36 REVIEW. Tytler's Lives of Scottish Worthies. the woods, where they were joined by others, who were, like himself, discontented, and for a considerable time afterwards, Wallace was a Robin Hood, in command of a gang of banditti. Proscribed, outlawed, and pursued, he had no alternative between that vagrant life, and a public execution. His little troop rapidly augmenting, he became a General, and his company a small army. He as.. sumed various disguises (taking care however to wear armour under them), and going among the English, committed outrages with miraculous impunity. But under success, favourable circumstances are implied; and to aid his purpose, such circumstances ensued. War had rendered property insecure, interrupted agricultural labour, and produced famine. The English troops were provisioned from home, and the Scots were starving. Wallace intercepted convoys, and success (the only cause of popularity in warfare) diffusing his reputation, and bringing him new adherents, he was joined by some powerful allies. Fresh victories increased the number; and his tactics were excellent, but practicable only where the enemy divided his forces. In the affairs before us, it is certain that the talents of Wallace were as proportionally conspicuous as the imbecility of his opponents. He appears to have given little or no quarter, and not to have thought that the " parcere devictis" of the Romans was a politic measure, intended to extinguish any desire of further resistance. He brought too against the feudal militia of England, "hardy soldiers inured to war, obstinate in their purpose of resistance, and irritated to madness." The English tactics were not adapted to those of Wallace. They went, as Buonaparte did to Russia, with the expectations of pitched battles and victories. Wallace fought them wisely, in the same manner as Sertorius did the Romans. In the end, the whole population joined him, and, could he have been permitted to acquire the ascendancy to which he was justly entitled, he would have been during his life, what he is now deemed, the Scotch Buonaparte; but, when he had succeeded, others thought they could do the same. Scotland had been in a state of darkness from day to day, and month to month. He brought back light and the sun; and [July, then his services could be dispensed with. It is the rule of popular feeling to deem all opposition to itself treason, and no merit can counteract feeling, though originating in passion and baseness. After he was made Regent of Scotland, he was deemed as dangerous in his own way, as Edward was in his. One or the other was sure to be the successful usurper; and the easiest of the two to be removed was Wallace. The power of Edward was too great not to be alarming, and, whatever was and might have been the noble patriotism of the Scots, neither their resources or their population could ultimately have resisted him. Besides, Edward was a Wellington opposed to this Buonaparte. Wallace fought the battle of Falkirk, as Harold fought that of Hastings, by phalanxes of spearmen, and Edward broke them, as did the Norman Conqueror, by the missiles of archery. War cannot be protracted in a country dependent upon the soil; and war with Edward promised no victory, attended with any other result than repulse, for it was not possible to subjugate England, which event alone could have prevented future aggression. The nation, though provoked by insult, knew its situation, and reflected. Napoleon thought that the Parisians would have burned down Paris before they would have permitted the Allies to enter; but the very institution of armies distinct from the people, causes the citizens at large to have a far dearer estimation of life and property, than professed soldiers; and even they calculate chances up to a dislike of palpable victimation. Wallace was a hero, but let us compare his fate with that of another person. No treachery attended the ignoble Pretender; and nothing but the victory of Culloden could reconcile the Scots to the Union, which, though an evident matter of interest, was, through pride and nationality, nevertheless made one of necessity. It is no honour to Edward that he exercised a mean vengeance upon Wallace; but Wallace himself committed unnecessary murders in cold blood, and, even if he had not had too much grandeur of soul to complain, would not have had any right to do so. Here we conclude. The whole book is well written. Incidents are elucidated by causes, and as far as the 1831.] REVIEW.-Vaughan's Memorials of the Stuart Dynasty. jejune history of the Middle Ages will permit, are narrated in picturesque exhibitions. ever (be its denomination what it may), consisted in straining at gnats and swallowing camels, in making a furious outcry against surplices, yet anti-scripturally permitting persons to celebrate divine offices, who had not been episcopally ordained. Setting aside the manifest deviation from St. Paul's doctrine of becoming all things to all men, and the political agitation which they excited, we shall only say, that in the very infancy of the sect, their conduct was quite inconsistent with pure Christianity, and whenever we are able to find two motives for an action, we do not believe the ostensible to be the real one. In proof of this, we know that Puritanism began in the reign of Edward the Sixth. Fuller informs us, that the founders of Conformity were possessed of the best preferments in the land; the founders of Nonconformity were exiles from Frankfort, who "being at a loss for means and maintenance," endeavoured to acquire the reputation of Confessors in the Popish æra, for the sake of popularity and commiseration. The ring-leaders of the party were a John Rogers, Lecturer of St. Paul's, &c. and John Hooper, afterwards Bishop of Gloucester, a man who refused to wear the episcopal habit, and yet held the See of Worcester in commendam, and who also preached sermons fit only for a modern radical. We shall quote his very words, from his second sermon on the prophet Jonas, preached before the King and Council.