LITERARY REGISTER. fore the respective doors of which military sentinels are always stationed. The cathedral and the old palace of the Bishop of Chili occupy the south-western side, the former, already alluded to, is a handsome stone structure of modern build. A portico and shops distinguish the south-eastern side of the square. The north-eastern side is also occupied by shops. From the bill of Santa Lucia, at the eastern side of Santiago, a full view of the city can be obtained; and owing to the circumstance of nearly every house having a garden attached, it would be almost possible to count them, and this is the cause of the city extending over an area so much greater than would otherwise be the case. One of the good things connected with Santiago is the garden to cach house. The earthquakes are fatal sometimes and often troublesome, but as they are better than sanitary commissioners in preventing the erection of close and high buildings, and all the ills that flow from them they may be mercies to the tropics. Mr. Cornwallis has something to say of all the small towns where the steamer touched, although only by a flying visit. Pisco and Ica are alike unknown to fame, yet the former would be a good watering place, while the latter may have been a favourite resort of the Incas. Pisco is the port of Ica, the capital of the province, forty miles away in the interior across a sandy dessert, but only twenty miles from the sea coast, and in the centre of a highly cultivated region, from which are exported much cotton, sugar, and Italia grapes, from which latter the all but universal drink Italia is distilled, and shipped about the coast in long earthern jars with narrow necks and capacity for two or three gallons. The valley of Ica is also rich in various fruits, including the delicious cherimaya, an applesized, green rinded, garden product, containing a white pulp, and an immense number of black pipins; but the pulp is the cream of the feast, and so mellow, fragrant, and luscious a fruit, I have never found elsewhere. The Peruvians are an idle and slothful race, small blame to them, they can live almost without working, and they are not therefore likely to work. Even literature suffers in consequence of their easy disposition. In Peru, a man can earn a subsistence with comparatively little labour, aud with much more liberty, and in much less time than in England, where the working classes exhaust every energy in the mere provision of the necessaries of life and where to cease from this excessive toil is starvation, and even deeper wretchedness thun before. At the college of San Caroles, at Lima, the students devote themselves as much to recreation as study, and they are more often to be found in cafes or billiard-rooms, or engaged in cock-fighting or gambling, or other frivolities, than over their books. This applies to the university of San Marcos; yet these rising lights are the best talkers in the world. I mention this as an instance of the blending of business and amusement universally practised among the people, as well as to show the general want of application, and the frivolity that prevades all ranks of the community. This disposition accounts for the death of periodical literature throughout the republic. Certainly since the overthrow of the viceregal authority, several newspapers have been established, and are still continued, and political pamphlets occasionally issue from the Lima press, but they are notoriously wanting in all the essentials of a good newspaper and essay, being at once untalented, ill-written, scurrilous and open to every bribe they can obtain. Lima was the most pleasant of all the cities where this traveller rested his weary foot, and he had good times there, more than can be said for the guano diggers, whose life he considers miserable. The world gets worse as the party draw near to railways—not that the latter greatly increase the speed of the travellers. I was jolted across the isthmus, forty odd miles, in about five hours. Slow travelling. On our way we had twice to get out of the car to push the train up an incline, the panting engine being unequal to the task of pulling it. The road was hemmed in by hills and mountains of dense vegetation all the way. It was a channel cut through the jungle, a pestilents forest, whose rank vegetation rose from a black swamp. Lofty palms and planting trees, climbing plants of every description, of flowers of every hue, alike flourished in wild luxuriance; and through this tropical labyrinth brilliantly plumed humming birds and parrots, parroquets, butterflies, and even monkeys were here and there to be seen flitting or climbing among the topmost branches, and chattering merrily away, as they disported themselves in the rays of the blazing run, which made the atmosphere hot and steamy. At Aspinwall, an unpicturesque unhealthy town, built on a reclaimed swamp, and officially and originally known as Calon, each passenger had to stand in front of the baggage cars, and wait till he heard the number of the brass duplicate ticket he had received at Panama called out before he could get his luggage. How very refreshing it must have been with the sun shining down on the heads of the people,iaud the thermometer at 110s Fahrenheit's the reader may guess. I found the town made up of a single street of wooden houses, running parallel with and facing the harbour and jetties. Jamacia is deemed by Mr. Cornwallis an extre mely dull place ruined by emancipation, but the United States are his delight, especially New York, which statisticians consider the most unhealthy town for its size in the world. For ourselves we are very bad, hypocritical and pretentious. We hold public meetings, and preach sermons, and collect funds, and send out disciples of Christianity as missionaries to enlighten, convert, and provide for the spirtual well-being and necessities of the "poor African," the " poor Indian," and so on, but we neglect