the passing life seems a solemn spectacle in j The frequent use of the words "fellow,' which you play a part. How delightful was "row," and the like, and the classical imprethe morning-room at Beaumanoir, from which cation "by Jove!" scattered freely through gentlemen were not excluded with that assumed suspicion that they can never enter it but the conversation of the students, has a for felonious purposes. vulgar and tantalizing air, and would greatly Such a profusion of flowers! such a multi-perplex any foreigner who might attempt a tude of books! such a various prodigality of translation of the work. But the vulgarity writing materials! So many easy chairs too of these phrases is not chargeable upon Mr. of so many shapes; each in itself a comforta- D'Israeli, but upon that careless and defecble home; yet nothing crowded. Woman alone can organize a drawing-room; man tive system of education which has prevailsucceeds sometimes in a library. And the ed in all our principal schools for the last ladies work! how graceful they look bending fifty years. "By Jove!" is regarded by over their embroidery frames, consulting over our youth, for the most part, as rather an the arrangement of a group or the color of a elegant and clever affectation. flower. The panniers and fanciful baskets overflowing with variegated worsted, are gay and full of pleasure to the eye, and give an air of elegant business that is vivifying. Even the sight of employment interests.

The picture of Manchester is vivid and powerful. What art was to the ancient modern. Manchester, rightly understood, world, says the author, science is to the is as great a human exploit as Athens. Coningsby explores its wonders with a sense of unspeakable awe.

Then the morning costume of English women is itself a beautiful work of art. At this period of the day they can find no rivals in other climes. The brilliant complexions of the daughters of the north dazzle in daylight; He entered chambers vaster than are told the illumined saloon levels all distinctions. of in Arabian fable, and peopled with habitOne should see them in their well-fashioned ants more wondrous than Afrite or Peri. For muslin dresses. What matrons and what there he beheld, in long continued ranks, those maidens! full of graceful dignity, fresher than mysterious forms full of existence without life, the morn! And the married beauty in her lit-that perform with facility, and in an instant, tle lace cap. Ah! she is a coquette! A charming character at all times; in a country house

an invaluable one.

The gathering of the boys at sunset in lounging groups in the Long Walk at Eton, canvassing the exploits and events of the morning:

The sports and matches of the day were over. Criticism had succeeded to action in sculling and in cricket. They talked over the exploits of the morning, canvassed the merits of the competitors, marked the fellow whose play or whose stroke was improving, glanced at another whose promise had not been fulfilled; discussed the pretensions and adjudged the palm. Thus public opinion is formed. Some too might be seen with their books and exer cises, intent on the inevitable and impending task. Among these some unhappy wight in the remove wandering about with his hat in parochial fashion, seeking relief in the shape of a verse. A hard lot this. To know that you must be delivered of fourteen verses at least in the twenty-four hours, and to be conscious that you are pregnant with none. The lesser boys, urchins of tender years, clustered like flies round the baskets of certain venders of sugar delicacies that rested on the Long Walk wall. The pallid countenance, the lack-lustre eye, the hoarse voice clogged with accumulated phlegm, indicated too surely the unclaimable and hopeless votary of lollypop-the opiumeater of schoolboys.

SEPTEMBER, 1844.

4

what man can fulfil only with difficulty and in days. A machine is a slave that neither brings nor bears degradation: it is a being endowed with the greatest degree of energy, and acting free, at the same time, from all passion and under the greatest degree of excitement, yet emotion. It is, therefore, not only a slave, but a supernatural slave. And why should one say that the machine does not live? It breathes, for its breath forms the atmosphere of some towns. It moves with more regularity than man. And has it not a voice? Does not the spindle sing like a merry girl at her work, and the steamengine roar in jolly chorus like a strong artisan handling his lusty tools, and gaining a fair day's wages for a fair day's work?

Nor should the weaving-room be forgotten, where a thousand or fifteen hundred girls may be observed working like Penelope in the daytime; some pretty, some pert, some graceful and jocund, some absorbed in their occupation; a little serious some, few sad. And the cotton you have observed in its rude state, that you may have seen the silent spinner change into thread, and the bustling weaver convert into cloth, you may now watch as in a moment it is tinted with beautiful colors, or printed with fanciful patterns. And yet the mystery of mysteries is to view machines making machines; a spectacle that fills the mind with curious, and even awful, speculation.

