"It is not oratory, it is talk, but talk lively, bril-ja step-their infernal master, to whom their body liant, light, animated, mingled with historical traits, has been delivered, to whom their soul has been sold, anecdotes, and refined reflections; and all this is said, calls to them, Thou art mine." vol. ii. p. 21. broken off, cut short, tied, untied, sewn together In this shrewd passage there are two or three palagain, with a dexterity of language absolutely in- pable mis-statements. It is untrue to say that M. comparable. Thought springs up so quick in that Thiers failed as an advocate, for he was never tried. head of his, so quick, that one would say it was born It is unfair to say that a man of his abilities could before it had been conceived. The vast lungs of a have been nothing, or next to nothing, without the giant would not suffice to expectorate the words of Revolution of July. And then the purity of that that spirituel dwarf. Nature, ever watchful and con- same Revolution! with a royal Duke conniving in a siderate in her compensations, seems to have aimed plot for the downfall of his own family-a plot orat concentrating in him all the powers of virility in ganised by his own banker (Lafitte), to whom the the frail organs of the larynx." King of the French is really indebted for his throne; Mr. Shiel's admirers are fond of comparing him to and a band of patriots lying perdus until the evening M. Thiers-but the resemblance is, we think, super- of the third day, and then emerging from their celficial. The summary of M. Thiers' alleged tergiver-lars to scramble for the spoil! The last paragraph sations is in M. Timon's best manner :involves a melancholy truth; but how is it applicable "M. Thiers, on entering the world, was not to Thiers, who is fighting on his own account against cradled in the lap of a duchess. Born poor, he the crown,-on whose banner is or lately was inlacked fortune; born in obscurity, he lacked a name. scribed: Le roi regne et ne gouverne pas. As to the Failing as an advocate, he became a man of letters, measures by which, as minister, he enforced orderand threw himself headlong into the liberal party, if on such grounds we are to impute knavery, M. more from necessity than conviction. He then set Thiers will not stand quite alone. The truth is, that himself to admire Danton and the men of the Moun- no man of understanding, who has had the misfortune tain, and he carried to exaltation the calculated fana- to begin life as a liberal enthusiast, ever attained to ticism of his hyperboles. Eaten up by desires, like power without finding that the doctrines of his youth all men of lively imagination, he owed the com- were utterly incompatible-not merely with good mencement of his wealth to M. Lafitte, and his repu- government but-with the very existence of society. tation to his own talent. However, were it not for We have before us two portraits of M. Guizot, the revolution or 1830, M. Thiers would be at the which it is amusing to compare : present day neither elector, nor eligible, nor deputy, "M. Guizot," says M. Timon, "is short and nor minister, nor even academician; he would have slender, but he has an expressive face, a fine eye, grown old in the literary esteem of a coterie. and a remarkable degree of fire in his glance. There Since then, M. Thiers has changed his party; he has is something hard and pedantic in his look and manbecome monarchist, aristocrat, maintainer of privi- ner, like all professors, particularly those of the docleges, giver and executer of pitiless commands; he trinaire sect, the sect of pride. His voice is full, has attached his name to the etat de siege of Paris, to sonorous, affirmative: it does not lend itself to the the mitraillades of Lyons, to the magnificent achieve- flexible emotions of the soul, but it is rarely muffled ments of the Rue Transnonain, to the deportations of and dead. His exterior is studiously austere, and all Mont St. Michel, to the laws regarding combinations, about him is grave, even to his smile."