vier have acquired the happiest influence | and the Austrian Provinces would be, disat home over the mind of the French Em- tracted, if not persuaded, by the spectacle peror. Everything will once more neces- of a crusade for the cause of nationalities. sarily blow over, and the French nation be Even Garibaldi would feel a little uncertain consoled with the promise for the twentieth as to the path of duty, as he could not head time that the Edifice is now at last about to be crowned, and a new law introduced about the public press. It is singular that a politician of the Emperor's grasp of mind should be incessantly exhausting his own treasury and the patience of Europe by these indefinite prolongations and postponements. War, it would seem, never is, but always is to be. The explanation is that the Emperor cannot but perceive that the war programme on which he is constantly forcing himself to ponder is unsuited to the real wants of his age and country. He is by no means inaccessible to ideas of right and wrong, and a grain of conscience easily makes him sour. Those who are best acquainted with his habits and disposition appear agreed in thinking that he has no natural turn or inclination for engaging in a great and hazardous campaign. Handling the powder-barrel, and calculating the effects of its explosion, is an occupation for which he has even a predilection, but firing it would be an act of fury from which his better nature, at well as his ordinary instincts, both equally recoil. Napoleon III., like Hamlet, might continue through whole years to brood over an enterprise which he could not bring himself to execute, if it were not for the natural tendency of political clouds to precipitate themselves in wet weather. Englishmen know by experience at one and the same moment a guerilla war in Poland and in Italy. To head such a Catholic league as this would be the Emperor's delight - that is to say, if it did not cost too many lives, and if he could calculate with absolute certainty on its success. To have the Pope and the French Empress erying with joy at the news of alternate Te Deums at Warsaw and Baden-Baden, to see French Marshals proudly prancing about at the head of military contingents from Catholic Spain and even Catholic Belgium, and to be able to hope that the excitement about Poland might make the Roman question easier of solution, in which case Italian legions might yet be fighting with enthusiasm in the Polish forests side by side with the French Zouaves - all this is a sort of political picture which the Emperor of course has often drawn at times in his romantic soul. The reconciliation of the Papacy and of democracy would seem thus to be complete; and France would get the Rhine, with the approval both of the patriots and the priests of Southern Europe. This dreamy, misty, Napoleonic fancy has been ruined, as it was sure in the ordinary course of things to be, by a very commonplace event. The Queen of Spain, who was to have played the glorified part of at once lending men to France and contributing an air sanctity to the undertaking, has sud the meaning of "drifting into war," and denly been deposed by her subjects, who the danger is lest the situation which the Emperor has partly created should in its turn produce the catastrophe from which he shrinks. could not abide an intolerable mixture of piety, misgovernment, and feminine depravity. The loss of an army on the eve of a desperate campaign is a serious affair, especially when the army is one on whose co-operation at the nick of time depends the whole success of the arrangement. Anxious as the Spanish Revolution may be to appease or propitiate the French Empire, The general impression that a movement upon the Rhine was meant to coincide (in case of Russian intervention) with a revival of Polish agitation and a Franco-Austrian expedition in favour of Catholic Poland, is doubtless founded upon a modicum of fact. liberated Spain is scarcely scarcely likely to embark in a speculative filibustering adventure, which at most could only end in the aggrandisement of an already powerful neighbour. And indeed, supposing that no such ingenious scheme was seriously entertained at Such a combination was probably one on which the Imperial fancy has rested in its passage from one phase to another, and for the present, like Beau Brummel's mangled cravat's, must be considered to be one more of the Emperor's failures. The advantage the Tuileries as a Franco-Catholic alliance, of the design, if it was ever really matured, still the explosion of a successful rebellion was doubtless that France might thus expect to engage on her side a certain amount of pious and a certain amount of revolutionary fervour. The Pope might bless the banners whose mission was to avenge the Catholic Bishops of Poland; while the scattered spirits of sedition in France, Italy, in Spain has not been without its uses. The dreams of an undecided person are easily disturbed. A rat behind the tapestry at the last might have kept Hamlet from avenging his father's ghost. No one can feel sure what the French Emperor might or might not have attempted this winter, if at the critical moment his resolution had not been shaken by hearing a noise upon his frontier. It is not pleasant to think that the peace of Europe is at the mercy of any single man; but no condition is without its consoling side, and it is some comfort to feel that the French Emperor has his nerves. Les nerf's, said the philosopher, voilà l'homme. Napoleon III. might have been a bold desperado, with the spirit and determination of a burglar. As it is, he is a sovereign who is reluctant to shed blood, who knows what military glory means to the poor and industrious, and who in his heart, perhaps, is not sorry when something occurs to render it easy for him to put off his great