We constantly fall in with capital criticisms upon national character. Here is a passage upon the jealousy which besets us

at every turn, and for which the best pre- fragments that remained of the old constitution. This is the Destructive Party. scription is-travel.

These are opposed by another party who, How very seldom do you encounter in the having given up Exclusion, embrace only world a man of great abilities, acquirements, as much liberalism as suits the moment, experience, who will unmask his mind, unbut- and who, without an embarrassing promulton his brains, and pour forth in careless and gation of principles, wish to keep things as picturesque phrase, all the results of his stud- they find them as long as they can; but as ies and observation; his knowledge of men, a party must have a semblance of princibooks, and nature. On the contrary, if a man has by any chance what he conceives an ori- ples, they take the names of the things ginal idea, he hoards it as if it were old gold; they have destroyed-the crown, although and rather avoids the subject with which he is it is stripped of its prerogatives-the conmost conversant, from fear that you may ap- stitution in church and state, although it is propriate his best thoughts. One of the prin- defunct-the independence of the upper cipal causes of our renowned dulness in con-house latterly dwindled into a court of reversation is our extreme intellectual jealousy. view. This is the Conservative Party. It must be admitted that in this respect authors, but especially poets, bear the palm. They never think they are sufficiently appreciated, and live in tremor lest a brother should distinguish himself. Artists have the repute of being nearly as bad: and as for a small rising politician, a clever speech by a supposed rival, or suspected candidate for office, destroys his appetite and disturbs his slumbers.

One of the chief delights and benefits of travel is, that one is perpetually meeting men of great abilities, of original mind, and rare acquirements, who will converse without reserve. In these discourses, the intellect makes daring leaps and marvellous advances. The tone that colors our after life is often caught in these chance colloquies, and the bent given that shapes a career.

In every thing that touches upon the poetry, strength, capacity, ambition of youth, our author displays the serious expression of deep and solemn feeling-and out of this Youth-this season of passionate dreams and energetic resolves-is to rise up the regenerating principles of our whole system its purity is to redeem, its vigor to restore us. Youth is the age of heroes as well as poets. The greatest captains of ancient and modern times, exclaims Sidonia, conquered Italy at five-and-twenty. Gaston de Foix, Gustavus Adolphus, Maurice of Saxony, Bolingbroke, Pitt, were all great when they were young, or died young in the flower of their greatness. But let us escape from these generalities to the development of the particular opinions of which this book is the exponent on behalf of Young England.

It is stated very clearly (iii. 93-9) that the principles of the Exclusive Constitution having been abandoned by the Acts of 1827-8-32, a party arose who demanded that political liberalism should be carried to its full extent, by getting rid of all the

Into these two divisions, it is contended, the nation is divided. Young England repudiates both. Revolution, in any sense, forms no part of the contemplated policy of Young England. Changes are to be approached cautiously, and only with full and universal warning. "True wisdom," says Coningsby, "lies in the policy that would effect its ends by the influence of opinion, and yet by the means of existing forms." (iii. 103.) The full recognition of the authority of public opinion, the abolition of class legislation, the restoration to the sovereign of the sovereign prerogatives, which, it is alleged, the parliament has gradually usurped, (iii. 101,) enlarged religious freedom, and a system of legislation adaptive and progressive, appear to be the fundamental principles of the new sect.

Some of them may require explanation, especially the doctrine of vesting in the sovereign the sole power of government. Coningsby does not consider parliamentary representation necessary to the security of the country. The country goes on when the parliament is not sitting; but it is always represented by the press. Opinion is now supreme, and opinion speaks in print. Parliamentary representation was a device of a rude age-the representation of the press is more complete. He does not contemplate the abolition of parliament, although he evidently regards it as by no means an impossible contingency, but contends that if we are forced into revolutions, we ought to consider the idea of "a free monarchy established on fundamental laws, itself the apex of a vast pile of municipal and local government, ruling an educated people, represented by a free and intellectual press." (iii., 103.) This is the monarchy Young England proposes when all incumbrances in the way of class interests and factitious

on the direct road that leads to it-although we may never probably reach the end of the journey.

