under the top would be wholly removed from were crossing it, and so tend to avoid disaster. the effect of the ship's magnetism, but it would His plan would be equivalent to the rule of be as much as any other compass exposed to keeping the left hand side of the road, rules the effects of electrical storms. To guard for ocean travelling being now as necessary as against such a fatality, careful observation of rules for land travelling. When all the other the sun and stars when they are visible, azi-useful things just enumerated be done for muths and amplitudes, must be as frequently ships, and, in addition, rules for keeping in as possible made. At all times the log must different tracks be agreed to and adopted by be kept carefully going to measure the dis- all, we shall still require care and skill in ship tance run, the lead must be used whenever the captains, as they are required in coachmen. ship is in soundings, and a good look-out must Caution and circumspection in captains are always be kept the three L's of all mariners important elements, Dr. Scoresby says, for safe -so ensue successful navigation. navigation not only of iron ships, but all ships. When science has done all it can do to aid Such qualities in them being indispensable, the mariner-when his compass and his time- and their responsibility being great, like all piece and his marine barometer are all made persons in whose hands life and property are perfect when the currents of the ocean and largely trusted, to be handsomely remuneratthe prevailing winds that blow over its differ- ed. When disasters which discretion in them ent parts are all known-when every rock might have avoided are thought worthy of and sandbank is carefully and conspicuously mention in the most important State docu laid down in the charts of every maritime ments, it is proper to encourage its growth by people, it will even then be impossible to dis- those means which are found to stimulate the pense with vigilance, discretion, and an acute soldier and scholar to exertion. sense of duty and responsibility in masters of Into the details of compass-making and admerchant vessels, which no interference should justing, and into the little controversy that is divide or weaken. So great have been the now going on in the subject, we shall not foldisasters at sea in the year now drawing to a low Dr. Scoresby. He has done much to close, that they are thought worthy of being elucidate some most important problems conmentioned in the American President's Mes- nected with magnetism. He has, probably, sage. To avoid such accidents as that which made more experiments on the subject, and wrecked the Arctic, and hurried so many of watched it longer, than any other man living, her passengers to destruction, Lieutenant and his suggestions deserve much attention.Maury, with that practical good sense which His great proposition to increase accuracy is distinguishes his countrymen, has at once sug- the one we have already adverted to, and gested and marked out different routes for which has Lieutenant Maury's approval, of steamers going to and from America, which, placing a compass aloft, which may be read putting neither to a disadvantage, and length-from the deck. This, however, will not disening the voyage neither way, shall bring the pense with other precautions: it is an addition routes together only at the points of depar- to them, and too much cannot be done to seture and arrival, and avoid the possibility of a collision between them in the whole length of their course. Such a settled route, too, would keep sailing vessels out of the track of steamers, or at least inform them when they Discoveries in Chinese. By S. P. Andrews.* THIS curious and interesting book is intend ed as an analysis of the elementary characters of the Chinese language, which the author insists is more symbolic than phonetic, not only with regard to the elementary, but quite as much to the compound characters of the language. The asscrtion appears obvious when we examine the peculiar fitness of the different combinations of symbols of which the compound characters consist, and of which a few examples are here of fered to us, as well as 141 of the elementary cha racters. For cure the safe navigation of the ocean. On the whole, this work appears to be a step in the right direction, for the most rapid method of acquiring a language thoroughly is, after all, the best, and Mr. Andrews certainly shows the student that he need no longer adopt the old method of getting by heart some thousands of arbitrary characters, but that by at once mastering, at the utmost, about one thousand elemetary characters, he will never meet with anything more than new combinations, not forms or shapes absolutely new to him; in fact, what Champollion did for the Egyptian hieroglyphics, Mr. Andrews has attempted, and, we think, partly succeeded in accomplishing for the Chinese, and we trust that he will continue in his labors.