourth generation, as the female is marriageable at the age of twelve, have availed themselves on the same day of the benediction of the priest, and the holy bonds of wedlock have been entered into by whole villages. The society at Assumption is described as singular, in consequence of the severity with which ladies were treated who decked themselves with much finery. Their dress is formed of one single large vestment, with a belt round the waist. At the tertullas, after dancing, as the houses are scarcely furnished, it is usual for the lady to seat herself on her partner's knee; but no inference is to be drawn from this that the morals are more lax than in other countries; custom and habit reconcile us to strange circumstances.—Polytechnic. LITTELL'S LIVING AGE.-No. 59.-28 JUNE, 1845. CORRESPONDENCE. ONE of the most important matters in the education of the American people, is a proper selection of the works of British writers, for re-publication in this country. A great publishing house which should be guided by good taste and sound principle in this business, would perform an invaluable public service. We have often mourned over the want of discrimination which our publishers have shown, and regretted that there should be no apparent sense of the responsibility which is incurred by those who introduce to our families these silent friends, which are to have so much effect upon them, for good or for evil. a Tait's Magazine, Christian Remembrancer, 66 66 North Brit. Review, . 614 627 at liberty to adopt any style of binding they may tasius. With these feelings, we think it our duty to do It is graphic, witty, scholar-like and poetical, what we can to bring before our readers again, word, the genial commentary of a man of educafree from egotism, yet full of individuality—in a course of books which is superintended by a gentle- tion, refinement and enthusiasm, as he wandered man who has given already good proof of his fitness over that mysterious region so eloquent in all its for the task, so far as good sense and good taste are associations, alike to Christian, poet and philoso concerned. It does not appear that anything fur-pher. Of the Amber Witch and Undine, it is unther is intended in this course than to supply choice amusement, and to cultivate a refined taste for literature. The following notice is copied from the New York Evening Post; and since it was written we have received another number-The Dramatic Literature of the Age of Elizabeth, by William Hazlitt. necessary to speak. Each had taken its rank as a standard exemplar of its class, before the present. elegant reprints. These were much wanted, as the existing editions were either disposed of or executed in a manner that rendered them unworthy of preservation. Leigh Hunt's Imagination and Fancy followed next. This is one of those delightful productions of which we can never weary. It is a poet's talk of his own art and its great professors. WILEY AND PUTNAM'S LIBRARY OF CHOICE The effect of such reading is like that of the LITERATURE. We infer from the regularity with best society, awakening and satisfactory. In this. which this series of works is issued, that the volume are collected some of the choicest gems tasteful enterprise of the publishers is generally from the whole range of English poetry-intersustained by the community. The plan of this spersed with delicious criticism, anecdote, speculibrary is admirably adapted to the times, as well lation and glowing commentary. Hunt is one of as to the higher demands of readers. It combines the most spontaneous and cordial writers of the economy with elegance, and convenience with day. He makes us relish anew the good things sterling value. The volumes are beautifully both of literature and life by his own sincere and printed and bound in paper covers-a mode long hearty appreciation of them. He can be sensible prevalent in France, which renders books more without losing his cheerfulness, and exhibit very portable, and, at the same time, leaves purchasers positive tastes without a particle of dogmatism.. 37 LIX. LIVING AGE. VOL. V. We are gratified to perceive that his "Indicator" and "Seer" will be republished in the Library. American readers who have yet to make the acquaintance of these delightful essays, have a rare treat in prospect. They will find them the most agreeable papers that have appeared, in their peculiar vein, since the days of Steele; and acknowledge that the author fully redeems the promise of his title-page and gives us "Common Places Refreshed." "Lady Willoughby's Diary" has charmed every one for its simplicity, quaintness and nature. It represents, with a truly Flemish fidelity, the two extremes of public and private life, of civil war and domestic seclusion; the thoughts of a true woman absorbed in her home duties, and the cares of a statesman involved in the turmoil of political dissensions. We have read of the times portrayed both in novels and histories, but the glimpse afforded by the unpretending pages of this little diary, has brought us infinitely nearer the scenes and the persons of that extraordinary era, by intimately associating them with the person and feelings of an affectionate and pious woman, such as we have known and loved. Such books make us familiar with the past, not merely cognizant of it. There is the same difference between them and statelier records, as between Macready's Coriolanus and Placide's Grandfather Whitehead. Another capital feature in this series of books, is the bringing out of Hazlitt's writings in a style such as their merits deserve. William Hazlitt possessed one of the acutest minds of his day. He lived upon literature and art. He was one of those men who seem born to make others appreciate genius. His perceptions were singularly keen and observant, and his powers of reflection of a high