is not necessarily to impede the advances of the various points of interest it presents. the very poor. There are gradations of Great houses are few. The large aristoDomestic Service, which even now are very cratic establishments, to which we now dearly understood; and all we desire is not parenthetically allude, are exceptional cases, to lower the scale of respectability and edu- upon which it is scarcely necessary now to cation which is to be possessed by those descant. It can hardly be said here that who are candidates for the "Household there are any relations at all between the Brigade." We are convinced that apart employer and the employed. There are from its bearings upon the immediate ques- middle-men and middle-women housetion which we are now considering, this rest- stewards, house keepers, &c., upon whom less desire on the part of respectable parents all the responsibility is made to devolve. to make their children anything but domes- In such establishments, perhaps, there is tic servants, has a very evil influence upon greater strictness, greater formality, greater society. Thousands who have been educa- conventional propriety, and altogether more ted for "something better," have only found order and regularity, than in those lesser something worse. Thousands painfully ac- households where the servants, one and all, knowledge what a mistake they made, or are immediately responsible to those who what a mistake was made for them, when pay them their wages. There are few either some idea of gentility, or some feel- actual mistresses of whom servant-girls ing of independence, caused them or their stand in as much awe, as of the stiff houseparents, when a provision was to be found keeper who reigns supreme in the servants' for them to discard the thought of Domes-hall. This middle-woman knows their ways —is ever on the watch. Her vigilance and tic Service. If we look at the status of the domestic her tyranny are not to be matched in any servant merely in its outward relations, it is drawing-room in the country. This watchdifficult to form any other conclusion than fulness over the Household Brigade may do that they who live under others' roofs, with much to counteract the evil of the intermixfood, shelter, and clothing provided for them, ture of male and female servants. We do are as a class the most comfortable and care- not believe, therefore, that there is more less people in the world. Often what a immorality-if there is as much-in large weight of sorrow presses on the heart of the establishments than there is in small; but employer, when the employed eats and there is something very indurating in the drinks joyously, sleeps heavily, and has not environments of this high life below stairs. a thought for the morrow. There are bad There is profligacy of another class. There masters and mistresses-inasmuch as there is much waste, there is much vulgar preare masters and mistresses who, as we have tence. There is much contempt for, and said, are very heedless of their responsibil- disregard of, the really poor. Even the ities; but these faults are those rather of poor gentry these high-bred flunkeys condeamission than commission, and actual ill scend to pity.* But as we have said before, treatment of a servant is very rare. We we are not writing of flunkeydom. The are not unmindful of such cases as that of servants of the middle-classes constitute the the Sloanes, in the heart of London, and the great mass of those who live by domestic Birds, in the remote places of Devonshire, service; and they are principally women. which have within the last few years ob- It is well that it should be so. For our own, tained such painful notoriety; but the very we confess, that even to the extent of some fact of this notoriety and of the universal prejudice and illiberality, we dislike flunkindignation that it created, proves the rarity eys. There is no form in which human of such instances of cruelty towards a do- vanity betrays itself more ridiculously than mestic servant. Our domestic servants sel- the desire to keep a man-servant-a desire dom know what suffering and privation are. which impels people often to sacrifice comThey generally live in extreme comfort; fort and economy to an absurd notion of the they have no thought of pounds, shillings, and pence. They are well housed-well *See an amusing illustration of this in Mrs. Thisdothed-well fed. Their physical welfare tlethwayte's "Life of Bishop Bathurst of Norwich." is altogether well provided for. If employ. ers only thought as much of the moral welfare of their servants, a "place" in a good house would be really a prize. We are not here speaking of great houses. The truth is, that the subject before us is so large, there is so much to be said about it, that we cannot afford to discourse upon all The Bishop used to relate that a valet having applied for a situation as attendant on a nobleman, asked what wine was given at the second table. On being told "Port and Sherry," he answered that for his part he liked a glass of Madeira. "Why," said the nobleman, "there are many highly educated gentlemen-as parish curates and others-who cannot afford