by the thought of the abiding effect of things The dew shall weep thy fall to-night, These with Shakspeare are not transient whimsical phrases. They are his habitual thoughts. They are put into the mouths of we wish to hold fast the " shapes of sky or the most various characters, and they are plain"; and, moved by a stronger instinct intensified by some of his most powerful still, we cannot lose without unwillingness writing. They differ from the Platonic and the present light and glory of personal huSpenserian phantasies so pleasantly dis- man beauty. Permanency is not only the coursed upon by Charles Lamb in the essay thought or emotion of reflecting minds on on Mrs. Conrady. Delicate and true as fronting beauty; it is more than that; it is these are, there is an air of ingeniousness the blind intuition even of natures that about them by reason of which they strike never were and never will be able to comless directly home. In them the virtuous pass in thought such abstractions as beauty soul is the cause of a beautiful exterior, or permanency at all. Reflection, stimprovided always that the material is plastic ulated perhaps rather than dulled by freenough. But the doctrine that the exterior quent loss and familar disappointment, casts beauty is proportioned to the internal intel- about. to find what the elements of permalectual light is too glaringly contrary to nency may be, and the great poets, "in facts to be impressive; and the saving pro- clear dream and solemn vision," have found vision that some material is so obstinate it, and declare it to be the prime germ of that it cannot be worked upon is too general beauty, its life and soul. Call it what you and too elastic. In Shakspeare the beauti-will-grace, virtue, goodness—this" luce ful exterior is not attempted to be accounted for; but the laws of its life and death, its durability and decay, are delineated with a fineness and precision of thought which genius might inspire, but which nothing but virtuous soundness of nature could dictate and render habitual. If, however, we have mentioned Spenser's "Hymne in Honour of Beautie" with a slightly unfavourable contrast on a particular point, it is impossible to end without stopping again to extol it. There is one thought pervading it in which the two great Elizabethan contemporaries could not but agree in which perhaps all the greatest mediæval and modern poets have agreed and that is, the immortality of beauty. The line in Keats intellettual, piena d'amore" is the real rem- And turns it by degrees to the soul's essence, And Shakspeare, whenever he has occasion Is heavenly-born and cannot die; From The Pall Mall Gazette. this fact will be soonest or most keenly SOME POLITICAL ASPECTS OF THE WAR. felt. The victories of Prussia must awaken FIRST of all, Europe has been confronted a far more lively interest in Russia than in by a new and startling fact. A colossal any other of the neutral States. For some military Power has unexpectedly risen up years past it has been the policy of the among us. We say has unexpectedly risen Berlin Cabinet to keep on good terms with up, because the most favourable estimates the Czar. Family alliances made it natural of the Prussian military organization had and decent to do so, and there was an not prepared us for anything like the re-obvious prudence in not provoking Russian ality. Many people thought that the result hostility until it was possible to provoke it of a war between Prussia and France without danger. Consequently, Prussia would be to displace the latter from the and France have been allowed to bid position of military pre-eminence she was against each other at St. Petersburg, and supposed to have regained under the Second as it was not the aim of the Russian GovEmpire. But if the contest ends as it has ernment that either of them should become begun, it will do very much more than this. much stronger than the other, the Czar's It promises to place Prussia in a position Ministers have been careful to encourage such as France has never held except under both a little, and neither very much. Each Louis XIV. and under Napoleon I. There rumour of an alliance to be concluded beis much the same sort of difference between tween France and Russia has been followed this and the position France has lately at no long interval by hints that the relaclaimed to hold as there is between the tions between Russia and Prussia were Ultramontane theory of St. Peter's su- never more friendly, and these again have premacy and the Anglican theory of his been the forerunner of significant suggestprimacy. As a military Power France has ions as to the great things France and been, as theologians would say, primus Russia might do if they could but recognise inter pares, and the utmost that was looked the real identity of their interests. Now for from the war was the transfer of this pre- Russia has been deprived without any warneminence to Prussia. But the utter col-ing of the second string on which she has lapse of the French army, supposing it relied for the success of her archery. She really to take place, carries with it some- will have to confront Prussia in future with thing very different. With France dis- no strong Power in the background ready, posed of, Prussia will be the possessor of as well as eager, to take advantage of an unchallenged supremacy over every Prussia's attention being engaged elsewhere other Power taken singly. England cer- in order to undermine her position in Gertainly could not stand up against her. Aus- many. If the policy of the two Governtria