few more years of supine inaction on our part the Czar has for generations wielded an influand of tolerated encroachment on hers may ence admirably enforced by intrigue and termake absolutely irresistible, and whom we ror. He has robbed her of her fairest provknow to be the resolute, instinctive, conscien-inces, and till the premature and excessive tious foe of all that we hold dearest and most pretensions of Prince Menschikoff roused the sacred-of human rights, of civil liberty, of latent spirit of resistance, scarcely a shadow enlightened progress. A little more sleep, of real liberty seemed left. Over the miserand a little more folding of the hands to rest able kingdom of Greece, as we have just seen, -a little more pausing in apathy as we have Russia exercises an unbounded sway. Denbeen doing year after year, step after step, conquest after conquest, and Russia would have been supreme at the Sound and on the Dardanelles, and the chance of saving civilization and assuring freedom have been lost for ever. mark is at this moment trembling on a verge of a revolution provoked by the utter subservience of the Court to Russian influence. Sweden dared not, with France and England to support her, venture to offend her mighty neighbor by accepting back at our hands a This is no exaggerated language, though to small portion of the territory which had been those who have not watched the past or read wrenched from her. The Prussian Court is the alarming indications of the present, it the mere servile puppet of her designs, and may appear so. Look at the map of Russia: the army sympathizes with the Court. The look at the secret hopes and terrors of nearly smaller Powers of Germany, holding the scepevery Court in Europe and in Asia. At the tres of their tyranny only by the terror of her accession of Peter the Great, Russia was name, crouch before her with an abject and a confined to her original inhospitable deserts fawning gratitude; while of the mighty spell and dreary steppes. She had access to no of fear she has cast even over all her neighsea-board except the Arctic Ocean. She had bors, no more striking proof could be adduced no commerce, no influence, no name. She than that Austria-a first-rate Empire, formwas scarcely more known or more powerful erly immeasurably her superior, with an army than Borneo or Cochin-China. See what she of 300,000 men, and with the alliance of is now. Read how she has thus changed her France and England to ensure her the victoposition and her destiny. Every province of ry and guarantee her against consequencesher vast dominions which is of any value, has positively dares not commit herself to actual been gained by conquest, within a century hostilities, but must wait to strike till she is and a half. The Livonian Provinces, Finland, assured that her dreaded competitor is dead Poland, the Ukraine, Bessarabia, the Delta of or disabled. Italy, Spain, and Portugal, are the Danube, the shores of the Black Sea- for all political purposes non-existent; Belare all the spoils of recent robberies, and the gium and Holland are too feeble to be reckonmeans to further ones which are projected and ed; France and England alone venture to not concealed. She keeps on foot an enor- make head against the terrible Colossus:mous army. She numbers 65,000,000 of peo- over all the rest of the Western hemisphere she ple; and the Czar boasts that 800,000 men exercises a supreme, benumbing, paralyzing inannually reach the military age, and that he fluence,strangely and ignominiously compoundcan spend them all without encroaching on the ed of admiration, dread and sinister desires. capital of his population. And the will which Such is her influence already. We have wields this mighty force is hampered by no felt it at every point and crisis of this dispute, constitutional limits or Parliamentary impedi- from its earliest commencement. We have ments, and enfeebled and endangered by no felt it at every stage of our diplomatic labors. repressed aspirations after self-government on We have felt it in every particular of our the part of his subjects. military operations. We are feeling it at this A very brief glance at facts will show how moment most fearfully in the Crimea. For, vast is the indirect power which the Emperor to what is our desperate struggle and our of Russia exercises and has long exercised perilous position there to be attributed, exover all the neighboring States. We have for cept to the formidable shadow of Russia, which, years felt the effects of his intrigues and the resting upon Germany, has tied the hands potency of his name on the wild tribes and and subdued the will of Austria in the PrinciPrinces who border on our Indian dominions. palities? The ultimate issue of the contest In Persia, notwithstanding our proximity and we do not believe can be for a moment doubtour command over the Persian Gulf, his influ-ful; but in the meantime Russia is able now ence almost always predominates over our not only to hold her ground against the two The Shah has been able to retain mightiest States in the world, but to keep the scarcely any courage for independent action; rest of Europe in check-what would have and the Caspian Sea is exclusively and indis- been the position and what the prospect putably Russian. No other vessels but Rus- of the conflict, if it had been delayed, as some sian ones are allowed there. Over Turkey wished to have delayed it, till Russia had obDLVII. LIVING AGE. VOL. VIII. 14 own. tained the keys of the Black Sea and the Power or combination of Powers would in fu- And can any one doubt the effect of this anticipate a blow so as better to ward it off; if