—vol. ii. p. 1. public criers, the courts of assize, and the newspa- The other forms the commencement of a sketch in pers, to all that has fettered liberty, to all that has the Revue des Deux Mondes. It also contains a fact degraded the press, to all that has corrupted the regarding a distinguished English statesman which jury, to all that has decimated the patriots, to all that is new to us :has dissolved the national guarde, to all that has demoralised the nation, to all that has dragged the noble and pure (!!!) Revolution of July through the mud." "If you have any day a fancy to quit the Parliament and come and attend a sitting of our Chamber of Deputies, you might still see on the Ministerial bench (provided you make haste) a man with pale "When, under a monarchy, a man without cha- and furrowed cheeks, whose eyes, sunk in their orbit, racter and without virtue has received an education resemble fires hidden in the depths of a cavern. more literary than moral, and borne in the arms of One of his hands is habitually concealed under his fortune, he mounts the steps of power, his elevation waistcoat, and from his convulsive movements, you turns his head. As he finds himself isolated on the would call him a gambler secretly tearing his breast heights he has reached, and knows not on what to when the chances of the game are against him. Lord lean, having neither individual consideration nor fol- John Russell, so little, so pale, and so feeble, that it was lowers, belonging and wishing to belong no longer necessary to stretch him on a sofa in the lobby after his to the people, and unable, do what he will, to become speech on Parliamentary Reform, may give you an one of the noble and the great, he lays himself down idea of this person; but he of whom I speak does at the feet of his king, he kisses them, he licks them, not, like Lord John, suffer his half-pronounced periods and he is at a loss by what contortions of servility, to expire in empty air. His lagging and incisive by what caresses of supplications, by what pretences phrase is an instrument which cuts and tears at once; of devotedness, by what genuflexions, by what toe- his deep and almost funereal voice adds to the lukissings, to prove his humility and the down-to-the-gubrious expression of his physiognomy, and when ground character of his adoration. Persons of this he employs the form of sarcasm-which happens species are like those predestined victims of Gehen- rarely, it is true-this forced mockery has always na who have made a compact with the devil. They something terrifying." are marked with his nails, and if they attempt to Both agree in one thing: that, when he ascends turn their heads-break a link of their chain--move the tribune, he irresistibly suggests the image of a Calvinist minister mounting the pulpit, and that tracted lips, give him the appearance of a proscriber. his speeches often resemble sermons both in compo- They attribute to him the famous phrase, soyez impisition and delivery. The sole foundation for this toyables-horrid phrase, if it ever was pronounced. analogy seems to be a certain austerity of look and It is true that he has been dangerously affected of manner, and a habit of indulging in topics such as late by an ardent and gloomy fanaticism: but this occasionally converted Burke and Mackintosh into was owing to the warm weather, which always influbores-much more, by the way, to the discredit of ences certain brains; and there is a wide interval the audience than of the orators. between the theory of terror he has preached, fine as it may be, and the practice. M. Timon's sweeping abuse of the Guizot school of thought and diction will at least divert cur readers. The closing aphorism is good and true. "Depuis vingt ans, cette malheureuse, cette fatale ecole de l'eclectisme gouverne la jeunesse, dont elle abuse les generenx instincts, dont elle embrouille la vive et pure intelligence. Elle n'a engendre que des esprits faux, que des cœurs sans'foi, sans fiamme, et sans amour de la patrie, des cœurs que les grands sentiments n'ont jamais remues, que la soif des plaisirs egotistes et brutaux devore, que le spleen du doute tue, des cœurs eteints et mourants! 66 Why should I not say, so great is my desire to be impartial, that M. Guizot has strict and pure morals, and that he is worthy, by the high morality of his life and his sentiments, of the esteem of good men? I have witnessed his paternal sorrow, and I have admired the severity of his stoicism. There is great firmness in that soul of his." There is a well known anecdote of his early life which it would be difficult to reconcile with the notion of his being other than amiable and kind-hearted. Pauline de Meulan was a woman of considerable "Oui, les peres de l'ecole moderne, avec leurs im- literary acquirements, who supported herself by portations nebuleuses de Geneve, de Berlin et d'E- writing articles for a paper called the "Publiciste :" cosse, ont gate la philosophie, la jeunesse et la lan- she fell ill, and was unable to continue her contribugue. Si cette belle langue francaise passe un jour a tions without serious injury to her health, but persel'etat de langue morte, nous avertissons la posterite vered under great suffering and privation, until one que MM. Guizot, Royer Collard et Cousin, ces trois day a packet was brought to her containing a wellchefs de l'instruction, ces