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death in harness. For instance, he offered Robert Burns a stated salary if he would settle in London and become a contributor to his paper. Under his editorial sway were produced the lyrics of Campbell, the squibs of Porson (his brother-in-law) and Thomas Moore, the jests of Charles Lamb, the criticisms of William Hazlitt, and the theatrical notices of John (afterwards Lord Chancellor) Campbell. He had assistants in the editorship-when he was himself in Paris in the crisis of the French Revolution, catering news for the paper-Sergeant Spankie (afterwards M.P. for Finsbury and Attorney-General of Bengal); and later on in his career, when the weight of work and age were telling on him, John Black, a native of Dunse, author of the life of "Torquato Tasso," editor of "Memoirs of Goldoni," translator of Schlegel and Humboldt,-a man worthy of a niche in the gallery of those famous for toiling upward, not only for what he was himself, but for what he did in discovering and encouraging the talents of Charles Dickens. Perry's theory of editorial responsibility was very high and nobly carried out. He would never consent to shelter himself from personal consequences by giving up the names of those who furnished the materials for his paper, even when he had been misinformed by them. On one occa. sion he fought a duel with a complaining party rather than give up the name of his informant, though he had not seen the objectionable paragraph before it had been put in type. He was twice prosecuted by Government, but on both occasions-defended in the one by Erskine, in the other by himself-he was acquitted; though both himself and his printer, Mr. Lambert, were imprisoned in Newgate for permitting the appearance of an article in which the House of Lords was designated an "Hospital of Incurables."

Perry was the personal friend of Fox, Sheridan, Pitt, Shelburne, &c., and at wide intervals of time the two latter urged him to accept a seat in the House of Commons. He was a notable speaker at the debating societies, at the contested elections of Westminster, at the meetings of the Whig Club, &c. Nor was he contented with literary fame, elocutionary reputation, and newspaper profits. He engaged in several commercial speculations, and few good-looking schemes were launched in those days without an endeavour to engage James Perry, Esq., of Lancaster Court, Strand-or, as Porson used to call him, "My Lord of Lancaster "-in the concern. In a scheme of Mr. Booth's for the production of polygraphic paintings he took great interest and sunk a good deal of money. He also bought some mills in Merton, on which he lost a considerable sum. He was not, in the common acceptation of the term, a scholar, but he was a man of taste and literary skill, and in his house in Tavistock Square he had a curious collection of books-including a good many black-letter tomes-which were valued at £1,500. Charles Lamb describes him as "a pleasant, gentlemanly man, with a dash of the courtier;" Leigh Hunt tells us "he was a lively, goodnatured man, with a shrewd expression of countenance and twinkling eyes." "He held," says Francis Jeffrey, "the office of editor for

nearly forty years, and he held firm to his party and his principles all that time-a long time for political honesty and consistency to last! He was a man of strong natural sense, some acquired knowledge, a quick tact, prudent, plausible, and with great heartiness and warmth of feeling. His cordial voice and sanguine mode of address made friends whom his sincerity and gratitude insured." He was noted, among his own party, for ability, integrity, and independence of spirit, and hence he was often put in early possession of their plans and intents; but even the Tory opposition so strongly appreciated his sterling worth and genuine honesty, that he not unfrequently received communications from them which were valuable to him as giving a high standing to the paper of which he was the conductor and proprietor. He died, after a long and painful illness, at Brighton, 6th December, 1821, in the sixtyfifth year of his age. He had been twice married, and six children

survived him.

"He was a highly honourable and brave man; confidence in him was never abused. He was the depositary of many most important secrets of high personages. Generous in the extreme, he was ever ready with his purse and his services. His manner was manly, frank, and candid, and he was the best of proprietors. Walter, of the Times, was a better man of business; and Daniel Stuart, of the Post and Courier, knew better how to make money; but Perry was a thorough gentleman, who attracted every man with whom he was connected."

