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sures towards Ireland, especially the May-
nooth-bill and the Colleges-bill.
In sup

est. It was delivered in 1839, against a motion for the Ballot. Besides being a most able argument on the question, it contained porting the former, he made a bold some passages worthy of being remembered. defence of the principle of acting on exSpeaking of the constitution of this coun- pediency-that bugbear of old-fashioned try, he said that ours was not a written politicians. He openly avowed his belief charter-that our political system was the that expediency was the best principle offspring of time, and the disciple of ne- of political action, and defended his opicessity. The nationality of ages and the nions on good philosophical grounds. His habits of generalizing were not to be merged speeches on the subject of the Roman in the most ingenious ballot-box of which Catholics have always been remarkably philosophers or mechanicians ever dreamed. liberal and bold. He deserves the more It was no common-place cant to call the credit for them, because they were made ballot-box un-English. It was "un-Eng- against the bigoted prejudices of a large lish," not with reference to any fanciful portion of his constituents. In supportanalysis of national character, not as in- ing the Maynooth-bill, he declared that consistent with a traditionary ideal of what he was ready to lose his seat if that was Englishmen ought to be rather than what to be the consequence of his supporting they are, but un-English so far (and this a liberal policy towards the Roman Cathowas all they had to do with) as to prevent lics. And he soon after went down to the powers of it from working harmoniously his constituents at Pontefract, that they and co-ordinately with the other parts of might bite if they chose, having shown our social and political organization. Again, their teeth. However, they did not think in reference to the cry that the ballot proper to call on him to resign. He should be tried as an experiment only, he was for a Ten-hours'-bill, and when Sir said there was no such thing in political R. Peel's government was shaken by the science as a pure and simple experiment. If an experiment failed, there was no going back. Every act of legislation went far beyond what was apparent at the time of its enactment. If the ballot were granted and it failed, there would then be a cry for universal suffrage. Thus we should go on, from change to change, from disease to remedy and remedy to disease, until all that was vigorous and stable in our social institutions was exhausted, until all natural influences or lawful rights be distorted or destroyed, and nothing be left us but that unmitigated discontent which is at once the child and parent of revolution. These passages are vigorously put, and the whole speech is powerfully argued and full of apt illustrations.

In 1840, he supported Sir Robert Inglis in his motion for Church Extension, upon the broad ground that the voluntary system was totally inadequate to supply the spiritual wants of the community. There were evils, he said, in our social system, with which the voluntary system was totally incompetent to grapple. The defect of that system was, that when in our social state we were going on from bad to worse, the voluntary system took no notice of it. Mr. Milnes also supported the measure for national education under the guidance of the Church. He supported Sir R. Peel's Income-tax, and his liberal mea

adverse vote of the House of Commons on that question, he was one of those Conservative members who had the courage to refuse to stultify themselves by rescinding their former votes. He Supported Sir R. Peel's Corn-bill of 1846, but avowing his belief that he was not the man to propose it. It was only because Lord J. Russell had refused to take the government that he considered Sir Robert Peel justified.

In questions of foreign policy Mr. Milnes takes great interest. Having travelled much in various parts of the world, he has studied such subjects in their true aspects. He often takes part in debates on foreign policy, and almost invariably throws a new light, derived from his personal experience, on the topies discussed. Here, as in home politics, Mr. Milnes is always found to be on the side of human advancement and freedom. Yet he is no mere theorist. He would not sacrifice the solid advantages of established government, however imperfect, to vague aspirations after unattainable liberty. With the cause of Poland, however, he has always sympathized. Whenever there have been debates in the House of Commons on the affairs of that country, Mr. Milnes has been the loudest and boldest of those who have protested against the conduet of the despotic powers; nor has he been the least eloquent of those able ad

vocates of the Poles who have been called Young England party; and, in point of into activity in this country by the spirit talent, the association was a natural one; of freedom. On the other hand, he has al- but his opinion and theirs could not long ways desired to see peace maintained on amalgamate. There was too decided a

the Continent; and he was very earnest in tendency to absolutism in their ulterior deprecating Lord Palmerston's diplomatic views. He found it more in accordance evolutions some years since, by which that with his opinions and predilections to folgreat benefit to the world was perilled. low Sir Robert Peel; and, as we have said, Speaking on that subject on one occasion, he he gave that statesman a general, though put his case tersely and forcibly when he said that "an armed peace is a peace without its profits, a war without its stimulants, or any of those concomitant circumstances that make it endurable."

not an invariable support. But the original leaven of Liberalism became apparent when Lord John Russell came into power. He immediately published a declaration, which had some effect at the time, that he was prepared to "give the Whigs a fair trial.

