Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 10.djvu/363

 10 s. x. OCT. 10, iocs.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

299

NOTES ON BOOKS, &o.

James II. and his Wives. By Allan Fea.

(Methuen & Co.)

MB. FEA'S well-known book on the flight of the second Charles after the "crowning mercy" of Worcester has now been followed by a life of James II. containing much of the spirit of the earlier volume, though it has received much wider treatment than was required by its predecessor, which dealt with but a short period. It has been carefully executed, but we cannot compare it in romantic interest with the former volume.

James has not been fairly treated by the greater part of our historians. His bad points and they were many have been dwelt upon out of all proportion to the more amiable sides of his character. " Obstinacy and arrogance were," Mr. Fea tells us, " the cause of all the troubles of the last Stuart King." That he possessed both these unpleasant characteristics in full measure is certain ; but we believe him to have been on the political side of his character really conscientious, and that when he professed to desire toleration for all the differing religious sects into which his country was divided, he meant exactly what he said. This, we need not say, was in itself highly meritorious, but it by no means makes up for the despotic measures which he took for carrying out what was in itself a praiseworthy desire. " He practically," as Mr. Fea points out, " shouted his

religion from the housetops and in consequence

was warned by the Pope himself against such indiscretion " ; but even this sensible advice, coming from a source he so highly respected, had no effect whatever on the King's overbearing self- confidence. Pride even more than obstinacy seems to have overshadowed him, and his belief in the divine right of the kingly office made him to the very last utterly incapable of giving heed to the reasonings of men, even of his own religion, who took wider views of human nature than he could himself grasp. The most incomprehensible thing in his highly complex character is the evident fact that he was not in any degree influenced by the tragic fate of his father.

Even those who have written concerning James in the most unsympathetic manner have realized that until almost the last he was personally brave. Lord Ailesbury, who was an eyewitness, says in his 'Memoirs' that in sea-fights with the Dutch

his " intrepidity was unparalleled." It is also,

we believe, admitted by all that as a commander at sea he was a man of great capacity. He could, it is clear, rule men where he had despotic command ; but to give attention to wise advice when it con- flicted with his own opinion was utterly beyond him. Still, his calm confidence in himself cannot but win admiration ; thus we are told though we do not find any authority given for the statement that when the news of the landing of the Prince of Orange was brought to James, Kneller was engaged in painting his portrait. The king turned pale, and the letter dropped from his hand ; but he bade the Court painter go on with his work. "I have promised Mr. Pepys my picture," he said, " arid I will finish the sitting." Looking back, we cannot but feel that his first marriage was a sign of what was to follow in later life!

The landing of the Prince of Orange and the con- duct of those who had been the king's friends, and on whose faithfulness he relied, are admirably treated. James had given just cause for offence, but it is impossible to forgive his desertion by those in whom he had trusted. ^

The work is carefully written, and, as it seems, without prejudice ; but the pages that deal with the time of adversity are much more attractive than the earlier part.

IN The Cornhill ' Catherine's Child,' which has attracted a good deal of attention, is concluded. Mr. Lucy continues his highly interesting reminis- cences, giving a' page of secret political history which has already attracted wide attention in the daily press, and some reminiscences of Fred. Burnaby. Sir Rowland Blennerhassett has a short' account of ' A Cruise with the Channel Fleet,' but' does not say much of the equipment of the vessels, the guns of which are remarkable for the ingenuity of their working. ' Stumpy ' and * The Prophet of Balham ' are both pleasantly humorous short stories.. Mr. Lang draws some ingenious parallels between the Irish epics and Homer. Mr. J. E. Vincent makes a plea for ' The Moderate Motorist,' whom he- credits with more vision of the things he passes, than most people would imagine to be possible. The class of motor driver which is so inconsiderate^ and annoying to most people consists, in our experi- ence, chiefly of gilded youths. Mr. Vincent sug- gests that the police discriminate between good and bad drivers, and do not take up the former for ex- ceeding the legal rate of speed. The last time we- were on an important main road and surprised at the rate allowed to motors, we found it was common gossip that stern police had been succeeded by an- easygoing lot who allowed all sorts of speed. We ourselves timed two motor-cyclists who were doing well over thirty miles an hour in a crowded thoroughfare. The " Book on the Table " is ' Louise de la Valiiere.' Mr. E. V. Lucas has an amusing: article on a poetaster named Whur, an Early Victorian clergyman whose Muse revelled in "death and disaster and physical affliction."

The Nineteenth Century opens with an article by Viscount Milner on k The Value of Canadian Pre- ference,' for which there is, we think, much to be said. Monsignor Moyes writes on * The Euchar- istic Congress.' Mr. Theodore Morison discusses the question ' Can Islam be Reformed ? ' and seems- to us to exaggerate the defects of " Mahammadan " rule. Mr. Henniker Heaton has an interesting article on ' The Fight for Universal Penny Postage/ and states at the end : " I shall be greatly mistaken if another year elapses before the completion of' universal penny postage." The admirable persist- ence which has brought about conveniences like the penny rate to the United States, which began last week, is exhibited in the article. In ' Dante and Shakespeare' Miss Mary Winslow Smith deals mainly with generalities to be found in the works; of many thinkers and poets. She seems, too, to exalt Dante at the expense of Shakespeare, which is particularly foolish. There is a good deal of humanity which is not sweet in Dante's poetry. We cannot fancy Shakespeare consigning his enemies to Hades in his artistic work. Spirituality, is much, but so also is a sense of humour ; and vague as Shakespeare's views are, we cannot help- admiring his divine tolerance for our limited humanity. Capt. G. S. C. Swinton has an t im-