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CURRENT LITERATURE.

THE

HE subject discussed by Dr. Elam in the opening pages of the Contemporary, "Automatism and Evolution," is of such grave importance that we propose to give an abstract of the paper, avoiding quotation marks as far as possible. It will be understood that the words are Dr. Elam's, or else a condensed statement of his arguments. The propositions combated are (1) Matter is all-powerful and all-sufficient, (2) Man is only a conscious automaton. Does Prof. Tyndall mean what he says, that he discerns in matter the 66 promise and potency of all terrestrial life?" Hardly; for elsewhere he speaks of the facts of consciousness and the facts of physics as two classes, the connection between which is unthinkable, and also quotes Du Bois Raymond, who regards their continuity as the rock on which materialism must inevitably split whenever it pretends to be a complete philosophy. Prof. Tyndall can imagine elementary matter as endowed with consciousness under certain circumstances, to which Mr. Martineau had replied "You will get out of your atoms by evolution exactly so much and no more than you have put into them by hypothesis." Again, the Professor refers to the relation of physics to consciousness as invariable; yet it needs no profound acquaintance with modern physiology and pathology to convince any one that no such "invariable relation" can be verified; in fact, that it does not exist. Again, it is said that materialists prove there are no forces in nature but the physical, chemical, and mechanical; this indeed they assert, but do not make even the most distant approach to proving it.

Prof. Huxley defines man as an automaton, then as a conscious automaton, having free will, in whom volition counts for something. An automaton endowed with free will is a pleasing and interesting novelty in physical science for which Prof. Huxley deserves credit; but how does he prove his theory? First, by cutting out the brain of a frog; but how does he know that his experiments will hold good in warm-blooded animals? In point of fact we know that they will not. It is not easy to find any illustration from " comparative analogies,” in anatomy or physiology, in the matter, and, besides, it can by no means follow that because certain acts of some animals are automatic, all their acts are so. The argument from the aggregate common sense of mankind is then referred to at length; this is followed by a statement of the evolution theory of the origin of life from the "cosmic" gas up to man.

up"

Perhaps the most amusing theory of its origin is Oken's-" Light shines on the water,' and it is salted. Light shines on the salted sea and it lives." Herbert Spencer's Biology, Haeckel, Huxley, and Darwin, are then referred to; after which Dr. Elam remarks that it is difficult to realize the idea that all this is but a figment of the imagination; and that, at the best, it is a mere hypothesis, in direct support of which not one single fact in the whole range of natural history or palæontology can be adduced. The next part of the paper, upon which we have no space to enter, is devoted to an inquiry whether it is true that there is originally only one kind of matter and one kind of force. Protoplasm next makes its appearance in the discussion, as defined by Prof. Huxley in a large number of passages quoted. The reply may be briefly stated thus: It is in no sense true that protoplasm "breaks into carbonic acid, ammonia, and water; since to convert it into these three compounds requires an amount of oxygen nearly double the weight of the original protoplasm. Under no possible "conditions" can the three compounds, when brought together, give rise to the still more complex body, protoplasm." Protoplasm can never be formed except under the immediate contact and influence of preexisting protoplasm; no doubt it has its mechanical and chemical relations, but it has also something else. The fatal flaw in the physical theory of life is found in the distinction between living and dead protoplasm-the one exhibiting passive qualities, the other active ones; now as the constituent atoms remain the same, wherein consists the difference? As this paper is to be continued in a subsequent number, we may have an opportunity of referring to it again.

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Mr. Spedding completes his criticism of Lord Macaulay's essay on Bacon, in which he closes the subject with a summary of results. Whatever he may have effected so far as Dr. Abbot is concerned, he certainly demolishes the authority on which most readers rely for a full and accurate account of the great Chancellor. Dr. Schwartz contributes an interesting panoramic view of "French Preachers," extending from a period long prior to Bossuet to our own time. The French are, he observes, the least poetical nation in Europe; France is the land of rhetoric; the French a nation of rhetoricians. The pulpit eloquence of France thus becomes a factor of importance in estimating the mental, as well as spiritual, power of the Gallic people. The writer, al

