'Choice of Hercules.' His views tend in- | some great statesman to arise who may be deed to the reformation of all religions; aware that all our powers for good are but it is by a method very different from wanted to resist evil. We Protestants centhat of the iconoclast. The reformation sure the Church of Rome for silencing, or he proposed would break down nothing attemping to silence Galileo, being ourwith which piety and obligation are asso- selves convinced that all physical truth ciated. All he requires is to give a sounder ought to be known. Is moral truth then so interpretation to the letter, and not to persist unimportant, that Protestants may silence too long, and till it is too late, in giving a the testimony of Socrates, hide the facts of real sense to that which ought to be re- his life, and neglect his convincing reasonceived as mystic. We leave to phrenolo-ings?-nay, may misrepresent them at gists to explain the action of the brain, their pleasure? Does the history of the but we believe that it becomes physically world so abound in unquestionable and irreimpossible at advanced periods to believe sistible evidence and testimony of the great what at earlier periods is perfectly credible. truths which are demonstrated and testiStatesmen may keep men's heads as cool fied, both in his life and by his death, that as they can by fetters for the body and dog- we may neglect his testimony? mas for the mind; but the progress of events, accelerating intellectual develop-cal usefulness, and Bentham a still better ment with a velocity at once fearful and hopeful, must convince the real statesman (O that he would arise!) that one mode of conduct is alone safe, as it alone is reasonable and conscientious, at least in a man of sound knowledge; in a man, for example, who knows all that may be known and will be known of the religion and philosophy of Greece. That philosophy, the philosophy of Socrates, we further contend, has not been in vain, in so far as the world at large has received it in various forms; though, alas! it was not allowed by her priests and statesmen to save Greece. Bacon may be a good witness of physi witness of political usefulness; we would neither dispute their claim, nor derogate from its value; but we ask, where shall we find such a witness as Socrates of moral including religious principle? Has the world's history three such connected wit nesses, such a body of evidence, as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle supply? Why are they hidden, or made known to comparatively a few; and even that with no deeper sincerity, no larger truth, than some of the criticisms of our fatherland supply? If Dr. Arnold thought rightly, that the history of Thucydides is of the deepest imShall we be told that now at least the portance and closest applicability to our own philosophy of Socrates has done all its al-times and interests and circumstances, is lotted work, and therefore is cast aside by scholars and universities, religionists, philosophers and statesmen? Shall we be told this in an age which still echoes the fearful words-" Mortels! cessez de trembler devant les foudress impuissans d'un Dieu créé par vos terreurs, in an age which has seen the certain commentary on such a text, "Ce ne sont pas seulement les sciences, les arts consolateurs, les arts utils qui vont périr; ce sont les premiers liens de la société, les plus saintes affections qui sont rompus avec fureur. L'imagination ne peut concevoir une plus affreuse pensée qu'un tel peuple exercant ses fureurs au centres de l'Europe?" there no sound parallelism in the reasoning which would prove that the philosophy of Socrates comes home to our business and bosoms? The claim of Socrates to our admiration, respect and love forms a great body of evidence in itself, and is perfectly compatible with other evidence, in whatever form it be received; but certainly is most compatible with the acceptance of other evidence in the form in which it is most true, and in which ultimately it can be received with most sincerity. Here is something sounder in principle, feeling and conduct, than that cry of weakness and despair-"La nation reconnait l'existence de l'Etre Suprême et l'immortalité de l'âme"-that cry which came too late.* In an age which re-echoes those fearful words, and which has its own debt, deficit and droits de Seigneur, even if it had no We turn to the philosophy of Bacon, as other resemblance to the age of reason, are set forth by his reviewer, and we ask whethwe to be told that the philosophy of So-er the fruits of Bacon's physical science, crates has done its work? We look for * See Lacretelle's History of the Revolution. But see, above all, Carlyle's masterly History. We | speak not of its style, which is not to our taste, but of its large grasp of the subject? *On what view of Christianity taken by the French church can such a system of Education, Piety and Policy be founded, as may be a guarantee for the peace of Europe and the world against the passions of that most excitable people? which we would in no wise deny or undervalue, are fitted to be the moral and the spiritual