gives it effect. France has been long undergoing a moral change which is not improvement. M. Comte calls it a moral decomposition, and looks for the remedy in the positive philosophy. The remedy, if found, must be sought for elsewhere. Starting on a higher level of moral and political attainment than any other new community, the Americans have made prodigious advances in wealth and power: but the change in their moral condition has been deterioration. The character 1 3 -1 1 11islation haa journals, to which there is nothing comparable in other countries. The defects of the journals are obvious, and they result from the submission of the journalists to the despotic reaction of public opinion-the charge of venality is absurd. The most important view of the journals is, that they form a perfect mechanism, through which every one who has the ear of the public can act upon its moral condition. The last chapter, pointing to the grand and only offisiant nomady is antitled "Reconciliation of the "This is a work of the deepest interest. The bullet of the French musket that ploughed through Signor Nicolini's hand, when he stood among his countrymen and compatriots on the ramparts of Rome, fighting the battle of freedom and truth, has left him (with all respect to his Roman bravery) to wield, in his pen, a weapon more pointed and powerful than his sword. Happy was it for God and freedom's cause that the Jesuits had not the direction of the ball-they would certainly have billeted it in the Signor's high and ample forehead." "We had scored pages of Nicolini's work for extracting illustration of the character and deeds of, in many respects, the most extraordinary body of men whom the world ever saw; but we transcribe none, saying with Martin Luther, when he was to discourse on music, 'I knew not when to begin, nor when to end." We content ourselves with honestly and earnestly recommending this work. It was a noble sight to see the portly form of Gavazzi, when, standing on an open platform in our city, he launched his thunderbolts across Europe at the head of the Pope-nor is it less interesting to watch his countryman Nicolini as he tears assunder the well-woven robe, and exposes to our eyes the Jesuit in his true character, as the most formidable enemy alive to the Church of God, the peace of families, the stability of kingdoms, and the liberties of the human race." SCOTTISH PRESS. Intimately "A popular history of the Jesuits has long been a desideratum. acquainted with the principles or policy, and constitution of Jesuitism, and extensively read in authorities upon the subject, both in works written by members of the Society and by other Continental writers, the author has given us, so far as we can judge by the three numbers of his work that have been published, a clear and forcible idea of the subject, free alike from indiscriminate abuse and from prejudice." "We cannot close our present notice of Signor Nicolini's very interesting work, without alluding to the fact, that its price and form are alike calculated to obtain for it a very wide circulation. At no period in our history could the extensive circulation of such a book be of more importance." SCOTSMAN. "He has been an eye-witness of the abuses which he recalls and describes; he has had access both in England and in Italy to many documents that explain the origin and progress of the singular sect in question; and he has been long enough resident in this country to be able fully to appreciate the advantages of civil and religious freedom, and to aten England; a posthem, being far from ' conceive a condition g before all things to ties of invasion would astening, designed as iption and moral torursuit of wealth. . . . may not come upon islative nostrum-no ector, for enabling evil no novel stimulant to o, something homely, individual cases, and CHRISTIANITY. This whole. . . . Our spewithstanding an active t be described as an tical Christianity. ago, the great fact the central idea of arlyle. Both progreat Frenchman tive Philosophy;" , "Hero-worship:" The true remedy is 1, eighteen hundred › human form; and nd in the fact, that ing influence in the which is doing the en now. Numbers onclusion who will ich it leads, which ustain one form of All the crimitroversy should be 1. Externally and the Churches are eir Christian aspect ot follow the illussubject, nor go over nti-Papal Bill, the ernment, and other will see the drift of e thus imperfectly out that. What he actical Christianity itions of Christians, exertions in a spirit is the great want of a new spirit in all would lead them to onger in each other, ergies against that e mass of moral evil er. MONEY AND MORALS. and acting with authority and effect in her inter- | practice. Its fundamental principle is, that all course with foreign nations. This country cannot great changes in the social condition of a people exist without alliances. The effect of disclaiming are preceded by changes in their convictions. These foreign relations would be not only a loss of honour, are the causes that produce them. Further, that but an acquisition of contempt and a provoking of the earliest convictions are theological, implying a aggression. mind attaina she belief in supernatural power. Subsequently, the Chapter IX. the last of Part II., is on the National Defence them, of nav analogous top remarks on n force and mili rative morality ing is to the p An eminent of flections cast up civilians at a pea war were rather c of the Cape. Th by what class of the muskets and tinued to be, sm It would hardly b It is unnecessary from one of a fam the sword, was 1 evaded. The ar slaughter English plied to them by 1 in her Majesty's Very ness. the history of a na deeply was the 1 slave-trade, that C nearly cost him hi chants. As a proof of army in raising nity, the author on board the B. the law of disc duties which we performed, went inevitable death. 