Vatican policy. What was seriously suggested was nothing less than that the Pope should cede his remaining States to the Emperor, naming him Patrician of the Church; and this grotesque idea actually obtained the active countenance of men who take rank amongst the shrewdest intellects in the Court of Rome. There is indeed small room left for choice when we find ourselves between such visionary notions as these, and apathy of the most perverse kind. On the whole the latter has at least the advantage of a certain dignified calmness of aspect. We are not surprised to learn that both the above adventurous suggestions fell dead on the Pope and Cardinal Antonelli, and that this council has practically been productive of no alteration in that strictly impassive attitude which it has ever been the Cardinal Secretary of State's advice to assume. Still the party eager for a more active line has not desisted from working on the Pope's more mobile nature, and as happens generally, has succeeded in pushing him to some half-measures in this sense. So it has been that, as we mentioned last week, the French Episcopate was instructed to send a round Robin to the Emperor; and the tone struck by Cardinal Cullen and Bishop Gillooly in their recent pastorals would indicate that the plan which we know was under consideration has been acted upon, namely, to cause the Catholic Episcopate in a body to commence a combined series of demonstrations against the French Emperor. All these measures are so manifestly childish in their design so utterly beside the immediate purpose to which they are directed that it is impossible to fancy that human beings not absolutely without their ordinary senses can believe in their efficacy. The suspicion cannot be repressed that in the bottom of their hearts, when professing deliberately to meet the emergencies so plainly ahead with weapons so sure to break in the hand, they must be trusting to some secret source of hope. That source of hope is to be found in the difficulty they feel in realizing that the Emperor will actually take away his forces from Rome. This superstitious incredulity has been roughly shaken of late, but springs up as fast as a weed that, though cut down, cannot be eradicated. To-day confidence is revived by the assertion that the contracts for the garrison have been renewed for a term beyond the 15th of December, to-morrow despondency is cheered by the statement that Rome indeed is to be evacuated, but Civita Vecchia is to remain in the keeping of a French garrison, ready to come to the Holy Father's rescue at the first call. We have no hesitation in pronouncing these and many other stories of a similar character to be the hoaxes hatched by a fond and selfdeluding fancy. There is absolutely nothing which can warrant the inference that the French authorities have been playing a delusive game in the language which they have been holding with such remarkable consistency. But if, then, three months hence we are really to witness the marching of the French battalions out of Rome, if three months hence those priests who cannot and will not bring their hearts to believe in this reality will then be actually looking upon it in utter amazement, what a scene of consternation and moral prostration will not Rome present that day, and who can venture to predict the character of the events to which such thorough confusion of thought may not improbably give rise? Plainly the 15th of December will usher in upon Rome and those who dwell in it an entirely new period, a period of the Unknown, whose atmosphere will be thickly saturated with inflammable elements, more likely to be productive of grand explosions than of brilliant and fascinating spectacles conceived in the interest of leisurely lookers-on. From the Examiner of Sept. 8. THE INVENTOR OF THE NEEDLE-GUN. THE Berlin correspondent of the Times gives a most interesting account of a conversation with the inventor of the needlegun, Herr von Dreyse, an old man of seventy-eight, still intent upon the improvement of arms. Von Dreyse is not satisfied with his needle-gun. It has not killed and wounded enough to come up to his expectations, but he hopes to do better. He was originally a locksmith, and his attention was first directed to arms by observing the extraordinary clumsiness of the muskets used by the Prussians at Jena. He then came to the conclusion that Prussia would never become a first-rate military Power without better arms. When he invented what is really the heart and soul of the improvement, not the breechloading, but the material of the cartridge and the method of igniting it, he was looked upon as a madman, and had to encounter the most terrible of all enemies of improvement, routine. He obtained the support, however, of two persons in authority, by whose influence he obtained a trial of his gun. A commission was appointed for the purpose, and composed mainly of officers who had predicted every sort of failure. The scene described is good: to