order. In many respects he is an excellent guide to truth, setting an example by his vigorous independence of thought, his earnestness of sympathy, and refined definitions of artistic excellence and personal character. At the same time he was a man of strong prejudices and perverted feelings. He is not to be implicitly followed, but to be read with constant discrimination. In his "Table-Talk," which forms two numbers of the " Library," there are innumerable attractive reminiscences of books and men, and suggestions of rare value both for the writer, the artist and the man who desires to improve the advantages which nature bestows. We know of few writers who, with all his defects, are so alive as Hazlitt. He had that mental activity which is contagious, and has done no little good by setting minds of more equanimity upon the track of progress. It appears this collection of essays is to be followed by his other works. They will be a valuable accession to the current literature of the day. It is obvious, from this hasty survey, that there are two particulars in which these books deserve the name of "Choice Literature;" and which honorably distinguish them from the mass of reprints that has deluged the land with cheap reading. They contain ideas, and they have a style. The former will furnish the hungry inind, and the latter will refine the crude taste, so that an actual benefit, independent of the diversion attending such reading, will certainly accrue. We have dwelt at unusual length upon this series of books, because we regard their appearance and popularity as the best sign of the times, as far as literasture is concerned, which we can now discern. The apathy of our publishers, in regard to all compositions offered them, except fiction, and that of the most vapid kind; the apparent success of the cheap system, and the "angels' visits" of works of real merit, seemed to indicate a fatal lapse of wholesome taste. The "Library of Choice Literature" was started on a different principle. It appealed to good sense and the love of beauty, rather than to a morbid appetite for excitement. We therefore regard the favorable reception it has met with, as evidence that the public, in the end, will, after trying all things, hold fast that which is good. We shall look for the American series, advertised by the publishers, with great interest. While we have criticism like that which occasionally redeems our periodical literature, such a prose poet as Hawthorne, such a speculative essayist as Emerson, such a brilliant tale writer as Willis, to say nothing of adepts in other departments, surely there is no difficulty in making a very respectable American Library of Choice Literature. "THE CRESCENT AND THE CROSS; OR, RoMANCES AND REALITIES OF EASTERN TRAVEL," by Elisha Warburton, is the name of the book which makes its appearance to-day in this series. We have already given some extracts, and propose hereafter to give more. It is a book which, we foresee, the public will devour eagerly first, and hear what the critics have got to say afterwards. No one who takes up the Crescent and the Cross can readily lay it down. It runs over with enthusiasm, and is brilliant and sparkling on every page. It will be another decided hit for "the series." Mr. Warburton's book embraces a wider field of observation than Eōthen, to which it bears a striking resemblance in style and execution. We think it, indeed, a more valuable book than Eōthen, not so brilliant, but more accurate and instructive. No. 6 of the AMERICAN REVIEW; a whig journal From the same publishers we have received of Politics, Literature, Art and Science. BOOKS RECEIVED. Nos. 3 and 4 of DR. LARDNER'S LECTURES ON SCIENCE AND ART, have been published by Messrs. Greely & McElrath, New York. Subjects: The Tides; Light; The Major Planets; Reflection of Light; Prospects of Steam Navigation; The Barometer; The Moon; Heat; Atlantic Steam Question; Galvanism. We cannot too often recommend this work to our readers of all ages; but it is especially important for young people to have a general, even if it be a superficial knowledge, of these matters. Knowing a little, they will be always learning more. The same publishers sent us a specimen No. of the Semi-Weekly TRIBUNE, with which we were very much pleased. The paper and printing were both good, and there was a large amount of good matter. There was a Stroll through the Philadelphia Market, by John S. Skinner, which very much pleased us. lively and natural style of this gentleman is refreshing, and will give life to his FARMER'S LIBRARY, which Messrs. Greely & McElrath are about to publish. The earnest admiration with which he speaks of the Philadelphia butter, creates a feeling in our heart akin to that with which the Israelites in the desert remembered the flesh-pots of Egypt! The From Tait's Magazine-["Liberal" in Politics and Religion.] ENGLAND, IRELAND AND AMERICA. We cannot profess any very lively sympathy with those Tory discontents, of which, on several recent occasions, Mr. D'Israeli has been the organ. Nor, much as we admire, and in a certain sense enjoy, the very brilliant and, in the main, just attacks of that extremely clever gentleman on the present premier, can we feel that he is the man to administer, with the best moral effect, the castigation due to political versatility. Those who helped to" organize" the "grand hypocrisy," and to enthrone the "dynasty of deception," have scarcely a right to complain of the result. They have themselves to thank for it. They might and ought to have known their man. Those politicians who, seven years ago, or five years ago, believed that Sir Robert Peel would make an honest Tory minister, believed without evidence and against evidence. readers, by dismissing the matter thus lightly. There is, in every great public act or measure, however