though he puts in a plea for them, has little sympathy with the preaching of the early Calvinists, whose style was as bare as their temples; devoid of imagery, ornament, and every artistic element, "sombre, hard, oft bitter." The portraits of the great preachers of the Church are artistically drawn. Mr. Mill's paper on "Lord Baltimore and Maryland Toleration," is an attempt to belittle the character of the generous nobleman who gave his name to the commercial capital of Maryland. The views of Bancroft and most other authorities are nibbled at in a very unsatisfactory way. Liberty of conscience found a home in that State, at all events, under the auspices of a Roman Catholic nobleman, at a time when Massachusetts was persecuting Roger Williams and all who would not conform with the "elect." Mr. Russell's "Capital Punishment in England" is, in fact, a history of the infliction of the extreme penalty from the Conquest until now. The portions relating to the Heresy Laws and the bloody penal code which was in force a hundred years ago, as well as the statement of the crimes committed during war and peace times respectively, are of great interest. The last shows that, in those days at any rate, war brutalized a man, and too often educated soldiers for murder and highway robbery when they returned home. Dr. Riggs's paper on "The Churchmanship of John Wesley" is evidently a reply to Mr. Llewellyn Davies, who argued the subject from a Churchman's point of view; the discussion is of long standing and not of vital importance. Mr. Macdonell's brief sketch of "The American Bench" is good so far as it goes; but it is rather too brief to be impressive. Chief Justice Marshall deservedly occupies the first place, with his successors, Taney and Chase, far in the background. A lawyer would like to have heard a little more of Story, Kent, Redfield, and Curtis. With Mr. Grant-Duff and his dogmatic utterances, most people have lost patience. With all his knowledge of Eastern affairs, he has no policy to suggest, except that we must be anti-anti-Turk and anti-anti-antiSlave, patting both races on the back, uttering equivocal phrases, and doing no good to either. The Fortnightly also has something to say on the Eastern question, its opening article being Mr. Rutson's on "Turkey in Europe." It extends to over thirty pages, and therefore any attempt to give an abstract of it is out of the question, more especially as its treatment of the subject is historical. The tone of the paper may be gathered, however, in a few sentences. England has been the mainstay of the Christian populations, hitherto, against "the neglect, cruelty, and incompetence of Turkish ministers, and if she did her duty, she should be their protector now. ""All these opportunities have been missed; and the Christians left, and the initiation abandoned to Austria

Hungary and Russia-powers biassed by the special interest each has in a particular mode of manipulating' the Christians, without influence with the Porte, and without the means England has of giving wise counsels as to the special difficulties of the Turkish Empire." Mr. Hutchinson puts in a defence of vivisection with the singular title coming from one of his opinions-"On cruelty to animals." The article is temperate in tone, but it will convince nobody not already convinced or desirous of satisfying his scientific conscience on the subject. Miss Octavia Hill's "Word on Good Citizenship" contains some valuable advice on beneficence. She determinedly opposes charity, in the vulgar sense of the term, and indicates many methods of benefiting one's fellow-creatures without degrading and pauperizing them.

The Fortnightly is unusually dull this month as a whole, and there is but one other paper which need be noticed here. Mr. Morley completes his essay on Robespierre, and it is not too much to say that the character he gives that actor in the terrible drama of the last century bears upon it a verisimilitude we shall hardly find elsewhere. It is not merely that the panorama which passes before us is artistically sketched and coloured; when the author of this paper draws, he is too graphic to be dull, too calm and judicial to be swayed by passion on one side or the other, too keen-sighted to make mistakes in the historical perspective. Anything more determinedly clear and searching than the analysis of Robespierre's character