surpass us once more in weapons of warfare; but this ought not to be-it must not be." Von Dreyse is quite aware that the great fault of his gun is its weight, which he proposes to diminish by three pounds and a half in an improved gun. And the writer whom we owe this most interesting account seems to consider him equal to his task, so "I had brought with me a hundred cartridges to be shot off from the same gun. It active and vigorous is his mind at seventywas a long time before the gentlemen of the eight. The King of Prussia ought to surcommission relaxed a muscle of their counte- round the age of so invaluable a servant nances, but when one shot followed the other in with all possible care and props, not only quick succession, the ammunition gradually de- from gratitude for the past, but also in the creased, and the gun would not oblige them by lively expectation of more services to come. exploding, their faces by degrees became longer If the locksmith do no more, he has made a and longer. I did not utter a word, but re- key opening a great door for Germany. But joiced at the unmixed pleasure evinced by Gen- we do not believe that Prussia will keep eral Witzleben. Prince Augustus became very her lead in breechloading arms. Other red. He rode up and down gazing with aston-nations are on the track; they have got the ishment at the heap of cartridges, which was diminishing one by one. For the space of ten principle, and will succeed in modifications. minutes the firing was kept up, till at last the A grievous mistake it would be for us to rest rifleman declared he could shoot no more, for satisfied with an improvement of the needlethe barrel was too hot to hold. Fifty cartridges gun, a matter of little or no difficulty. had been fired from it. You may imagine the With us a complete recast and reorganizaexpression on these gentlemen's visages when tion of the army are wanted, the whole upon opening the barrel they found the breech, thing being as obsolete as the old musket. instead of being stuffed full as they anticipated, A little peddling alteration here and there as clean as that of a common double-barrelled will not do, the whole thing must be overgun. Prince Augustus was visibly moved. Shoot again,' he cried, as soon as the barrel hauled, and reconstructed from bottom to had cooled a little, and in ten minutes more not top. a cartridge was left. In less than half an hour 100 shots had been fired from the same gun, and not one of all the mischances prophesied by the gentlemen of the commission had taken place." Von Dreyse has the good sense to foresee that other nations will adopt breechloaders, and that, though they may not have the secret of the material of the cartridge, they will hit upon something which will answer the same purpose, and he most fears the rivalry of the French: "You see," said he, "It is the most likely thing in the world that, after this war, almost all other nations will introduce the needle-gun into their armies. They do not know the secret of our Zündspiegel, but they will make some sort of a substitute more or less like it, and have this advantage in constructing their new guns, that they can avoid all the faults they observe in ours, while we must put up with what we have, and thus other nations will excel Prussia in this particular. I fear France especially, having a very high opinion of the French manufactories of arms, and am convinced that though they have not the Zünd spiegel the French will succeed in producing a very capital needle-gun, with all those improvements which it may, perhaps, be too late to make in ours. In a word, they will try From L'Opinion Nationale-Paris : Liberal, Aug. 20. THE RUSSO-AMERICAN ALLIANCE. THE visit of the American squadron to Cronstadt, and the alliance between the United States and Russia, which is every day becoming closer, are facts which force themselves on our attention, although it would be more agreeable to turn away our head and not to consider the spectacle of such a compromise.' While the New York Herald publishes an article entitled, "The Great Powers of the Future"- the United States and Russia one of the principal organs of the Russian press, the Journal de St. Petersburg, exitself thus: presses "The sympathy which exists between the Americans and us is natural, and hence durable. It is not any artificial entente cordiale whatever. The visit of the American squadron to the port of Cronstadt does not resemble, for example, the interview between the French and English fleets at Cherbourg, during which the semi-official American war vessels, took their seats at French papers alone scattered official com- the table of the Ministers. pliments; when we shake hands with the right hand we do not hold a dagger hidden with the left.... In America and Asia there are territories enough for us even in a thousand years not to interfere with each other. "Even in foreign relations there is a striking resemblance between the Russians and the Americans. Neither