trois professeurs de me- written article for her paper, and a note from the taphysique quintessenciee, seront pour elle trois au- writer, in which he expressed a wish to continue teurs intraduisibles, puisque nous, leur contempo- incognito, but promised to write all the required arrains, nous ne les comprenons pas. ticles for her till she got well. He kept his word, "M. Guizot, pour exprimer des idees qui ne sont and it was not until she was completely recovered, pas des idees, s'est fait une langue que n'est pas une that a pale, silent young man, whom she had been langue; langue toute boursoufflee de propositions in the habit of seeing at M. Suard's, requested an fausses, toute herissee de termes infeconds qui ne interview, and avowed himself as her benefactor. peuvent pas aboutir; langue crense sans etre pro- It was M. Guizot; and in due course of time Paufonde, affirmative sans certitude, raisonneuse sans line de Meulan became his wife. logique, dogmatique sans conclusion et sans preuves, What was said of Flood, the rival of Grattan, and lente a se mouvoir, epaisse de salive, et qui mouille of Dundas, the friend of Pitt, may be said of M. Maua peine des levres arides et desechees. guin. He must be estimated, not by set speeches "Les laborieux commentateurs de M. Guizot se or insulated displays, but by his willingness to put travaillent et s'epuisent a le deviner. Ils le pene- out in all weathers, his gallantry in facing all diffitrent a-peu-pres aussi bien que nous penetrons l'apo-culties, his persevering opposition to all lines of pocalypse. licy revolting to his conceptions of patriotism. When Le genie, c'est la lumiere; ce qui n'est pas we glance over M. Mauguin's speeches, we find little clair n'est pas francais."-pp. 6, 7. that seems striking or complete enough to quote, for M. Guizot's theories of government and legislation the simple reason that nothing has been elaborated are known to all Europe: it is therefore unnecessary with that intent; but we are forcibly impressed with to point out in what particular he has made himself the nerve, manliness, readiness, clearness and fludistasteful to the party to which M. Timon now pro-ency of the speaker, and fully appreciate the strength fesses to belong. Yet M. Timon frankly acknow- such a man must add to the party which possesses ledges that, when M. Guizot quits his philosophical him. When Sir Edward Sugden was last returned speculations and condescends to business, he can go to parliament, the attorney-general is said to have as straight as any body to the point, say nothing but confessed that he would willingly give a thousand what is required to be said, and say it well. His pounds to keep him out. We have no doubt that diction, also, is admitted to be purer and more cor- any of the French governments for the last ten years rect than that of any other extempore speaker in would give ten times as much to get rid of Mauguin; either Chamber. His favourite mode of reasoning but it would be useless for them to bid, since, indeis that already mentioned as pursued by his friend pendently of his known probity, he has lately sueand (in one sense) master, Royer-Collard. He se-ceeded to a fortune of some three or four millions of lects some one idea or prominent point of view, and francs. M. Mauguin has a commanding person makes that the staple of his speech. "His oration (somewhat resembling O'Connell's in massiveness,) is but the development of a theme. If the idea is an open, expressive face, a fine voice with an attrue, all the discourse is true: if the idea is false, all tractive touch of melancholy in its tones, a gentlethe discourse is false." He never gives way to manly address, agreeable manners, and great powers sudden emotions of any kind, and rarely indulges in of conversation. He particularly excels in an ironipersonality. cal allusion or a retort. M. Timon, who does not "M Guizot passes for cruel amongst the Opposi- like him though he says he does, quizzes him most tion. His glistening eyes, his pale face, his con- unmercifully for his speeches on foreign affairs, in tion. has been frequently brought of late against the Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel: they say that he does not risk enough : "In this position it is not for y you to say if you will "Master of his passions and his words, he calms avoid war. War with you is a question of epoch; in him and around him the anger of the centres and will you have it now? will you have it in six the stormy ebullitions of the left. He prepares and months will you have it when all foreign powers covers the retreat, in places of difficulty, with the have secured all their advantages? I do not call on skill of a consummate