The Quarterly Review

Lord Malmesbury returned from his Berlin mission in 1794, having-as seems to have been his diplomatic destiny-failed in his object; but we must add, in justice to him, that we are satisfied no one could have succeeded.

In 1797 he was employed as plenipotentiary in the negociations at Lisle for a peace with the French Directory, and fortunately failed once more: and here again most assuredly any other minister must have equally failed.

In 1800 he was advanced to a viscounty and earldom in the British peerage.

In 1807 he was appointed lord-lieutenant of Hampshire and governor of the Isle of Wight.

He died on the 21st of November, 1820, after a most prosperous life-full of years and honours-the founder of a noble house -in high estimation for his public services, and beloved and respected in a remarkable degree by his family and friends.

We have already intimated our opinion that this publication will not add much to Lord Malmesbury's diplomatic reputation; but it is only fair to observe that the dispatches are presented to us with many intervals and lacunæ, which very much interrupt the march of the events, and present rather a piecemeal view of the minister's proceedings. One volume of important papers (often referred to) is altogether lost; and in the course of the correspondence, as now printed, we find frequent references and allusions to intermediate dispatches, which do not appear. If the series were full and complete, it is possible that we might receive a stronger impression than we now have of the influence of Lord Malmesbury on the final results of the transactions in which he was engaged. It is true that there is abundant evidence that successive Secretaries of State set a high value on his services; and not unjustly; for his activity and zeal are unquestionable; and he probably did as much as any one could have done in the circumstances-generally unpropitious-in which he was placed. Our opinion of the general inefficacy of his labours has been formed altogether on the evidence before us, of which we have extracted enough, in Lord Malmesbury's own words, to enable our readers to judge whether our inference is correct; or at least to induce them to examine the matter for themselves.

As to literary merit, the volumes have none at all. In his style, the son of the author of Hermes' follows his father's example, rather than his precepts. It is flat and ungrammatical; and, what is more surprising, sometimes vulgar to a degree!'-to use one of his own slip-slop phrases: and we do

Mr. Harris's style is flat and heavy, and Dr. Johnson observed to Mrs. Piozzi, that 6 in the fourteen lines of which the dedication of the Hermes consists, there were no less than six grammatical faults.'-Piozzi's Anecd., p. 6.

not

544 Diaries, &c., of James First Earl of Malmesbury.

not know that we ever read so many letters in which there was so little of that occasional ornament and relief which literature and wit can impart even to the driest business.

In his official character he displayed one great quality, and it was that to which no doubt he principally owed his reputation and his advancement: he was resolute and daring-his mind was vigorous, and his heart stout. He was no official automaton-he took his full share in the councils he had to execute, and, with a becoming spirit and self-confidence, courted rather than evaded responsibility. Over this firmness of purpose was spread a brilliant varnish of address. He was polished steel of the finest temper and brightness: the fascination of his manner, especially towards women, was very great, and seems to have been not the least effective of his diplomatic qualifications. He was placable, and even generous, in the trials of temper to which both private and political life are exposed; and he had, even before experience had matured it, a great dexterity in availing himself of all his personal advantages. This, however, had a drawback-he attributed, we have learned from those who knew him well, too much to dexterity-he relied on it in himself, and suspected that every body else was playing a rival game; and he had the misfortune-though it may be a diplomatic merit-of having a somewhat low opinion of mankind, and of being predisposed to unfavourable constructions of their views and principles.

Of these last traits of character this publication affords, we think, many instances. Of his higher and more amiable qualities there are, of course, fewer traces-they existed in the person, but were, from their nature, not transferable to his paper. In the few notes, however, that relate to his private conduct-those of his conversations with the Prince of Wales in the hey-day of his Royal Highness's youthful extravagance and those relative to the junction of the Duke of Portland with Mr. Pitt-there is abundant proof of his good sense, integrity, patriotism, and honour-and these few green spots of home-life have been, we confess, very refreshing after our long and tedious detention in the barren maze of his Russian delusions, and the profitless bustle of his Dutch intrigues.

NOTE.

We are anxious to state that, in the Article ou Dr. Arnold,' several paragraphs at the conclusion were accidentally omitted, in which we had dwelt more fully on some other points in Dr. Arnold's character-the remarkable freshness, for instance, pervading every part of it-without which we are well aware that our sketch may appear incomplete to those who knew and loved him. But we the less regret this, because we hope to have an early opportunity of bringing this striking character again before our readers by a review of his Roman History.

Arabesques, 460. See Gruuer.
Arnold, Dr., 467.

See Stanley.

Art, encouragement of, at Rome in 1844,
454.