ascendencies shall have been cleared away. | religious systems of the countries in which Whether it be practicable is not so much they live, flourish; yet since your society has the question, as whether we are not now become agitated in England, and powerful combinations menace your institutions, you find the once loyal Hebrew invariably arrayed in the same ranks as the leveller and the latitudinarian, and prepared to support the policy which may even endanger his life and property, rather than tamely continue under a system which seeks to degrade him. The Tories lose an important election at a critical moment; 'tis the Jews come forward to vote against them. The church is alarmed at the scheme of a latitudinarian university, and learns with relief, that funds are not forthcoming for its establishment; a Jew immediately advances and endows it. Yet the Jews are essentially Tories. Toryism is, inwhich has fashioned Europe. And every gendeed, but copied from the mighty prototype eration they must become more powerful and more dangerous to the society which is hostile to them.""

The most ominous suggestive features of this work are indicated by the introduction of Mr. Millbank, a manufacturer, Mr. Eustace Lyle, a Roman Catholic, and Sidonia, the great capitalist, a Jew. Here we have three formerly antagonist elements lying down gently and confidingly with Toryism-at least with that section which has separated itself of late from the old body. By the popular influence given to Mr. Millbank, we see the weight conceded by aristocracy itself to industry and capital. I defy any peer to crush me," (ii. 41,) exclaims Mr. Millbank. The association of Mr. Lyle with the party of Young England, affords a significant hint of its tendency to Pusey- And then he runs on with kindling ardor ism. "Lyle," says Henry Sydney, "is of to show that the race cannot be destroyed an old Cavalier family, and will not ally a simple law of nature, which has baffled himself with anti-monarchists, and demo- Egyptian and Assyrian kings, Roman emcrats, and infidels, and sectarians; at the perors, and Christian inquisitors. The same time, why should he support a party mixed persecuting races disappear-the who pretend to oppose these, but who never poor persecuted race survives. At this lose an opportunity of insulting his reli- moment, he continues, in spite of cengion, and would deprive him, if possible, turies, of tens of centuries of degradation, of the advantages of the very institutions the Jewish mind-the living Hebrew intelwhich his family assisted in establishing?" lect-exercises a vast influence over the (i. 292.) The argument is cogent and irresistible, and has a heart and brain in it full of promise.

affairs of Europe. The list of Jews wielding authority and influence is astounding. Russian diplomacy in Western Europe is The emancipation of the Jews may be carried on by Jews-the professorial chairs. gathered as another object, no less desired of Germany almost monopolized by Jews— by Young England. The grounds on which the Russian minister of finance, the son of these various extensions of public rights a Lithuanian Jew-the minister of Spain, proceed, may be assumed to be no less a Jew of Arragon-Soult, the son of a those of abstract justice, than the wise policy of strengthening public opinion and public confidence. Sidonia states the case of the Jews with an eloquence worthy of the loftiness of the theme. The passage is so grand that we must make room for a part of it.

French Jew-the Prussian minister, a Prussian Jew; and then there are all the musicians, Rossini, Meyerbeer, Mendlesohn-Pasta, Grisi! The case of the Jews was certainly never put in so captivating a shape before. The roll of Hebrew celebrities, past and present, is magnificent; and "I contend that if you permit men to accu- ter is that it includes some famous persons the only difficulty we have about the matmulate property, and they use that permission to a great extent, power is inseparable from whose descent through "this dark blood" that property, and it is in the last degree im- was never before suspected. In music the politic to make it the interest of any powerful Hebrews are distinguished in every counclass to oppose the institutions under which try in Europe, if not always as composers they live. The Jews, for example, indepen- certainly in the executive department. dent of the capital qualities for citizenship Moscheles, Braham, and twenty others of which they possess in their industry, temper-equal reputation, might be added to Siance, and energy and vivacity of mind, are a donia's catalogue. But music will not ef race essentially monarchical, deeply religious, and, shrinking themselves from converts as fect an entrance into the legislative chamfrom a calamity, are ever anxious to see the ber. The Orpheus who, in the present

complexion of things, should attempt so perilous an experiment, would be much more likely to attract the notice of the sergeant-at-arms than the eye of the speaker. Young England's project, however, for the emancipation of the Jews does not contemplate, openly at least, an assault of this kind upon the constitution of Parliament. It is not stated by what process the Jews are to be admitted to a full participation in all political and social rights, but we infer that it is to be accomplished, together with a variety of other changes by the abolition of parliament itself. We regret, for two reasons, this mode of placing so grave a question-first, because we think the time is very distant when the people of England shall be induced to part with the representative principle; and second, because we should rather see this question of emancipation argued upon its own intrinsic and independent merits, and carried ultimately by their force alone, than thus deferred to a remote and exceedingly doubtful contingency, when it is not to be carried by any effort of justice, or even magnanimity; but to pass into use simply because there will be nothing to oppose its progress.

