Critical Notices. Shortly after Sir John's arrival in Eng-, John Sandes, Esq., of Listowel, in the counland, in 1831, he was returned to Parliament try of Kerry. This distinguished officer for the borough of Launceston, and took an early took part in the war of the Indepenactive part in the proceedings upon several dence of South America. From the beginimportant questions, particularly the Scotch ning of 1818 he accompanied Bolivar, the Reform Bill. He frequently addressed the Liberator of three nations, successively House at length; and his speeches were through all his campaigns, from which periIn the battles characterized by an intimate knowledge of od he took an active part in most of the enthe history and constitution of his country, terprises of that great man. though neither voice nor delivery were of Pantano de Vaigas, Boyaca, Carabobo, much in his favour with that assembly, at Bombona, and Ayacucho, he displayed the once so popular and so fastidious. Upon genius of an accomplished soldier, combined the dissolution of Parliament, in 1832, Sir with a chivalrous valour, which reflected honJohn became a candidate for the Dumfries our on his country. In the first-mentioned district of burghs; but being too late in en- of these bloody affairs which took place on tering the field, and finding a majority of the 25th of July, 1819, (Bolivar's birth-day,) the electors had promised their votes, he did he received two severe wounds at the head He was then solicited to of the victorious regiment, the Rifles, while not persevere. become a candidate for the city of Carlisle, commanding that corpse as Major; and and complied; but it was at the eleventh finally, his horse being shot under him-unhour; and being personally unknown to the able to stand from loss of blood, he supportplace, the result of the first day's poll de-ed himself leaning against the carcass of cided the election against him. Sir John then retired to his seat, near Windsor, and employed himself in writing his work upon the Government of India, which was published a few weeks ago, with the view of elucidating the different questions relating to the renewal of the East India Company's Charter. His last public act was his able speech in the General Court of Proprietors of East India Stock, and the introduction of his resolutions relative to the proposals of government respecting the charter-which resolutions were, after several adjourned discussions, adopted by a large majority. As an author, the name of Sir John Malcolm will occupy no mean place in the annals of his country's literature. His principal works are-A Sketch of the Sikhs, a singular nation in the province of the Panjamb, in India; the History of Persia, from the earliest period to the present time; Sketches of Persia; a Memoir of Central India; and his last work on the Administration of British India. Sir John had also been engaged for some time past in writing a Life, and editing the papers, of Lord Clive; and we trust the work will yet be given to the public. Sir John married, on the 4th of June, 1807, Charlotte Campbell, daughter of Sir Alexander Campbell, Baronet, who was Commander-in-Chief at Madras, by whom he has left five children, viz., Margaret, married to her cousin, the present Sir Alexander Campbell; George Alexander, a Captain in the Guards, whose regiment is now in Ireland; Charlotte Olympia; Ann Amelia; and Catherine Wellesley. GENERAL ARTHUR SANDERS.-In the city of Cuenca, Colombia, on the 6th Sept. 1832, after a tedious illness, which terminated in dropsy, General Arthur Sandes, of the Service of the Republic, son of the late the dying animal, and could not be prevailed on to quit the field until victory was proclaimed, and at Ayacucho he was named General on the field of battle. He was brother of Captain Sandes, 47th, and Lieutenant Sandes, 9th Regiment, in the British service. NICHOLAS IPSILANTI.-At Odessa, on the 3d of April, Nicholas Ipsilanti. This gentleman was the younger brother of Alexander Ipsilanti, who began the Greek revolution, by a movement in Moldavia and Wallachia, in 1820. Nicholas served under his brother, and commanded the celebrated corps called the "Sacred Regiment," which contained in its ranks a number of Greek youths belonging to the first families, many of whom had studied in foreign universities. Nicholas distinguished himself at the head of those enthusiastic youths, who were nearly all destroyed. He was afterwards immured in the state prisons of Austria, with his brother, for many years, and the confinement had a fatal effect upon his naturally delicate constitution. After his liberation, a few years ago, he returned to Kischenew, in Russia, where his relations He survived his elder resided; but for the last fifteen months he lived at Odessa. brother about four years, and he was only about thirty-five when he expired. CRITICAL NOTICES. The History of Dissenters, from the Revolu- apples; when he hears of a dissenter, his, immediate impulse is to commit it to the county gaol, to shave its head, to alter its customary food, and to have it privately whipped." Times are altered since the facetious Peter Plymley thus described the state of general feeling in this country towards the descendants of the Puritans, the seceders from the established church. Great and surprising events have concurred with the illumination of the popular mind to remove much of this ignorance