Bamford, Samuel, Passages in the Life of
a Radical, 358- chronological errors,
ib.-Bamford's early career and first
appearance in politics, 360-interviews
with Lord Cochrane and Sir Francis
Burdett, 362-describes a debate in
the House of Commons, 363-his opi-
nion of paying orators at public meet-
ings, 365-the Blanketeer Meeting in
March, 1816, 366-Bamford's flight
from Middleton, 368-return, 369-
arrested; scene at the Privy Council,
371
- present political faith, 372-
composes The Lancashire Hymn,' 374
second arrest, 375 the Manchester
'Bridge of Tears,' ib.-first connection
with newspapers, 377-journey to Lon-
don, 378 communications with the
leading men of the Radical party, 380
-'outer-court etiquette' of the great;
visit to Lord Grosvenor, 381-scenes at
the trial of the Peterloo conspirators,
383-Bamford found guilty; sympa-
thy at Middleton, 384-incident on
his journey to receive sentence, 385-
distress while in London, 388-im-
prisonment, 390-release, 392- his
poetry; lesson to be drawn from his
book, 394.

Bavaria, the king of, speech in reference
to the movement in the Papacy, 167.

Catherine, the Empress, 525. See Mal-
mesbury.

Conquest, the, and the Conqueror, 281-
effect and operation of the Norman Con-
quest, 291-aspect of England at that
time, 292, 298-changes in the physical
condition of England since the Con-
quest, 298-necessity for the revolution
then effected, 302-state of the several
classes of the community, 303-con-
dition of England under Edward the
Confessor, 304-partition into earl-
doms, 305-Winchester and London
at that period, 306-events by which
William became settled in the posses-
sion of the Crown, 307-Earls Edwin
and Morkar, Edgar Atheling, 310—
capture of London, 311-coronation of
William; its necessity, 314-privileges
granted to London, 317-manner in
which English history must be consi-
dered, 318-constitutions of Germany
and France, 319-basis of the English,
320-the Norman Vexin, 321-death
of William, 323.
Children's Books, 1-qualifications of
the modern writers of these books, 2-
proper manner of acting upon chil-
dren's minds, 3-combination of in-
struction and amusement, 5-modern
substitutes for old-fashioned fairy-tales,
8-juvenile religious books, 9-Scrip-
ture guides and interpreters, 11-school-
books, 12-children's scientific works,
13-causes of their minds being highly
cultivated at present, 16-value of ju-

venile books: list of works that may be
placed in children's hands, 19.
Cobbett, Wm., described, 361.

De Saussure's encampment on the Col du
Geant, 59.

Diplomacy defined, 537.

Edgeworth, Miss, Early Lessons, 1.
Eldon, the Earl of, 71. See Twiss.

Forbes, James D., Travels through the
Alps of Savoy, with observations on
the phenomena of glaciers, 39-gran-
deur of the Alps, ib.-glaciers: expla
nation of the term, 40-block of granite
on the Mer de Glace, 42-hostelrie at
the summit of the Montanvert, 43-
transition from the snow to the ice line,
44-theories of glacier motion, 45-
difference of their lateral and central
motions, 48-the ribboned structure,
49-' dirt-bands,' 50-successive an-
nual changes, 52-geological agency,
53-the circuit of Mont Blanc, 54--
the glacier de Miage, 55-La Brenva,
56-passage of the Col du Geant, 57-
De Saussure's encampment thereon,
July, 1788, 59-difficulties of the de-
scent, 60- debacle of the Val de
Baques in 1818, 61-passage of the
Col des Fenetres, 61-to the Vallée
d'Erin, 65-corpse discovered on Mont
Collon, 67-glacier of Arolla, 68-of
Zmutt, 69.

Forster, Rev. Chas., D.D., the Historical
Geography of Arabia, 325-importance
of its history, 327-its colonization
by Cush, 329-by Joktan, 330-by
Ishmael, 332-by the sons of Abraham
and Keturah, 333-by Esau, 334-the
tribe of Ad, 335-Mr. Forster's method
of proceeding in his investigations, ib.
-peculiarities of Arabian etymology,
338-examples, 340-knowledge of
localities derived from their names, 342
-classical geography of Arabia, 343
-the author's decipherment of the an-
cient Hamyaritic language, 344, 358-
inscription at Nakab-al-Hajar, 351-
Hadramautic inscriptions, 352-cha-
racter of the Hamyaritic language,
354.

Fresco, 447. See Gruner.

Galt, Wm., Railway Reform, its expe-
dience and practicability, 224-analy-
sis of the pamphlet, 251.

George the Third, letter to the Princess of
Orange in 1788, 539.

George the Fourth, letters of, to Lord
Chancellor Eldon, 109, 110-feelings
and conduct respecting the Emanci-
pation' Act, 116.

Giles, J. A., LL.D., Patres Ecclesiæ An-
glicana: the complete works of the
Venerable Bede, 281-283.