they nor we are liked by old Western Europe, and the barbarous peoples of the other parts of the world. "We do not hate our Western neighbours, and we would gladly live in peace with them if they did not provoke us on every favourable occasion. If we are more powerful than they would like we participate in this fault with all young nations who acquire strength and power with years. "It is thus our friendship for America is fully explained, as well as the hitch which there generally is in our relations with the Western Powers, by the natural liking of the young for the young, and the no less natural indifference of old age, which loses all hopes of a future." The Nord, in its correspondence of St. Petersburg, transmits us the following intelligence on the sojourn of the American envoys. At the moment when Captain Fox presented to the Emperor, at Peterhoff, the address of the Congress, a telegraphic message -the first which has been transmitted directly from Russia to America conveyed to New York the news of this audience, in which the American nation expressed its profound respect for the head of the Russian nation. At the close of the audience, Captain Fox and General Clay, accompanied by their secretaries and the captains of the While crossing the park, the American officers met General Todtleben, to whom they asked to be introduced. The heroes of Charleston, Mobile, and New Orleans received the defender of Sebastopol with a triple hurrah, which resounded through the park, and prevented the plash of the fountains from being heard. The Nord does not devote less than two columns to the recital of the festivities ordered by Russia in honour of the envoys of the great republic. Captain Fox, says another letter, after having been received by the Emperor, went to visit Kommissaroff, the same who a short time ago saved the life of Alexander II. This act moved the inhabitants of St. Petersburg even to tears. This monstrous alliance of democracy with despotism has been prepared by Western Europe, and wished by Western Europe. If, instead of pursuing the dream of resuscitating the Latin races on the American continent, we had remained the faithful allies of that republic which counts Lafayette amongst its founders, we should not now behold this deplorable misunderstanding. With such a lesson before us, is it politic to be jealous of all who grow ? What do MM. Thiers and Forçade think of it? Is it wise, is it prudent, to sow division everywhere, to defend everything which is crumbling against everything which is growing up? to cavil with victory and discount defeat? After having fallen out with the United States, is it patriotic or sensible to do so also with Italy and Prussia, and only to leave ourselves Benedek, Narvaez, and Maximilian, the Emperor of Mexico in partibus infidelium, for allies? NINE WEARY MILES. NINE weary uphill miles we sped, The setting sun to see; Sulky and grim he went to bed, Sulky and grim went we. Seven sleepless hours we tossed, and then, No. 1168. Fourth Series, No. 29. 20 October, 1866. POETRY: The Meadow Brook, 147. The Dawn, 147. The Tunnel, 147. Mignonette, 165. Echo, 165. Praed's Charade, 180. SHORT ARTICLES: Eliana, 180. Swinburne's Poems and Ballads, 191. NEW BOOKS. HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, FROM THE DISCOVERY OF THE AMERICAN CONTINENT. By George Bancroft. Vol. IX. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company. Some years ago, we published in the Living Age, in successive Nos., a very good Story, called KATE COVENTRY: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY. This we have now re-printed as a handsome paper-covered book, price 38 cents. It will be sent by mail, postage free. Booksellers supplied on liberal terms. Lately published at this office : ZAIDEE, by Mrs. Oliphant, 75 cents. HALL, 25 cents. MISS MARJORIBANKS, 75 cents. WITCHHAMPTON Preparing for Publication at this Office: MADONNA MARY, by Mrs. Oliphant; OUT OF CHARITY; THE VILLAGE ON THE CLIFF; NINA BALATKA; SIR BROOK FOSBROOKE; THE CLAVERINGS; OLD SIR DOUGLAS, by Mrs. Norton. PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY BY LITTELL, SON, & CO., BOSTON. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. FOR EIGHT DOLLARS, remitted directly to the Publishers, the Living Age will be punctually forwarded for a year, free of postage. But we do not prepay postage on less than a year; nor where we have to pay a commission for forwarding the money. Price of the First Series, in Cloth, 36 volumes, 90 dollars. Second " .20 32 " 50 66 The Complete work Any Volume Bound, 3 dollars; Unbound, 2 dollars. The sets, or volumes, will be sent at the expense e publishers. NEW PICTURE BY RICHARDS. Some of our readers who passed the summer vacation on the coast of Maine, ("Belle and I," among the number), will remember a work in the hands of W. T. Richards of Philadelphia — whom Ruskin of England denominates as "the most sincere and truthful of American artists" entitled "Repose"-" Mt. Marcy