his weakness, his inherent shallowness, his empty phrase-mongering, his essentially despicable spirit-will be looked for in vain. He was not the hero that the Extreme Left would make him, nor the demon of most modern historians. No thirst for blood possessed him; all he desired was domination. The law of Prairial was the most atrocious law, perhaps, ever enacted, and it was Robespierre's. But it was aimed not at the crazy old woman and poor seamstress who suffered, but at the more bloodthirsty opponents of himself. The real "Terror" is something awful to contemplate; but though the law was Robespierre's, the terrible execution of it must not be laid to his charge. He merely desired the destruction of his enemies, and he found that, notwithstanding the dreadful list to be guillotined, the men he desired to decapitate escaped. If he only could secure "an official Supreme Being and a regulated Terror!" The first was his, but he could not regulate what was too powerful for management. It is, therefore, altogether a mistake to load the memory of this weak, vain, unstable hero with all the sins of 1793-4, after his death in the latter year. The description of the Revolution of Ninth Thermidor is admirable in every respect; indeed the whole essay is most excellent, as well for its impartial tone, as for its literary power.

A

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

FTER a 'rather longer intermission than

that of last year, Mrs. Morrison, a week or two back, opened the Grand Opera House for her third season. The auditorium has to some extent been renovated, and a new and wellpainted drop curtain has been provided Of the new members of the stock company, the principal are Mrs. Allen, Miss Anderson, Miss Paynter, and Miss Wright, and Messrs. Fitzgerald, Rogers, and Hudson. The two lastnamed are well-known to Toronto audiences, having frequently performed in this city. Among the members of the old company retained are Mrs. Vernon and Mrs. Marlowe, and Messrs. Sambrook, Vernon, Semblar, Roberts, Stokes, and Humphreys. The prospects for the season are exceptionally brilliant, the list of stars whose appearance is promised including Neilson, Janauschek, Agnes Booth, Jane Coombs, Kate Claxton, Eliza Weathersby, Dion Boucicault, Owens, Raymond, Chanfrau, Dominick Murray, Sir R. Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. Florence, and other well known names, besides Mrs. Oates's Comic Opera Trou pe.

The performance on the opening night was under the patronage of the Lieutenant-Governor, and consisted of a new three-act comedy, entitled, "A scrap of Paper," and the familiar comidietta "A cup of Tea." "A scrap of Paper" is one of the latest successes in London, where it is still running with undiminished popularity, and is a charming adaptation from the French. The nationality of its authorship is unmistakable; no one but a French dramatist could have manufactured so many telling situations, and spun so much brilliant dialogue out of materials so slender. So far as scenery, stagesetting, and costumes are concerned, the play was admirably mounted. Indeed, in completeness of detail and beauty of effect, the studio scene in the second act, and the conservatory scene in the third, surpassed everything of the kind ever witnessed in Toronto. The acting also, was excellent. Mrs. Morrison, who on her entrance was greeted with a very warm welcome, never appeared to better advantage than as Malle. Suzanne, acting throughout with charming vivacity and spirit. Had her makeup been somewhat more youthful in face and figure, but little fault could have been found with her performance. Among the other characters, Louise de la Glacière (Mrs. Allen), Prosper Couramont (Mr. Fitzgerald), and Brismanche (Mr. Hudson), were also excellently played. During the week following the opening night the attraction was Mr. Dominick Murray, who appeared in two plays, neither of them being worthy of the powers of this really admirable character actor. One was "Escaped from

Sing Sing," the very title is redolent of ruffianism and crime-the demerits of which we had occasion to animadvert upon when it was produced here last season. There is one passage --that in the second act, between Karl and the "pretty waiter girls "-which it is surprising that so scrupulous a manager as Mrs. Morrison should allow to be presented before a refined audience, composed largely of ladies. The other piece was "Willy Reilly," an American sensational play belonging to the same category as "Escaped from Sing Sing," though it does not quite descend to the same low level. Plays of this description afford no scope for acting, and are really not amenable to criticism from a dramatic point of view, so that the less said about them, the better. The only redeeming feature in "Willy Reilly," is the character of Andy, an exaggerated portrait of a servitor who tyrannises most despotically over his master. played with much humour by Mr. Rogers. During the present month, Sir Randall Roberts, Mr. Chanfrau, and Miss Claxton, are expected to appear.