and prejudice regarding that class of the community of whom Hume nearly a century ago asserted that "the precious spark of liberty had been kindled and preserved, and to whom the English owe the whole freedom of their constitution." ple of Diana should involve all Ephesus in an uproar for the purpose of driving from the city men who refused to lend themselves to their craft, and to worship their divinity, was no more than the dictate of that selfishness which predominates in human nature. Perhaps the fiercest form which selfishness can assume is that of religious intolerance; and whoever calls bigotry into action may reckon upon having provoked a ceasless and inveterate foe. Ecclesiastics, to whatever church they belong, are sufficiently tenacious of their privileges; and, when these are invaded, they never fail to fulminate their vengeance against the offender. With an adroitness peculiar to their order, they constitute every offence against themselves an offence against Almighty God; making Though far from being dissenters our- Heaven itself a party to their quarrel; and selves, we cannot help thinking that Non- he that presumes to question their dogmas, conformity has received hard measure from or to secede from their communion, is in the beginning that its principles have been direct league with the Prince of Darkness. scandalously traduced, and that even in the Nor is this all;-it has almost grown into eye of liberality serious misapprehensions a sacerdotal axiom, that the enemy of the are entertained on the subject of its political church is the enemy of the state; and that influence and its religious character. In to dissent from the one is to subvert the attempting to account for all this, we shall perhaps be able to do justice to all parties, while we rescue the injured from a large portion of their unmerited reproach. Nonconformity may not, indeed, be all that its zealous friends maintain that it is; but had it been what its adversaries describe and denounce, outraged humanity would long ere this have exterminated its very name. other. Thus, the priest arms both worlds against the miserable wretch who ventures into the forbidden ground of Nonconformity. As in this Protestant country the clergy do not consider celibacy a virtue, they are diffused through all the gradations of society; almost every family is immediately or remotely connected with an individual of the clerical profession, so that the prejudices The nature of dissent, the very first and enmites of the clergy are, to a certain principle which it implies, renders it pecu- extent, the prejudices and enmites of the liarly liable to misapprehension, and to that nation; and as these have for ages been kind of misapprehension which usually pro- directed against every species of Nonconduces hatred and contempt. It stands in formity, we are not to wonder at the persethe repulsive attitude of assumed superiority, cutions it formerly endured, nor at the gross and its advocates seem to say, "We are calumnies with which it has now to contend. wiser and better than others." It assumes Another reason which has operated against to be disgusted with that which satisfies the Nonconformity in the popular mind is, its rest of the world-that its intellectual and utter want of those appendages which have moral taste is of a finer quality than theirs, an imposing effect upon the imagination and utterly irreconcileable with it. Thus, and passions of men. Contrasted with the in the eyes of the majority, Nonconformists external grandeur of the dominant church, appear as their practical censors before the and even with the decayed splendour of the bar of whose judgment they are silently barely tolerated church of Rome, what has arraigned. Dissent in this view is even Nonconformity to boast? The religion of more provoking than avowed opposition; barns can rear no mitred front amid "the men would far rather be assailed than avoid-dim religious light" of abbeys and cathedrals. ed; they prefer conflict to contempt. Non- Its worship is as simple as that of the primiconformity has drawn down upon itself the tive Christians, who assembled in an upper hatred and the censures of its numerous room for prayer and breaking of bread; the adversaries, from its necessary interference garb it wears is that of the carpenter's son with the interests of a very influential class of Nazareth; it inherits only his poverty;of the community. It was to be expected its associates are Paul the tent-maker and that the chief priests and rulers of the the fishermen of the lake of Gennesareth; synagogues would regard with jealousy a the badge of its ministers is not the crosier, rising sect which threatened the extermina- but the cross: it sits not like a queen to tion of their power. This alone is sufficient command and to receive the homage and to account for the persecution of Christ and the wealth of nations, but with its few his disciples at Jerusalem;-and that the weary pilgrims it labours up the steep silversmiths and shrine-makers to the Tem-ascent of suffering; its path to heaven is not the broad road of worldly distinction, themselves. They soon found that they where thousands greet and applaud, but the were strong, and therefore resolved to be narrow way of loneliness and self-denial; free. The monarch would not, during any it neither soothes the senses, conciliates the prejudices, nor tolerates the