home; and it is questionable whether, beyond the emancipation of our own West Indian slaves, any real good ever resulted in consequence. And at the same time that we have been talking so much about the conversion of the heathen, we have been acting towards them in a manner more ruthless, more reluctently agressive than to which the chronicles of the world can elsewhere afford a parallel. Yet we boast of our cultivation and enlightment, and of our Christian charity (pshaw, it is the most uncharitable thing in the world) and think ourselves very Look to British India-to the Cape of righteous indeed! Good Hope-to New Zealand-to Australia-and wherever Anglo Saxon enterprise has forced its way into the dominions of Aborginalism, and see what ruin and havoc we have perpetrated among the native population of those places; and observe, moreover, the cruelty with which we have assailed and driven away the wild man from the lands of his inheritance, swallowed up his natural resources, and made death and him companions in dust. Ourselves the usurpers, we have trodden under foot the very beings we had wronged, and when these downcast victims remonstrated or retaliated we brought our superior machinery of war to play upon their comparatively defenceless bodies, and denounced them by all the epithets in our language. We have a dim idea that the native population have very much increased in British India, and even at the Cape under British rule, but it is use 620 The less to meddle with human prejudices. author believes in savagery and he must be left to enjoy his opinion among a people who have made death and aborigines companions in the dust. The second volume is amusing and goes rapidly through a great part of this world. By JOHN DR. TULLOCH became widely known by his work He has their words. Like them, however, they would have rejoiced to see the latter days, in which the expansion of their principles will cover the earth. Dr. Tulloch says of Latimer : Nothing is more remarkable in him than this cheerfulness. Ill in body, tried and persecuted, and cast down by many troubles, he is always cheerful-cheerful at Cambridge, amidst the scowls of friars-cheerful in his parish, ander episcopal frowns, and in his diocese, amidst an obtuse and opposing clergy-cheerful in the Tower, when nearly starved to death with cold-cheerful at the stake, in the thought of the illumining blaze that he and Ridley would make for the earnest, hopeful, and happy man; honest, fearless, openglory of the Gospel and the happiness of England. An hearted; hating nothing but baseness, and fearing none but God-not throwing away his life, yet not counting it dear when the great crisis came-calmly yielding it up as the crown of his long sacrifice and struggle. There may be other reformers that more engage our admiration; there is no one that more excites our love. This author, like others, finds some difficulty in the youth of Calvin. The great reformer himself did not furnish much information on the subject, and there was little to give. He was an arduous and painstaking boy, whose family had some influence, and obtained for him, even during boyhood, ecclesiastical preferment :Indeed his name of their lives as of their principles. scarcely appears to them, yet there is no doubt Of Calvin's youth aud earlier education we have but few particulars. We get no hearty glimpses of his home and school-days, as in the case of Luther. We only know that, in contrast with the rough and picturesque boyhood of the German, he was nurtured tenderly, and even in an aristocratic atmosphere. The noble family of Momor, in the neighbourhood, to some extent adopted the boy, and his studies were pursued in conjunction with those of the young members of the family. Beza narrates his precocity of mental power, and the grave severity of his manners, even at this early age. His companions, it is said, surnamed him "the accusative." Having received the rudiments of his educatiou in his native town, he went in his fourteenth year to Paris, still in the company of the children of the Momor family. There he was entered 'as a pupil in the College de la Marche, under the regency of Mathuran Cordier-a name still familiar to boys entering upon their Latin studies, under its classical form of Corderius. It was under this distinguished master that Calvin laid the foundation of his own wonderful mastery of the Latin language. From the College de la Marche he passed to the College Montague, where he was initiated into the scholastic philosophy, under the guidance of a learned Spaniard. In his eighteenth pear, he was appointed to the living of Marteville; and this; too, while he had only, as yet, received the tonsure, and was not admitted to holy orders. The author's sympathies are much with Luther in his contests with legates and princes-with powers of air and powers of earth, and he correctly describes the man as a Titan, with a Titan's work. Had he been less of a man and more of a scholar, less animated by a common and popular sympathy, and more animated by mere intellectual impulse, he could never have achieved the work that he did. It is but a poor and onesided criticism, therefore, which delights to expose Luther's intellectual inconsistencies, unscholarly temper, and unphilosophical spirit. The truth is, that Luther was not characteristically a scholar, not even a divine, least of all a philosopher. He was a hero, with work to do; and he did it. His powers were exactly fitted to the task to which God called him. As it was of Titanic magnitude, he required to be a Titan in human strength, and in depth and power, and even violence of human passion, in order to accomplish it. The mere breadth and momentum of his humanity, by themselves, would not, indeed, have sufficed; but inspired and swayed by Divine truth, they were irresistable. Both conditions were equally necessary to his success-the energy, vehemence, and pith of the man, the animation, control, and