master of strategy: he is the you to decide; but in this situation, if Belgium of- Fabius Cunctator of the Opposition. Unhappily, fered herself, could you refuse an increase of four these temporising tactics, when too often repeated, millions of men and so many strong places, which cool down the parliamentary courage, which is not for us are a powerful barrier against the foreigner? overdaring as it is. The part of the Opposition is No, no. If, then, it is necessary-I say it with not to hide itself behind the baggage, but to bear itregret if Belgium offered herself with this condi- self bravely in the front of battle. When the people tion, I would say war, war! It might be destruc- do not see the soldiers of liberty mount the breach tion-death; I know it; but for France it would be and fire, they grow weary, yawn, turn away, and glory and triumph too. repair to other spectacles."-vol. ii., p. 139. "What people in Europe would dare to attack There may be some truth in this remark, but we you now?-Russia? Austria? England? Why believe Odilon-Barrot sees (what M. Timon does does not England oppose the fresh invasion of Po- not care to see, or, seeing, is not anxious to shun) land? If I am well informed, the answer given by the abyss into which one incautious step might preher ministers is, the fear of giving a bad example to cipitate the monarchy; and the key to his conduct Ireland. Well, then, tell England we will be frank, may be found in an exclamation that lately burst loyal, sincere friends; we will be formidable ene- from him in debate, "Oh! perish twenty ministers, mies. The point is not, if there is a war between rather than the moral power of parliament, for that is us, to cover all the seas of the globe with privateers; our salvation." M. Odilon-Barrot is one of the a few steamboats would suffice to carry arms and a few most eminent members of the French bar; and he regiments to Ireland. I speak of a state of war where occasionally contributes to the leading law-reviews every thing is allowable; and England must not of the continent. His age must be something beforget that, only a few years since, one of her minis-tween forty-five and fifty: he is about the middle ters threatened all the kings of Europe. Tell her, height and size, with a good voice, and a remarkably then, that Ireland may see a French general once fine forehead. more. We have reserved the chapter entitled "Compa"However I know it well-this voice, which rison of Orators and Writers" until we arrived at M. announces danger, wearies you. When in the Lamartine, because he is more peculiarly the repreheights of the mountains a traveller is seized by the sentative of literature than any other of the distincold, his eyelids grow weary, he sinks. His com- guished writers that have been named. MM. Thiers panion calls to him to wake. "No, I must sleep." and Guizot, for example, are even better known by But this slumber is death.' 'No, it is happiness, their career as politicians than by their works: but it is life.' The unhappy man falls and dies. Na- M. Lamartine's reputation, let him speak as he will, tions as well as individuals may indulge in treache- will rest perforce upon his poetry; and the same dire rous slumbers, and foreign invasion and partition necessity would have befallen Byron had his early are their death." hopes of parliamentary success been realised. Yet surely a man has no great right to be angry when he contends against, and is eventually baffled byhimself. We quote this passage as a specimen of opinions still prevalent amongst French statesmen, and as illustrative of the degree of information they possess regarding the condition of these realms. In addition The chief question raised in this chapter is, why to his parliamentary eminence, M. Mauguin has at- France, which boasts so many parliamentary orators, tained high distinction at the bar. He was born in boasts so few political writers, though so many pre1785-M. Guizot in 1787. liminary conditions (to be eligible and to be elected, Perhaps M. Odilon-Barrot exercises at the present for example) are required to become an orator, and moment more individual influence than any other any man may turn writer when he will. M. Timon speaker we have named; and it has been fairly solves this question by saying that it is more difficult earned by a long career of political prudence and to write well than to speak well; but before reasonprobity. There is also an air of reflection about his ing on the proposition, we should wish to understand speeches, with a vein of sound morality underlying exactly what it means, for it strikes us that he is unmost of them, particularly calculated to impress; consciously comparing two widely