and Avalanche Lake, among the Adirondacks. While in process of execution at Mt. Desert, where the artist spent part of the season, it made for itself a great reputation, and in answer to numerous solicitations from lovers of art here, the painting, now completed, has been placed at Childs & Jenks's Gallery of Art, on exhibition. We have seen it, and do not marvel at the enthusiasm of those who watched the pencil of the artist while sketching it. The closing, faithful touches were given the work out in the open air, amid the sublime scenery it delineates. The atmosphere of the picture can be breathed; the trees, rocks, water, it is difficult to believe could be more faithfully rendered from nature. The picture was intended as a companion piece to one of De Hass's marine storm scenes, and is exactly opposite in effect and impression. Repose" is the language of all portions of the canvas, from the little heather blossom at the foot of the moss-covered rocks to the solemn, cloud-capped mountain" in the background. Richards has given us his best mark in this picture, and as he now leaves for Europe in the next steamer, he will go with a fresh and enhanced reputation, as the first American artist in his special department, the school of the pre-Raphaelites; and we hope he will lose none of his originality, or distinctive peculiarities by the tour and sojourn in the old world. No which is supported by four volumes, emblematic of the Constitution. The figure of Lincoln is a striking likeness, both in form and feature. attempt has been made to idealize the costume, which consists of the buttoned frock, turned collar and knotted cravat of the day. position is easy and natural, while the whole expression, both of feature and attitude, is a faithful reproduction of Lincoln's characteristic simplicity and benignity of manner. The Mr. Ball has always been singularly happy in his portrait statues. His Webster is a perfect reproduction, and his Washington Allston is a striking resemblance, as well as a graceful work. This statue of Lincoln not only reproduces exactly the man and the manner, it is not only stamped with individuality, but it is imbued with a poetry and a thought which give it a far higher importance than a mere portrait statue. In representing Abraham Lincoln, the artist has also perpetuated an event which will long be a great landmark in the history of our country. He has given to posterity not only the faithful portraiture of a great man, but has represented him in the special act by which he will be best known to posterity. Mr. Ball is now in Florence, and has sent these photographs home for the examination of those who have in contemplation the erection of a statue to Lincoln. It seems to us that he has produced a work eminently worthy of the subject, and worthy of being put into imperishable bronze; a lasting monument to the great man whom it represents, and an admirable work of art to embellish our city. [Cor. N. Y. Eve. Post.] BALL'S STATUE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. We have had an opportunity of examining two photographs of the model of President Lincoln, just completed by Thomas Ball, the sculptor, and are impelled to express publicly the admiration they have awakened. The artist has instinctively chosen for delineation the one event in Lincoln's life which will be remembered as its historic point - his proclamation of freedom to the slave. The figure is erect; the right hand holding a wreath upon a shield bearing the stars and stripes; the left hand is extended in a protective and benedictive manner over the crouching figure of a slave; and the head is slightly bent as if gazing on the form at his feet. The slave is almost nude. On his head is a cap bearing the word Liberty; from his wrists hang the remnants of broken chains; behind him is the whipping-post, partly shrouded in a mantle, with a ball and chain at its base. The shield rests upon a scroll, emblematic of the emancipation proclamation, LEUTZE'S NEW PICTURES. LEUTZE has just completed an excellent portrait of General Grant, painted with all the vigor and power which are characteristics of this artist's works. The picture is a threequarter length, and represents the General standing at the door of his tent, clad in uniform, and in the act of drawing, with his right hand, an official paper from his breast-pocket, while his left hand rests upon the hilt of his sword. A drapery of flags, a camp-stool and a couch within the tent are the chief accessories in the picture. Another new picture by Leutze is entitled Godiva," and represents that heroic woman riding through the market of Coventry. The architectural character of this work, with the quaint old gabled houses that adorn the streets, is especially noticeable. Leutze has painted no picture more carefully finished than this, nor one which possesses more sentiment and tenderness of expression. "Christmas Eve" is the name of a picture on which the same artist is engaged. |