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worth of those who seek to direct our conduct. Rogers's own contributions are few and far between, rather sententious, and very seldom original. For instance, being asked if he had attended some lectures on the art of memory, he replied, "No, I wish to learn the art of forgetting." This is simply Cicero's story of Themistocles saying to Simonides, when he promised him an art of memory, Oblivionis mallem; nam memini etiam quæ nolo, oblivisci non possum quæ volo. Again, "I always distrust the accounts of eminent men by their contemporaries. None of us has any reason to slander Homer or Julius Cæsar; but we find it very difficult to divest ourselves of prejudices when we are writing about persons with whom we have been acquainted." This is simply a combination of the proverb, "No man is a hero to his valet," with the saying of La Rochefoucauld, "In the adversity of our best friends there is something that does not displease us." This sentiment is more directly imitated by Rogers in another place: "Such is the eagerness of the human mind for excitement, for an event, that people generally have a sort of satisfaction in reading the deaths of their friends in the newspapers. I don't mean that a man would not be shocked to read there the death of his dearest friends, but that he feels a kind of pleasure in reading that of an acquaintance, because it gives him something to talk about with every body he may see during the day." In the same page there is another saying of his, to the effect that the reader of modern literature must often do as a flea does-skip; which reminds us that we had better leave off, which we will do after retailing two jokes of Sydney Smith here recorded on being advised by his doctor to "take a walk upon an empty stomach," Smith asked, "Up pon whose?" and he observed, "The Bishop of is so like Judas, that I now firmly believe in the apostolical succession." The "Porsoniana" at the end of the volume are dull enough.

Evening Recreations, or Samples from the Lecture Room. Edited by J. H. Gurney, Rector of St. Mary's, Marylebone. (London, Longmans.) This is a volume of very creditable Protestant lectures to working-men. As lecturing is the order of the day-as men who have not time or patience to chew their own brain-diet employ lecturers, as nigger-monarchs employ their wives, to chew the history, or the science, or the view that is to be administered, and to present it ready masticated, well softened with saliva, one might almost say ready-digested, to their not over-nice palates, it may perhaps be useful to the lecturer in labour to give a list of the subjects here treated. They are as follows: 1. English Descriptive Poetry. 2. Recollections of St. Petersburg. 3. Sir Thomas More. 4. The Fall of Mexico. 5. The Starry Heavens. 6. The House of Commons, its Struggles and Triumphs. 7. John Bunyan. 8. The Reformation. The lecture on Sir Thomas More is nicely done. The author, Mr. Burton, is not afraid to characterise Henry VIII., Anne Boleyn, even Cranmer, as they deserve, nor to sing the praises of the sweetest saint that ever ravished and illumined England with the fragrance of his virtues and the playful but keen light of his wisdom and pleasantry. "His career was illustrated," says Mr. Burton, "by almost every virtue that makes a man worthy of our respect or our love; he was humane, he was affectionate, he was tender, he was modest, he was wise, he was pious, he was brave. He was the wittiest man of his time. He was the wisest man of his time. In an age of disgraceful moral cowardice he displayed the most noble bravery-that noble bravery which is at all times so rare a quality-the bravery which leads a man to say

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*De Finibus.

the truth, in spite of all the vexations and calamities that it may bring upon him, because it is his duty in the sight of God." O that it were the duty of the Catholic priest in his pulpit, as it is the pleasure of the Protestant lecturer on his platform, to hold up this admirable example, this tenderly loved image, for the imitation of Catholics and Protestants! He is perhaps the only one of the great opponents of the Reformation who has gained and enjoys the enthusiastic love of each party—the model layman, so mild, so inoffensive, till it was his duty to show himself the lion-hearted confessor and martyr for the truth, of which impious men wanted to rob him,—till, as St. John Baptist had his head danced off by a lewd woman, Sir Thomas was to have his talked off by the revengeful harlot who succeeded Catherine on the throne of England.

We copy from another lecture, that on St. Petersburg, an incident characteristic alike of Englishman and Russian; it is the Rev. C. M. Birrell who speaks:

"An intelligent and affectionate lad of about seventeen, whom I engaged as servant soon after landing, began his operations in my room by fixing upon the wall his little brass picture. I had an uneasy sensation at the presence of the idol, and without determining the point of conscience, resolved to ascertain whether he could do without it. I accordingly one evening took it down and put it aside. Nothing will obliterate from my memory the look of blank disappointment with which poor Petrovitsch, who had raised his fingers to his left breast to introduce his morning orisons, found that his divinity was gone. He said nothing, but tried to set about his work. He used to polish the pine-floor, cleave the wood, light the stove, and prepare breakfast, before one of the gondolas that danced before the window had made two voyages across the river; but to-day he went from place to place like a pointer which has lost the scent, so that I thought I should faint before he brought me food. I asked what was the matter. He pointed to the vacant corner with a look of despair. 'I pray to God,' said I, without an image.' 'But I cannot,' he replied, with a tone of sadness. I saw how it was, and immediately restored the picture; but was not without some evidence, before we finally parted, that he looked beyond the brass for assistance in his daily toil."