† The Nobility make unprofitable expenses more than * Church Hist. Cent. xvi. p. 402. + Black letter, 1550, no pages. 37 their habilitye can or is hable to sustayne. They fede a sorte of idle and never commended sort of people, nether by God's lawes, nether by men's lawes; they themselves live idle, and will not labour nether with hand, neyther with wyt." Now Lady Mary Wortley Montague anticipated the French Revolution from similar calumnies against the great; and writers of ability justly observe, that were rich people to live stingily and do their own work, they would only take the bread out of the mouths of those who wanted it; certainly society would gain nothing by Lords turning tailors or shoemakers, and keeping only one maid servant; while a Bishop, who did not object to be rich, was perfectly right in holding two Sees at once! The absurdity is palpable, and if such persons could make no scruple to wield the sword of the Lord and of Gideon, in civil war, because some people sat cross legged, which they deemed symbolic of Popery, and mothers suckled their infants on Sundays, which was really symbolic of the noblest affection of nature, maternal love how can such mischievous folly be vindicated? Did the Puritans submit to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake? did they, when defamed, intreat? did they, when reviled, bless? No, they disregarded utterly the New Testament, and adopted only the Old, which is a mere history as to us, and was but the old covenant that was removed, that the second might be established. Under the high reason and science of the nineteenth century, we deem it not even an act of common sense, to attempt a vindication of Puritanism. Even if it did produce, in some degree, a spirit of liberty beneficial to the improvement of the Constitution, that did not ensue because the Puritans were right, but because others were wrong. We can only account for this work, upon the wellknown fact, that Sectaries are notorious for defective reason. We do not deny to Mr. Vaughan credit for his authorship and talents; but as he calls Mr. D'Israeli the author of fables and fictions," pro. priety alone prevents us from applying to the gross slander very strong terms. Mr. D'Israeli says nothing without authority, and that the best, most true, and most rational. Mr. Vaughan's principle is, that there is 38 REVIEW. Brooke's Sketches in Spain and Morocco. Liberty of Conscience, and that men are to be respected for their integrity [we say, if they are consistent]. Admitted. But suppose, that under this phrase of liberty of conscience,' which is quite a personal and private concern, proselytism is intended, it then becomes agitation. Sound Philosophers know, that with regard to the Bible, there is nothing but what is wise, according to oriental manners; and with regard to the New Testament, nothing but what is equally wise in regard to all countries and ages. It is, besides, our habit to think so, because both in Theology and Research, we have found no justifiable cause for "deeming the pharisaical doctrines of men, the commandments of God." We have always taken particular pains to demonstrate that Providence and Christianity are perfectly reconcileable; and if, looking around us, and consulting History, we do see that Providence has given success to reason, health to temperance, and temporal happiness to indulgence, in the way of use not of abuse, we do not see why a litigious spirit about organs and surplices, and crude notions, is to claim for itself not toleration but power. If so, as there can be no civilization without luxury, puritanism must imply a desire to renovate monopoly (as to manners) and barbarism. Consult History. The Revolution of 1688 was initiated by the seven Bishops, not by the Nonconformists. In short, Nonconformity is, according to history, derived from the efforts of distressed men to ameliorate their worldly situation, and from the attempts of Calvin to elevate the spiritual above the temporal power. Was there a Scriptural necessity for being thus stiff about Conformity? What said the Leper to Elisha, about kneeling to Rimmon? and what said St. Paul about eating meat offered to idols, but that a man must act according to his conscience. If the Puritans had not acted from political and ambitious motives, we should most cordially subscribe to Mr. Vaughan's notions; but when we see a leading founder of puritanism holding two Bishoprics, while he preached to the nobility that they ought to reduce themselves to the rank of day-labourers, we solemnly believe that he, Hooper, acted upon Calvin's ideas of republican, instead of monarchical popery. It is to be ob [July, served, that charity, philanthropy, and Sketches in Spain and Morocco. By Sir WE are glad to have the utmost possible information