Mr. Milnes sometimes makes speeches so superior in quality, as to make it more to be regretted that he should not have as- The fault of Mr. Milnes's speeches is sumed a higher position in the House of their inconclusiveness. With the excepCommons. Whatever subject he takes up tion of the speech on the Ballot, already he regards it philosophically. He does not referred to, we do not remember one addrag it down to the level of the party pas- dress of his, on a great topic, which is sions of the hour, but rather seeks to lift thoroughly well argued from beginning to up his auditors to the full height of which end, or which, from any sustained declamathe argument is capable. In common with tory power or careful use of oratorical art, many of the younger members of the House, was calculated to produce a permanent he chafes under the sublimated mediocrity effect. It may be an erroneous impression, which rules in contemporary politics. He but he appears to us, of late years, to have would wish to see our statesmen take a been too indolent to perfect anything. firmer grasp of their position, knowing the His speeches abound in the raw material, true situation of things better, and being both of statesmanship and eloquence. inspired by loftier aims. He would rather They display a thorough comprehension that they left off timidly paddling along of the subject, and occasionally present the shore of legislative discovery, and brilliant passages; but as a whole they struck boldly out into the open sea, with want coherency, and there is none of that science for their guide and the compass of symmetry which so charms in the perusal good intentions. He is, to some extent, of a speech by Mr. Smythe or Mr. Maimbued with the Continental doctrines of caulay, and which allies the argument to centralization, but without going the full the sympathies and the memory by a new length of our economists. He has not yet tie, independent of the reasoning faculty. been able to bring himself to deny the There are constantly provoking evidences common claims of human nature. It is of carelessness. He allows himself to be very fortunate for him that his party have drawn aside from the course of his argufor some years been more or less in a transi- ment by irrelevant matter. A paradox is tion state, and that he has been able to to him an irresistible temptation; and, speak his mind with a freedom which a few although he has a considerable command years ago might have been dangerous to the of humor, his attempts to be comic usugeneral union. For accident made him a ally fail, simply because he will not take Tory,-sentiment, a Liberal. All that is the pains to make his sallies neat and puncomprehensive and statesmanlike in the old gent. Any one to whom reputation was creed of his party he adopts with avidity, precious, and fame agreeable, might secure but always with a lurking preference for both by going over Mr. Milnes's speeches, some of the most cherished opinions of and recasting the ideas in a more attractive those to whom he has been nominally op- form. There is the stuff of an orator in posed. He was at one time put forward him, were he only in earnest. The worst by Sir Robert Peel as a pawn, to indicate part of the affair is, that Mr. Milnes seems game; and a more favorable specimen to be growing less careful of the conditions of an enlightened Conservative could not of success every year. He has rather debe found. At another period, he allowed clined than advanced in the opinion of the himself to be partially identified with the House since his first efforts secured him

his

respect and attention. Yet it ought not to be so, for his mind has not retrograded. Nor was he an impostor in the first instance, like some of those distinguishedextinguished, who come out with a flash and go in again ingloriously.

effect is the same. He never exercises half the influence he desires to have, or a tithe of what he is capable of. The word slovenly would be scarcely too strong as applied to some of his speeches. His voice is thick and monotonous, only because he will not take the trouble to modulate it; bis action is either ungainly or ungraceful, when it is not wholly nugatory, because he will not study the graces of personal delivery. The best proof of his shortcomings in these respects is, that in spite of his deficiencies and wilful negligence of the little arts which are due, as a matter of courtesy even, to an audience, he sometimes produces, by detached portions of his speeches, powerful effects.

Of Mr. Milnes's productions as a poet we could speak at length, were this a fitting place, and should not fear having to use terms of qualified praise, still less of dispraise. Some of them have already been noticed in this periodical. They abound in beauties of the highest order. Mr. Milnes is a poet. That is the best and truest criticism we can give.

As a public man, Mr. Milnes may yet do much more than he has done. He has not fulfilled his mission. His talents were not given him to be frittered away, or to be allowed to rust in inglorious idleness. These are not times when such men as he can be dispensed with. The reign of the placeman will not last for ever. More pow