See how a heartless, cynical, impossible sectarianism makes even a kind-hearted Englishman try the most cruel experiments on the dearest convictions of a person who professes a religion which the self-sufficient shallow-pated Briton, with all his command over his pen, cannot understand! And this wise parson setting himself to observe whether the poor boy's worship terminated in the brass!-It is too good!

1. On the Perception of Natural Beauty by the Ancients and the Moderns. Rome, Ancient and Modern. Two Lectures: delivered by his Eminence Cardinal Wiseman. (Burns and Lambert.) 2. On the Nature of an Inaugural Discourse. A Lecture: by the same. (Richardson.) These two publications are favourable illustrations of the versatile and accomplished character of the Archbishop of Westminster. The two lectures on Beauty and on Rome show him as the genial and animated critic; that on the nature of an inaugural discourse shows him as the ready and acute controversialist; for the lecture is really a reply to Lord John Russell's one-sided statements at Exeter Hall on the subject of religious persecution. We need hardly say that the Cardinal has by far the best of it.

Hymns, Anthems, and Litanies, for the use of the Confraternities

of La Salette. Edited by the Rev. J. Wyse. (Richardson.) This little publication includes both music and words: the former are chiefly adaptations from well-known pieces; except the "Tota pulchra es," which is now for the first time published in England. It is a fine chant. The whole will be useful to those for whom it is intended.

The Lamp. New Series. Vol. I. Part I. Edited by James Burke. (Dolman.) We are glad to see this useful periodical making a fresh start, and trust that it is a sign of vitality. We wish Mr. Burke all success in a work which it is no easy matter to carry on.

Quarterly Return of the English Council of the Society of St. Vincent of Paul. January 1856. No. 1. (Dolman.) The "Publication Committee" of the Brotherhood of St. Vincent of Paul have started again with a periodical account of their labours, and on a better plan. This first number contains much that is interesting to all Catholics.

The Life of Blessed Andrew Bobola. From the Italian of Monaci. (Richardson.) The life of B. A. Bobola is one of the most remarkable of modern saints' lives. His martyrdom is most horrible to read of. The present translation may be recommended to all who wish to know what it is to suffer for Jesus Christ.

The Popular Library. (Burns.) 1. Bridges' Modern History. 2. Hill's La Vendée. 3. Miss Caddell's Missions in Japan and Paraguay. 4. Tales and Legends from History. Four very good volumes, and on varied subjects. Mr. Bridges' History is an immense store of the facts of history, well put together, and, for an original publication, extraordinarily cheap. It has also all the apparatus of tables, &c. desirable when used as a school-book. Mr. Hill's La Vendée is a pleasant story of one of the most glorious and touching episodes in the history of war in all ages. He has also included in the volume the curious and pretty account given by M. Rio of his school-doings in "La Petite Chouannerie," of which we remember reading many years ago with singular interest. Miss Caddell's volume shows the influence of the faith in other scenes, equally heroic and equally unparalleled out of the Church. She has executed her task with all her usual good taste and feeling. The volume of Legends speaks for itself; they are striking, and often beautiful. The "getting up" of the series contrasts agreeably with the style to which we have too long been accustomed in Catholic publications.

Journal kept during the Russian War from April 1854 to the Fall of Sebastopol. By Mrs. Henry Duberly. (London, Longmans.) It is something new to have a journal of such events as these from the pen of a female eye-witness. Never was war so recorded as this: sketched, lithographed, photographed; strained through the brains of poets, statisticians, politicians, own-correspondents in all interests; described in barometrical despatches of heavy generals, in lively letters from light officers, and in the more simple, graphic, and truthful memorials of the common soldier,-it had only to be filtered through a woman's heart to be completely presented in all its polygonal variety. Mrs. Duberly's Journal is short; but there are many touches that give very complete pictures of scenes and incidents of kindliness, of selfishness, of openhearted naval generosity, of grimacing politeness that promises but performs not, of misery and of triumph, such as only a woman would have noted down. The journal is well worth reading, not for any technical skill in composition, but for its naturalness and simplicity. We forgot to mention, that the lady's heart expands most towards horseflesh.

Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to El Medinah and Meccah. By Richard F. Burton. 3d vol. Meccah. (London, Longmans.) This is the third and concluding volume of the amusing and valuable work of which we reviewed the two first volumes about six months ago. As a bold, enterprising, versatile, inquisitive, and graphic traveller and writer, Mr. Burton may be compared to M. Huc himself. The difference is in moral character; and in this respect the officer who "turned Turk" and risked his life merely to fill up a disgraceful void in our maps, can hardly be compared to a missionary who has lived for fifteen years in daily peril of death for the sake of the propagation of Christianity. We own to a great partiality for the admixture of science and fun which characterises the style of both these authors.

FOREIGN LITERATURE.

De l'Etat des Choses à Naples et en Italie. Lettres à George Bowyer, Esq. Par Jules Gondon. (London, Dolman.) On the strength of the old adage, audi alteram partem, we recommend our readers to peruse the plain and dispassionate statement contained in this pamphlet. It is curious to observe the impression created on the minds of foreigners by the facts of our own social condition; the statement of which rests, by the way, on English authorities. It may read our national pride a profitable and seasonable lesson.

Missions de Chine. Memoir on the present State of the Mission of Kiang-nau, 1842-1855. By the Rev. P. Broullion, S.J.; with an Appendix of Letters on the Insurrection. (Paris, Julien, Lanier, and Co.) A valuable statistical picture of the labours and gradual successes of this Jesuit Mission, written with more distinctness than such works usually possess. The Letters on the Insurrection are valuable documents, indispensable for the historian of this remarkable movement.

Correspondence.

MACAULAY AND DRYDEN.

To the Editor of the Rambler.

SIR, I quite agree with you in your estimate of Macaulay as a historian. He certainly cannot be trusted. He distorts facts in order to support his own "views," while his materials are mostly drawn from the gossip of the day,-from mere reports, jests, and party statements, &c. How different from the accuracy, impartiality, and historic research of our own Lingard!

But my object in writing these few lines is to draw the attention of your readers to the character which Macaulay gives of Dryden in vol, ii. of his History (p. 196-197). It is distinguished by a spirit of invective, abuse, and calumny, as unjust as it is severe. His wrath is enkindled against him because he had the courage to join the Catholic Church; and, above all, because Mr. Macaulay takes it for granted

that Dryden in changing his religion was evidently influenced by mercenary motives, by the hope of a pension. These are his words: “Finding that if he continued to call himself a Protestant his services would be overlooked, he declared himself a Papist. The king's parsimony instantly relaxed, Dryden was gratified with a pension of 1007. a year, and was employed to defend his new religion both in prose and verse" (p. 197). Again: "He knew little, and cared little, about religion. If any sentiment was deeply fixed in him, that sentiment was an aversion to priests of all persuasions," &c. "His theological writings abundantly prove, that he never sought with diligence and anxiety to learn the truth, and that his knowledge both of the Church which he left and of the Church which he entered was of the most superficial kind. Nor was his subsequent conduct that of a man whom a strong sense of duty had constrained to take a step of such awful importance" (p. 197).

pen

The conclusion which all readers would naturally draw from these words is, that Dryden was not sincere in his conversion. But is this the truth? I believe not. Macaulay gives no proof whatever for his slander. On the contrary, Mr. Robert Bell, in his Annotated Edition of Dryden's Works, proves in the preface (vol. i. p. 59), that the " sion" to which Macaulay attributes so much influence on Dryden was given by King James before, and not after, the conversion of the poet. The exchequer-warrant is, in reality, dated as far back as May 1684; whereas Dryden did not join the Catholic Church till 1686, and the Hind and Panther was not published till 1687.

His dramatic works which he published after his conversion, often full of immoralities, no one regretted more than Dryden himself in his latter years. He frankly acknowledged his errors, and wished again and again" that he could be able either to purge, or to see those poems fairly burned."

Some of your correspondents will, I hope, examine the subject more in detail. I am, Sir, &c. J. DALTON.

Bishop's House, Northampton, Feb. 10, 1856.

MACAULAY AND JAMES II.

[A correspondent sends us the following extracts from Trevor-an Orange Protestant-on Mr. Macaulay's charge against James, that he was privy to Grandval's and Barclay's assassination-schemes.]

"It is said that Grandvalle, in his dying confession, implicated not only the Duke of Luxemburgh and King James, but also Madame de Maintenon, and even Louis XIV. himself, as being privy to this detestable design; but we must be cautious in giving credit to statements possibly made by Grandvalle with a hope of obtaining a pardon, which the inveteracy of party-spirit may have formed into the light of probability; and upon such more than dubious testimony we are not justified in supposing the French monarch, or any persons connected with his court, to have harboured or encouraged so atrocious an act."* Of Barclay's plot, Mr. Trevor says:

"It may here be but just to remark, that not the smallest proof ever existed of King James ever having been cognisant of, or any party to, such a design."

* Life and Times of William III. by the Hon. Arthur Trevor, M.A., F.A.S. Longmans, 1836, vol. ii. p. 197.

† Vol. ii. p. 289.