Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Critical Notices Of The Literature Of The Last Three Months,
Eaueourt ' s "History of Yucatan " * is a work of considerable ability , and of interest to those lvho feci any curiosity on the subject of the original settlement and growth of our stations on the mainland of the Gulf of Mexico . It describes the discoveries of Columbus and his lieutenants , tho colonization of tho country by the Spaniards , their endless wars with the Indians , the exertions of their missionaries , and the peculiarities of the government of these their distant dependencies . The present
volume is brought down to the close of the seventeenth century , and is complete in itself . We are told , however , that the author means to continue it up to the present time , should he receive the necessary encouragement . Sincerely , we trust ho may ; as , joined to considerable facilities for the task , ho combines extensive capabilities for research , with much painstaking and patient industry . The first volume of Lamartine ' s " History of the Constituent Assembl
y ( 1789 ) "t appeared at the close of the last year , too late to allow us to notice it in our last number . Erom whatever cause , it is decidedly inferior to many of the other works of this writer , lacking originality , and distinguished by a melodramatic air beneath the dignity of history , ancl out of keeping Avith the fearful records of a time Avhich , we trust , will always stand in the memory of man as a dark page in the history of humanity and civilization .
The second volume of Mr . Alison ' s " History of Europe , from tho Eall of Napoleon in 1815 , to the Accession of Louis Napoleon in 1852 , " more than fullils tho auguries which AA'e had ventured to make on this work , on the appearance of the first volume . In interest it is superior , on account , perhaps , of the now ponding cpuestions Avith reference to Bussia , to a description of which country a great portion of the volume is dedicated . The following extract presents a striking picture of national life , if ,
indeed , it can properly be called otherwise than a living death , tinder a pure despotism : — "It is not merely that the Czar is despotic , that his will constitutes law , and that he is the master , without control , of tho lives , liberties , and fortunes of all his subjects—the same system is continued , as is always the case in such circumstances—through every inferior grade in society . What tlie emperor is in his council or his palace , every inferior prefect or governor is within the limits of his territory , over his vast dominions . Despotism is the general system , force the constant weapon of authority , fear the universal basis of government .
" Clarice , the celebrated English traveller , says that there is not a second in Russia , during- day or night , that a blow is not descending ou the back or shoulders of some Russian peasant ; corporal chastisement of their slaves is permitted to masters , without any authority but their own ; and , except in the classes in the Tchinu , who are exempt from that penalty , it is the greatest engine of authority with all who are invested with judicial power . Tlie punishment of death is abolished by law in all eases except high treason ; but such is the severity of the corporal inflictions authorized , that it woidd be a mercy if it were restored . AA'hen a man receives the sentence of above a hundred strokes with the knout , the executioner understands what is meant ; by striking at a vital place , he in mercy despatches hm-. at it third or fourth . The police , officers lay hold of disorderly
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Critical Notices Of The Literature Of The Last Three Months,
Eaueourt ' s "History of Yucatan " * is a work of considerable ability , and of interest to those lvho feci any curiosity on the subject of the original settlement and growth of our stations on the mainland of the Gulf of Mexico . It describes the discoveries of Columbus and his lieutenants , tho colonization of tho country by the Spaniards , their endless wars with the Indians , the exertions of their missionaries , and the peculiarities of the government of these their distant dependencies . The present
volume is brought down to the close of the seventeenth century , and is complete in itself . We are told , however , that the author means to continue it up to the present time , should he receive the necessary encouragement . Sincerely , we trust ho may ; as , joined to considerable facilities for the task , ho combines extensive capabilities for research , with much painstaking and patient industry . The first volume of Lamartine ' s " History of the Constituent Assembl
y ( 1789 ) "t appeared at the close of the last year , too late to allow us to notice it in our last number . Erom whatever cause , it is decidedly inferior to many of the other works of this writer , lacking originality , and distinguished by a melodramatic air beneath the dignity of history , ancl out of keeping Avith the fearful records of a time Avhich , we trust , will always stand in the memory of man as a dark page in the history of humanity and civilization .
The second volume of Mr . Alison ' s " History of Europe , from tho Eall of Napoleon in 1815 , to the Accession of Louis Napoleon in 1852 , " more than fullils tho auguries which AA'e had ventured to make on this work , on the appearance of the first volume . In interest it is superior , on account , perhaps , of the now ponding cpuestions Avith reference to Bussia , to a description of which country a great portion of the volume is dedicated . The following extract presents a striking picture of national life , if ,
indeed , it can properly be called otherwise than a living death , tinder a pure despotism : — "It is not merely that the Czar is despotic , that his will constitutes law , and that he is the master , without control , of tho lives , liberties , and fortunes of all his subjects—the same system is continued , as is always the case in such circumstances—through every inferior grade in society . What tlie emperor is in his council or his palace , every inferior prefect or governor is within the limits of his territory , over his vast dominions . Despotism is the general system , force the constant weapon of authority , fear the universal basis of government .
" Clarice , the celebrated English traveller , says that there is not a second in Russia , during- day or night , that a blow is not descending ou the back or shoulders of some Russian peasant ; corporal chastisement of their slaves is permitted to masters , without any authority but their own ; and , except in the classes in the Tchinu , who are exempt from that penalty , it is the greatest engine of authority with all who are invested with judicial power . Tlie punishment of death is abolished by law in all eases except high treason ; but such is the severity of the corporal inflictions authorized , that it woidd be a mercy if it were restored . AA'hen a man receives the sentence of above a hundred strokes with the knout , the executioner understands what is meant ; by striking at a vital place , he in mercy despatches hm-. at it third or fourth . The police , officers lay hold of disorderly