to drink wine at all." "Ah!" said the valet, in reply, "I knows that--but I always pities gentlemen of that kind." and gentility of being waited upon even by alerty. "I know," she writes, "what every clumsy boy in buttons, in preference to the man and woman who may read this knows "neat-handed Phyllis "who does the work well, that no negro or quadroon in the worst far better for smaller pay. Moreover, when Slave State of America is further removed we consider how limited is the field of from the pale of humanity, more really defemale employment, and how the difficulty spised and down-trodden, than is poverty in of finding respectable occupation for young this free and self righteous land. . . . And women of the lower classes is one of the if people well-to-do in the world, people of crying evils of the times, we cannot help money and position, will analyze their own regarding this intrusion of men into the do- feelings, and take a retrospect of their own main of domestic service almost as an un- actions from day to day in connexion with righteous usurpation. There are so many their readiness to stand by their own class, other channels for the free vent of masculine and their inborn abhorrence of poverty in labour, that we hold it to be the duty of all shapes, they will acknowledge my expeevery employer to give as much household rience to be nothing out of the way, though work as he can to females, and to let "gen- they may marvel at my assurance in attempttility" shift for itself. ing to bring anything so commonplace In a very large majority of cases there is prominently forward."* We wish we fortunately no choice. A " man-servant," could say that this-although there is a fierté indeed, is a taxable luxury enjoyed only by in it which is somewhat overcharged-is mn the rich. The proportion of male to female no respect true. It is a mere commonplace domestic servants is so small, that we have to say that between the rich and the poor, in not, considered it expedient to devote any this Christian land, there is a frightful gulf, portion of the limited space at our disposal and that the few who have attempted to to an inquiry into their social condition. But bridge it over with kind deeds and gentle the "maid-servant" is a member of a very words have not the power to rear a structure numerous class-a class, indeed, so nume- strong enough to resist the torrent of prejurous, that we have seen a statement, the dice, selfishness, and uncharitableness, which accuracy of which, however, we have not overwhelms their righteous efforts, tested, to the effect, that in London alone leaves the chasm wide as before. there are seldom less than 26,000 female It is mainly in illustration of this unhappy servants out of employ. It is easy to estimate the effect of such a state of things, upon and its Victims-had reached us at an earlier period, *If this work-Margaret, or Prejudice at Home what has been called "The great sin of great we should have coupled it with "Nelly Armstrong," cities." What the difficulty of finding honest and deducted from it several very striking illustra occupation for women has been, and, in spite tions of the truths which we have insisted upon in this article. The book is distinguished by ability of of the increasing flow of emigration, still is, no common order; and we have little doubt that the and what are the appalling results of this writer is capable of achieving great things in the dodifficulty, writers of fact and writers of fic- main of fiction. But there is something in the tone tion alike have striven recently to proclaim of the work which does not please us; and, if we had to the world. Even as we write, a work is time and space at our disposal, we should consider so promising a writer well worthy of a detailed exposi put into our hands, bearing the significant tion of our views respecting the theories which she title of "Margaret, or Prejudice at Home has expounded in these volumes. We may, howand its Victims," one of the objects of which ever, take this opportunity of alluding to a bold innois to exhibit the obstacles which beset the which they are the visible first-fruits. Mr. Bentley, vation upon the Conventional rules of publication of path of a young woman eager to support the enterprising publisher of New Burlington Street, herself and those dependent on her, either has announced his intention of publishing all new by the exercise of her intellect or by mere works of fiction issued from his house at one-third of manual labour. The book, distinguished vertisements. "Margaret" is the first experiment the price which they have hitherto borne in his adthroughout by a quiet power, a homely in this direction, and if its successors equal it in inpathos, which reminds us in some places of trinsic excellence, the project is likely to achieve as the more subdued passages of "Jane Eyre," the old system has had its day, that it has gradually and in others of "Alton Locke," contains yielded to the pressure of the cheap reprints, which one of the most painful, the most chilling more than anything else the railways have now rennarratives of real life by which we have ever dered a