food of man? Man does not live by bread alone. We admit, or rather we contend, that the Creator of man wills that he be fed better physically than he has been or now is and towards this end Bacon did much, and Bentham did more, though not all; for, we repeat, man does not live by bread alone. He not only has higher and nobler desires, but these higher and nobler desires must be gratified, before he can eat his daily bread in peace and safety,-ay, before he can have a full and assured supply of daily bread to eat. For what is more obvious than that the moral principles on which Bacon acted would, if they prevailed, render of no effect the physical principles he desired to establish? Not so with Socrates. In his life, and by his death, he exemplified the principles which he taught; principles which make individuals, families and states most happy; principles not to be taken upon trust, but requiring God's rational creatures to exam ine them, whether they are useful, pure and holy; and when this has been ascertained, requiring God's moral creatures to practise them, conscientiously, sincerely, truly. For Socrates points out distinctly that knowledge without practice is not knowledge; and that the philosopher is, not he who knows, but he who knows and does. THE excitement which has been caused by the announcement of this book, has been very great. The certainty felt by all who know any thing of the character of the writer, that she would speak out, has occasioned a singular sensation. The heroine, for such Lady Sale (despite her disclaimer of the title) has proved herself to be, has spoken out, and the demand for this volume will be proportioned to the freedom of her revelations and comments. The courtesy of Mr. Murray has put us in possession of the journal at a period, late indeed for perusal, -and too late for remark, were it desirable but early enough to enable us to lay before our readers a series of extracts which will stimulate rather than satiate their curiosity. Lady Sale writes (we speak er cathedrâ, for we have read the volume from beginning to end) with simplicity and spirit. Had sound vigorous sense like hers been found in other heads, this journal would never have been written. She details the fight, the watch, the storm, the skirmish, the massacre, and the march, without a word of affectation, and, indeed, without a word to shw that she thinks she is telling any thing out of the common way. She narrates the energetic executions, and the melancholy fate of her gallant son-in-law, Captain Sturt, in a tone of admiring affection, but without a word of undue praise. The horrors of the dreadful retreat, told in Lady Sale's straightforward, unaffected style, exceed all ideas which have been formed from other recitals. But it is to the melancholy vacillation, the disgraceful ig norance, which led to all these scenes, that the attention of the English public-of English statesmen, will be drawn. We will not, by further remark, detain the reader from our extracts. Lady Sale states, in the "introduction" to her "Journal," *** I have not only daily noted down events as they occurred, but often have done so hourly. I have also given the reports of the day, the only information we possessed; also such news as was telegraphed from the Bala Hissar, or sent in by the King or by Capt. Conolly to the Envoy; and many other reports brought by Affghan gentlemen of Capt. Sturt's acquaintance, and by others of lower degree, who having had dealings with him in the engineer department and public works, and having received kindness from him, gave him such in telligence and warning as was in their power; cult part to play, without sufficient moral couall of which he communicated [to his superior rage to stem the current singly. About two officers] at different times; but the warnings months since, Sir William wrote to Lord Auckwere not attended to; and as when he gave his land, explaining to him the present state of Affadvice it was seldom adhered to, he became dis- ghanistan, and requesting that five additional gusted, and contented himself with zealously regiments should be sent to this country, two of performing his duties and making himself gene- them to be European. To these statements a rally useful, acting the part of an artillery officer written war succeeded between the Envoy and as well as that of an engineer. Had poor Sturt's the Supreme Government of Bengal. Letter life been spared, it was his intention to have after letter came, calling for retrenchment. Sir worked up my Rough Notes, and to have added William had been appointed from home Govermuch valuable information; he was too much nor of Bombay, and was particularly chosen for overworked to afford leisure to give me assis- the office from his being a moderator, and a man tance at the time. His plans, drawings, &c., unlikely to push any violent measures. He hoped with his public and private papers, were lost, ex- affairs might take a turn for the better, and was cept a note or two that were, just a few days be- evidently anxious to leave Cabul, and assume fore we left Cabul, put with my Journal. I be- his new