conquests till another day. He would doubtless rejoice, for the sake of humanity, if Prussia at the last moment would give him a small, even the smallest piece of tribute money. What the representative of French vanity requires is indeed rather consideration and deference than concession; and Napo not one who heard Mr. Reverdy Johnson, and leon III. often perhaps sighs (in the inter- same horror at sitting down to eat with ests of humanity) to think what a happy family the Continent would be if France might enjoy even the faintest shadow of hegemony. His policy, alternately bold and timid, humitarian and reactionary, conclusively shows that despotic power cannot safely be entrusted even to philosophers who have what is called the popular fibre. The Empire is not peace. It has not justified the first blast of trumpets with which its chief entered the political arena. Neither, on the other hand, is the Empire war. The Empire, to Europe, means suspense. How long Prussia will consent to have the sword of Damocles hang over her head has yet to be seen; but if she does not mind it, and if 1868 is to close quietly in spite of all the rumours of the autumn, one cannot but allow that suspense is not so bad but that certainty might be worse. From The Saturday Review, 24 Oct. MR. REVERDY JOHNSON AT LIVERPOOL. such persons as an American Republican THE Liverpool banquet to Mr. Reverdy all the sensible portion of his audience to Johnson has been a complete success. find that he frankly dealt with the matter in Coming at exactly the right moment, when a graceful and generous manner. Perhaps, the minds of men on both sides of the At- however, his audience was even more gratlantic were prepared and anxious for some ified by the declaration which he took upon sign of reciprocal good-feeling and assured himself to make with regard to the public amity between the two nations, it has risen debt of the United States. It seems to into an event of real political importance, have been an afterthought, for it was only by affording a means of placing on record at the close of the entertainment that he the good relations now existing between touched on this point. Probably some of England and the United States. Every his Liverpool friends thought that, as he had said so much that was true, and had done so much to tranquillize the feelings of different kinds of people, it was a pity the bondholders should not come in for a share of the good things going, and that a word should not be spoken to keep up the price of Five-Twenties. Whether the interests of Americans that they should be on both sides arising out of the war is not yet ended, but both Lord Stanley and Mr. Johnson seem to think an agreement as simple enough, and Englishmen are quite as ready to accept it as Americans can be. But the consequence of the rule in the sphere of criminal law, in the sphere of family life and of inheritance, are not easy to foresee and to determine properly; and it is quite as much to Mr. Johnson was right in committing properly determined as it can be to that of himself and the nation he represents so Englishmen. The discussion of the claims decidedly on a point which is still kept open in the battlefield of American politics, he alone can decide. We in England cannot criticize his conduct in any way equitable as possible under the circumstanon this head. We can only accept his ces will very soon be come to; and it is declaration with the sincerest pleasure, and evident that Mr. Johnson and Mr. Seward rejoice to find so leading an American statesman, placed in so responsible a position, declare that even if the point in dispute is one that can be fairly raised between the debtor and the creditor, prudence and honesty alike concur in determining that it shall be ruled in favour of those who have lent their money. Lord Stanley was there to meet Mr. Johnson, and joined in giving the welcome assurance that all was going on as well as possible between himself and their guest, and that all the questions at issue between ourselves and the Americans were in a fair way to be settled very shortly, and on terms highly satisfactory to both parties. On two points - the possession of the island of San Juan and the naturalization of aliens - an understanding seems already to have been arrived at. It ought not to be difficult to deal with such a subject as the island of San Juan. Very few Englishmen have ever heard of the island, and our only feeling as to it must be that we do not wish to be bullied out of it, or out of anything else; but that really we have so many possessions we know nothing about, and do will be glad the matter should be settled before the new President forms his Cabinet, and that Lord Stanley would like to have the credit of going out of office with the credit of leaving so good piece of finished work behind him. Both sides, we suppose, will agree to admit to some extent the claims of the other, and therefore both sides will have something to pay. The balance may possibly be against England. We may have to pay the money, but then we shall have one great source of satisfaction to comfort us. The Americans will be only settling those ordinary claims for reparation which arise so easily and naturally out of every war where the interests and commerce of a neutral are largely mixed up with those of a belligerent. But we shall be establishing a principle at once new and greatly to our advantage. We shall be binding over all neutrals not to inflict on us the injury to which a great maritime Power is most exposed in time of war. We shall be insuring ourselves against depredations on our mercantile marine at the hands of neutrals or by their connivance; and this is a source of security and not know what to do with, that we should advantage to us which we shall be sure to be rather glad than otherwise