sway of the Divine Spirit. Had the instrument been less powerful and varied, less full toned and responsive to all the rich wavering breath of humane emotion, the Spirit might have breathed in vain, and the full chorus of resounding triumph from many gathering voices never have been raised. Very naturally, Dr. Tulloch, in discussing the principles of John Knox, refers to recent times, although we see no great reason to expect, with the theological teacher in one of our universities, but he should be well informed on the subject, any change in the general principles of Scotch theology. So little likely is this, that while ecclesiastical divisions occur on minute details, a more general agreement exists on broad principles in this country than in any other where freedom of opinion is fully tolerated. Perhaps the following passage may be deemed a fair defence of Knox upon charges which have been made against his memory : Altogether, if we estimate him, as we are alone entitled to do, in his historical position and circumstances, Knox appears a very great and heroic man-no violent demagogue or even stern dogmatist-although violence and sterness, and dogmatism, were all parts of his character. These coarser elements mingled with but did not obscure the fresh, living, and keenly sympathetic humanity beneath. Far in ferior to Luther in tenderness and breadth and loveableness, he is greatly superior to Calvin in the same qualities. You feel that he had a strong and loving heart under all his harshness, and that you can get near to it, and could have spent a merry social evening with him in his house at the head of the Cannongate, over that good old wine that he had stored in his cellar, and which he was glad and proud to dispense to his friends. It might not have been a very pleasant thing to differ with him even in such circumstances; but upon the whole, it would have been a pleasanter and safer audacity than to have disputed some favourite tenet with Calvin. There was in Knox far more of mere human feel ing and of shrewd wordly sense, always tolerant of differ ence, and you could have fallen back upon these, and felt yourself comparatively safe in the utterance of some daring sentiment. And in this point of view it deserves to be noticed that Knox alone of the reformers, along with Luther, is free from all stain of violent persecution. Intolerent he was towards the mass, towards Mary, and towards the old Catholic clergy, yet he was no persecutor. He was never cruel in act, cruel as his language sometimes is, and severe as were some of his judgements. Modern enlight ment and scientific indefference we have uo right to look for in him. His superstitions about the weather and witches, were common to him with all men of his time. Nature was not to these men an elevated and beneficent idea, but a capricious manisfestation of arbitary supernatural forces. This was part of the intellectual furniture of the time, of which they could no more get rid than they could get rid of their social dresses or usages. And Knox was so far, as in other things, only a man of his time. Its subjects, with their deep interest, and its judicial style, will render this volume a popular work. THE ROYAL ASSURANCE COMPANY. THE progress of Life Assurance affords the same index to the condition of the middle classes that is supplied by the condition of the benefit clubs and saving banks to that of the artisan and labourers. The principle of Life Assurance has not yet been extended largely to the classes who furnish the greatest number of depositors in savings banks. Its application in the course of years will become as common among the labouring as the middle classes, although some obstacles have to be overcome ere then, and in the meantime it supplies an excellent index to the circumstances of the middle classes. For that reason we have towards the close of some past years condensed the accounts and statements of the principal companies; and a gratifying and steady progress in the application of this principle has been exhibited generally by these statements; as we have little doubt will be found true in the present year. Some time since a very large number of new companies were formed, and a few of them have been unsuccessful, while a number have been annexed to old concerns or joined to others of a similar date. We believe, however, that the association of many persons for any common object, has never been carried to a similar extent, with so little loss, as in Life Assur ance. Among those companies once young, like all others, although now accumulating capital and years, and getting towards its majority, the Royal Assurance Company of Liverpool, has had the most remarkable success, not only there, but in London; and it is perhaps more singular in Scotland, where the number of native and prosperous institutions is proportionately greater than in England, and where a new company has to contend with greater obstacles for that reason. The Royal Insurance Company has not effect an amalgamation with any other company, and its progress results in consequence from the activity of the management, the influence of the co-partnership, and doubtless the principles on which the business of the company has been conducted. The annual meeting in August last was the fourteenth, and in the fire department the premius had amounted to £196,148, placing the company in a position surpassed only by three English fire offices. The circumstance of their duties having increased during 1858, more than double of the increase shown by any London company except one; and that one giving only one half of the increase of the Royal, falls among "the events unprecedented" in business of this class. The com pany had for their fire premiums in 1855, a sum of £130,060, and the increase alone for 1858 was £66,088, or more than fifty per cent. The net profits of this branch during the year, reached over eleven hundred pounds weekly. The decennial