failed to do so when Prussia was ments were really one and the same, this weaker than she is now. Russia may some might not be altogether disagreeable to day have the necessary strength, but at Russia. They would agree to go their own present, according to the best accounts, she way and to use their common strength for neither has nor thinks that she has it. It the attainment of their separate objects. is too soon to determine how this sudden But with the consolidation of Germany unaggrandizement of one Power may affect der Prussian rule the reasons for employing the politics of Europe, but it is quite time their common strength in this way will to point out that the state of things to which cease to have any weight at Berlin. So it introduces us is one for which we were long as Prussia wanted to extend her influquite unprepared. It may be all that it is ence in Germany Russia might have offered described, but certainly there cannot yet her the inducement of being left to do so in have been time enough to allow a cool ob- peace. But now that the process is virtuserver to come to any final conclusion upon ally completed, now that Germany south the subject. There are some reasons, no of the Main as well as north of it is virtudoubt, why Englishmen may fairly rejoice ally one nation and one army, Russia has in a great accession to German strength, no longer this bait at her disposal. Prussia but it remains to be seen how far these has secured all she wanted by her own unspecial grounds for self-congratulation on assisted strength, and any designs that their part will have to be qualified by the Russia may entertain in the East will be commonplace reflection that even Prussians judged at Berlin with no reference to the are but men, and that uncontrolled power bribe that she could once have held out in will still perhaps be capable of abuse, the shape of a full permission to Prussia to though it may be wielded by Teutonic work out her own designs nearer home. bands and guided by Teutonic brains. It will not, however, be in England that We may look, therefore, for the assumption of a far more independent attitude towards Russia on the part of the Berlin | military information of the past and present Cabinet as one of the most immediate re-events has yet reached us. No diligent sults of the war, and it happens that so military correspondents have hovered about soon as Count Bismarck has any time to the battle-fields to cull from them the inturn his thoughts in that direction he will struction which they were capable of affordnot be without an opportunity for making ing; the facile pen which told of the Bohethis result apparent. For some time back mian triumphs, and which taught us so Russia has been engaged in a species of much, is perforce idle. Even the wellcrusade against her German subjects in the known correspondent who accompanied the Baltic provinces. She has set herself to Crown Prince has as yet been able to reroot out the German language and the Lu- cord little of permanent military value and theran religion to destroy, in fact, all the interest. And yet day by day in the Alsamarks which have hitherto distinguished tian battle fields lessons of the highest imthe German nationality in these provinces portance to the soldier and to the nation from the Slavonic type which she has suc-are being spelt out. We may be told that cessfully established throughout the rest of it is too soon to attempt to generalize from her empire. In this respect her policy has the present struggle, that a day's events been identical with that attributed, whether may upset all our conclusions, that, after truly or falsely, by the Germans to the all, the campaign is scarcely opened, that Danish Government in Sleswick-Holstein, nothing absolutely decisive has yet been and consistency has already demanded that done. In this there is no doubt much truth. the same ultimatum should be presented at It is too soon to attempt to generalize exSt. Petersburg as was presented at Copen-haustively, or to pronounce dogmatically as hagen in 1864-the full recognition, that to the ultimate solution of all the great is, of German claims, or the compulsory problems now being worked out upon the severance of the German territories. Hith-Meuse and Moselle. We have, of course, erto Count Bismarck has been prudently blind to this logical necessity. He was not prepared to fight Russia, and he justly argued that Russia would listen to no interference in her internal affairs which could not be backed in the last resort by an appeal to force. The mission of Prussia as the protector of German interests in all parts of the world was therefore suffered to lie in abeyance, and the Russian government went its own way. It is not likely that this policy will be pursued any longer. The Germans of the Baltic provinces are keenly interested in the events of the war, and when they say to their Russian neighbours, on getting the news of a Prussian success, Our troops have beaten yours," there may be something prophetic in the instinctive identification of Russia with the defeated army. much more to learn, and many questions are still in suspense. But it is not too soon to appeal to the experience of the present war as establishing certain facts, or as affording indications, more or less decided, of important conclusions of grave military import. We have got, at any rate, to the words of one syllable, and these it will be well to make our own before we attempt to master the more difficult lessons. For the present, we shall confine ourselves to setting forth