to find our be purchasing very cheaply, whatever may title bad to some of them. Aš to naturali- be the exact amount of pecuniary satisfaction zation, it never was an international diffi- to the Americans which Lord Stanley may culty at all. A few violent Americans tried undertake we shall render. SO to make capital out of it, and to use it as a The good feeling prevailing between the means of hurting the feelings of Britishers; United States and England seemed but we in England never saw it in that clearly established, the banquet went off so light at all. The difficulties that surround well, and it seemed such an excellent thing the subject are difficulties, not of na- to have secured peace between the two national feeling or custom, but simply of law. tions on such pleasant terms, that Lord It so happens that, in this as in many other Stanley and Mr. Gladstone were both led cases, the rule which we are willing to ac- to speculate on the possibility of the examcept is simple enough, but the application ple being followed elsewhere, and of Europe of it is by no means easy. Let us suppose that we and the Americans and every other civilized nation are willing to adopt the principle that every male of full age may at his pleasure, and by going through certain forms, change his nationality. This sounds being tranquillized in the same manner. Lord Stanley allowed it to be understood that, in his opinion, the danger of war between France and Prussia had been exaggerated, and it was principally because persons had chosen to think war inevitable From Saint Paul's. CLARISSA.* Here, says Mr. Dallas to all English readers, is a great treasure. There are circumTHIS is indeed an old tale, and we should stances connected with it which seem to not now have thought of inviting the atten- make it unavailable to the public in its tion of our readers to one so old, were it present shape. Let us see if we cannot so not for the boldness and unambiguous handle this piece of unsurpassed excellence, thoroughness of the challenge thrown down as to make it of general service to humanity. by Mr. Dallas, in his introduction to this "Unfortunately," says Mr. Dallas, “Richnew edition of Samuel Richardson's well-ardson has a great fault; he is prolix. known novel. He expresses an opinion, He gives us indeed gold, but the gold is almost in so many words, that Richardson shapen into a goblet so huge that few of us is the greatest of all novelists, and "Clar- can lift it to our lips." And then he goes issa" the greatest of al! novels. He quotes readers a simple abridgment of the marvelon, "I have ventured to offer to English Macaulay, who is said to have expatiated lous tale, to Thackeray on the pleasures which he and others took in reading Clarissa" among the hills in India. He tells us that Sir James Mackintosh declared that it was the finest work of fiction ever written in any language. He overwhelms us with French admiration, naming Alfred de Musset, D'Alembert, Voltaire, Rousseau, and Diderot, though, as two out of these five were admittedly adverse critics, we hardly see to what this leads. And then he tells us that 66 matchless in the range of prose fiction, - because, for the honour of literature, I lament that the noblest of all novels, the most pathetic, and the most sublime, should be unread and well-nigh unknown among us." To cure the evil of prolixity, therefore, Mr. Dallas has abridged the work by omitting such of the letters as he deemed to be unnecessary to the development of the story. the its In this there is an admission that "Clar many besides Diderot put Richardson and issa," as left to us by the author, is in the the Bible together. In fact, Mr. Dallas present day unreadable. Thus there arise means to assert that there is the strongest two questions. Is Mr. Dallas right in the possible evidence which can be given by the extreme amount of eulogy which he passes admiration of contemporaries and by the on a work which he admits to be beyond judgment of critics that "Clarissa" is the power of English readers to digest in greatest of novels. But he goes on to add, in making that popular which is now adpresent form; and will he be successful - and this is the point at which he aims, that, though "Clarissa" is thus excellent, mittedly unpopular by the simple work of it does not now receive that attention which abridgment? We notice the book thinkso excellent a work deserves, and does noting that his judgment is wrong and that his administer to readers generally that delight labours will prove to be futile; because which it is capable of affording. This, in- the matter is of great importance, and be deed, is the very gist of the plea which he cause it may be worth while to inquire why puts forward. "I lament," he nobody now reads Richardson's novels. "that says, the noblest of all novels, the most pathetic, Now and again we hear the voice of a In these days everybody reads novels. and the most sublime, should be unread, and well-nigh unknown among us." And thoughtful or earnest man raised against again, "For the novelist who could so prethis popular reaction. Mr. Carlyle or the vail, I claim in all the English courts of Archbishop of York may endeavour to criticism, and in the regard of all his coun- prove that we are dissipating our minds, trymen, a reversal of the sentence of neglect wasting our time, and encouraging laxity from which he now suffers." And again, but the preaching of the preacher is of no and diffuseness in our intellectual powers; "I challenge for him in all the courts of avail. Men are as laborious as ever they English criticism and in the regard of all were. Our wives and our daughters are his countrymen a reconsideration of his more highly educated than were our meth We work, and ers and grandmothers. pray, and ride, and dance, and gan'le, But we