literary necessity. It remains now to be seen been enchained and absorbed. It appears to be the work of a woman still young, who has seen much and suffered much in her journey through life, and whose experiences have cruelly stricken down all her faith in humanity. The constant burden of her story is that England is no place for honest pov "much success as it deserves. It seems certain that which will place them within the reach of thousands whether new original works, published at a price of individual purchasers, as well as of all the circulating libraries, however small, will be advantageous to publishers and authors. Whether it will be advantageous to the public depends principally upon the character of the works so published. We have no apprehension upon this score at present; and we wish the experiment all the success it deserves. truth, that we have entered upon the present we are more solemnly responsible-nothing subject. If there be such a want of sympa- of which we shall some day be called upon thy between members of different classes, to give a stricter account, than our conduct within the same family and under the same towards our Domestic Servants. ART. VIII-A History of the Royal Society, with Memoirs of the Presidents, compiled from Authentic Documents. By CHARLES RICHARD WELD, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, Assistant-Secretary and Librarian to the Royal Society. 2 vols. 8vo. London, 1848. Pp. 1840. roof, how little chance is there of any genuine cordiality growing up between the inmates of the mansion and the cottage. Whilst these bitter class-prejudices grow up and are fostered at our very firesides, so that there is a great chasm between the parlour and the kitchen; so that mutual mistrust and suspicion, and no love anywhere, draw forth only stern exaction on the one side, and grudging service on the other, what hope is there of the rich and the poor outaf doors being bound together by chains of confidence and affection-what hope is there AMONG the various questions connected that there will ever be any brotherhood be- with our social institutions, there is none tween them? Surely, if we can ever learn which has been less discussed, and therethe great lesson that we are all mutually de- fore less understood, than that which relates pendent the one upon the other, and that the to their organization and endowment. It rich owe as much to the poor as the poor to can scarcely be doubted that there are some the rich, it is to be learnt in the households of institutions which demand protection and those whose privilege it is to be served by maintenance from the State, while there are their fellows. Surely, if ever it be easy for the others that may be safely left to voluntary one class to cease to be strangers to the other, support and individual liberality. Nor is it to draw closely the bonds of mutual esteem less manifest that there are national and and reliance, to trust one another, to love personal duties of a social character, which, one another, to cherish one another, the independently of higher sanctions, conscience facility exists, the opportunity is before us, and reason bind us to discharge. The dewhen the two classes under the same roof fence of the country against foreign enemies, are brought continually face to face with and its protection against pestilence and faeach other, and are daily and hourly work- mine, require military, naval, and sanitary ing out this great scheme of mutual depend- institutions, and every encouragement to ence. Here then, if we would endeavour to agriculture and commerce, which does not bridge over the frightful chasm which yawns involve a tax upon the necessaries of life. between the rich and the poor, our efforts But enemies are not always foreign, and should legitimately commence. We need pestilence not always physical. No country not go in search of opportunities of testify- is safe without an educated, a moral, and a ing our ready sympathy with those to whom religious population, and no nation rightly Providence has not granted the same bless- performs its functions that does not provide Ings of outward prosperity as to ourselves-religious and educational establishments for who have not been so tenderly nurtured, so the instruction of its people. We have, it watchfully guarded, so carefully educated; is true, many instances in which the better who have, indeed, from their very cradle, classes of society provide for their own relihad almost everything against them, and gious and secular instruction, but the most who most deserve our pity when their errors numerous orders in the State are neither are most apparent. Let us, we say, begin able nor willing to make such a provision, here. Let us think kindly of our domestic and require to be freely invited, if not alservants, as of members of our own families, lured to the altar, or driven to the school. who have an especial claim upon our regard; The national safety, therefore, requires reliand let us act justly towards them, as to-gious and educational establishments, and wards dependents for whom we are respon- that State neglects its highest functions, sible