the points which seem to be plainly proved. The instruction to be derived in this way groups itself naturally into several large divisions. There is, for example, that division which connects itself with the personnel of the contending armies, and the organization under which that personnel is directed. There is, again, the question of material of war, its efficiency and application; there is the large and important division which comprehends the various tactical considerations; there is the strategy of the compaign; there is the home application of these and various other lessons to ourselves and our soldiers. To exhaust these subjects would be to write several treatises, and no attempt of the sort will be made here. All we propose to do is to note down from time to time the points which become more or less decidedly established; thus accumulating as the war proceeds some raw material of instruction which may hereafter be usefully applied to the strengthening of our own system. It is surely not too soon to bear testimony to the excellence and efficiency of the Prus- | intrepidity, a coolness, a discipline which sian soldiers. This is the more important place him at once in the very highest milibecause those who, like ourselves, have ad- tary ranks. While full of a deep fury and vocated a reorganization of our military intense national dislike of his foe, he has system on something approaching the Prus- yet carefully subordinated his feelings to sian basis have been frequently met with his discipline. He has not been betrayed the statement that the reputation of this into neglecting the lessons so admirably army rested upon no solid foundation. The taught him during peace. He has not fired supporters of the old standing army system, away all his ammunition like a feu de joie, as contra-distinguished from what we may or at impossible ranges; he has not trusted call the national military system, have urged to unreasoning or unnecessary onsets for that the successes of the Prussians in Den- victory; he has not omitted to fight under mark, or against an internally divided and cover as far as possible; he has not fought badly administered military Power like indiscriminately or blindly, although when Austria, afforded no guarantee of the suc- required, as at Spikeren, he has been ready cess of the Prussian arms against a really to execute assaults of the most desperate first-rate military Power, against a well- and bloody kind, and he has throughout trained, vigorous, compact standing army, exhibited a certain gentleness which is adsuch as that of France. All advances to- mirable. It seems to us, if the accounts wards the Prussian system have been met which we have received may be relied upon, by a depreciation of the performances of that the Prussian soldier has approached as the Prussian army in Bohemia and else- near perfection in his conduct on the march where. Prussia was ready while her oppo- and in action as it is possible to attain to. nents were not; or she happened to be bet- In gallantry he may not have surpassed the ter armed; or she was inherently stronger; French, but he has equalled them, and he or the generals opposed to her were weak has coupled that gallantry with a discretion and incapable; or there were dissensions in and a moral sobriety and quiet earnestness the enemy's camp; or the campaign was of purpose which the French soldier does too short to admit of sound conclusions be- not always seem to have exhibited. His ing drawn. In fact, the Prussian military very enthusiasm also is of a totally different strength was hollow. Prick it with a character from that of his foe. Much of all French bayonet, and who should say that it this, no doubt, is natural to the Prussians; would not go to pieces? The past few but much of it is the direct offspring of an weeks will have supplied a complete an- excellent discipline. And that discipline swer to this criticism. The Prussian arms begins, not in the army, but in the national have achieved a series of extraordinary suc- schools. cesses against a French army. And the The Prussian soldier is an important facFrench army, be it observed, has fought in tor in the results which we have described. some respects under what may be regarded The military system completes and comas great advantages. It has been animated pacts what the national education has comby all the first fire which lights up and al- menced. That system is essentially an inmost sanctifies a popular campaign by all telligent one in its two main features. In the confidence of men who anticipated a de- the first place, it draws into the ranks a cided victory. There were new and won- large proportion of superior recruits; in the derful weapons, too, to exhibit their prow-second place, it subjects the whole army to ess; there were French generals of Italian a training of the highest character. The and Algerian reputation, who for years had expression" superior recruits "is sometimes been studying the question which this war sneered at in this country by military men. was destined to solve; there was an army They tell us that we want a soldier to do numerically stronger, we believe, than any what he is told neither more nor less. which France has before placed in the field. But we have never been able to compreIf there was numerical inferiority, there hend why an intelligent recruit should be was the compensating advantage of position. less likely to be amenable to discipline than There was, in brief, a military machine be- one who recognizes in it nothing more than lieved to be the