all read novels; - lawyers, divines, and talk politics as assiduously as ever. merchants, soldiers, sailors, courtiers, poli ticians, and what not. There is hardly a man or a woman who can read who des not require that some amount of novel read ing shall be printed for the delight of his T her leisure hours. And so much is learned services." There is an enthusiasm in this, a true admiration for an undoubtedly noble work, and a true interest for the reputation of a great writer, which the lovers of English literature cannot but love. One's first feeling on reading Mr. Dallas's remarks is that of sympathy, at any rate with Mr. Dallas. "Clarissa:" A Novel, by Samuel Richardson, edited by E. S. Dallas. Tinsley, 1868. - --- use. that he has omitted nothing necessary to the story, and that, in the three volumes now under notice, "Clarissa" is a better novel than it was as left by Richardson. We will not pause to assert that an author should be judged by his works as he himself leaves them, and will acknowledge, also, as we proceed, that the world of readers is indebted to the editor or commentator who will make that which fitted the taste of one age fit also for the taste of later ages by his labours. But we venture to express our opinion that, even in this abridgment, "Clarissa is so prolix, that the impatience of the times will not endure the book; and also that, as a work of art, it is not only prolix, but is so replete with other faults which have been condemned by the ever-advancing literary education of the day, that it can never again become popular. from novels, -so much of good and of evil, | has undertaken on our behalf to make it -so very many of the details of everyday less so. We will acknowledge, as we pass life are done honestly or dishonestly, self- on, that he has so far done his task well, ishly or unselfishly, in a manner divine or diabolical, as the mind of the doer may have been operated upon beneficially or injuriously by the novelist's art, that the production and possession of good novels instead of bad, that is of novels that will teach good lessons instead of novels that will teach bad lessons, is a matter of vital importance to the nation. We think that we are right in asserting that the novels of the day have more effect on the national mind than either the sermons or the poetry; more probably than any other branch of literature with the exception of newspapers, even if we except them. In speaking of the novels of the day, we mean the novels which are now read, and should count Richardson's among those if they were in daily If this be so, it would be a great thing to redeem from darkness and bring out into meridian light a work, of which the lessons are undoubtedly moral, if that There are those, among whom, however, work be, as it is asserted, of all novels the we do not think that we should reckon Mr. best and most charming. Dallas, lovers of literature too, who It is confessed that nobody reads "Clar-will tell us that our education and taste as issa." Richardson's novels must, indeed, to that which we read have gone backwards; be classed among those standard national that men and women who prefer Macaulay works of literature with which men in gen- to Burnet, Tennyson to Dryden, or Thackeral think it no harm to profess an acquain-eray to Richardson, do so because to their tance, although they have never read a line attenuated intellects and sickly judgments of them, and have never opened the volume. tinsel shines brighter than gold. These are There are many such national works. We the "lauditores temporis acti," the Conserdon't mean to say that men and women lie vatives in literature, for there are Conabout them. If asked to put their hands servatives in literature as in politics, men on their hearts and say whether they had who are very serviceable to us in saving us perused this or that book from end to end, from too quick a desertion of things that the truth would come from them clearly and are old, because they are old, the drag rapidly. But in the ordinary conversation upon our wheels which might otherwise run of the world, it is customary to presume an down the hill too quickly. But we hold acquaintance with these happy literary own- them to be altogether wrong in their judgers of brevet rank. Beaumont and Fletcher ment of men's intellects. As age succeeds are a great example. We are disposed to age, that which is most worthy keeps its believe that Spenser might be named in the hold upon us. As it is in matters political, list; Bunyan's" Pilgrim's Progress" should so it is also in matters of literature. Trial be inserted; and De Foe's writings, with by jury remains, and is likely to remain, the exception of "Robinson Crusoe." Dry- let Messrs. Beales and Odgers be ever so den's poems, Chesterfield's letters, and Dr. triumphant; and Shakspeare is still known Johnson's works, of course we do not in- to us at least as intimately as in any previclude his dictionary, may be added. In ous age. The very admission that "Clarthis catalogue Richardson's novels must issa" is not read, is of itself proof to us certainly find a place. All these are books that "Clarissa " is unreadable. which it is assumed that every man has Mr. Dallas admits that this work is proread, which all men have on their book-lix, and endeavours to cure the fault. But shelves, but which nobody ever reads. If unfortunately the book is weighted with a “Clarissa" is so pre-eminently the best of novels, and as novels are now more popular than ever, why is "Clarissa" among the books that are never opened? Mr. Dallas tells us that it is prolix, and double prolixity. It is prolix in all its parts, as well as in its whole. Cut it to pieces as you will, and it will still be prolix. The telling of every incident is done with a prolixity that to us is amazing; and, as the |