concerning Morocco, because we fully agree with the honourable Baronet, in his estimation of the beneficial results which would ensue to Europe from the occupation of Barbary by Christian colonists. The climate is salubrious, and the soil is fertile, and capable of bearing many kinds of colonial produce. The vicinity to Spain and Gibraltar would ensure a ready market, and the latter fortress become a convenient depot. But there are still more momentous considerations. "Emigration might then likewise be tried at once, on a large scale, from the moderate expense which would attend the transport of individuals, which cannot be attempted in very distant parts of the globe. When Christian colonies shall be established on the Barbary coast, the commerce of Europe with the interior parts of Africa will then not only be considerably extended beyond its present limits, but then only can the civilization of this great and barbarous continent be attempted with any prospect of success."-i. 299. Upon the Persepolitan marbles and by the umbrella. In Morocco the umEtruscan vases, royal rank is denoted brella is the privilege of Royalty alone. -i. 230. So our Author. Qy. if the French have found it so? 1831.] REVIEW.-Brooke's Sketches in Spain and Morocco. The pods of the Algaroba, or Locust tree, are supposed to be the husks that the swine did eat," in the parable of the prodigal son. The Algaroba is a bushy wide-spreading evergreen, "which attains the size of a forest tree, and produces a pod resembling a gigantic kidney-bean. This is of a sweet flavour, and when dressed by the Moors, makes a dish by no means unpleasant to the taste. It is, however, both in Barbary and Spain, where the tree is also found, more generally made use of for feeding cattle. When dried, the pods are of a chocolate colour, and contain small, hard, reddish kernels, which will keep good for years."—i. 292. Harris, in his Natural History of. the Bible (p. 208), shows, that the Carob tree of the Levant, proved by Columella to have furnished pods, used for food of swine, is the same as the Algaroba here mentioned, and the Greek kepaτiov, and that it is still used for food by the poor of Palestine. Husks is therefore a mis-translation. The universality of Celtic manners at a very remote period, is proved by the existence of conical thatched houses, as among the Britons, and rude stone obelisks, adjacent tumuli, and Druidical circles, in Morocco (ii. 17-24). Sir Arthur says, "The ancient remains which are here found, are widely scattered. They consist principally of the pillar or needle [called El'Uted, from its similarity to the shape of the peg to which the Moors picket their horses], which, from its form and the elevated situation on which it stands, is discernible at a considerable distance in the valley to the north. It is placed to the west on the edge of a large circular tumulus of considerable circumference, and nearly surrounded by irregularly shaped upright stones, eighty-six in number, being in general about a yard asunder. From appearances, it is probable that the whole circumference of the tumulus was once bordered by these stones, and that they have been perhaps removed by the inhabitants. Of the whole number, some few only are of the height of three or four feet, of which two or three are conical shaped. On the side facing the south are placed two rounded upright stones, about three feet in height, opposite to each other, and evidently intended as the entrance to the tumulus on this side, in the same manner as the large pillar forms the principal one to the west. Close to the former is a conical store, on which appears a narrow border of transverse marks at the sides, evidently ancient, and done by some instrument; one of the large rounded blocks, which, as I have before ob 39 served, form an apparent entrance to the south, being similarly marked, though the crosses have less regularity, and are more generally spread over the surface." "The pillar itself, which is sixteen feet in height by about nine in circumference, when measured a few feet from the ground, is compressed at the sides, instead of being conical, and is formed of a single block of stone. In shape it is similar to some of the single stones at Stonehenge, and of other Celtic monuments. It is devoid of any in scriptions, figures, or characters; and the hand of man does not appear on any part of it, except on the side to the east, where about three feet from the ground there is a circular hole [as in one of the stones at Abury] eight inches deep, and near a foot in diameter, apparently of more modern work than the pillar itself."-ii. 38. Without recourse to the fabulous hypotheses of the Helioarkites, we have in various instances shown, that the uses of our ancient Celtic monuments are explicable from authors, traditions, and recorded or existent manners and customs of barbarous, especially the oriental nations. We shall not here recapitulate what we have already said in our notices of Mr. Godfrey Higgins's Celtic Druids (XCVII. ii. 151). We shall only here say, from the same author (p. 59), that creeping under Tolmens for the cure of diseases, is still practised in Ireland, and also in the East, as is shown by Mrs. Colonel Elwood in her Travels. The use therefore of the hole in the pillar here, as at Abury, is well established. But there are other customs, not of a religious character, which we believe to be ancient usages, still existing. In the Bedouin Arabs (see p. 24), we see pure patriarchal and nomadic habits; and we think that the following mode of making earthenware, assimilates to that of the old and Britons. "The ware [of Fez] is coarse, and in some of the articles the glazing is very tolerable, while others appear without any, and as if heat had not been employed to fix the colours; the red, in particular, in some does not seem to have been burnt in, but to have been dropt on afterwards, like sealingwax (which it resembles a good deal), according to the pattern required."