It was

Dia

During the past month, Mr. McDowell's "Shaugraun Company" gave three weeks' performances at Mr. French's Royal Opera House. The troupe is a remarkably good one, strong in numbers and talent, and very well balanced. The selection of plays was varied and excellent. Tragedy was represented by "Othello;" the "society" play, by Mr. Howard's monds;" the romantic drama, by "Alixe," and Mr. Lester Wallack's charming play, "Rosedale;" the sensational, by "The Two Orphans" and "Rose Michel;" and the romanticsensational by Boucicault's "Led Astray" and "The Shaugraun." These pieces were all very well put on the stage-scenery, costumes, and accessories all being carefully attended to. The only plays new to Toronto audiences were "Diamonds," "Alixe" and "Rose Michel." The first named is a feeble specimen of its class; the dialogue (upon which society plays mainly depend) is clever at times, but too often degenerates into mere farce. "Alixe" is a favourable specimen of the French romantic drama; but "Rose Michel" has an unpleasant flavour throughout, and is not by any means so strong, either in plot, in character-drawing, or in dialogue, as "The Two Orphans." This latter play, however, is one of the best of its kind; indeed, the last act is as exciting, not to say as thrilling, a piece of sensationalism as has ever been witnessed on the stage.

It would take us beyond our limits to notice in detail the acting in the different characters of each of these plays. All that can be done isto briefly refer to some of the principal parts. Mr.

McDowell, the manager, appeared to best advantage as Conn, the Shaugraun. We noticed the performance when he played the part here two seasons ago. The actor's efforts to compass the brogue are not entirely successful, and his humour is something lacking in genuine Irish unction. These defects apart, the performance is a capital one. Mr. McDowell was also very good as Pierre Frochard and Chevalier de Vaudry in "The Two Orphans though it is a mistake artistically for an actor to duplicate parts in this way. As Cassio, and as Elliot Grey, in "Rosedale," however, he was out of his element, and failed to give satisfaction in either. The forte of Mr. Neil Warner is evidently tragedy, and his impersonation of Othello was a very fine onepowerful and impressive in the broad outlines. The defects were a tendency to rant occasion-equally good in other and quite different parts. ally (noticeably in the third act), and a carelessness in regard to minor details. On the whole, however, the performance was the best we have seen in Toronto, except Mr. King's, and evidently took the audience quite by surprise. The part of Captain Molyneux, in "The Shaugraun," Mr. Warner looked to the life, and, we think, might have acted equally well had he been content to present it simply and naturally, as that of an officer and a gentleman. But he attempted to give it a comic, "haw-haw" style, and only succeeded in buffooning it-painfully so in the charming love scene with Claire Ffolliott. He was more satisfactory as Jacques Frochard, in the "Two Orphans," though here also the comic element was too predominant, and the performance on the whole was inferior to that of Mr. Farwell at the "Grand" last season. Mr. Chippendale is another excellent actor, and was particularly

good as Brabantio. The feminine portion of the company is perhaps stronger than the masculine-Miss Weaver, Miss Reeves, and Miss Cameron, being exceptionally good; and they were well supported by Miss Newcomb and Miss Davis. The Emilia of Miss Weaver was the best representation of that difficult and thankless part that we can remember, and she was also exceedingly good as Arte O'Neil in ;""The Shaugraun, and Henriette in " The Two Orphans." The great feature in the performance of this play, however, was the Louise of Miss Reeves. Miss Kate Claxton has made this part her own, but Miss Reeves's representation of the poor ill-used blind girl falls but little below that of her sister artiste, and is powerful and moving in the extreme. Miss Reeves is an actress of great versatility, and was almost

She was graceful and natural as Desdemona;
vivacious and witty as Herminie Delafield, in
"Diamonds ;" and arch and winning as Claire
Ffolliott, in "The Shaugraun." It was rather
a pity, however, that in representing this im-
petuous Irish girl, she should have completely
dropped her excellent brogue, after the first
act.
Miss Cameron has a fine stage presence,
and looked and acted exceedingly well as
Diane de Linieres, in "The Two Orphans."
But as Rose Michel, though a much more im-
portant part, she was hardly so satisfactory, her
rather monotonous elocution becoming a trifle
wearisome before the end of the play was
reached.

66

The Company will return to Toronto shortly, and will perform Pique," a society play, adapted by Mr. Daly from Miss Florence Marryat's novel, "Her Lord and Master."