to fight anywhere save on our own shores be ever right; if we are not to stand for ever aloof in cold indifference to the welfare and of the highest interests of humanity as of our the existence of other States; if there be such own material possessions, we in our hearts things as social duties among nations; finally, believe that history can rarely point to a war if it be as right to draw the sword in defence so just, so holy, and so imperative as this. THE RUSSIAN EXPOSITION OF 1855. be in front of it!" The Czar would think so; but we spare his feelings. Imagine balls a ton weight racing over London from some place a mile beyond Highgate! We have to welcome a new class of volunteer assistance in the war. Sir Joseph Paxton, addressing the electors of Coventry, has claimed for science a share in the enterprise against thought. Active operations will be suspended, Seriously, these proposals are worth a winter's Russia. Others have seen how little progress but our vote decidedly would be for trying this country appears to have made in imparting to war the intellectual progress that may be de- Nasmyth's cannon-making steam-hammer and scried in every other branch of human enterPerkins's ton-weight steam cannon-balls next prise. spring. The Council of War requires new auxWe are still sending out, observes the "Times," iliaries; and the reformed Royal Society may more armies on the old plan, unaided by modern prove its vitality and utility by lending its aid in appliances; men to conquer, observes the "Morn- this new union of military art and practical ing Post," by sheer brute force and courage, when science.—Spectator, 2 Dec. EPITAPH ON WILLIAM LILLY.-At a coun the elements of force have been so greatly multiplied by mechanical science. The Lancaster gun and Chalmers howitzer are the only exceptions to the rule of excluding scientific improve-try sale, a few months back, I picked up one of ments from the conduct of the war. Our army Lilly's "Astrological Almanacks" for 1651. On clothing is made in improved machines; our the blank side of the title-page, in a handwriting soldiers are taught in improved schools; they almost coeval with the date of publishing, is the are carried over in improved steamships; their following:food is packed in an improved way; we receive intelligence of their action by the last improved telegraph, and in short everything about them is improved, even down to some few of their own weapons, except the entire fashion of carrying on warfare. While theoretical science thus lectures our Government on what is undoubtedly the true grand omission, practical science volunteers its assistance. Some one is said to have offered to take any Russian fort by contract, for a sufficient consideration. Mr. James Nasmyth, of Manchester, offers his steam-hammer, as a means of making wrought-iron guns in any quantity, of such calibre and power as to send shells and shots on the Minié rifle plan, of two or three hundred weight, distances that would keep us beyond the reach of the enemy's missiles; and his plans and designs are before the Govern ment. Mr. A. M. Perkins, son of the inventor of the steam-gun, announces his readiness to supply the Government with a steam-gun capable of throwing a ball of a ton weight a distance of five miles. If such a gun were fixed in Brunel's large ship of 10,000 tons," he says, "I venture to say that Sebastopol would be destroyed without losing a man.' Mr. Perkins dates his letter from "the Patent Hot-Water Apparatus Manufactory," which looks like a cunning threat of the position in which the Czar might find him self. "How dangerous!" an old lady was overheard to exclaim, on seeing Perkins's steammusket, which sent out a stream of bullets like a fire-engine hose; "how dangerous it must be to EPITAPHIUM PSEUDO-PROPHETE GUIL, LILLY. excrement infamy of ye English nation. Notes and Queries. RUB SOFTLY.-" "T is all very well," said my godfather, putting in his oar,-"'tis all very well, that rubbing down and polishing off, provided 'tis done in moderation; but let me tell you, there is such a thing as rubbing too hard. I have seen an American Indian rubbing two pieces of rough wood together; after a little time, they became a great deal smoother, and had a pleasant warm feel; but when he rubbed away some time longer, they took fire, blazed up, and crackled, and sputtered in all directions. Now, 't is just the same thing, I suspect, in married life. Rub quietly, and only a little at a time, and all will go on smoothly; but if you stick to it, hard and fast, from morning to night, take my word for it, you will kindle up a blaze at last that you may not find it easy to put out."-Dublin University Magazine. From Blackwood's Magazine. followed their example, discarding from my A FEW PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF thoughts for the nonce all poor Professor Wal CHRISTOPHER NORTH. BY THE AUTHOR OF "TEN THOUSAND A-YEAR." [The ensuing brief but interesting and affecting sketch of one so long the glory of The Magazine, was written by the author for the purpose of his forthcoming"MISCELLANIES;" but at our request he has allowed it first to appear in the columns of The Magazine so long irradiated by the genius of Professor WILSON.] ON a bright and frosty day in December, 1827, as I was quitting the mathematical class in the University of Edinburgh, of which I had been a member about two months, one of my class-fellows said suddenly, "If you want to see Christopher North, he's yonder!" This my companion knew to have been long my desire, for I was, in those early days, one of Christopher North's most enthusiastic admirers. My curiosity was