appointment. In an evil hour, he aclieve several people kept an account of these ceded to the entreaties of Sir Alexander Burnes, proceedings, but all except myself lost all they (who appears to have been blinded on the subhad written; and had recourse to memory after-ject,) and wrote to Lord Auckland to nullify his wards. I lost every thing except the clothes I wore; and therefore it may appear strange that should have saved these papers. The mystery is, however, easily solved. After every thing was packed on the night before we left Cabul, I sat up to add a few lines to the events of the day, and the next morning, I put them in a small bag and tied them round my waist. This is her account of the commencement of the revolt : former request for additional troops, and to say that part of those now in the country might be withdrawn. The 1st brigade, under Sale, was accordingly ordered to be in readiness to move down; and it was generally understood that all would be withdrawn as soon as the Shah had raised five more regiments of his own. The letter of recall, as we may term Sir William's, was sent off only two days before the breaking out of the Zoormut affair. Again The state of supineness and fancied security of those in power in cantonments is the result of deference to the opinions of Lord Auckland, whose sovereign will and pleasure it is that tranquillity do reign in Affghanistan; in fact, it is reported at Government House, Calcutta, that the lawless Affghans are as peaceable as London citizens; and this being decided by the powers that be, why should we be on the alert? Most dutifully do we appear to shut our eyes In former times, under the feudal system, when the sovereign of Cabul required troops, each bold chieftain came forward with his retainers; but these vassals had been taken from them, and were embodied in corps commanded by British officers, to whom they owed no affection, and only paid a forced obedience, whilst their hearts were with their national religion; their chief's power was now greatly limited, and the chouk guaranteed to them was withheld on the plea that the Company had commanded retrenchments. But the saving required by Gov-on our probable fate. The Shah is, however, to ernment was a curtailment of those expenses which were defrayed by its own rupees, whereas the 40,000 rupees now the subject of dispute were, in fact, no saving at all to us, as that money was never paid by the Company, but was the chouk or money excused to the chiefs out of the revenue or dues owing to the King, on condition of their enforcing the submission of the petty chiefs, and the payment of their rents. This sum, whether paid to Shah Shoojah or not, would never have replenished the Hon. Company's coffers; and by upholding the Shah in such an act of aggression we compromised our faith, and caused pretty general insurrection, said to be headed by Meer Musjude. The Envoy is thus spoken of: be protected, whatever may be the fate of the English in the city; and Brig. Shelton is sent with the Shah's 6th, some of the 44th Queen's, and three horse artillery guns, under Capt. Nicholl, to the Bala Hissar. The King, as he well may be, is in great consternation. More to the same effect: No military steps have been taken to suppress the insurrection, nor even to protect our only means of subsistence (the Godowns), in the event of a siege. The King, Envoy, and General, appear perfectly paralyzed by this sudden outbreak: the former is deserted by all his courtiers, and by even his most confidential servants, except the Wuzeer, who is strongly suspected of having instigated the conspiracy; and suspiLast year, when Sir Willoughby Cotton com-cion attaches to his majesty again. It is here manded, and during the disturbances in the Ko- necessary to observe, that several months ago histan, every despatch from Sale, who command-letters calling on all true Mussulmans to rise ed the troops there, was promulgated in orders, against the Kaffirs (English unbelievers) were and the present system of keeping information widely disseminated: they bore the King's sigclose is disgusting; there can be no secrets re-nature; but Sir William Macnaghten always garding what passes in action in the field. The insisted that they were forgeries of a very pegeneral impression is that the Envoy is trying culiar description, that papers bearing the verato deceive himself into an assurance that the cious signature had had their contents washed country is in a quiescent state. He has a diffi-out, and these seditious writings inserted. The Shah of course said "An enemy has done as they crammed the box into their own gothis;" and as dead men tell no tales, much of down, I strongly suspect they mean to keep it the obloquy was allowed to rest on Moollah themselves. My chest of drawers they took posShekoor, who had paid the penalty of other state session of with great glee-I left some rubbish crimes. in them, and some small bottles, that were useless to me. I hope the Affghans will try their contents as medicine, and find them efficacious; one bottle contained nitric acid, another a strong solution of lunar