Mr. Milnes, like Mr. Macaulay, at first sight disappoints you. In his physical aspect he belies his reputation as a poet and a man of intellect, a reputation in his case well-deserved. Personally, he is by no means distinguished. Scarcely above the middle height, too stout for his size, and rather heavy in his aspect and gait, he would be overlooked at first, in an assembly where there are so many men of a commanding exterior as in the House of Commons. Nor, at a glance, do the face and head, as with Mr. Macaulay, correct the first impression. But they improve on examination. Although the features are irregular, the nose too prone on the lips, which are disproportionably large, the chin very massive, till the whole face approaches somewhat to that which, if we are to judge from their sculpture, would seem to have been the Egyptian ideal, and although there is generally a heaviness in the aspect, it is all redeemed when you contemplate the broad, high, intellectual forehead, and the full deep eye, which tells of habitual thought. An expression of sternness prevails in the countenance; but it is a habit of the features, rather than of the mind. The little un-erful and comprehensive minds are wanted conscious actions, which often betray the character, confirm the tale told by his speeches. Careless, even almost to slovenliness, in his dress, he looks and acts like a man to whom it is too much trouble to make up for the world. He moves indolently; lounges, as if without a purpose; has brief fits of activity, and long intervals of quiescence; in short, looks like one who might be happy, if he had only something to do. That delightful dreaminess of existence which is part of the poet's birthright, no one would deprive him of; but when a recluse chooses to be a member of parliament, new duties are imposed on him, especially if Nature has blessed him with unusual talents. He must be an active working man, in direct relations with the world, however mechanical and commonplace it may seem. As a speaker, Mr. Milnes fully bears out this suspicion of habitual indolence. Whether the defect be within or external, whether it be want of earnestness or want of self-training, the

to grapple with the difficulties and dangers which the future already shadows forth. Mr. Milnes will have to bear his share of the general burden. As yet, he has not fulfilled his early promise. But there is still time.

A NEW PRINTING PRESS.-Among the novelties lately exhibited at a literary soirée in London we

noticed:

Little's double-acting printing-machine for working daily newspapers at a speed varying from 10,000 to 12,000 copies per hour; the average rate of production of the present machines in use being not more than 4500 per hour. The present "fast machine" works with four cylinders, constantly revolving in one direction, producing two printed sheets with every backward and forward motion of with eight cylinders, six of which have a reversing the type. The " Double-Action Machine" works motion, and produces seven printed sheets with every transverse motion of the type. The working model, exhibiting the operation of feeding and taking away, with the interior arrangement of tapes, rollers, printing-cylinders, &c., attracted considerable attention.—Lit. Gaz.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine.
PACIFIC ROVINGS.

Omoo; A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas.
London: 1847.

WE were much puzzled, a few weeks since, by a tantalising and unintelligible paragraph, pertinaciously reiterated in the London newspapers. Its brevity equalled its mystery; it consisted but of five words, the first and last in imposing majuscules. Thus it ran:

By HERMAN MELVILLE.

of Marquesan Melville, the phoenix of modern voyagers, sprung, it would seem, from the mingled ashes of Captain Cook and Robinson Crusoe.

Those who have read Mr. Herman Melville's former work will remember, those who have not are informed by the introduc"OMOO, by the author of TYPEE." tion to the present one, that the author, an With Trinculo we exclaimed, "What have educated American, whom circumstances we here? a man er a fish? dead or alive? had shipped as a common sailor on board a Who or what were Typee and Omoo? South-Seaman, was left by his vessel on the Were things or creatures thus designated? island of Nukuheva, one of the Marquesan Did they exist on the earth, or in the air, group. Here he remained some months, or in the waters under the earth; were they until taken off by a Sydney whaler, shortspiritual or material, vegetable or mineral, handed, and glad to catch him. At this brute or human? Were they newly-dis- point of his adventures he commences covered planets, nick-named whilst awaiting Omoo. The title is borrowed from the baptism, or strange fossils, contemporaries dialect of the Marquesas, and signifies a of the Megatherium, or Magyar dissyllables from Dr. Bowring's vocabulary? Perchance they were a pair of new singers for the Garden, or a fresh brace of beasts for the legitimate drama at Drury. Omoo might be the heavy elephant; Typee the light-comedy camel. Did danger lurk in the enigmatical words? Were they obscure intimations of treasonable designs, Swing advertisements, or masonic signs? Was the palace at Westminster in peril? Had an agent of Barbarossa Joinville undermined the Trafalgar column? Were they conspirators' watchwords, lovers' letters, signals concerted between the robbers of Rogers's bank? We tried them anagramatically, but in vain: there was naught to be made of Omoo; shake it as we would, the O's came uppermost; and by reversing Typee we obtained but a pitiful result. At last a bright gleam broke through the mist of conjecture. Omoo was a book. The outlandish title that had perplexed us was intended to perplex; it was a bait thrown out to that wide-mouthed fish, the public; a specimen of what is theatrically styled gag. Having but an indifferent opinion of books ushered into existence by such charlatanical manœuvres, we thought no more of Omoo, until, musing the other day over our matutinal hyson, the volume itself was laid before us, and we suddenly found ourselves in the entertaining society

rover: the book is excellent, quite firstrate, the "clear grit," as Mr. Melville's countrymen would say. Its chief fault, almost its only one, interferes little with the pleasure of reading it, will escape many, and is hardly worth insisting upon. Omoo is of the order composite, a skilfully concocted Robinsonade, where fictitious incident is ingeniously blended with genuine information. Doubtless its author has visited the countries he describes, but not in the capacity he states. He is no Munchausen; there is nothing improbable in his adventures, save their occurrence to himself, and that he should have been a man before the mast on board South-Sea traders, or whalers, or on any ship or ships whatever. His speech betrayeth him. voyages and wanderings commenced, according to his own account, at least as far back as the year 1838; for aught we know they are not yet at an end. On leaving Tahiti in 1843, he made sail for Japan, and the very book before us may have been scribbled on the greasy deck of a whaler, whilst floating amidst the coral reefs of the wide Pacific. True that in his preface, and in the month of January of the present year, Mr. Melville hails from New York; but in such matters we really place little dependence upon him. From his narrative we gather that this literary and gentlemanly common sailor is quite a young man. His