-ii. 92. The ploughing and sowing seem to us to be similar to that represented in the Egyptian grotto paintings; and the custom of the ox treading out the corn, still exists in parts of Spain. 40 REVIEW.-Montagu's Ornithological Dictionary. Sir Arthur seems to think, that if a man has two arms, he may have a wife to hang upon each, instead of only one. Whether he who can scarcely afford to maintain one family can venture upon the probable chance of two, has not entered into the honourable Baronet's calculation, no more than the state of population has entered into that of political economists. A different remedy will be given in our review of "Social Life in England and France;" but without the slightest disrespect to the gentlemanly and entertaining writer, we insert his opinions on the subject of monogamy. Sir Arthur says, that there are very few or no old maids in Morocco; and that even if a man has two, three, or four wives, the males and females are more proportionately balanced than in Europe; where, in our own country at least, there is a remarkable excess of spinsters. This evil our author deprecates in the following (as schoolboys say) right-earnest manner : "Surely this is a case where the general march of intellect, and the heavy disabilities under which so many of his Majesty's fair subjects labour, cry loudly for a more liberal line of policy than the present narrowminded and old fashioned system of limiting a man to one wife; and thereby cutting off of so many poor superfluous females from the chance of ever getting a husband. The rights of the sex, common justice, and even morality itself require, indeed, that some relief should be afforded; not dealt out with a sparing hand, but liberally, and free from any restraints or fetters, except those of Hymen. A measure, which would legalize a plurality of wives, and place the sex at least on an equal footing with their Mahometan sisterhood, would not only be of incalculable benefit to the nation, by arousing its energies, but would be received with gratitude by so fair and deserving a portion of our fellow-subjects."-ii. 143. Without entering into a discourse about the origin of tastes, we content ourselves with knowing that the association of ideas is the basis; and that a dictionary of the association of ideas, upon particular subjects, prevalent in various countries, would be most beneficial to travellers. We subjoin the following curious instance : "When supper was finished, my guests vented their satisfaction at the good cheer they had been enjoying, in loud windy eructations; which, though not the most delicate thing in the world, they are proud of [July, doing, as it indicates a full stomach, and is besides intended as a kind of compliment to the master of the feast for his hospitality. In this light it appears to be considered by the Persians, as well as Moors; for Major Keppel, in his Travels, observes, that eructation is reckoned in Persia the greatest proof of politeness, as it intimates a compliment to the host's good cheer."-ii. 177. Here we shall leave this entertaining work. Ornithological Dictionary of British Birds. By Colonel G. Montagu, F.L.S. Second Edition. With a Plan of Study, and many new Articles and original Ol·servations. By James Rennie, A.M. A.LS. Professor of Natural History, King's Cullege, London, &c. 8vo. pp. 582. Plates. OUR author introduces his work, first, by observing that the principal aim of a Naturalist ought to be to multiply observations, not to get up a mere index, as the Linnæan and other systems; and, secondly, by exposing most absurd atheistical notions, which have made natural history dependent upon principles as foolish as those of Epicurus. The divine wisdom of the Creator is, however, as in all other things, conspicuous in ornithology; and to show this, we shall abbreviate certain articles. (1) Air bags or cells, filling the whole cavity of the body, communicate with the lungs of birds, and the bones, quills, or plumelets of the feathers, are hollow for the reception of the air. A full inhalation distends the whole body, which being hot rarifies the collected air, and thus makes it lighter than that of the atmosphere. By this means they elevate themselves; and expulsion of the air so increases their weight, that they can descend with astonishing velocity.' (2) Many kinds can fly 150 miles an hour.2 (3) If a bird is intended for climbing, or sits remarkably forward, it has two toes behind; to mount or have a firm hold in perching. (4) Some birds have a power of diving and swimming, or of either only; and have accordingly feet of a distinct form.3 (5) The sharpness and extent of their vision reaches to the most minute objects at surprising distances.1 (6) The speed with which aquatic birds swim under water is incredible. (7) They sleep perching 1 P. 4. 2 P. 183. 5 P. 504. 3 P. 178. |