different degrees and he speaks much less frequently than Mauguin, of superiority-that when he speaks of political which makes many prefer him as a leader, it being a writers, he has such writers as Paul Louis Courier, prevalent belief that a man who discusses all ques- La Mennais, or Chateaubriand, in his mind, whilst tions must inevitably commit himself on some. But under the term "parliamentary orators," he includes though M. Odilon-Barrot is a discreet and dignified all who can command a hearing in the Chamber or speaker, he is far from being a cold and formal one: get reported in the Moniteur. In no other sense is on the contrary, he warms and grows animated as it true that good writers are rarer than good speakers. he proceeds, and occasionally gives vent to ebulli- At the same time we quite agree with M. Timon, tions of feeling well described by M. Timon as the that a well-arranged, well-reasoned, well-written eloquence of the heart. The more eager of his party essay argues a higher description of talent than the are wont to bring against him the same charge which cominon run of extempore speeches, in which the arrangement (such as it is) and probably the leading in the Chamber. His speech in defence of the press, topics are suggested by the debate; and that it is far when some stricter laws were proposed (August 22, easier for a member of parliament to get a hearing 1835), exemplifies both the merits and demerits of than for a private individual to get read. But the his style. We wish we could quote more than the more important question remains: how far literary conclusion:men are likely to succeed in parliament? This, again, "Believe me once again, your laws run counter to is best answered by analyzing it: for literature in- your end. If we were your enemies, as you say we cludes all sorts of composition, some analogous, some are, we should hasten to vote them out of hate to not analogous, some diametrically opposed to oratory. you, and as a treacherous and deadly boon. The For example, when we read Addison, we feel at once, event which agitates us all is stronger than your despite of his idiomatic felicities, that he must make laws. What law more efficacious or more speaking an ineffective member; but when we read Boling- than that king and his sons under a storm of bullets? broke, we fancy him declaiming in his place, and that illustrious marshal covering them with his though we believe it was no less a person than Fox, blood? those thirty-two dead bodies strewing the who, when people were naming what lost produc- pavement? those fourteen biers traversing your tertions they should most wish to restore named one of ror-stricken capital? These are spectacles which Bolingbroke's lost speeches, it always struck us that repel from crime by horror, as a licentious press repels the "Patriot King" and the "Letter to Windham," from anarchy by disgust. These are laws as God had rendered all the wish superfluous. Show us any has made them; all visible, all palpitating-all given writers writings, then, let us have a look at powerful with emotion-with instruction-addressed him and (if possible) hear him talk on any subject of to the imagination and the instinct of the mass. interest, and we will endeavour to tell his parliamen- Leave them to act by themselves, those grand and tary fortune; but to lay down general rules on such terrible lessons: they are more impressive than our a subject with the view of deciding individual cases vain discussions, more durable than your laws of a by them, would be to act like the Laputans when day." they measured gentlemen for clothes. Inummerable passages of little inferior merit might Lord Brougham, in his inaugural discourse at be selected, and we should be inclined to quote the Glasgow, recommends the diligent practice of com- commencement and conclusion of his speech on the position; and it may be urged that a man who has conversion of the funds (Feb. 5, 1836) as amongst been accustomed to express himself on paper, must the very best examples of the exordium or the perohave a decided advantage over one who has never ration that we know. expressed himself at all: to which the answer would Considering the attention we have paid to Literabe, that, unless the student practised himself exclu- ture, Science might have some reason to complain sively in writing speeches, he would probably con- were we to pass her by without a word,-particutract a style ill-fitted for debate, and the objector larly when she boasts such a representative as M. might cite the well-known remark of Fox-“ Did it Arago, who stands in the very first rank of European read well? Then, depend upon it, it was not a good celebrities. To attempt any