caustic? And, better still In Affghanistan, the English act as they do in all other countries, they visit-keep to themselves, and even (generally) employ only servants brought with them. The envoy kept but few Affghans in his employ. He had a news-reporter, at 150 rupees a month, who had the credit of concocting splendid untruths; an old mool- The citizens are ruined by the perfect stagnalah, picked up at Kandahar, who, I believe, re- tion of trade, and would probably side with us ceives 200-a man greatly in Sir William's con- were we to show in force. Now is the time to fidence; there is also an old cossid. These peo-strike the blow, but I much dread dilly-dallying ple adhere to the Envoy, and flatter him into the belief that the tumult is bash (nothing), and will shortly subside. A word too late It is more than shocking, it is shameful, to hear the way that officers go on croaking before the men; it is sufficient to dispirit them, and prevent their fighting for us. And There is much reprehensible croaking going on; talk of retreat, and consequent desertion of our Mussulman troops, and the confusion likely to take place consequent thereon. All this makes a bad impression on the men. Our soldiery like to see the officers bear their part in privation; it makes them more cheerful; but in going the rounds at night, officers are seldom found with the men. There are those that always stay at their posts on the ramparts, and the men appreciate them as they deserve. To particularize them would be too openly marking the rest; but their names will, I trust, be remembered to their honor and advantage hereafter. The great carnage— The troops continued their fearful march; the remnant of the camp followers, with several wounded officers, went ahead: for five miles they saw no enemy; all who could not walk were necessarily left behind. They descended a long steep descent to the bed of the Tézeen Nullah. At this dip, the scene was horrible; the ground was covered with dead and dying, amongst whom were several officers; they had been suddenly attacked and overpowered. The enemy here crowded from the tops of the hills in all directions down the bed of the Nullah, through which the route lay for three miles; and our men continued their progress through an incessant fire from the heights on both sides, until their arrival in the Tézeen valley, at about half past four p. m. The descent from the Huft Kohtul was about 2000 feet; and here they lost the snow. About 12,000 persons have perished. just because a handful of us are in Akbar's power. What are our lives when compared with the honour of our country? Not that I am at all inclined to have my throat cut; on the contrary, I hope that I shall live to see the British flag once more triumphant in Affghanistan; and then I have no objection to the Ameer Dost Mahomed Khan being reinstated: only let us first show them that we can conquer them, and humble their treacherous chiefs in the dust. This is the last for which we can find room: The late newspapers have not a little amused me. They show that the editors catch at every expression used in any letters they have read, or on any comments they hear on news from Affghanistan. A regular controversy has arisen between one, who asserts that Lady Sale in her letters evinces a strong prepossession in favor of Mahommed Akbar Khan, and another, who thinks Lady Sale wrote, as she did, because she was a prisoner: to which the first rejoins, that he does not think Lady S. would, under any circumstances, write that which was false.There he is right: but I would not have written on the subject at all, unless I wrote as I thought: if people misunderstand, it is their fault and not mine. Again, they say it were better I had Perhaps so: but it seems never written at all. that details were wanting; my letters to Sale gave those; and he thought them of sufficient consequence to send them to the Governor-Geneafterwards sent to England by the former; and, ral and the Commander-in-Chief. They were if the papers tell truth, excited some attention in the highest circles. As to my "great prepos session" in favor of Akbar, my greatest wish is, that Gen. Nott's force should march up to Ghuznee; release the prisoners there; and then that a simultaneous movement should take place of Nott's and Pollock's forces upon Cabul. Once again in power, here, I would place Akbar Mahomed Shah, and Sultan Jan hors de combat ; befriend those who befriended us, and let the Affghans have the Ameer Dost Mahommed Khan back, if they like. He and his family are only an expense to us in India; we can restore Her Ladyship shows that she has good them, and make friends with him. Let us first soldierly feeling : The Mirza has returned; he and the Nazir promise to send a box, which I have no means of carrying, as also our servants, who are unable to go with us, to Jellallabad, to Sale; however, show the Affghans that we can both conquer them and revenge the foul murder of our troops; but do not let us dishonor the British name by sneaking out of the country like whipped Pariah dogs. Affghanistan will become a byword amongst the nations. Had we retreated, as I claim the old man's snow-white hairs-the babe's unsullied breath, And the love whose passionate excess might conquer all-save death. summon all-all these are mine!"