-Press. From The Spectator, 10 Feb. PALMERSTON, PREMIER. PALMERSTON has at last åttained the sum- If we were to ask for the substantial and spemit of his ambition, and the Public has that cific evidence to justify this confidence, we which it has desired, if it did not ask, of the say, it might be difficult to discover or arrange. Crown. Both ought to be satisfied, and we Lord Palmerston's character, like his career, hope that both will be so in the end. The place- presents remarkable contradictions. It is enjoying Viscount, who has flourished some thought that he will stand to his pledges, notforty years in the public offices-whose po withstanding the experience of Sicily. It is litical life spans the long peace and connects supposed that he is decided, although he has one war with the other has seen many vicis-undecided many more questions, besides the situdes, has worked harder than men of less King of Holland's award in the Boundary genius, and his successful career is full of seem- question. He is to this day believed to be the ing contradictions. The post of supremacy, ablest of administrators, although the last exfor which he has longed, he obtains by acci-perience of him in the Home Office was not dent. Few men have provoked more mistrust; satisfactory. He is regarded as the most enerand yet the very reason why he stands where getic of statesmen at work, although he is sevhe does, is, that he is believed in. Why every-enty-one years of age. He is trusted, although body, from the late President of the Council to it is not known what his principles are. Tad Mrs. Grundy herself, pitched upon Palmerston to rescue the state out of the dead-lock, it would be difficult to determine; since some of Lord Palmerston's adroitest feats, both at home and abroad, have consisted in setting one Power against another, and in producing a dead-lock. The public has not reasoned out its conclusion; yet perhaps, after all, the instinct is right. The fact is, however, that the public has generally obtained from Lord Palmerston, at any time, that which it distinctly wanted. His own character seems a thing apart. He is gayety incorporate, frankness itself, and diligence personified. Give him a specific employment, and there is not a public servant who can execute it with a greater show of work done, and nicely done, and with admirable In one respect Lord Palmerston's Cabinet ease to the operator. Call him to account, and is essentially stronger than Lord Aberdeen's: he will pour forth a convincing defence, so it is relieved of a disintegrating influence that gay, so witty, so pleasantly vindictive in its existed in the late Ministry. In that Cabinet sarcasms, that we know no match for it except there were three Premiers- -one in esse, one the model footman of comedy. If he does not dispossessed, and one in posse. Lord John evince enthusiastic devotion for any particular Russell's clientela cherished a constant sense" cause," he always shows excellent zeal to that he had been disrated: last summer, he serve the public, or his party, or his colleagues, went about the country reminding an admiring or his friends. And the fidelity to personal public of himself, and it was felt that he could relations accompanies him into quarters that not be at rest in any office below the chief. do not come conspicuously before the public Palmerston, on the other hand, had reached into humbler grades, where subordinates a greater age than that of inferior men who had retain for him a regard amounting to affection. already arrived at the Premiership; and by No man takes up with a subject more ably or his exhibitions to the public in the summer cordially. Originally a Tory, and a recent before last, it was evident that he felt the chief stickler in the Cabinet against a Russell Repost to be his due, and over-due. Lord Aber- form, he has won the regard of outside Redeen's prudent weight helped to condense and formers by the ability with which on occasion moderate conflicting parties in the Coalition; he has advocated their objects. Never sus but, indpendently of his honest convictions pected of deep thinking on subjects of political against war, he was presumed, perhaps justly, economy, he found the stream in Freenot to possess the genius of activity requisite trade too stiff to be opposed as difficult to be for the time; and he had rivals beneath, con- turned back as the Exe to its source. If he is stantly threatening, if not by their own overt not Liberal on political conviction, he is Liberal acts, yet by undermining processes on their in feeling, generous in act. He may not be behalf, to supersede him. Palmerston has no- ardent on religious questions, but the public body to fear: Aberdeen has passed, not to re-admires his open contempt of cant, and the wit turn; Russell has gone into isolation; and un- with which he dashes off a profound truth that less Palmerston supersede himself, he is mas- other men labor at. While setting down an ter of the situation for a term not yet limited. opponent, he will reconcile the defeated man If he has been working for the promotion, it has come to him without any recent, overt, or invidious effort on his part. Lord John did it for him. He assuages more than one feud, by to himself. Even in his slashing arbitrary pushing of sanitary improvement, he can ele vate to its place in the creation the foulness which he would drive from civilized economy; TRANSLATED EXTRACT. "Chateau de *****, Oisc. February 6, 1855. * * * * * * "But to talk of more important topics-or and if "dirt is but matter in the wrong place," | land as a means of disparaging our ally the so a political malfeasant may be guilty of zeal Emperor. Still graver considerations, howin the wrong