2 dread and deprecate the insidious power of a brotherhood wholly opposed to both liberty and advancement." "This work has the great advantage of being at once brief enough to be read even by men engrossed with other matters, and cheap enough to come within the compass of most persons' means." CHRISTIAN FAMILY ADVOCATE. "We close our remarks upon this excellent work by again recommending it to the public, not only on account of its own intrinsic merit, but to evince our esteem and gratitude to those unhappy exiles-the martyrs of liberty and religion-who repay our hospitality by revealing the perfidy of the Court of Rome, in a manner in which only they can do who have been born and educated in the bosom of the Roman Catholic Church." THE BULWARK. "This promises to be a most interesting and instructive work. Jesuitism is just condensed Popery; and as our country swarms with the agents of this mysterious fraternity, the people of Britain cannot understand them too thoroughly. Nor can any one inform them better on the subject than a learned and right-hearted Italian, who knows Jesuiti-m in all its phases, by history, observation, and experience." BRITISH BANNER. "We are right glad to see this work, the first three Parts of which are now before us, which is to be completed in twelve or fifteen numbers, and which sell, each for the trifle of fourpence! What with the tongue of Gavazzi on the one hand, and the pen of Nicolini on the other, it may be doubted whether already they have not done more damage to Romanism than if they had been allowed to smoke their cigars in the Eternal City. Some of our readers are aware that M. Nicolini speaks, as well as writes, the English language in a superior manner, and that he has acted, in Scotland, as the interpreter of Gavazzi. We scarcely know how this interesting refugee could better employ his period of exile, than in weaving up a popular narrative of this great subject. We have already many his tories of various merit of the Jesuits, but the subject is not only not exhausted, but for popular purposes, there was abundant room for the present publication. We are not sure whether Nicolini has not advantages over any mere English writer, no matter what his genius, or his learning, in dealing with this question. With British literati, the character and doings of the Jesuits are very much matters of hearsay and history. Not so with Nicolini, who has seen the baleful fruit of their pernicious labours in the ruin of his own country, and of the neighbouring countries, and who is himself, at this moment, the victim of their conspiracy against the liberties of Rome.. "He tells us, that when he first hinted his design to his friends, they dissuaded him, on After the abov at the Dangers t suggested, the r arrive at the Pa tutes the third ar commences with of Social Progr kinds of progress terial wealth, ir moral progression is connected with regarded as invc of progress; a no by the authority idea of a continued knowledge but ir long-prevalent no corresponded to tl infancy, through The idea of an inc to us through Con little more than inpic the pinosophical orthodoxy of his contemporaries. The theory of M. Comte is characterised by Mill as useless for guidance in gratification; where are the corresponding moral aucn intupuises to personal restraints? In the ariny alone exist the old disci pline, the old valour, and the subordination that gives it effect. France has been long undergoing a moral change which is not improvement. M. Comte calls it a moral decomposition, and looks for the remedy in the positive philosophy. The remedy, if found, must be sought for elsewhere. Starting on a higher level of moral and political attainment than any other new community, the Americans have made prodigious advances in wealth and power: but the change in their moral condition has been deterioration. The character of public men has declined, and legislation has fallen into the hands of an inferior class. The best minds shrink from political life; a fatal sign of moral decay. On the subject of negro slavery the morals of the nation have become depraved. The morals of commerce are shown by the general feeling on the subject of bankruptcy, which it is considered not in good taste to allude to in society. The pursuit of gain rages with increasing violence, intensified by the Californian discoveries, and the moral tone of the nation is deteriorating. journals, to which there is nothing comparable in other countries. The defects of the journals are obvious, and they result from the submission of the journalists to the despotic reaction of public opinion-the charge of venality is absurd. The most important view of the journals is, that they form a perfect mechanism, through which every one who has the ear of the public can act upon its moral condition. The last chapter, pointing to the grand and only efficient remedy, is entitled "Reconciliation of the Churches," and opens thus: Great evils, then, do appear to threaten England; a posthe greatest. Indeed, one may easily conceive a condition sible invasion, if it be thought one of them, being far from of society in which, to a mind looking before all