gratified in a moment. Walking rap idly across the quadrangle, towards his classroom (that of Moral Philosophy,) with a sort of hasty, impetuous step, as though he were behind his time, was Professor Wilson, then in the very prime of life. A faded, tattered gown, put on carelessly, fluttered in the keen wind, and seemed a ludicrous appendage to as fine, tall, manly a figure, and free, fearless bearing, as I have ever looked upon. As he came nearer, his limbs and their motions gave the idea of combined strength, agility, and grace; and there was a certain sort of frank, buoyant unaffectedness about his demeanor that seemed to indicate light-heartedness of great mental and physical endowments. When he came near enough for his face to be seen with distinctness, in it I forgot everything else about him; and I shall never forget the impression it produced. What a magnificent head! How finely chiselled his features! What compression of the thin but beautifully formed lips! What a bright, blue, flashing "Eye, like Mars, to threaten or command!" Add to all this the fair, transparent complexion, flowing auburn hair, and the erect, commanding set of his head upon his shoulders, and surely no Grecian sculptor could have desired anything beyond it. As for his eye, it lightened on me as he passed, and suddenly disappeared. lace's sines, co-sines, triangles, and parallelopipeds; and when I entered the Moral Philosophy class, I found that Professor Wilson had just begun his lecture. He read it with considerable rapidity, as it were, vehemently urging his words out of lips, compressed with the natural energy of his character. Professor Sedgwick, of Cambridge, when speaking in public, has sometimes reminded me of Professor Wilson's man ner. The lecture was eloquent, and greatly relished by the auditory. A small incident showed how he was absorbed with his subject, though the lecture was probably one that he had often read to chief, and after drawing it across his forehead, his class. He had taken out his pocket-handkercrushed it up, and placed it on the left hand side By-and-by of his paper, partly under a book. he requried his handkerchief, and felt first in one pocket, then in the other; then in his breast, then handkerchief, but without pausing for a moment glanced hastily round, evidently in quest of his in the flow of his impassioned rhetoric. These efforts he renewed several times; but it was not saw what he had been looking for, and which we till he had finished his lecture, that he suddenly had seen all the while. He uttered aloud "Oh !” have several times reminded him of this little as he thrust it into his pocket, and withdrew. I circumstance, and he always laughed heartily, saying, “Very likely-very probable. I'm very thoughtless about such things." All I recollect of his lecture was, that it dealt much with Plato, but I was completely occupied with Wilson, feeling that I could pay my respects to Plato at any time. I am bound to say, that this distinguished man did not favorably impress me as a Lecturer on Moral Philosophy; inasmuch as he seemed to lack that calm, didactic manner, alone befitting the treatment of difficult, profound abstract subjects. I think those who frequented his class, must have found it difficult to realize what they had heard from him. I do not, indeed, recollect seeing any one taking notes; but I do recollect thinking one or two passages in his lecture very fine. I did not see Professor Wilson again, except perhaps casually, and at a distance, till a few days before I quitted Edinburgh, in the autumn of 1828. I had no opportunity of meeting him in society; and I was resolved not to leave ScotI had seen power and genius visibly embodied; land without being able to say, that I had spok and, in a word, I think that never before or en to Professor Wilson. But how was this to be since, can any celebrated man's personal appear- done? Having been informed that he had conance have so far surpassed an admirer's expecta- curred with Professor Pillans, in awarding me tion as Professor Wilson's air, face, and figure the prize for English poetry, I thought, after went beyond what I had imagined. I say this many qualms and misgivings, that an allusion to calmly, after the lapse of twenty-seven years, that circumstance might, to a generous man of during which I have a thousand times recalled genius, serve to take off the edge of the liberty I the scene which I have now faintly sketched for proposed to myself, of calling, as a student quitthe reader; assuring him, that no one then know-ting the university, to pay my parting respects to ing this gifted and far-famed man, will think my sketch too highly colored. As I heard that many more were crowding in to his class-room than were entitled to do so, *He was in his forty-third year. one of the Professors. So one afternoon, after walking hesitatingly up and down the street in which he lived, and other adjoining ones, I sumImoned up spirit enough to call at his house, and *The Martyr Patriots, Warren's Miscellanies, vol. ii. inquire if he were at home. The answer was, son said, "You shall sit opposite to Mr. De yes; and on being asked my name, I mentioned Quincey"-and I think, he added in a whisper it, adding, a student in the university." In a and with a smile, "it will be a queer kind of moment or two's time the servant returned, say- wine that you will see him drinking!" Presently ing, "The Professor would see me." Somewhat we went down to supper. Nothing could exnervously I followed, and in a moment found ceed the gentle, unaffected kindness to me of myself, if I am not mistaken, in his library. The Mrs. Wilson, whom I never