His

life, therefore, since he emerged from boy-through many vicissitudes, and was in no hood, has been spent in a ship's forecastle, condition for a long cruise in the Pacific. amongst the wildest and most ignorant So mouldering was her fabric, that the reckclass of mariners. Yet his tone is refined and well-bred; he writes like one accustomed to good European society, who has read books and collected stores of information, other than could be perused or gathered in the places and amongst the rude associates he describes. These inconsistencies are glaring, and can hardly be explained. A wild freak or unfortunate act of folly, or a boyish thirst for adventure, sometimes drives lads of education to try life before the mast, but when suited for better things they seldom persevere; and Mr. Melville does not seem to us the manner of man to rest long contented with the coarse company and humble lot of merchant seamen. Other discrepancies strike us in his book and character. The train of suspicion once lighted, the flame runs rapidly along. Our misgivings begin with the titlepage. "Lovel or Belville," says the Laird of Monkbarns, (6 are just the names which youngsters are apt to assume on such occasions." And Herman Melville sounds to us vastly like the harmonious and carefully selected appellation of an imaginary hero of romance. Separately the names are not uncommon; we can urge no valid reason against their junction, and yet in this instance they fall suspiciously on our ear. We are similarly impressed by the dedication. Of the existence of Uncle Gansevoort, of Gansevoort, Saratoga County, we are wholly incredulous. We shall commission our New York correspondents to inquire as to the reality of Mr. Melville's avuncular relative, and, until certified of his corporality, shall set down the gentleman with the Dutch patronymic as a member of an imaginary clan.

Although glad to escape from Nukuheva, where he had been held in a sort of honorable captivity, Typec-the alias bestowed upon the rover by his new shipmates, after the valley whence they rescued him-was but indifferently pleased with the vessel on which he left it, and whose articles he signed as a seaman for one cruise. The Julia was of a beautiful model, and on or before a wind she sailed like a witch; but that was all that could be said in her phrase. She was rotten to the core, incommodious and ill-provided, badly manned and worse commanded. American built, she dated from the short war, had served as a privateer, been taken by the British, passed

less sailors, when seated in the forecastle, dug their knives into the dank boards between them and eternity as easily as into the moist sides of some old pollard oak. She was much dilapidated and rapidly becoming more so; for Black Baltimore, the ship's cook, when in want of firewood, did not scruple to hack splinters from the bits and beams. Lugubrious indeed was the aspect of the forecastle. Landsmen, whose ideas of a sailor's sleeping-place are taken from the snow-white hammocks and exquisitely clean berth-deck of a man of war, or from the rough, but substantial comfort of a well-appointed merchantman, can form no conception of the surpassing and countless abominations of a South-Sea whaler. The "little Jule," as her crew affectionately styled her, was a craft of two hundred tons or thereabouts; she had sailed with thirtytwo hands, whom desertion had reduced to twenty, but these were too many for the cramped and putrid nook in which they slept, ate, and smoked, and alternately desponded or were jovial, as sickness and discomfort, or a Saturday night's bottle and hopes of better luck, got the upper hand. Want of room, however, was one of the least grievances of which the Julia's crew complained. It was a mere trifle, not worth the naming. They could have submitted to close stowage, had the dunnage been decent. But instead of swinging in cosy hammocks, they slept in bunks or wretched pigeon-holes, on fragments of sails, unclean rags, blanket-shreds, and the like. Such unenviable accommodations ought hardly to have been disputed with their luckless possessors, who nevertheless were not allowed to occupy in peace their broken-down bunks and scanty bedding. Two races of creatures, time out of mind the curse of old ships in warm latitudes, infested the Julia's forecastle, resisting all efforts to dislodge or exterminate them, sometimes even getting the upper hand, dispossessing the tortured mariners, and driving them on deck in terror and despair. The sick only, hapless martyrs unable to leave their cribs, lay passive, if not resigned, and were trampled under foot by their ferocious and unfragrant foes. These were rats and cockroaches. Typee-we use the name he bore during his Julian tribulations-records a singular phenomenon in the nocturnal habits of the last named vermin. "Every night they

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