things to man's highest welfare, even the calamities of invasion would be accepted as a kind and fatherly chastening, designed as a means of deliverance from the corruption and moral torpor brought on by an all-engrossing pursuit of wealth. But what should we do that such evils may not come upon us? The remedy is plain. No legislative nostrum-no ingenious device of the Socialist projector, for enabling evil hearts to carry out the Divine law-no novel stimulant to make an empty life supportable; no, something homely, old and familiar, but often tried in individual cases, and always found effectual-PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY. is the subject-the marrow of the whole... cific malady at this present time, notwithstanding an active aversion of the national heart to practical Christianity. but rather noisy philanthropy, must be described as an This Our spe The evil signs in England are, increased eagerness in the pursuit of wealth, and a decline of moral courage and frankness as appearing in public life. One effect of the intense competition existing, is the omnipresent spectacle of quackery and puffing, which has grown to such an extent that at length success depends not upon what a person is, but upon what he seems. The honest are driven to quackery, to protect themselves from the dis- About five-and-twenty years ago, the great fact honest. Such things are the indications of a moral of social decomposition became the central idea of disease. The decline of moral courage among two great minds, Comte and Carlyle. Both propublic men is, however, the more serious evil. posed a remedy. That of the great Frenchman Public opinion is growing tyrannical, and those was "Demonstration"- "Positive Philosophy;" who depend on its favour are tempted to become that of the eccentric Englishman, "Hero-worship;" subservient. Members of inflexible honesty are and both are of no avail. The true remedy is driven from their seats in Parliament, though pos- found in the Divine Life which, eighteen hundred sessing the very qualities that should secure them years ago, was exhibited in the human form; and permanently. There should be permanent seats the proof of its efficacy is found in the fact, that for tried men. If a representative absolutely only this has been the regenerating influence in the changes his opinion, he should restore the repre- history of the world. It is this which is doing the sentative trust to those who placed it in his hands; work so far as it is done even now. Numbers but resistance to tried men, on the ground of any will concur in this practical conclusion who will question in agitation, is a dangerous working of recoil from the inference to which it leads, which the democratic principle, tending to destroy all is, that it will not serve to sustain one form of independence and high character in public men. Christian worship against another. All the crimiThus the position of Mr. Macaulay, at Edinburgh, nations and malignities of controversy should be ought never to have been disturbed, and Mr. Roe- at once and for ever abandoned. Externally and buck should have retained his seat for Bath. The in their exclusive aspect all the Churches are spirit which ejected these two members is the same repulsive. Internally and in their Christian aspect spirit which is to be found everywhere; and the all are beautiful. We need not follow the illuswant of a courageous and uncompromising resist-trations of our author on this subject, nor go over ance to it is the worst political symptom of the time. his masterly review of the Anti-Papal Bill, the Papal question, the Papal government, and other Against these evils there are many grounds of relative matters. Our readers will see the drift of hope. Two circumstances are especially favour- his argument, which we have thus imperfectly able as counteracting influences. The first is traced to its conclusion, without that. What he the great variety of masses into which society in aims at is the inculcation of practical Christianity England is divided, insuring this great result-that among all sects and denominations of Christians, every prominent opinion is sure to get adequately to be carried out by personal exertions in a spirit criticised, and the just criticism will prevail in the of union. "Here," says he, "is the great want of end. The second is, the existence of a newspaper- the present time-the rise of a new spirit in all press characterised by a high moral tone, con- the Churches; a spirit which would lead them to summate ability, and the fulness and accuracy of see their chief antagonists no longer in each other, its records. This perfection of reported intelli- and to direct their united energies against that gence is the most important feature of the English large, menacing, and aggressive mass of moral evil with which Christian organisation alone can effec- | operation ought to be confined. There is a species tually cope." We have occupied more space than we intended in the above rapid summary of the work before us, but have yet been all too brief to enable the reader to form more than a vague idea of its merits. It is a volume which demands a careful perusal, and being written and arranged in a somewhat unobvious style, and appearing more discursive than it really is, it will not bear to be hastily skimmed over. There are broached in it many doctrines at variance with the principles we are accustomed to advocate, but we are not called upon to controvert them. Mr. Lalor's opinions on the subject of