period in the life department exhibits a very marked contrast. The company in 1848 issued ninety-eight new policies covering £48,764 178. Od., and received as the net amount of the new premiums £1,380 9s. ld. They issued in 1858 policies numbering 832 covering £387,752 6s. 8d., and the net amount of the premiums was £12,354 3s. 4d. The increase was in policies 734, in assurances £338,987 9s. 8d., and in new premiums £10,973 14s. 3d. Severe pressure existed among the middle classes especially in the commercial towns during 1858, and the circumstances operated against the extension and even the maintenance of life assurance; but the Royal in that year increased the number of its new assurances by £58,371 13s. 8d., receiving of increased payment under the head of new policies £2,083 14s. 10d. This advance, notwithstanding the commercial depression, advantageously contrasts with that of 1857 over 1856, when the increase of new assurances was £31,819 16s. 4d. and of new premiums £1,420 4s. 7d. The original capital subscribed by the company was two millions, of which ten per cent. was paid. This paid up capital was in, 1849 carried up to £282,315 not by payments but by additions from the accumulated profits. An addition was made at the meeting in August last of £30,000 to the reserved fund and profit and loss account, which together amount to £164,494 5s. 11d. The absolute capital in the hands of the company is therefore £446,809 5s. 11d.; without reckoning the accumulation of payments on the life policies, which is kept properly separate, against the accumulating risk. The addition of that sum would bring the aggregate capital of the company absolutely invested at the close of 1858 to more than SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS; and this has been accomplished along with appropriations of profit to the insurers; and a dividend during 1858 of 3s. per share in addition to a bonus of 4s. per share making a payment of 7s., equivalent to a return of 17 per cent. on the original payment; and a capital business for the original shareholders, although no more than a fair return to buyers now, for the shares sell when sales occurr, at a large premium; and the original payments if the shares were disposed of at the present prices, would realise seven hundred thousand pounds. The result is an excellent return for money during the currency of the company, and the production of nearly half a million to the shareholders in the estimate of those persons who occasionally propose to take their property. The progress of this company furnishes a very remarkable example of activity and influence gaining success, but it also shows the progress of Life Insurance and accumulation, a still more gratifying matter in society. A DREAM OF NINEVEH. THE Arab colt is bounding to and fro But, hark! I hear a shout! see with what speed Oh! who can mark the ravages of time, In forms most terrible-when shapes are seen, TAIT'S EDINBURGH MAGAZINE. NOVEMBER, 1859. THE THREE KINGDOMS AND THEIR COLONIES. "SHIPS, colonies, and commerce" was the gathering cry of an old party, who did not comprehend its meaning. They allowed the colonies to languish under a restrictive system, which lessened commerce and the employment of ships. They did not permit the free importation of colonial corn and provisions into the home markets, and they thus diverted the emigration of this country from its own possessions. A more generous and sagacious policy after the peace would have given us nine millions of population in the British North American colonies, of whom six millions are this day in the United States. It would have given us two millions, instead of half a million, in South Africa, and rendered the empire stronger by all these millions in peace and war; for colonists are better customers in peace, and surer friends in war, than the people of alienated States. Conflicting interests always rise between independent States, and the theory of their existence implies this conflict of interests. "Too late," are fatal words to great and small. Now it is "too late" to speculate on "the might have been" in our colonial connexion. We have to do only with the future, and the shorter consideration of the "may be." What "may be" is ours yet to influence; what "might have been" is gone and past, and "cannot be." In all classes of our community many benevolent men are found who actually prefer the public to their private interests; and many more who are checked in their career by glimpses of the better feeling than self that should regulate life. All lives are not all bright or all dark. There are many April days among the lives of a nation, made of glimpses of sunshine and showers of rain, with dull half hours between them. For that reason, when classes are mentioned in discussions, we must not forget the exceptions who rise over class interests, and the not few who have a perpetual struggle with Mammon within them. No good will come of only anathematising classes. The "woe to you" from man often hardens many fellow men. Two great parties occupy the landthose who are for low, and those who seek high wages, with an intervening party, larger than either of the two wings, consisting of persons who never think of the topic. The Builders' strike furnishes one illustration of the differences in opinion on wages and work. The literary staff of the master builders proclaimed, as a principle, the absolute necessity of working cheaper here than clsewhere-if the community desired to be rich among the nations. The operative builders expressed the antagonistic opinion, and held that, if the nation were prosperous, the working classes should have their share of our success, in an addition to their wages or a reduction of their time. The latter alternative was preferred by the London men, as more likely to be arranged with the employers than an immediate demand for additional payments. All strikes originate in the same cause, with few and |