direction. The contradiction ever, are presented in the following extract which has mystified the public on his charac- of a letter from a French gentleman, who is ter, seems to have been his enjoyment as well not only distinguished both in the statesmanas his forte. He has been like a man hiding, ship and literature of his own country, but is who laughs at others seeking in vain where to peculiarly versed in the knowledge of English have him; and Urquhart, laboring to bring and Anglo-Saxon constitutional politics. his head to the block for selling the state to Russia, is just one of those living antitheses to an acclaiming public nominating him leader of the war against Russia, which have been the staple and sport of his life. His exhaustless power of frankness is accompanied by an un- rather of the all-important one, the war. My wearied power of reserve; and the public, mind is continually dwelling with painful interest which cannot find his principles, sometimes on the situation of your brave army; an interest thinks that he has none, at other times that inspired by admiration for the army itself, as well as by the concern which I feel for the honor and they lie too deep for common apprehension. credit of your institutions, now in some danger If he has been faithful to humbler adherents, of falling into disrepute through incapable and there is one servant whose fidelity he has re- inexperienced administration.. If you do paid Viscount Palmerston has never forgot- not succeed in repairing the mischief, and that ten Henry John Temple. But the experi- quickly, (which indeed seems to me next to imenced official is actuated by no sordid, no possible,) England and her Government will as purely selfish ambition. Probably he chuckles suredly come out of this struggle somewhat over clever Henry John's progress in life, as discredited, whatever may be the ultimate results he blurted out his admiration of Louis Napo- of the war and of the heroic achievements of leon's sudden success in the year of the coup d'état. It is an artistic egotism. He sympa- not have a considerable influence, though one per"I have a difficulty in believing that this will thizes instinctively with self-wrought prosperi- haps little foreseen, upon the future course of ty. Hence he has a living as well as an offi- your domestic affairs. I suspect that it will accial sympathy with our ally in France. Hence celerate the pace at which you appear to be deold scores with vexatious old Austria are wiped parting from the character of aristocratic gov aff, and he is free to reciprocate confidence ernment, according to the old acceptation of that with new Austria. Hence he must be un- term. At any rate, it is impossible but that the able any longer to admire Russia, guilty which in time of war attend a centralized gov English must discern the immense advantages of a coup manqué, or to abide Prussia suc- crnment; or that they can be long in contact cessful only in a certain fidelity to voluntary with an army where every one can and may befailure. But this love of success, of excite- come an officer, without its producing upon them ment, and of action, is probably the stimulus a serious impression. Your army can hardly that our sluggard Administration most wants; avoid undergoing a sort of revolution; and a and the unreasoning public instinctively feels, that to place Lord Palmerston with the new field of glorious action before him is like placing a high-mettled hunter before an open country. your soldiers. revolution in the constitution of the army will surely not be confined to the army alone. You are the only people of the present day (except perhaps the Russians, and they less than you who are officered exclusively by gentlemen. You will discover that an army commanded solely by gentlemen is not necessarily the best army to make war with it is better able to fight than to sustain itself before and after the battle. We have had good reason to know this, under our old monarchy. From The Spectator, 10 Feb. THE disastrous manifestations of military On the other hand, an army commanded by incapacity in our War administration have gentlemen has the advantage of being good against created a strong and not a f fovorable impres-revolutions; while an army of the opposite characsion in France. The case is presented to the ter either makes revolutions or suffers them to be French in various ways, through the publish- made by others. R..... told me the other day, that ed reports, the complaints of our press and Parliament men, the avowals of Lord John Russell and some of his colleagues, the reports of General Canrobert to the Emperor poleon, and innumerable private letters. Sua prise is succeeded by a feeling akin to con- dust, as it actually is: for who ever were more tempt; and this feeling is exploité by those prodigal of their lives than the French gentilswho try to revive the old feeling against Eng-hommes, of all grades, the lesser as well as the DLXV. LIVING AGE. VOL. VIII. 48 the aristocracy had never been stronger in England than they are now; for that they had never poured out their blood more freely. But I must remark, that it is not altogether by military ser vices that an aristocracy can maintain itself; otherwise, ours would not be levelled with the greater? My grandfather, and my granduncle, The dignity of the