before God, and the neglect of whom, which does not enable its subjects to read as fellow creatures with souls to be saved, the records of its laws, and peruse with inwill surely be visited upon us. Let us do telligence that nobler volume which is to our duty to our neighbours, in our own prepare them for eternity. household, and then let us look abroad for objects of kindliness and sympathy, and do likewise in a more extended sphere. We are apt to think highly of what we see before us every day; but there is nothing for which But while the State has discharged either wholly or partially the obligations thus imposed upon it, there are other material interests for which it has been less willing to provide, and which there seems to be a ten dency in the Anglo-Saxon mind to transfer, ferent articles in this Journal,t pointed out to voluntary associations or individual care. the defects of all such associations, and have While other nations have established and endeavoured to rouse the Government to endowed colleges and universities, the most take them under their immediate care, by important of these institutions, both in Eng-establishing in the metropolis a great central land and America, have been endowed by institute like that which exists in France, pious and wealthy individuals, and have Russia, Prussia, and Austria. only received the countenance and support In pleading for such a measure, and pointof the nation when their original endowing out the defects of all voluntary associa ments had become insufficient, and their sys- tions, we have ever felt the deep obligations tem of instruction incomplete. In Scotland which the country owes to those patriotic the domestic character of our colleges has and distinguished men, by whose liberality long ago disappeared, and even before the and talents these institutions were founded Union the State had provided for their main- and maintained; and there is no feature of tenance and extension. The Treaty of Union the Anglo-Saxon character more truly noble declared them to be permanent institutions than that which has been exhibited in the in the country, and the Government has sagacity, the energy, and the success with from time to time made liberal grants for which they have maintained the literary and renewing their buildings and maintaining scientific character of the nation. their endowments. In Ireland, too, the The earliest and the most interesting of Government have added three new colleges the Institutions thus established and mainto the noble institution already adorning her tained, was the Royal Society of London; metropolis; and in England the State has and we are persuaded that our readers will assumed the power which doubtless belongs derive both pleasure and instruction from a to it, of reforming her two great universities brief and popular account of the rise, prowhich have so long resisted every external gress, and labours of that distinguished body. interference. These certainly are great During the two centuries which have nearly steps in the onward march of institutional elapsed since the foundation of the Royal reform, and the day is not distant when the Society, several histories of its origin and nation must take under its immediate care, proceedings have been given to the world; and foster with the most generous liberality, but the most important of these give us all the higher institutions for the professional very little information respecting the civil and industrial education of the people.* history and general proceedings of the SoBut however important are our collegiate ciety, and contain chiefly an account of its institutions, there are other interests which scientific proceedings, with analyses of the demand patronage aud endowment from more important papers published in its the State, but which unfortunately have been Transactions. A new and complete history left to the care of voluntary associations. of the Royal society was therefore a desid In all the great continental kingdoms national eratum in our literature, and it has been academies or institutes have been established admirably supplied by the two volumes now for promoting the advancement of science, before us, from the pen of Mr. Weld, who literature, and the arts, and in their bosom by his learning and talents, as well as by his and under their fostering care have sprung position as the Secretary of the Society, and up men of lofty attainments, who, by their the custodier of its archives, was peculiarly genius, their inventions, and their discover- qualified for so important an undertaking. ies, have advanced the glory and promoted By a diligent examination of the volumnious the best interests of their country. In Eng- records of the Society,-its Journals, Reland alone have the Government declined or ports, and Council Books, comprising some delayed to take these institutions under their hundreds of volumes, with several thousand sole and immediate patronage. They have letters;-by perusing various documents, indeed encouraged them by their counten- once the property of the Society, but now ance, and in some degree by grants of in the National Library of the