complicated by conflicting principles and tendencies, a preponderant on-the-whole right or wrong, which it is the business of the public journalist to ascertain and expound, according to the best of his ability. On a question of this magnitude and seriousness-involving, as it does, considerations of first-rate moment with regard to the contentment and pacification of Ireland, and the future course of our ecclesiastical legislation-we feel bound both to have a distinct opinion, and to give it distinct expression. Practically, substantially, and on the whole, then, this Maynooth Endowment bill seems to us with most serious faults of detail and even of principle, which must entirely preclude many sincere Liberals from giving it an active support-a measure of justice to Ireland; a blow at sectarian ascendency; a move towards religious equality; an attempt, partial, indeed, in degree, and highly objectionable in mode-at rectifying the most outrageous injustice that ever disgraced the ecclesiastical legislation of a civilized community. As such, we must wish it well. And while we feel the difficulty of supporting a measure containing so much that every religious Liberal must strenuously disapprove, and have all respect for those Liberals who deem themselves bound to oppose it, we should deeply regret the success of the opposition. So far from fixing on this present session of 1845 to begin complaining of hypocrisy, deception, and imposture, we rejoice rather to see how rapidly hypocrisy is unmasking, and the reign of imposture drawing to a close. Sir Robert Peel was never less open to the charge of deception than at this moment. Instead of deceiving, he is undeceiving the world with all possible despatch and completeness. He is demolishing, with steady and unsparing hand, the false pretences by which he and his party climbed into power, and cutting That this measure is, in many grave respects, a the ground from under the feet of any public man highly disagreeable one to us, it must be needless who shall ever again dream of getting together a to assure our readers. State endowment of a great party without a great principle. He is lay-particular form of religious belief, a new ecclesiing bare, at every point, the great hoax-tearing to rags and tatters the enormous make-believe. He is the general spiking his own guns, the conjuror letting us into the secret of his tricks. "Protection" and "Protestantism," it is clear, will soon cease to vex mankind. The extraordinary cross and confusion of parties, both in and out of parliament, which has been produced by the great measure of the past monththe Maynooth Endowment Bill-aptly represent the medley of good and evil contained in the bill itself. The matter is one of which it is hard to speak, except in contradictions and antitheses, after the fashion of Master Touchstone. In respect of itself, that it is a bill for endowing Irish Catholic doctors in divinity, out of the pockets of English and Scottish Protestant laymen, it is naught in respect that it is a bill for conciliating one third of the British empire, it is a good bill. In respect that it has a spice of "restitution" in it, we like it very well: in respect that the restitution is made in the shape of a new robbery from those who have never touched the plunder, and have therefore nothing to restore, it is a very vile bill. In respect that it is a bill for education, it pleaseth us well in respect that the education is to be of the exclusive and sectarian sort, it is odious. As it is an attack on the Protestant ascendency, it fits our humor well: but as it is "Popish," it goes much against our stomach. It is not wonderful that this bill has set Great Britain together by the ears, Tory against Tory, Liberal against Liberal-produced the oddest dislocations of party, and the oddest combinations. There has not been a political question agitated in our time on which there is so much to be said on both sides." But we cannot satisfy either ourselves or our astical impost, taxation of the public in favor of the creed of a sect, the salarying of theologians out of the consolidated fund-nothing can possibly be worse, except that state of things of which this scheme is a slight corrective. But we cannot overlook the "circumstances" which turn this wrong into a sort of right. That gigantic iniquity, the Church of England in Ireland, is a circumstance, which, in our apprehension, completely forbids, so long as it continues to exist, the application of the principle on which we would otherwise deal with the matter. We confess we have no heart to introduce the "voluntary principle" into this business. It is not a case for the voluntary principle. If voluntaryism is to be the rule of our ecclesiastical legislation, make it the rule-Irish Catholics have no sort of objection. But voluntaryism is not the rule. Do what we will, we cannot yet get it made the rule. Not voluntaryism, but state endowment is the rule of the ecclesiastical polity of Great Britain; and, this being so, it is hard that the case of the poorest, and most oppressed and insulted body of religionists in the empire should be made an exception. Do-the-boys Hall is scarcely the fittest field for a first experiment in ecclesiastical economy and laissez-faire. We must begin somewhere else the war against state endowment of theological creeds. We should be indeed delighted, if we could stop this Maynooth grant, in the pure, unaided strength of the voluntary principle; for, were the principle strong enough for that, it would be strong enough for some other things of considerably more practical moment. But we cannot. Voluntaryism has, really and practically, no voice in the matter. The protestations of voluntaryism are lost and drowned in the clamors of "No-Popery" and "Protestant Ascendency." The strength of the |