money appear to us to exaggerate the importance of what is at most but one of the implements of commerce-the medium of exchanges. Of course, as such, exist in what shape it may, it is the paying power, and rules despotically over commodities; but it is also itself a commodity, and varies in value as commodities vary-and it should be of less importance than they are, as its value is for the most part conventional, and would be nil were there no commodities to exchange for it. The amount of it that can come into use, except for mere gambling purposes, must always be regulated by the supply of materials, whatever they may be, for which it will exchange. It is rather a novel lesson in economics to see the pursuit of wealth decried-even in the very modes which have hitherto been held to be most legitimate and praiseworthy, by the expansion of industry, that is, and the employment of capital. But Mr. Lalor's book, which, like all good books, suggests more than it demonstrates, sounds a note of warning on this subject which he that hath ears may hear. Can it be that the dogged and indomitable thrift of the British people is at bottom the originating cause of the hopeless and moiling miseries of their lowest classes? and through them of the classes above them? Does capital cut its own throat? If it be true that every pound that is saved from income comes into competition with the mass of dormant capital constantly waiting for employment, and ready to crush into the first opening which promises a profit, then every pound that is saved beyond the amount of capital wanted to keep productions equal to demand is a burden and a curse to the producing classes. For in a commercial market, characterised as ours is at all times by a "general glut," new capital can only expect to find a return by creating new commodities at a cost which will enable their producers to undersell those already in the market; and to do this the labourer must be ground down. How many industrial professions have undergone this process during the last thirty years the reader probably knows. The author proposes new investments for the employment of capital under Government sanction and direction, with a nobler object than the mere realisation of a profit, though securing that as well. This scheme looks like a direct attack upon the doctrine of laisser faire, though it does not appear that it would interfere with the practical operation of that doctrine in commerce, to which we are inclined to think its of absolutism which is a sacred obligation to every Government, and woe to any people whose Government shall neglect to exercise it; the mischief unfortunately is, that Governments have caused so much loss and confusion by ignorant intermeddling with what they do not understand, that commercial men dread their interference, and deprecate it with loathing. Men of business, however, have been mistaken at times as well as their opponents; the working of the Ten Hours Act, a measure against which they united all their forces, is a standing proof of their want of penetration, if not of something else. In pointing us to practical Christianity as the grand remedy for the evils, political and social, which affect the nation and environ it with perils, the writer goes upon sure ground. But he does not tell us how the world is to be made subject to the sacred law. Here is a problem for solution far greater than any to be found in the whole range of political economy. If every man who boasts the name of Christian would lay hold of the remedy, and apply it to the best of his ability, there can be no doubt that the evils under which we groan, and the greater ones which already threaten us in the future, would rapidly diminish and disappear. But then the reception of Christianity must be universal. If only those who are in a position to be benefactors turn practical Christians, and not those who are habitually the recipients of charity as well, the world might be but little better for the change. It is the perception of this, for one thing, which has given currency to laisser faire beyond the domain of commerce. Ill-advised benevolence has demoralised millions, and extinguished the energies of more, until it has become a question with many whether any systematic interference with people's miseries is advisable or not; and the conclusion come to long ago would seem to be, that the only thing that can be prudently done for the wretched is to help them to help themselves. But this has been found so difficult a task, and the endeavours of individuals have so much oftener failed than succeeded, that the experiment has grown proverbially distasteful and painful; and men of the widest philanthropy and the purest benevolence have given up the attempt, or at least delegated to hirelings the task of carrying on "in the abodes of poverty, ignorance and sorrow that process of individual personal communication without which nothing effectual is accomplished for the moral redemption of mankind." According to Mr. Lalor, and, indeed, according to the experience of the last half-century at least, this country is now upon the eve of one of those monster speculative manias which, recurring in cycles of about ten years, have periodically played such havoc among the moderate and small capitalists, and transferred the money-wealth of the community to different owners. All the symptoms of the coming eruption of the speculative volcano are rife and lowering in the atmosphere. Capital, like the dog on the plank, is ready to plunge into the