The Quarterly Review, Volume 162, No. 324, April, 1886

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26439

Title

The Quarterly Review, Volume 162, No. 324, April, 1886

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This April 1886 issue of The Quarterly Review offers a sweeping survey of contemporary intellectual and political life. Featuring essays on English history, the rise of democracy, Irish politics, and travels in the British Empire, the volume presents a sober, analytical tone. It appeals to educated readers seeking deep insight into the era's major social shifts, historical documents, and the complex challenges facing liberal governance.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in April 1886, Volume 162 of *The Quarterly Review* serves as a comprehensive intellectual digest of the late Victorian era, organized into ten major sections that span historical scholarship, political analysis, and cultural critique. A significant portion of the volume is dedicated to the revival of English historical study, celebrating the monumental efforts of scholars like Professor Brewer and the organizational work of Lord Langdale and Lord Romilly. These figures are praised for rescuing precious national manuscripts from obscurity and making them accessible to students, effectively cleansing the chaotic depositories of English history. The review highlights the publication of Matthew Paris's *Chronica Majora* and the *State Papers of Oliver Cromwell* as key achievements in this scholarly renaissance. A major thematic focus is the 'Characteristics of Democracy,' where editors engage in a profound debate with Alexis de Tocqueville, Sir George Cornewall Lewis, Walter Bagehot, and John Stuart Mill. While acknowledging the inevitability of democratic rule, these thinkers express a mixture of resignation and deep distrust regarding its potential for 'naked despotism' and the erosion of individual liberty. The text contrasts the perceived safety of the English landed aristocracy with the dangers of American democracy, suggesting that local institutions are crucial for protecting rights against encroaching power. This skepticism is rooted in the belief that pure democracy is dangerous, a view confirmed by the experience of the United States and the history of France. Political commentary addresses the 'Gladstone-Morley Administration' and the contentious issue of Irish Home Rule. The review analyzes speeches from the Fourth Midlothian Campaign and discusses the Land Bill, reflecting on the difficulties of governing a divided empire. Other articles explore the origins and work of the Christian Brothers in France and England, the preservation of Venetian archives, and the economic conditions of Norwegian yeomen farmers. Travel accounts describe the British Empire, touching on topics from the Solomon Islands to New Guinea, while literary pieces examine the works of Pindar and the Apostolic Fathers. Ultimately, the volume stands as a testament to the era's rigorous scholarship and its anxious yet engaged examination of how to preserve liberty and tradition in an age of rapid democratic change.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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• Periodicals