—thus the dark phantom cried, While peals like thunder growling round in sullen echoes died. poor Sturt proposed, without baggage, with ceferity, (forced marches to get through the snow,) and had the men stood by us, (a doubtful point, they were so worn out and dispirited,) we might have figured in history, and have cut out Xeno-"I phon's account of the retreat of the ten thousand. As to the justice of dethroning the Ameer Dost Mahommed, and setting up Shah Shoojah, I have nothing to say regarding it, nor regarding our policy in attempting to keep possession of a country of uncivilized people, so far from our own, whence all supplies of ammunition, money, &c., must be obtained. Let our Governors-"I your polluted streets and halls will cleanse with General and Commanders-in-Chief look to that, will scorch your temples into dust, I will strike living fireswhilst I knit socks for my grandchildren. your stately spires; I Then spoke the Angel, bright with flame-“Oh, lie low We shall endeavor to give a second no- Thy mighty ones shall bite the earth, thy lofty shall tice of this journal; in the meantime, we We bring the mandate from on high-we doom thee think we have earned the thanks of our readers. THE PLAGUE AND THE FIRE. SUGGESTED BY THE ROMANCE OF "OLD ST. PAUL'S." BY MISS SKELTON. From Ainsworth's Magazine. A MIGHTY city lay in sleep, 'neath the dusk of a moonless night, But the starlight touch'd its thousand spires each with a gleaming light; The starlight show'd its countless homes, its halls of pomp and pride, And its marble, peopled terraces, and its river rolling wide. And I saw, betwixt the heavens and earth, two ghastly shapes arise, Shadowing the city's silent depths, clouding the starry skies Angels of death, denouncing doom-visions of wrath, they came; One, formless in its utter gloom-one, bright with blinding flame. The Spirits of the Plague and Fire!-I knew them as they rose, And I listen'd for the awful words that would tell of coming woes. No eye save mine that sight might see, no ear save mine might hear, As o'er the guilty city pass'd that sound of grief and fear. First, from the darker phantom broke a loud and wailing cry, "I summon ye,-oh! fated ones,-I summon ye to die! Long have your crimes for vengeance call'd-the word is given on high, And vengeance comes-to-night is yours, to-morrow ye shall die! "Death is already at your gates, his dart is raised to strike, And young and old, and rich and poor, I summon ye alike; And fair, and proud, and great, and brave, as autumn leaves ye fall The grave is dug, the pit is deep-I summon one and all. "Nought shall avail; virtue and truth shall die, with lust and pride; I claim the parent from the child, the bridegroom from the bride; wrath and wo!" I saw the signs-I heard the words then day was slowly born, And the bright Angel, girt with flame, fled from the light of morn; But in thick mist the dark shape sank, o'er streets and river down, And with the morrow came the Plague to that devoted town. POLAND AND SERVIA.-We have to record another act of insulting oppression perpetrated upon unhappy Poland by the "Northern Condor." We find, from the official gazette of the kingdom of Poland, that the administrative council of the kingdom has determined that the existing district in the Government of Kielce (formerly a circuit), named Krakowski, deriving its name from the city of Cracow, shall henceforth be called Proszowicki, from its chief town, Proszowice. Comment upon this ordinance may well be spared; it speaks plainly enough to all Europe that Russia adheres, wish stern purpose, to her plan for extinguishing whatever remains of nationality may yet linger among the beaten-down Sarmatians. The name of Cracow is to be blotted out from history. To this system of brutal tyranny, England, the Smiter of brave men, whom, in ordinary policy, she should of Tyrants, has been content to hand over a nation have upheld as the deadliest enemies of her own In Servia, Russian intrigues and Russian despotism are again at work, and, with the Protean dexterity which belongs to the wily savage, the autocrat has taken up the cause of democracy. Russia demands of the Porte that Servia be allowed to exercise the right of popular election. But Austria is awakened and alarmed, and has thrown her weight into the opposite scale. The Sultan, assured of the support of the European powers against Russia, will most probably resist the mandate, and adhere to the line he has taken, this time fearing deadliest enemy. "No Russian cannon's heavy hail, In vengeance smiting the Serail." This perpetual interference on the part of Russia in the affairs of other nations must, ere long, bring on an indignant rebuke from one or other of the powers whose threats are not a mere brutum fulmen. France forgets much, but forgives nothing; and England must, by this time, have learned the folly of her practice of forgetting nothing and forgiving every thing.-Court Journal. |