stream, should it catch but a glimpse of its own shadow; and a thousand busy and unprin- a profound and practical knowledge of the subject cipled heads are at work concocting delusions in as could only be acquired by the careful observathe hope of supplying an impetus to the leap. At tion and study of years. The volume is written such a period this treatise on Money and Morals throughout with elegance and ease-often with an is well timed, and we hope it will be well and eloquence and pathos not to be surpassed, and widely read. It is not an ephemeral work vamped rarely to be met with in dissertations on political up to meet the occasion, but a masterpiece of sound economy. philosophy, embodying much true wisdom, and such THE ILLUSTRIOUS MRS. TIBBITS lived at Coburg-crescent, one of those corners of London's far-spreading skirts, in which the genius of building seems to have unaccountably paused; for it contained only eleven small, genteel houses, with little courts in front, little flower-gardens behind, and so perfectly finished on the same pattern that they were distinguishable only by their numbers. Of that crescent Mrs. Tibbits was queen regnant; her regalia consisted of a boy in livery, a diminutive phaeton, and a certain card basket, which, it was presumed, could furnish proof that Mrs. Tibbits kept the very first society. In these matters she reigned without a rival among the eleven domiciles. As for Mr. Tibbits, nobody thought of him, except in connexion with a cheesemonger's warehouse far away in Fleet-lane. There his life was spent from nine in the morning till, in his own laconic phraseology, "the 'bus brought him home at six." That had been the course of Mr. Tibbits' existence for five-and-twenty wedded years, during which he had risen, by many a slow but steady step, from the estate of a salesman to what, in after-dinner speeches, he was wont to call his "present exalted and responsible position," that of managing partner in the house of Tibbits and Niblet. An honest, industrious and domestic man was the chief of the Tibbits household as could be found among the shops and homes of England. Stout, rosy and sensible, though not overburdened with heavy or light literature, Mr. Tibbits stood by his friends and his business, knew no difference between his word and his bond, and did his best to make things sure and comfortable for Mrs. Tibbits and the girls. The first lady on that list had been the daughter of a half-pay captain, who died, and left her at eighteen to fulfil the double capacity of poor relation and governess in the house of an uncle with thirteen children, and a small business in the solicitor line. The uncle still spoke of the sacrifice his niece had made in marrying Tibbits. He had, indeed, been so candid and confidential on the subject, that Tibbits half believed in the offering up, though the benevolent man had given away the bride, presented a frock to the first baby, and patronised the firm in Fleet-lane occasionally, to what profit its managing partner best knew. Tibbits also knew that there was not such a wife as his for streets round. Few husbands, they say, con EXILES. tinue firm in that faith; but the cheesemonger had abode in it through five-and-twenty years, and, in his case, there was something like convincing evidence. Mrs. Tibbits read shoals of magazines and new books, could talk on all popular subjects, millinerise her own caps, sketch, crochet, and, as her better half was wont to say, "play the pianner like a perfect hartist." Notwithstanding all these talents and accomplishments, she kept a neat, comfortable house, looked well after the dinners, and showed, in all her works and ways, a genuine consideration for Tibbits' pocket. Moreover, Mrs. Tibbits was not of the commanding school; but gently clever, and particularly spare and pretty for her time of life. She had been a prudent and kindly mother to Tibbits' girls, two some time grown-up daughters, who constituted the entire family, and who were commonly called Lucy and Cisy, though, on grand occasions, known to their mamma, at least, as Lucinda and Cecilia. Pretty, refined-looking girls they were, and much alike; only most people remarked that Lucy had the finest eyes, and Cisy the best complexion, while intimates were apt to add that Lucy was far the proudest, and Cisy the most agreeable. Mrs. Tibbits was decided on Lucinda's being the most lady-like. She had, in consequence, just a shade of partiality for her eldest daughter; for, though very nearly a pattern Englishwoman, Mrs. Tibbits loved gentility in her heart. Tongue could not tell how deeply she venerated the fashion. It was the faith of her domestic life. To her the West-end was Mecca, whither all the devotion of her week-days turned, and the prophet in whom she believed was Mrs. Thompson Lawrence. Mrs. Thompson was related to the Tibbits somehow through the solicitor and his thirteen. In her youth she had gone to Calcutta as a governess, and captured a commissary in the East India Company's service, who gathered half a lac of rupees, he said, "by unparalleled honesty in one of the many wars of the Punjaub." Mr. Thompson Lawrence averred that he "should have been somebody, for his mother was very nearly married to a Scotch earl." Further into his family history he vouchsafed no introduction; but his lady was clear on her genealogy up to an Admiral of the Blue. She had, also, a private tradition that Mr. Thompson was ten years her senior, though less partial beholders would have thought the pair children of |