account, however speech." In the case of young writers, therefore, slight, of the pursuits and discoveries by which his we should say that literary habits would be rather an reputation has been attained, would be beside the advantage, but in the case of writers of long-estab- purpose of this article, and M. Timon has comIsihed reputation, the answer (as already intimated) pressed all that can well be said of his oratorical must principally depend upon the style. character in a paragraph : M. Lamartine, according to M. Timon, is an apt | "When M. Arago ascends the tribune, the depuillustration of our theory, his speeches being pre- ties, curious and attentive, lean on their elbows and cisely such as his poems would lead one to antici- keep still. The spectators press forward to look at pate. But M. Timon has not formed a very high him. His stature is tall, his hair clustered and flowestimate of the poems, and has most assuredly under- ing, and his fine southern head commands the assemestimated Lamartine's merits as an orator. It is bly. In the muscular contraction of his temples frankly admitted that he has a fine figure, regular there is a power of volition and meditation which features, a firm and noble bearing, goodness of heart, reveals a superior spirit. Unlike those orators who elevation of sentiment, and unimpeachable integrity: speak on every subject and know nothing of what that he has great command of language, and replies they are talking about three times out of four, M. with brilliant facility; but it is contended that there Arago speaks only on questions that he has studied, is nothing passionate or inspired in his look, his ges- questions which unite the interest of circumstances ture, or his voice-that he shines and does not warm to the attraction of science. His discourses have -that he is religious and has no faith-and that the thus both generality and actuality, and address themsame want of logical coherence which mars the effect selves at the same time to the intelligence and the of his verse, is still more fatal to his parliamentary passions of his audience. For this reason he is not displays. The laudatory part of this description we slow in subduing them. No sooner has he entered are in a condition to confirm by our own testimony; upon the matter in hand than he concentrates all looks and as to the rest, the truth is, Lamartine generally upon himself. You see him holding, as it were, shows less fire than might be expected from a poet-science between his hands. He clears it of its asperiperhaps for the very reason that it is expected-and ties and technicalities and renders it so precise and treats his subject rather languidly and diffusely, and so perceptible, that the most ignorant are astonished with too much attention to style and manner, till he to see and comprehend it. His animated and exwarms but always speaks like one speaking from pressive pantomime adds to the effect of the oratorical conviction; and in moments of high excitement is illusion. There is something luminous in his deone of the most animated and impassioned speakers monstrations, and streams of light seem to issue from his eyes, his fingers, and his mouth. He intersects after quitting the church at the door of which 1 left his speeches with biting allusions, which defy reply, him. But close by the aforesaid church, the devil or piquant anecdotes which harmonise with his sub- had a thriving little establishment, in the shape of a ject and adorn without surcharging it. When he cigar-shop in which a showily dressed young Jewconfines himself to the narration of facts, his elo-ess sat behind the counter, right underneath a glaring quence has merely the natural graces of simplicity: gas-light-with a thin stripe of greasy black velvet but when, face to face with Science, he contemplates across her forehead, and long ringlets that rested on her with earnestness to discover her secrets and re- her shoulders-bandying slang with two or three produce their wonders-then his admiration begins other such puppies as Titmouse and Huckaback. to employ a magnificent language, his voice swells, Our friends entered and purchased a cigar a-piece, his style grows richer and richer, and his eloquence which they lit on the spot; and after each of them is as grand as his subject."