British Mumoney in their favour; but they are still seum, and by searching for others in the voluntary associations independent of all State Paper Office, the Archives of the Lord. Government control, and accomplishing the Chamberlain's Office, and the Bodleian Liobjects of their institution by means of funds brary in Oxford, he has collected much vaobtained from the annual subscriptions of luable matter, hitherto unknown, and has their members. We have already, in dif- produced a truly popular work, which while possesses a deep interest for the man of For an account of the great Industrial College of Art about to be founded by Prince Albert, see this Journal, vol. xvii. p. 519. it † See this Review, voi. iv. p. 410; vol. vi. p. 506; and vol. xiv. p. 281. making rackets. Chapelain the poet asserts, science, may be perused with pleasure and he was the first to make known beyond the instruction by every class of readers. Its Alps the Iliad and the Odyssey, and it was accomplished author has, with too much doubtless under his patronage, and through modesty, presented it to to the public "as his example, that several of the Calabrian a contribution towards some future philoso- monks studied on Mount Athos, and in the phical history of the Society, which pro- schools of the East. On the recommendaceeding from another pen than mine, shall tion of Petrarch, the Republic of Florence at once embrace the entire subject;" but we founded a chair of Greek literature in 1360; are persuaded that no other pen is wanted, and such was the passion for learning, inand no future history required. The dis- spired by Petrarch, Dante, and Boccaccio, coveries which, from the time of Newton to that every monastery in Europe was ranthat of Davy and Young, the Royal Society sacked for the literary treasures of antiquity. ushered into the world, have been merged In order to monopolize the profits of copyin the general history of science; and the ing the MSS. of classical writers, the monks lives of her most distinguished members, were unwilling to part with them; and such unfortunately omitted from its Transactions, was their ignorance of their value, that they have been written in separate biographies, were sometimes sold as waste paper for or in a foreign language by the eloquent secretaries of the academies with which they were associated. The Royal Society, therefore, requires no future historian but one, and that one we trust will be Mr. Weld, who shall continue the history of its proceedings from the election of the Duke of Sussex in 1830, where it now terminates, to that desirable epoch when the Royal Society, and all the societies which sprang from it, shall be incorporated into a Royal Institute, liberally endowed by the State,-embodying the most distinguished individuals, and by the performance of all the scientific work required by the nation, returning to it anusurious interest upon its annual expenditure. In order to enable his readers to form a correct estimate of the labours of those distinguished men by whom the Royal Society was founded, and of the impulse which they gave to the reviving science of the times, Mr. Weld has given, in his first chapter, an interesting sketch of the revival of literature and science in Italy, and of the development of scientific institutions in that hallowed land, into which the light of knowledge first penetrated, in spite of the ignorance and superstition under which it lay. In the Italian mind the seeds of intellectual truth found a genial soil; and though the highest authority in the Church declared that the land-marks of science were already reached, and could not with impunity be overstepped, yet the Roman spirit, noble in its aspirations, and intrepid in its pursuit, broke through the opposing barrier, and the tide of knowledge flowed deep and strong over the parched domains of tyranny and priestcraft. Barlaam, a Calabrian monk, and afterwards Bishop of Locri, was one of the earliest cultivators of literature. He was the intimate friend of Petrarch, rich in meient learning, and far in advance of the age in which he flourished. In 1339, when he was Ambassador to Pope Benedict XII., VOL. XX. But though literature had thus entered upon a brilliant career, science and philosophy had scarcely risen from their mediæval grave. A single light indeed had flashed from the meteor soul of Roger Bacon, but only to disappear, shrouded in the errors of the Aristotelian philosophy. This great man was the true founder of the inductive philosophy. He taught the scientific world all that it required to know,-that truth could not be obtained without experiment and observation, and that no reasonings, however ingenious, and no arguments, however sound, could of themselves satisfy a mind anxiously seeking for what is true. Some of his successors may have discovered this great but simple. truth: Some may have repeated it, and urged it on public attention; and others. may have engrafted upon it empirical rules and methods, but science wanted no other guide, and its votaries have employed no *It is but fair to the Abbess of Fontevrault to state, that Sir Robert Cotton rescued the original 8 |