crown, forsooth, demanded botn met their death on the field of battle; their that Prussia should take a leading part in father and their grandfather, experienced the same every pacification, even though in the preced fate: and there is hardly a family in the neighbor- ing events it should have altogether shirked hood of whom as much cannot be said. Yet there the duties of a first-rate power. But if this remains not a trace of their power. The last cannon which was mounted on the old baronial Prussian document bore marks of the personal pride of the King, the French answer was in my neighborhood, now half-buried in the earth, serves as a post to tie characterized by expressions chateau of T up cattle; while the chateau itself is degraded to diplomatist is likely to have which no mere a farm-house. I will conduct R... thither when he comes to see me: it will show him what must be the fate of an aristocracy who, though they know how to die, donot know how to govern. Yours has, till now, done both; and this is the reason why it still holds its ground, although the temper of the age is anything but favorable to its continuance." From the Examiner, 10 Feb. RECENT NOTES AND DESPATCHES. too delightful and natural a vivacity of retort in it, as where M. Von Usedom was accused of producing in London by mistake the draft of a treaty intended for the Court of St. Petersburg. We were reminded of the language of the French Court to that of Prussia half a century ago. This was indeed so obvious that a Paris journal dared to say as much, whereupon the Moniteur took the opportunity of reminding its contemporary that the great Napoleon, before the battle of Jena, expressed his ire against the Prussian people THE hopes founded on the Czar's accep- as well as against the Prussian Court; wheretance of the Four Points, as a basis of renew-as now the Prussian people universally symed negotiation, are vanishing in a cloud of pathize with the cause which the present notes and protocols. But we have to set French Emperor has disinterestedly embracagainst that disadvantage the apparent frank-ed, and a quarrel, should it now arise, would ness with which Austria has declared that the no longer be between French and Germans, overtures in question presented little security but between the partisans of European indeor prospect of peace. Prussia, indeed, still pendence and the monarch who would beavows the thought that peace may be con- tray it. cluded upon the bare conditions of the Four All this, serious enough in itself, has been Points; or at least that, by help of her own rendered still more so by another disclosure intrigues, a war unproductive of results, confin-made in the same ultra-vivacious note, that ed by Russia to the defensive, and unattended the only discoverable aim of M. Von Usedom's by any remarkable success on the part of the visit to Paris had been to deprecate any atallies, may be prolonged till the latter, wearied, tack by a French or Allied force upon the accept such terms as they are now prepared western frontier of Russia. Prussia, it seems, to spurn. wished to be allowed exclusively to have an This evident conviction of Prussia, and the armed force upon that frontier; and was as evidently insincere proposals of Russia for ready in return, like the Austrians the spinning out of time by negotiation, have Principalities, if not to invade or coerce Rusans in the led to important steps at Vienna and Paris. sia, at all events to withstand any invasion of The Emperor of Austria, setting Prussia aside, Germany by that power. But although cerappealed in his own name to the German tainly Prussia in this asked no more than AusDiet. In this appeal Francis Joseph profess tria obtained last year in regard to the Rused his despair of any cordial support from sian frontiers on the Pruth, still the demand Prussia in compelling Russia to a just peace; from her was supremely ludicrous. Whatever nor could he hope for aid from those states of has been the backwardness of Austria, she is Germany which, like Saxony, had become yet far more advanced than Prussia; and, secretly wedded to the Russian. He demand-moreover, what was allowed en in 1816 even ed, therefore, that in case the states of Ger- tria could no longer be allowed in 1855 even many cannot come to a common agreement, to her. The time is past for pretences of it may be permitted to those amongst them neutrality as for purely defensive operations. who sympathize in the cause on behalf of which Austria declares herself now engaged to arm, to muster their contingents, and place them under command of the Emperor. The language of France was at the same time equally significant. In the despatch of the Prussian Minister, claiming a voice in the conference for discussion of terms of peace, the personal feeling and pride of the Prussian monarch had been ostentatiously put forth. Since these notes others not less important have been interchanged, with no other effect than to bring the crisis more and more near. The German Diet has rejected the proposals of Francis Joseph, but has ordered that the military establishments of Germany should be placed on a war footing. And with special reference to the attitude thus taken, M. Drouin de Lhuys has warned the minor German Courts that war is probably much nearer to Duvarma Todt ru sands No After a From the