saw again after that ́room had a disordered appearance, as if its occu- evening. I saw her watching me once or twice, pant were careless. He had a loose wrapper round with a good natured, amused smile, as she saw him, his shirt collar was thrown open, and he me intent upon Mr. De Quincey, and his doings! scemed writing. Pray take a seat," said he, I cannot at this distance of time pretend to say addressing me by name; and then his piercing that his small decanter contained coffee; aseyes were fixed on me with what I thought a suredly it was not wine, but exactly resembled slightly impatient curiosity. "I feel, sir, that 1 laudanum. He was taciturn for some time, but have taken a great liberty," I began; but I am gradually fell into conversation, in which Proan English student, with very few friends in fessor Wilson joined with vivacity. It was on Scotland, and before leaving the university and some metaphysical subject; and at length I well Scotland, I felt anxious to have the honor of pay-recollect that the discussion turned on the nature ing my parting respects to you. Oh, well, I am of Forgetfulness. "Is such a thing as forgetting much obliged to you. So you are leaving the possible to the human mind?" asked Mr. De university? Are you the Mr. Warren that gained Quincey-" Does the mind ever actually lose anythe prize for English verse?" I told him I was; thing forever? Is not every impression it has on which his whole manner altered, and became once received, reproducible? How often a thing exceedingly cordial and gracious, and his smile is suddenly recollected that had happened many, was fascinating. "Well," said he, as you are an many years before, but never been thought of Englishman at a Scotch University, I was a since till that moment! Possibly a suddenly Scotchman at an English University at Ox- developed power of recollecting every act of a ford;" and he talked with animation on the man's life may constitute the Great Book to be topic. I explained that the reason why I could opened before him on the judgment day." I not attend his, among other classes, was that I think this is the substance of what was said on wished to enter at an inn of court immediately. the subject, Professor Wilson making several "Oh, pho!" said he, laughing good-humoredly, curious remarks as to the nature of mind, memoyou have not lost much by missing my lectures!ry, and suggestion. I ventured to say-and it You must read for yourself on these subjects." was the only thing I did venture to say-that After some other conversation, I happened to say: I knew an instance of a gentleman who in has"There is only one other person besides yourself, tily jumping from on board the Excellent," to sir, whom I should have liked to see before re-catch a boat that was starting for shore, missed turning to England." "Who's that?" he asked. it, and fell into the water of Portsmouth harbor, "Mr. De Quincey, the Opium-Eater.' "Mr. sinking to a great depth. For awhile he was De Quincey! Why, he's staying with me now! supposed drowned. He afterwards said, that all Well, I dare say I can manage that for you. he remembered after plunging into the water Come in to-morrow evening about nine o'clock, was a sense of freedom from pain, and a sudden and I'll introduce you to him. I shall be most recollection of all his past life, especially of guilty happy to see you!" He said this with so much actions that he had long forgotten. Professor kindness that I accepted the invitation; and af- Wilson said that if this were so, it was indeed ter he had shaken my hand with much friendship very startling; and I think Mr. De Quincey said of manner, I withdrew, he instantly resuming his that he also had heard of one, if not two or three pen. such cases. On making my appearance next evening at I was so absorbed with watching and listening the appointed hour, I was at once shown into to the conversation of Professor Wilson and Mr. the drawing-room, where were Mrs. Wilson, evi- De Quincey, that I left almost supperless, in spite dently a very amiable and kindly woman, and of the kindly pressure of Mrs. Wilson. I often some of her children. In about ten minutes' saw her look, as I fancied, with fond interest at time, Professor Wilson made his appearance, her famous husband, whose demeanor had a with one or two other gentlemen, to whom he noble simplicity. His eyes sometimes seemed was talking very energetically. He presently to glitter and flash with the irrepressible fire of saw me, and shook hands with me cordially. genius. I watched him with lynx-like vigilance; "Oh, you want to see Mr. De Quincey!-come but all was spontaneous and genuine; not a veshere!"-and leading me into the back room, tige of artifice, affectation or display; no silly towards a door which stood open, in the angle" inflicting his eye on you;" but all, whether formed by it with the wall, stood a little, slight grave or frolicsome, the exuberance of a gloriman, dressed in black, pale, careworn, and with ously-gifted man of genius. And see how hosa very high forehead. "Mr. DeQuincey, this ispitable, and kind he was to a young English a young friend of mine-a student in the univer-stranger whom he had never seen till the presity, returning to England." After a few words ceding day! Before I left, he asked me much of course, he left us; but Mr. De Quincey seemed about my intentions and prospects; wished me exceedingly languid. He spoke courteously, heartily well; and when about eleven o'clock, I though evidently disinclined to talk. Shortly had shaken hands with him and got into the before we went down to supper, Professor Wil-street, the sun of GENIUS no longer shone on |