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to his intellectual ill-temper can hardly be a trusty guide in 
matters of the highest import. 
In the study of Carlyle we should keep in mind the principle 
of ‘ discretionary extraction,” taking the kernel, but leaving the 
husks. 
For a just estimate of Carlyle’s character and worth to the 
world we must go to his published works. We shall there see 
that he found two or three great subjects well suited to his 
unique genius, but he judged men and human society from a 
narrow point of view. By the denunciations of every thing 
around found in his later writings, he lost nearly all practical 
influence over the mind of a people whose conscience his earlier 
books had done much to quicken and stimulate. When his sub- 
ject was in the main delineative, as in his ‘‘ French Revolution,” 
“¢ Cromwell,” and ‘“ Frederick the Great,’”’ he was in his element 
and consequently successful; and on these subjects his guidance 
may be accepted, not merely for his transcendent ability, but for 
his painstaking care in elucidating the smallest details and most 
obscure facts. 
But in politics, as he preferred to do battle with the isolated 
particular rather than embrace in his view a sequence of events, 
he disqualified himself from taking a comprehensive survey of men 
and things. In religious matters, Carlyle failed to guide the 
English people. He did not believe in historical Christianity. 
The Church he looked upon as an institution which accumulated 
formulas, paralysed effort and imposed error. He had no creation 
of his own to offer in place of the Church. He praised a religious 
spirit, yet spoke of Newman (because he was a Roman Catholic) 
as ‘‘not having so mach intellect asa rabbit,’ and of Keble 
(because he wrote religious poems) as ‘a little ape called Keble 
of the Christian Year.”’ 
Imagination, Carlyle possessed, and by its aid lighted up 
special points and scenes in the world’s history with marvellous 
force. But he judged the world by its superficial babble, and 
never seemed to remember that there were any “ silent actions” 
of which he could not form a judgment, because they had never 
been brought to his knowledge. 
4,—*“* A TAX ON BACHELORS.” 
Referring to therumour that the French Government intended 
to impose a tax on Bachelors, the author, ina humorous manner, 
reckoned up the comparative advantages and disadvantages of 
thus dealing separately with a despised portion of the community. 
The tax was considered in its influence upon the revenue, and 
also in its impulsive effect towards matrimony. 