-vol. ii. p. 184. had exchanged an impudent wink with the Jewess, After this, the highest service we can do M. Arago out they went, puffing away-all the remains of their is to leave him where he stands. Here, however, it piety! When they had come to the end of their might fairly be asked why we do not enumerate the cigars they parted, each speeding homeward. Titliterary and scientific members of the British parlia- mouse, on reaching his lodgings, sunk into profound ment, by way of laying the foundation of a parallel: depression. He felt an awful conviction that his but far from offering or provoking any challenge of visit to the cigar-shop had entirely spoiled the effect the sort, it is one we should most anxiously decline, of his previous attendance at the church, and that, if and our only hope is that M. Timon will not insist so disposed, he might now sit and whistle for his ten on drawing any sweeping conclusions of an invidious thousand a-year. Thoughts such as these drove him nature from our avowed inferiority in this respect. nearly distracted. If, indeed, he had foreseen having He is quite welcome, if it so pleases him, to censure to go through such another week as the one just over, our government for not promoting men of intellectual I think it not impossible that before the arrival of the eminence, or our constituent bodies for not electing ensuing Sunday, Mr. Titmouse might have afforded them. Up to this point we shall probably go along a little employment to that ancient but gloomy funcwith him; but before judging of English science and tionary, a coroner, and his jury. At that time, howliterature by their parliamentary representatives, let ever, inquests of this sort were matter-of-fact and him, in common fairness, make due allowance for the melancholy affairs enough; which I doubt not would facts-let him, in common charity, bear constantly have been rather a dissuasive from suicide, in the esin mind that neither Wordsworth, nor Herschel, timation of one who might be supposed ambitious of nor Hallam wear coronets; that no mitre has fallen the eclat of a modern inquest; where, indeed, such either on Sydney Smith or Sedgwick, Milman or strange antics are played by certain new performers Whewell, Keble or Buckland; that Babbage is the as would suffice to revive the corpse, (if it were a rejected, not the elected, of Finsbury; that a round corpse that had ever had a spark of sense or spirit in dozen of fashionable novelists or melo-dramatists it,) and make it kick the coroner out of the room. would be a poor set-off for Lamartine, Guizot, or But to one of so high an ambition 'as Tittlebat TitChateaubriand; that Messrs. Longman have not mouse, how delightful would it not have been, to quite made up their minds to offer Lord John Russell anticipate becoming (what had been quite impractitwenty thousand pounds for a continuation of his cable during life) the object of public attention after History, with the view of putting him on a par with his death-by means of a flaming dissertation by the M. Thiers; and that Leeds (instead of having to con- coroner upon his own zeal and spirit-the nature and tend for Sir William Molesworth with six rivals, as extent of his rights, powers, and duties;-when Marne contended for Royer-Collard) is probably the high doctors are brow-beaten, the laws set at defisole place in the empire which would have afforded ance, and public decency plucked by the beard, and a temporary refuge to the editor of Hobbes-the only the torn and bleeding hearts of surviving relatives metaphysician in the House,-unless, indeed, we still further agonized by an exposure, all quivering adopt the definition of Voltaire, which would make as good a one of Mr. Joseph Hume: "Quand celui qui ecoute n'entend rien, et celui qui parle n'entend plus, c'est metaphysique." From Blackwood's Magazine. In under the recent stroke, to the gaping vulgar! deed, I sometimes think that the object of certain coroners, now-a-days, is two fold,-first, public-to disgust people with suicide, by showing what horrid proceedings will take place over their carcasses; and secondly, private-to get the means of studying anatomy by post mortems, which the said coroner never could procure in his own practice; which enables us to account for some things one has lately seen, viz: that if a man come to his death by means of a waggon crushing his legs, the coroner institutes an exact examination of the structure of the lungs and heart. I take it to be getting now into a rule-the propriety whereof, some people think, cannot be doubtednamely, that bodies ought now to be opened only to prove that they ought not to have been opened; an inquest must be held, in order to demonstrate that it need not have been held, except that certain fees thereby find their way into the pocket of the aforesaid TITMOUSE Continued in what he doubtless imagin-coroner, which would otherwise not have done so. ed to be a devout frame of mind, for several minutes In short, such a coroner as I have in my eye may be Fortuna sævo læta negotio, et Nunc mihi, nunc alii benigna. HOR. CARM. Lib. iii. 49. |