LITERARY NOTES.

Messrs. Belford Bros. send us a copy of one of their latest reprints: "The Old Lieutenant and his Son," by the late Norman Macleod. The work originally appeared in Good Words, and is published by arrangement with the author's executors, and is copyrighted in Canada.

We have received from Messrs. Appleton, of New York, the latest instalment of their valuable International Scientific Series: "The Five Senses of Man," by Julius Bernstein; also Mr. Freeman's "Primer of General History," and Miss Yonge's last novel, "The Three Brides." This firm's forthcoming publications embrace a reprint of Mr. Mivart's recent work "Contemporary Evolution," and Prof. Huxley's Lectures at Chickering Hall, New York, on "The Direct Evidence of Evolution."

on

The Canadian edition of George Eliot's new story, "Daniel Deronda," has just been completed by the Messrs. Dawson, of Montreal. They issue the novel in a neat 8vo. volume.

Messrs. Hunter, Rose & Co. have issued a Canadian edition of Mr. Wilkie Collins's new novel, "The Two Destinies."

A cheap edition in two 12mo. volumes, of Mr. Trevelyan's Memoir of Lord Macaulay, has appeared with the imprimatur of a Leipsic house.

Messrs. Lovell, Adam, Wesson & Co., of New York, are bringing out an American edition of Lord Dufferin's "Letters from High Latitudes," by arrangement with His Excellency, to which will be prefixed a new preface, portrait, &c. The same firm commence a series of novels, under the title of the Champlain Press Series," the first issue of which will be Mr. Joseph Hatton's story, "Clytie." Mr. Gladstone's recent pamphlet on "Bulgarian Atrocities," has just been brought out by this house.

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A sequel to Miss Alcott's recent story Eight Cousins," is announced for early publication, under the title of "A Rose in Bloom."

THE

CANADIAN MONTHLY

AND NATIONAL REVIEW.

VOL. 10.]

NOVEMBER, 1876.

[No. 5.

BRITISH COLUMBIA, AND ITS RELATIONS TO THE DOMINION.

BY F. J. R., VICTORIA,® B. C.

HE Canadian who takes extended and

chance of avoiding the danger. The ques

tion is, to what extent Confederation was necessary; and we are inclined to think that the acquisition of British Columbia was the step needed to make impossible what was before a possibility.

Caune views of the future capabilities, needs, and prospects of his country, will probably regard the 20th of July, 1871, as one of the most important dates in the history of the Dominion, for on that day the great work of Confederation was completed That which, more than anything else, has by the acquisition of British Columbia, tended to produce whatever annexation feelbringing with it a frontage on the Pacific ing exists in Canada, has been the constant Ocean. We fear, however, that to many of emigration going on from the older Proour countrymen this date will only present vinces to the United States; an emigration itself as the day on which a nearly worthless not only of those who have recently arrived and very troublesome Province was acquired from Europe, but of native born Canadians, at a monstrous and ridiculous price. It every one of whom, when settled on the other may be of some use to present to such per- side of the boundary line, has been an addisons a brief account of the relations of the tional link to the chain which might bind Pacific Province to the Dominion, its value, Canada to the United States. commercial and political, and its claims from a British Columbian point of view, and at the same time to remove several delusions which seem to prevail on these points and on the subject of the terms of Union.

The great question regarding the future of Canada we conceive to be this: Has she the capabilities of becoming a powerful nation, or must she make up her mind to be ultimately swallowed up by the United States? There is good reason to fear that if the Provinces which now compose the Dominion had remained separate, the latter would have been their fate, and that it was Confederation alone which gave Canada a

The only way to cure this evil is for Canada to find employment for her sons in her own territory, by increasing her commerce and her manufactures. We are told that a Protectionist policy would have such an effect; this we think doubtful-anyhow, it would be of no use for manufacturers to have protection unless they had customers, and customers, moreover, who would be large cònsumers.

If our great North-West territory and British Columbia were settled up, and brought by means of the Pacific Railroad into close communication with the rest of the Dominion, manufacturers in Ontario

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