Glaciers, 39. See Forbes.
Gruner, Lewis, Fresco Decorations and
Stuccoes of Churches and Palaces in
Italy during the 15th and 16th cen-
turies, 447-cause of the present taste
for fresco, ib.-objections to the plan of
inviting artists to furnish specimens as
proofs of their capacity, 448-prospects
of art in England, 450-private patron-
age; academies, 451-duty of indi-
viduals, 452-patronage of foreign art-
ists, 453, 456-cause of the revival of
fresco painting in Germany, 454—ex-
tent to which it may be carried in this
country, 457-importance of taste in
our manufactures, 458-value of Mr.
Gruner's work, 459-arabesques, 460
-the Loggie of Raffaelle, 461-ara-
besques of his pupils, 462-decorations
of sacred buildings, 463-frescoes in
France and England, 465.

Hittorf, A., an Essay on the Ancient Ara-
besques, 447.

Howitt, Mary, Sowing and Reaping; Who
shall be the greatest? 1.

Hunt, Henry, described, 360-his selfish-
ness at the Peterloo trials, 384.

Illustrated books, 168-contrast between
their production now and twenty-five
years ago, 169-Cowper's inking roll-
ers, 170-effects of modern improve-
ments in wood-cutting, 171-illustra-
tion at the time of Charles the First;
Ferrar's Concordance, 172-illustrated
books of the last century, 174, 191—
of the present century, 176, 192—ma-
nuscripts, 175-works of M. Silvestre
and Mr. Owen Jones, 177-Athelstan's

copy of the Gospels, 178-M. de Bas-
tard's Peintures et Ornemens des
Manuscrits,' 179-unfailing character-
istic of all illuminations, 181-rise and
progress of illuminated manuscripts,
182-names of the principal illustra-
tors, 185-the Venetian Ducali, 186—
engraving, 187-Oldenbuch and other
engravers, 189-emblems, 190-annu-
als, 192-illustration at the present
day, ib.-illustrations of the Bible, 193
-of English history, 194-of books of
travel; of poetry and fiction, 195-litho-
graphy, 197-illustration on the walls
of the Houses of Parliament, 198-in
churches, 199.

Loans, foreign, amount of British property
sunk in them, 249.

Lunacy, report of the Metropolitan Com-
missioners in, to the Lord Chancellor,
416 ancient legislation in respect to
lunatics, 417-commencement of the
milder treatment, 418-liberation of
lunatics during the Reign of Terror,
419-their state in England in 1772,
420 asylums erected from 1791 to
1808, 421-parliamentary inquiries,
422 -substitution of moral govern-
ment for physical force, 423-principal
heads of the Report, 425-number of
lunatic asylums and of insane persons
in England, 426-importance of early
medical treatment, 428 disgraceful
condition of many of the lunatic asy-
lums in England, 429, 443-circum-
stance which aggravates the hardship
of insanity, and demands strong legis-
lative protection, 432-necessity of an
extensive inquiry into the condition of
all receptacles for the insane, 434-
parliamentary measures and acts since

1763, 435- criminal and dangerous
lunatics, 437-the plea of insanity in
cases of atrocious crimes, 438-privi-
lege of confining persons without cer-
tificates of insanity, 441-act for the
appointment of commissioners in lu-
nacy; nature of their duties, 442-
causes of insanity, 444-dementia, ib.
-mania and melancholia, 445-moral
insauity, 446.

M'Culloch, J., a series of lessons in
prose and verse, 1.
Malmesbury, James Harris, first earl of,
Diary and Correspondence, edited by
his grandson, the third earl, 508-con-
trast between the official and private
correspondence of diplomatists, 509-
Lord Malmesbury's ancestry and boy-
hood, 510-visits Holland and Prussia,
511-Poland, 512-state of that coun-
try in 1767,513-Secretary of Legation
at Madrid, 514-the Falkland Islands
affair in 1770, ib.-appointed minister
at Berlin, 519-removed to St. Peters-
burg, 520-formation of the Armed
Neutrality,' 521-Sir James Harris's
political embarrassments, 522-limited
interest of this correspondence, 525—
the empress Catherine, ib.-donations
to her favourites, 526-madness of
Count Orloff, 527-recall of Sir James
Harris; his parliamentary career, 528
-appointed minister at the Hague, 530)
-Dutch revolution of 1787, 531-ex-
pulsion of the Stadtholder, 535-restora-
tion, 536-Harris's diplomacy in the
affair, 537-raised to the rank of am-
bassador, 538-visits England; accom
plishes a treaty with Prussia; raised to
the peerage, 540-part taken by him on
the Regency question, 541-his diary,
ib.-sent on a special mission to Prus-
sia, 542-subsequent career and death,
543-literary merit of the work, ib.-
Lord Malmesbury's character, 544.
Manners, improvement of, in consequence
of railroads, 250.

Marshall, Mrs., Conversations with Mama,
1.

Meinhold, W. D. D., Maria Schweidler,
or the Amber Witch, 199-character of
the work, 200-223-time of the story,
202-extract from the opening chapter,
203-Maria the heroine, 204-suffer-
ings of the pastor and his daughter,
205-village sympathy, 207-disco-

202

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