"The press is mistress of intelligence, and intelligence is mistress of the world." How much are we indebted, then, to the silent, thoughtful man, who virtually invented reporting for us, and supplied the press with the means of taking into its repositories the history of the moment as it passes, with all its might of agitation, legislation, discussion, and event, and of placing before tens of thousands at the same instant the very thoughts and words which decide the fate of parties, the arbitrement of war, the interests of commerce, the blessedness of justice, and the triumph of truth! When men become wise enough to write with reverence the biographies of their benefactors, the name of James Perry will be written as that of one who opened Parliament to the people, and made representation real. Meanwhile we may surely place him before our readers as an instance of the power of perseverance, a dauntless endeavour to do the duty that lies before us, a determination to keep the heart above the caprice of fortune, and a fixed purpose to achieve success if it lies in the possibilities of "Toiling Upward."

The Reviewer.

Poems. By W. BLAKE ATKINSON. Wallingford: W. D. Jenkins. THIS is a very creditable little local production. It contains forty pages of verses, chiefly relating to Wallingford and its neighbourhood, and three photographs pretty nicely executed. The poems are by a young man, and were nearly all written during his minority. They show fair poetic sympathy, and sense of rhythm; as well as a power of seizing upon the poetic side of things. They are, of course, as the firstlings of fancy should be, simple lays on subjects dear to human hearts, and near to the experience of many. The author has been favoured with a large local subscription list, which shows that he is popular with his townsfolk, as indeed we would augur from the pleasant rhymes which appear here as having been delivered as prologues, or epilogues, at the penny readings of Wallingford, and at the mechanics' institute. The local sketches, of which photographs appear, are neatly described in pretty verse. We should think that with study, care, perusal of the best authors, and perseverance, the Laureate of Wallingford may do something to be known beyond the precincts of what we presume is his native town.

An Hour with Henry N. Barnet. By W. ORMOND.

The Poetry of Life and Nature and the Poet. By W. ORMOND. Bristol: J. B. Taylor and Sons.

us.

William Ormond's forthflow of emotioned thought always pleases He is fresh, earnest, enthusiastic, and sympathetic. His pamphlets come to us, now and again, from the double-rivered and double-countied city of poets, artists, navigators, ecclesiastics, military men and merchants, with the agreeable pungency of the sea air, or rather we should say of the Channel breezes. There is genuine power in him, and there is vigour, frankness, and goodhumouredness in his utterances, which we recognise as effective and fascinating. His "Hour with H. N. Barnet" brought us into the company of a stranger, to us, in an agreeable and enjoyable style, while his "Poetry of Life and Nature" is clearly a prose poem, an idyl of common life and the life-joys of common people of great merit. It is a grand gift that of glorifying the life of the poor, and seeing the poetry of poverty and the wealth of emotional delight which may be hidden under the humanity of the lowly. W. Ormond is a sweetener and an elevator of life, and we commend his brief pieces to the goodwill of all who rejoice in holding companionship with a right good fellow-socially, morally, and intellectually.

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A Glance at the Commons and Open Spaces near London.
London: G. Hill.

The Parochial Critic" has done well to stir the question, What is to be done with the Commons and Open Spaces near London ?-are they to be built upon, enclosed or preserved free for the use, the health, and recreation of the people? This glance is worth perusal in a topographical point of view, as well as in a controversial one. The Commons Preservation Society have a good work to do and require help to do it as it ought. Those who read this glance will sympathize with and assist in their labour. Old Jonathan. London: Collingridge.

British Workman. London: Partridge.

These two illustrated penny journals. devoted to the social, moral, and religious elevation of the labouring classes, require and deserve a most earnest word of commendation. Their literature and their illustrations fit them for general improvement and delight. They should be widely bought and read.

The Church-The Appeal. London: E. Stock.