Examiner, 10 Feb UNWORTHY TREATMENT OF THE TURKS. them than they seem to suppose. series of questions suggesting the various chances of speedy rupture between Austria and Russia, the French Minister adds-" Can it in truth be said that the opinion of the THE English always behave ill to nations prompt reestablishment of peace is generally whom they succor. If we fight the battles believed in? Is it even certain that the ac- of a people we are sure to abuse and trample ceptance mentioned by Prince Gortschakoff on them, and when they at last revolt against is such as was at first supposed? To ask our treatment we inveigh against their inthese questions is in fact to answer them; and gratitude. How truly says Seneca, Multos at the same time to justify all the applications experimur, plures facimus ingratos. In the which Austria is sending in to her confede- Peninsular war, no opportunity was lost of rates." And since the date of this despatch affronting the prejudices, and mocking the the Minister at Berlin has been addressed in a peculiarities and habits of the Portuguese and similar and not less significant strain. Spaniards, and now we are doing the same by Such are the prospects opening upon us for the Turks, who are reviled exactly in proa future campaign. It is idle to affect conceal- portion as they are misunderstood, and blamed ment of the fact that the tone of these French for faults without any perception of redeemnotes points clearly, not only at the Rhine, ing points of character. The correspondent but at the march of a French expeditionary of the Times at Constantinople, whose statearmy through Austria to the frontier of Poland. ments will carry with them the authority he That very name will be sufficient to suggest has well earned, observes :— the mighty contingencies which may possibly arise. These despatches show that the Em- It is an unfortunate circumstance that Engperor Napoleon at least is not blind to the fact land and France have not conciliated, or even that Poland is the heel of the Russian Achil- tried to conciliate, any of the races which inles; for they speak of the frontier which Prus- habit this land. In all the pomp and pride of sia seeks to cover as the most vulnerable point the sword, and during the last year every civilization they came here to settle matters by of the Czar's dominions. The final and irre- Western print has been full of the worthlessness vocable adhesion of Austria, and the formal and depravity of Oriental races, from the Pruth exclusion of Prussia, point to nothing less than to the Persian Gulf. Turks, indeed, were the a resuscitation of Poland. The war was com- subjects of a temporary enthusiasm, but the menced certainly with no such aim; but flight of a few hundred of them from an ill-conshould circumstances lead to it, it can have structed battery was sufficient to wipe away the none more righteous or more profitable. In triumphs of Citate and Silistria, and since that such a struggle Austria would have an immen- time they have been ill-used, ridiculed, and beaten in sity to gain, but the great cause of European a manner that has created a most bitter feeling independence and liberty would have infinite-among high and low in Stamboul. As to the Chrisly more. tians, it is well known what has been the usual tone in speaking of them for the last two years. Not light or easy, then, would seem to be That result is, that no good-will is borne to us the task that will await us, even after comple- by either Mussulman or Rayah, and there is the tion of the enterprise immediately in hand. It more reason that we should materially humble is to be hoped, however, that at last we have the enemy, and place our influence on a strong at the head of our government a chief no long-basis. er evading its gravest responsibilities, not shrinking from the use of any effective means We were struck a few days ago by finding, through a nervous dread of some imaginary in a conspicuous part of the Globe, an exconsequences, ready and eager to employ in ample of the ruffianly insolence with which all departments the best men within reach, the Turks are treated. It appeared as folresolved in all things to be guided exclusively lows: by the fitness of the person and the require ments of the time, and subject no longer to be Sir,-As a counterpoise to all the doleful letters swayed by the paltry consideration of balanc-from the " Camp," I beg to hand you an extract ing parties in a cabinet, or conciliating the of a letter from an officer in the 4th Division, for self-love of this personage or that grandee. your Scraps." The time for such trivialities has entirely passed away. The ship has now to be cleared for action, the captain is on board, and it is not of this officer's comfort, that officer's services, or of the piques or resentments of any, that thought is to be taken. Everything obstructive must be flung into the sea. It is the only chance for the Palmerston Ministry. Esprit du cœur remains the same with the British soldier, notwithstanding all hardship. Your obedient, THE PARENT. Johnnies." It requires craft to catch them now; "We have great fun snow-balling the "Bono they were very tame at first, but are now as wild as hawks. The prescription is:-Make two snow-balls and a small one; and, as "Johnny" goes by, hit him on the coat, and he will look |