propensities of mankind: therefore, all manner of evil is spoken of it falsely. period of the struggle, accept of constitutional obedience; the people would not submit to be slaves. The sequel is sufficiently known. A remote cause of the odium which stains Notwithstanding the misrepresentations the character of Nonconformity is the un- and calumnies which disgrace this part of deniable fact that it was a great fermenting our written history, the Commonwealth preelement in a political convulsion which sents one of the brightest pages in our anshook the foundations of society. The nals. The Lord Protector well became the subtle and malignant enemies of Noncon- greatness of his station. He maintained formity, who, on this question, are equally the dignity and glory of England abroad, the enemies of the constitution and liberties and the people were comparatively happy of their country, have taken infinite pains at home. Under his administration, men of to cast the onus of the civil war, which the first order filled the most important ended in the dethronement and execution offices in church and state. Cromwell's of the first Charles, upon the Puritans-the chaplains would have adorned the golden Nonconformists of that day. This is one age of letters; as they were undoubtedly of the most atrocious falsehoods in history, the brightest ornaments of religion. Milton and which no writer in the nineteenth cen- was his secretary;—wisdom sat in his countury can reaffirm, without incurring the cils, and valour gathered for him unfading guilt of deliberately bearing false witness laurels in the field. "Canting Hypocrite against his neighbours. The ultima ratio of as he has been termed, he stilled the fury kings, which is generally their first as well of persecution, and though religious controas their last reason for tyranny, is really the versies were keenly agitated, the civil last ever resorted to by an oppressed and rights of the contending parties were held enslaved people. The sword is seldom un- sacred. But ere the system of government sheathed by subjects against their govern- and law thus introduced could be perfected, ment, until it becomes their only defence. and just as its benefits were taking root This, at least, was eminently the fact in the and beginning to flourish, the Restoration case before us. The nation, driven to des- came as a withering curse and swept it all peration by the aggressions of an odious away. The triumphant despotism brought religious faction, who deluded the monarch, with it irreligion, profaneness, and vice; and artfully made his power the instrument the national character was suddenly transof their vengeance, against all who dared formed; the whole current of opinion was to exercise the right of private judgment, changed; and with one voice both the court and to worship God according to the dic- and the nation announced their degeneracy tates of their conscience, rose up, en masse, by calling "evil good and good evil." The to assert its rights, and to save from utter tyrant who fell a victim to his own breach destruction its expiring liberties. It has of the laws, and who forfeited the crown by been well observed of the ill-fated Charles, confiscating the property and shedding the that "he was neither by nature nor nurture blood of his unoffending subjects, was dewise." He was first weak and then wicked. nominated "a blessed martyr." The war The false incense of a crafty and bigoted of patriotism against oppression was termed priesthood,—offered to him for the sake of rebellion; the glorious heroes who died in securing, not his prerogative, but their own the conflict of freedom were stigmatized as domination, he mistook for loyalty. Flat- traitors; Episcopacy was proclaimed, the tered by their hypocrisy, he obeyed the im- religion, the only religion of Protestants; pulse of gratitude, and never failed to yield persecution was confounded with zeal for the to their wishes, though at the expense of true church; and intolerance was enforced justice and humanity. But in making them as the first duty of the state. Then it was more than subjects, he made himself less that Nonconformity was denounced. All than a sovereign. He broke the constitu- other parties ashamed of their share in worktion because it would not bend, and banish- ing out the liberty of their country, and ed the laws because they would not flat-ready to bow their necks to a worse dester. He sacrificed the crown to exalt the potism than had been overthrown, meanly mitre; and oppressed his subjects to support transferred what was now deemed an inthe crown. Monarchy and the Church became at last hateful; by making themselves dreadful, and by grasping at too much, lost all. The nation, after ten years' patience, under the continued assaults of rapine and tyranny, had a fortuitous but favourable opportunity put into their hands to relieve explicable disgrace from themselves to the Puritans. The Puritans did not shrink from the imputation. It was their glory that they had taken part with the nation in denouncing the tyrant, who, as Dr. Southey says of the Second James, would have "brought back the Romish superstition, and together with the religion would have overthrown the liberties of England."