These two monthlies are admirably edited, and well adapted to promote piety and conduce to holy life and happy death. The former, at the cost of a penny, provides sermons, tales, poetry, essays, and ecclesiastical intelligence; the latter, at one halfpenny, contains hortative Christian invitations, remonstrance and advising.

Counsel and Cheer for the Battle of Life. By Rev. W. G. BLAIKIB, D.D., &c. London: Alexander Strahan.

This is a book we would gladly commend to the shelf devoted to our readers' heart-known and favourite books-the silent, but blessed and blessing companions of their better hours. We know of few men who are so thoroughly deserving of confidence, so absolutely worthy of trust and loving acceptancy as an adviser, as Dr. Blaikie is. His "Better days for Working People" we commended highly in a former issue, and this "Counsel and Cheer" we regard as an admirable supplement to that volume. It is a beam of light let in to the spirit to brighten, enliven, invigorate, all that is best, noblest, and purest in humanity. It consists of eight chapters, of which the first treats of "Three levers for universal use.' These are Self-respect, Self-reliance, and Self-control, on all of which, with interesting discursiveness, the author writes like a man in earnest, and in the course of which he illustrates by anecdote the meaning of the several grades and shades of the qualities of soul he wishes to induce his readers to garner into their souls, that they may, live well, wisely, usefully, holily, and above all, hopefully, Chapter second is concerned with "Wild oats and good seed," an excellent word of wise warning and kindly advice to young, men

showing the perils of early-however secret, indeed the more secret the more disastrously-self-indulgence, and in pressing faithfully and forcefully the need of fixed principles and high aims. Chapter third exhibits in an attractive and instructive manner the method of applying "an old key to our social puzzles" efficaciously-a dis sertation on the value of the Bible as a treasury of moral principles, social suggestions, and life-counsel. In chapter fourth "the divine uses of beauty" are descanted on. The uses named are, (1) to give pleasure, (2) to refresh power, (3) to draw love, (4) to express divine thoughts and feelings. In the course of these remarks the views of Ruskin, Locke, Blackie, Chalmers, Taylor, and Dr. M'Vicar, on several related points, are made the subject of notice and criticism; and we are led in chapter fifth to pass on to the consideration of "the Enjoyment of Beauty." This section is rich in sympathy with the classes who labour, and in it the author en deavours to prove that the Bible and Nature are co-illustrative and both full of enjoyable beauty. In chapter sixth we have pointed out to us some work for sunbeams-the sunbeams of (1) human love, (2) providential love, (3) redeeming love, (4) glorifying love, and here too illustrations again pour the light of sunbeams on the author's meaning. Chapter seventh is entitled "Bear and Forbear," and somewhat reminds us of the philosophy of A. K. H. B., though it is somewhat more robust than his. It very forcibly teaches the art of taking things in a right spirit and the value of sanctified common sense. The question of the relation of "the working man and the Christian Church" forms the topic of the last, the eighth chapter. Suggested by a recently held conference between the clergy and the members of the wage-class, it discusses the questions put and the answers given, and it offers some considerations as worthy of being weighed by working men-such as, that Jesus Christ in his human nature was of the people, and for the people, that the sacrifice of Christ was due to the value of the souls which he gave himself to redeem, and an affirmation of the unquestionable possibility of making-as Thomas Binney phrased it-the best of both worlds, by combining a wholesome regard to this life with a hopeful endeavour after that which is to come.

From this scanty outline the intelligent reader may glean some sort of notion of the utility of the line of thought adopted by the author, and how well such a course of reflection is calculated to give "counsel and cheer" to those who need them most; those who have fewest opportunities for culture and thought, and the scantiest supplies of comfort and training. We do not by any means imply that this is a book merely for the working classes. It is a book which will do good to all who read it with sympathy and intelligence, and is quite as well fitted to improve the advisers, teachers, and employers of the productive and administrative performers of life's work, as the persons fastened to the oar of labour. We find the book characterised by prudential wisdom, sympa. thetic geniality, Christian feeling and genuine philanthropy. We

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