The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 6, December 1837Various
History
The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 6, December 1837
Various
Periodicals
Our limits will enable us to glance at only one more of the prominent
faults of this book. We refer to Mr. Bulwer's ideas on duelling.
What do our readers think of such sophistry as this: 'There are some
cases in which human nature and its deep wrongs will be ever stronger
than the world and its philosophy. Duels and wars belong to the same
principle; both are sinful on light grounds and poor pretexts. But it
is not sinful for a soldier to defend his country from invasion, nor
for a man, with a man's heart, to vindicate truth and honor with his
life. The robber that asks me for money, I am allowed to shoot. Is
the robber that tears from me treasures never to be replaced, to go
free?' Again: 'As in revolutions all law is suspended, so are there
stormy events and mighty injuries in life, which are as revolutions
to individuals.' It follows, of course, that a revolution may take
place 'in the little kingdom man,' whenever his majesty sees fit. It
is unnecessary to show up the monstrosity of such politics, and of
that morality which, guided alone by worldly philosophy, makes it
sometimes sinful, and sometimes not, to take the life of a fellow
being. There are men enough in the world who will fight as they
judge expedient; but Mr. Bulwer is the only one who has had the
hardihood to defend the practice, as sometimes under the sanction of
omnipotence.
We had some remarks to make on the sudden transitions of character,
as delineated by our author, which strike us as exceedingly
unnatural. But we have already transcended our space, and only record
an impression here, which must be apparent to every reader. On the
appearance of the sequel to Ernest Maltravers, we may examine this
fault at leisure.
* * * * *
MEMOIRS OF AARON BURR. With Miscellaneous Selections from his
Correspondence. By MATTHEW L. DAVIS. In two volumes. Volume
Two. pp. 449. New-York: HARPER AND BROTHERS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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