highest quality, which for a mechanical coercive force. Is it not from years had been undergoing all sorts of pol- our superior recruits that our non-commisishing and improvement specially in view sioned officers are made? And we may of the occasion which had at last arrived. also fairly urge that the Prussian army, This was the force against which the Prus- which is without doubt the most intelligent sian soldier was called upon to fight. How in the world, is also probably at this mobas be acquitted himself? No one will de- ment the most efficient. As to the system ny that he has shown a determination, an of training, we have spoken of this on many 46 ous body of trained men for the defence of the country. a force which, while not always on foot, can spring into active, efficient existence at a moment's notice - then surely it is important to note the suggested and apparently satisfactory solution of this problem which is presented by the Prussians. This is the first great lesson of the present war. occasions. No one who is interested in these subjects can be ignorant of the method of field instruction in vogue in Prussia, and which we have lately happily adopted to some extent for our troops the method of bringing large bodies of men together, not for sham fights," but for a series of military manœuvres which are made as real as the absence of ball cartridge and of an actual enemy will permit-manœuvres by which not merely the rank and the file but the officers and generals are practised and informed. Nor can any one who is acFrom The Pall Mall Gazette. quainted even slightly with the Prussian ENGLAND AND PRUSSIA. army believe that the discipline is otherwise than stringent. No soldiers - least of all WE fear that the sense of the necessity such soldiers as the Prussians - can be of pressing on our naval and military prepmade without discipline. And the product arations has grown less keen since Parliaof this system of this intelligent disci- ment broke up. The event which gave pline and training-acting upon a com- such a sudden impulse to these preparations paratively high personnel, is the army which was undoubtedly the publication of the is now rolling back an attempted invasion Draught Treaty and the light it was supby what has hitherto been regarded as the posed to throw on the designs of France. greatest regular military Power in Europe. Now all danger from this quarter may be There is another point to be observed with considered to have passed away. France regard to the Prussian columns now advanc-is in no position to conquer Belgium; she ing into France. They are not, as a rule, has enough to do to escape being conquered old soldiers. The older soldiers of Prus- herself. Fortune has favoured and promsia are at present in her second line. The ises still to favour the arms of Prussia, and first lines the columns which conquered at most of the organs of English opinion are Saarbrücken, Woerth, and Mars-la-Tour in such a hurry to make their obeisance to are composed mainly of men in their first the rising sun that they do not stop to conterm of short service; and yet these men sider whether his rays may not later in the seem to lack nothing of the finer qualities day be found to scorch those exposed to of veteran soldiers. Further, these col- them. We cannot see that the French umns derive much of their momentum from reverses have made any change in the duty the fact that they stand in relation to the of the English Government. From whatnation from which they issue forth, not as a ever point of view the war is regarded it class apart, but strictly as national repre- seems laden with danger to the tranquillity sentatives. The Prussian army is essen- of the rest of Europe, Let us assume in tially a national army- a national micro- the first instance that the close of the prescosm. It is not a mere isolated body of ent campaign will be as triumphant for trained men; it is a vital part of the nation, Prussia as its beginning. We put this which beats with the same pulse and is ani- simply as a supposition. We have no wish mated with the same emotions. Such a to prejudge the result of the gallant efforts force is, we will not say irresistible, but, which the French nation are making to well directed, it undoubtedly forms as pow-retrieve their defeat; but, as impartial erful a military engine, whether for attack observers, it is impossible to doubt that the or defence, as can be conceived. We call odds are still greatly in favour of the Prusattention to these things, not as being new, sians, and consequently, in calculating how but because they have derived from recent the future will affect our own policy, it is events a new emphasis and increased natural in the first instance to start from strength, and because, while we are striv- this hypothesis. We pointed out the other ing to remodel our military system, it be- day what a tremendous military Power hoves us attentively to observe the results Prussia would become in the event of her of that system which appears to combine at completely overthrowing the French aronce the maximum of efficiency with the mies; and we cannot profess to derive much minimum of cost. If standing armies are comfort from the reflection that the Prusunendurable, if daily they are becoming sians belong to the Teutonic race. No more of an anachronism, and if, at the same doubt distinctions of race are very importtime, it is daily becoming more and more ant, as summing up the action of many necessary to have always at hand a numer-ages on particular sections of mankind. |