There must be differences of opinion about the politics of this work; and it is well there should, if there be any practical virtue in the ancient saying, that the waters are kept pure by agitation. But there can be no differences of opinion about its literary merits. It is, in our estimation, the greatest work Mr. D'Israeli has produced; comprehending a wider expanse of subjects than any of his former publications; of greater weight in its manner of treating the multifarious topics it embraces; and wholly free from that peculiar pageantry of style which, in his earlier productions, of fended the judgment of his critics. The theories of Young England may never be accomplished; but this book, in which they are for the first time expounded, will be read with interest and curiosity when they shall have faded into a tradition.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF CAPE TOWN, [From Sam Sly's African Journal.]-The first impression that struck us most on landing was the firm footing, after so long a voyage. The next was the glare and heat of the sun, and in November. Then the number of black faces and hands, and shoeless feet, or "Images of God cut in ebony,' that bespoke an African soil, when in England we had only been accustomed to see a straggler now

and then, out of his element at the road-side, sun-
ning himself as well as he could, near a wall, or
begging, or in the hall of some retired Bengal In-
dian, behind a carriage, or flourishing the drum-
sticks over the big drum in St. James's Park. The
old jetty had an interesting appearance, what with
the number of wooden houses or "lockers," the
busy hum and bustle of arrivals and departures, of
boats, wagons, and coolies, the Castle and its
mud walls, and the moat around, and the little
white tower on the ramparts. The houses (whilst
threading the street for a domicile) had to us a
curious effect; they seemed so short and dwarfish
to those we had been accustomed to, and looked,
with their flat roofs, as though the tops had been
blown off. It was singular to observe such a lib-
eral display of whitewash and green paint-to see
so many small panes and quaint devices over
windows and doors, and so many lamps or lan-
terns, but neither burning oil, candle, or gas. It
seemed odd to find so many "stoeps," or raised
promenades to every house, and no pavement for
the many, and so few shop windows. We were
much amused at the incessant and universal crow-
ing of cocks, in every direction, and at the uncom-
mon quantity of curs, blinking in the sun, of every
description-not two alike—and none of a decided
character, but all mixed and all mongrel—too idle
and cowardly to fly at you, and too suspicious to
wag their tails and make your acquaintance. It
was strange to see so many heads in red kerchiefs
and conical-shaped straw hats like funnels, or in-
verted whipping-tops-to see such a number of
Malay boys like little old men cut short, in the
full complement of habiliments with their grand-
fathers. To see twenty oxen in one rudely-con-
structed wagon, with little or nothing in it, and
a mere gipsy's tent at the end, or like an elephant
It was charming to find so
linked to a mouse.
many shady oaks along the streets. It was quite
delightful to breathe so pure an atmosphere, to see
hedges of roses and myrtles, and the same of aloes,
an inch of which is an exhibition in a flowerpot,
in our grandmother's conservatories in England,
and preserved to see if "it does blow once in a hun
dred years,"
," and to find real oranges growing on
the trees without the aid of glass. It was strange
to find uncovered ditches running up the princi-
pal streets, to hear no bells or music, and to mark
the apathy and indifference of every one, in so
bright a region. It was queer to perceive so many
women and girls, squatting on their haunches at
doorways, with nothing to do, and labor so much
in request. It was laughable to see gentlemen
and giants on horseback in green veils, and others
on foot all in white in November, like a miller
powdered with his own flour. It was rare to find
a lady walking, or hear a bird whistle or scent a
sweet flower, or meet with a drop of cream, or
taste a good cheese, or a good loaf and not gritty,
or a leg of mutton with too much gravy, or a glass
of good "home brewed," or find too many win-
dows cleaned, or a bow window, or a finger post,
or the sign of the "Spread Eagle," the" Brick-
layers' Arms." It was charming to see picturesque
spots by moonlight, and sit on the jetty before

gun-fire," and mark the bold outlines of that "Table," known and read of all men. In truth, these "first impressions" are not easily forgotten, and it is worth a long journey to be made sensible of them, and to luxuriate in the sweetness and purity of the atmosphere.—Athenæum.