* scribed, and it is scarcely a caricature,—as having adopted this standing maxim-“That During the entire reign of Charles the all the Dissenters who ever lived, or shall Second, those who had espoused the cause of live to the end of the world, must be the the Parliament against his father, and all who very individual men that murdered King adhered to their principles or inherited their Charles the First with their own hands." spirit, were proscribed and disgraced. The The "Quarterly," the "British Magazine," poets and historians of the time united to cum multis aliis, are ever and anon tracing cover them with unmerited obloquy. Ridi- the descent of modern Nonconformity to cule held them up to derision, and malignity the regicides. According to one clerical invented the most shameless and palpable novelist, the author of the "Velvet Cushfalsehoods to make them objects of univer-ion," they are all regularly descended from sal detestation. The errors, mistakes, and those arch-fiends who "rebelled upon princrimes of individuals were painted in the ciple, and murdered the monarch for conmost hateful colours of exaggeration, and science sake." These are rather intempethen imputed to the whole body of the rate epithets, and might have been spared, Puritans; and since that period to the pres-especially when the want of final success is ent, ignorance, fanaticism, injustice, malice, the only crime with which the people of cruelty, and, in fine, rebellion, have been England were chargeable, in deposing a king currently, and in all popular and courtly whose son and successor the dominant publications, charged upon Nonconformity. church drove from his throne, and therefore The misfortunes of a cause, whose short-effected, not a grand rebellion, but a glorilived triumph rendered its fall signally dis-ous revolution. astrous, have been converted into atrocious offences, and subtilely, zealously, and perseveringly mingled up with its principle; while a powerful and victorious reaction of other principles has mainly contributed to perpetuate the calumnies and keep alive Nonconformity is doomed to bear this rethe animosities of its foes. The High proach; but had not England's sons, in the Church party have been humourously de-day of her utmost peril, stood up against the tyrant and his army of cavaliers, and thus *By the by, how exquisite is the consistency of given the example which was followed in a this Laureate of Church and King! The oppo- subsequent reign, where would have been sition to Charles the First, he tells his readers, was a rebellion; those who made the noble stand our charter and birthright? The curse of against him are termed "a faction," and the the Stuarts would have been upon us for "apostles" and "bell-wethers" of rebellion are ages, and a greater the vengeance of the mild epithets employed to designate their Heaven has never yet inflicted upon a sinful leaders. But the enforced abdication of James, people. the exile of that illustrious fugitive, with all the Other causes combine to render Nonconbranches of his family, and their utter and everlasting exclusion from the throne of their ances-formity an object of general aversion to a tors, he describes as glorious to the pure and ir-world that takes its religion upon trust, and reproachable church by which it was effected. allows not the spirit of scriptural piety to Will the Laureate condescend to extricate him "Rebellion! soul-dishonouring word, Whose wrongful blight so oft has stained self from this dilemma! If the Revolution of operate in forming its character. Our limits, 1688 was necessary, so was that which dethroned however, will not suffer us to enumerate Charles the First. If resistance in the one case them; yet must we, in conclusion, advert to was a duty, was it not imperiously so in the other? that which has been a never-failing source Why, then, should one be termed the "Grand of ridicule and contempt. It cannot be deRebellion," and the other the "Glorious Revo- nied that Nonconformity has been occasionlution?" May not the guilt that forfeits the crown deserve a greater loss? None but a capi- ally associated with fanaticism; that its abettal offence can merit the first penalty; and, if tors have been distinguished by manners this be committed, what but mercy can shield as singular as their opinions; that their the criminal from the last severity? The right phraseology on common topics of discourse of deposing implies the right of inflicting condign punishment, if it be deserved. When the former is conceded, what becomes of the doctrine of passive obedience and non-resistance? and when this is practically renounced, as it was by its most strenuous advocates in the instance of the Revolution, where is the guilt of those who sacrificed a tyrant to save the nation? The same Divinity that hedged round the sacred person of Charles encircled that of James; and what are we to think of the pious logicians who apply the principle to one monarch, and practically deny it in their conduct to another? Are the clergy of the Church of England so far privileged, that, with impunity, they may preach one doctrine and practise another? has been that of the Holy Scriptures on the most sacred themes; that both in their religious services and their intercourse with each other, their language has been peculiarly susceptible of perversion; that the solemn has bordered on the profane, and the sublime on the ridiculous;-the whole has been inconsiderately stigmatized as cant and hypocrisy: the circumstances, the education, and the habits of the men