ON MANNERS, FASHIONS, AND THINGS IN topics of wines and cookery. Of the female

GENERAL.

BY CAPTAIN ORLANDO SABERTASH.

THE SLIDING SCALE OF MANNERS.

From Fraser's Magazine.

part of the company, Lady Susan from time
to time responded in a low voice to ques-
tions or remarks addressed to her by the heads
of the house, and looked as if the remainder
of the party were entirely beneath her
notice; the aunts praised and were delighted
with every thing; Mrs. Livingston was conde-
scendingly agreeable, and Eleanor sat nearly
comfortable sensation of being nobody.
silent, experiencing, in full perfection, the

"Dinner over, the same scene continued to be enacted in the drawing-room, varied only by the arrival of tea and coffee, and of the gentlemen. The ladies collected around a her work. Mrs. Livingston was renowned for table placed near the fire, and each produced of female ingenuity, which delude those who her skill in those elegant and useless efforts exercise their hands upon them into a notion that they are spending their time to advantage; and Lady Susan was an adept in the same species of craft: most part of the conver

deeply interesting topic. Mr. Livingston, meanwhile, paced the spacious apartment with minutes to a newspaper, and his son took up long strides, and occasionally sat down for a few a new number of the Sporting Magazine, and extended himself upon a sofa.

It is really curious to observe how long we continue to see customs and usages practised in every society, as a regular matter of course indeed, before we think of giving them just and appropriate names, capable of fully characterizing their merits to the world. This is doubly curious at a period when so many great national measures have been carried, not by the force of argument, but merely by the force of names, and without any effort having been made, or attempted to be made, for the purpose of calmly ascertaining how far the liberal, philanthropic, or reforming title, corres-sation, therefore, turned upon this, to the aunts, ponded with the legislative enactment it was put forward to secure. We have no doubt that many very fashionable members of the fashionable world have long regulated their manners according to the wealth, rank, and station of the persons with whom they chanced to be thrown together; but we have never seen the practice, however open and avowed in these times, reduced to rules and estimated accordingly. We have all occasionally seen well-dressed persons behaving with what seemed perfect courtesy towards a peer, and with the most perfect and polite impertinence to some plain nobody; but though the mischievous laughed, and the good sighed, none ascribed such conduct to the admirable Sliding Scale of Manners, now so generally introduced, and so well adapted to the character of modern and fashionable society.

"Thus intellectually passed some part of the endless evening. Then there was a humble request preferred to Lady Susan for some music. This was negatived by her ladyship, 'She really could not possibly sing to-night. Then perhaps she would favor them with an air on the harp? No;' her ladyship positively could not play to-night; she was fatigued, and her music had not been brought down stairs; they must be so good as

to excuse her.

ston of her sister.
"Does Eleanor play?' asked Mrs. Living-

"A little, I believe,' was the reply.

"I am sure Eleanor is no musician,' observed aunt Annie, looking up from her knitting.

"Will you give us a little music, my dear?' at last inquired Mrs. Livingston of her niece herself.

"I am no musician, aunt Livingston,' said Eleanor, smiling; but I shall be very happy to play a little if you wish it.'

I cannot, I think, do better than illustrate this point by an extract from a lately published novel, The Fortunes of the Falconars, by Mrs. Gordon, a very charming work, which I recommend every person to read, as I feel confident that none will rise Do so, my dear; music is a necessary of from its perusal without having been deep-life with us almost, we are so much accustomed ly interested, and it may be, also, greatly improved.

Eleanor Falconar, the heroine, who is poor, as heroines should be, is on a visit at the house of some wealthy relations of the name of Livingston. All are persons of good family and standing.

"The conversation at table chiefly consisted of short sentences enunciated by Mr. Livingston and his son, touching the all-important

to it.

"Eleanor willingly exchanged her position. at the work-table for the pianoforte, which was a very fine instrument. It had long been a received opinion amongst her aunts that she could hardly play at all, founded upon their having heard from her mother during her childhood, that she showed no particular talent for music; and this opinion, like most others, once formed and matured in the minds of the Misses Falconar, was henceforward ineradicable. Yet, notwithstanding this, Eleanor's finger