have seldom been taken into account; and this sweeping censure has been cruelly, and from age to age, passed upon them. To ven." form a just estimate of their character we, compelled to sacrifice gallantry to truth, and must look at their deeds. As a body they did we not feel that when the character of a have never dishonoured their strict profes- whole nation is at stake, all personal consion of Christianity: they have been men of siderations are insignificant. This very many virtues; and we know not where to lively and manly publication, from a writer look for the community which has given of undoubted veracity, of competent knowl"Such heroes to earth and such martyrs to hea-edge, and whose every page and every line is a refutation of the recent falsehoods put The work which has drawn from us these forth against his country, will do more to observations is a "History of Dissenters," disabuse the public mind in Europe on the written by members of their own commun-interesting topics brought under discussion ion, thoroughly acquainted with their excel- than any other work that has hitherto aplencies and faults, and they are, for the most peared. It is written in perfect good tempart, impartial. The public may now read per: the author feels his strength; and it is and judge for themselves. We recomoften the prowess of a giant that goes forth mend this "Book of Nonconformity" to all to battle sure of the victory. We are rather who are admirers of Dr. Southey's "Book of curious to see what the "Quarterly " will the Church." We cannot exactly say they do with him. Will its magnanimous editor are suitable companions for each other; but, make the amende honorable? If he eats his as antagonist powers, their being brought words, it will be as the redoubtable Pistol into collision will be of great service to the ate the leek-with wry faces and "hatefulcause of our common Christianity. The est disrelish," his mouth "with soot and Dissenters are, in some things, wrong; the cinders filled;" but, perhaps, like Falstaff, Church is not always right. We should be he will not do it on compulsion. Will he glad to see a comprehension large enough give up his Trollope? He must either do to embrace in one communion the devout this, or part with his last shred of character. and the virtuous of every existing denomi-Even in these degenerate days, reputation is of some importance to the accredited advocate of High Church orthodoxy. But how nation of Christians. The Americans. By an American in Lon- can he expunge from his pages the loath don. 12mo. some extracts which describe "the ReviJonathan has buckled on his armour to vals" and "the Camp Meetings?" By some purpose. What havoc has he made transferring them to his work has he not with the Halls and the Trollopes, and the made them his own? And now that they heavy artillery brought up to support them are proclaimed to all the world, not merely by their faithful allies, the "Quarterly" and as caricatures, but as gross and scandalous the "British!" The Captain may libels, will it be a satisfactory apology that 66 go to bed;" he can have nothing more to do in he received them as veracious, without inthis breathing world. But will he sleep?vestigating their truth, or even their probability? We leave the "British" to its con"In that sleep what dreams may come!" sistency; and congratulate ourselves that Poor man! he is discomfited, and we can- we have not been the dupes of calumniators, not find it in our hearts to pity him. The but that we have ever denounced them as lady will probably attempt to brazen it out. the enemies of their country and of all manShe is of the sex, but not of the class, to be-kind. Mr. Colton's book is too piquant not tray even the infirmity of blushing. Her to be read, too reasonable not to be believeducation is complete: she is, we fear, in-ed; and so triumphaut in its conclusions, corrigible; the state of her conscience will that America may even thank her traducers not allow her to feel remorse. Judging for having called forth in her behalf so powfrom her books, she can have no compunct-erful a defender. Even Captain Hall must ious visitings of nature. Mr. Stuart's book acknowledge that there is at least one was sufficient to throw discredit upon all American that understands the English lanthat she has written; but the present work guage; and Mrs. Trollope will scarcely has left her without defence. She saw little have the effrontery to deny that he has of America, scarcely anything as exhibited treated her with the urbanity of a gentlein those circles where a correct estimate man. She has received at his hands far could be formed of the manners of its peo- greater forbearance than she deserves; and ple; and all that she has seen she has gross-this, we are persuaded, will be the univerly, shamefully misrepresented. The strong sal conviction, both on this and on the other language of one of her advocates, that, if, side of the Atlantic. in a particular statement, she is not borne out by the facts, she is guilty of an intolerable calumny, applies, in all its force, to every statement, and from beginning to end her narrative is false. We should not deal thus unceremoniously with a lady, were we not Memoirs of the Duchess d'Abrantes (Madame Junot.) Vol. v. Positively these gossiping volumes have in them such a power of fascination, that the moment we commence the perusal of any one |