580 MONTHLT RFTIEW OF LITERATURE. 



custom be now an enemy to our good cause, yet, when once the tide is turn- 

 ed, he will become a powerful and prevailing friend. The tide of public opi- 

 nion is mighty, both for good aiid for evil. As, on the one hand, there is no- 

 thing so absurd, and wicked, and mad, but that public opinion is able to sanc- 

 tion it, and make it appear right, and just, and reasonable ; so, on the other 

 hand, there is no folly or absurdity so rooted in the opinions of men but that 

 an altered tide of public opinion is able to sweep it away. We have already 

 quoted the authority of our great national poet to prove that custom is a 

 monster, 



' Who all sense doth eat 

 Of habit's devil ;' 

 but we shall now quote the remainder of the same magnificent passage ; for 

 it contains matter to encourage, to animate, and to cheer us on with the hope 

 of victory ! For the poet, still speaking of the strange and mighty power of 

 custom, goes on to say that he 



' Is angel yet in this. 



That to the use of actions fair and good 



He doth likewise give a frock or livery. 



That aptly is put on.' 

 This part of the passage also applies to the customs of nations, to the full as 

 powerfully as to the habits of individuals. Custom is now our foe ; but let him 

 once be our friend, and he will become our all-powerful advocate, and bring 

 the whole world over to our side. But do you ask how we are to change 

 these foolish customs, and to turn the tide of public opinion ? The answer 

 to this question may be found by asking another. How did these silly drink- 

 ing customs and foolish courtesies arise ? They arose from the power of imi- 

 tation. It is indeed true that they too often strengthen into appetite, but 

 they almost always begin at first in mere imitation, and spread till they be- 

 come the fashion of the day. The answer then is plain, when it is asked — 

 what we are to do. We must all combine and conspire to set up a better 

 fashion for the world to imitate. Hundreds may be convinced by our argu- 

 ments, but millions will be caught by imitation, if we can once set up a bet- 

 ter fashion. Indeed, most men's minds are so constructed that even if they 

 understand they cannot feel our arguments, till after we have got fashion on 

 our side. Hence a timely and skilful appeal to the principle of imitation 

 has sometimes almost wrought miracles." 



A Summer in Spain ; being the Narrative of a Tour made in the 

 Summer of 1835. Smith, Elder, and Co. 



This small volume appears at an opportune period, and is likely to be read 

 with interest. It is pleasantly written, and contains many interesting parti- 

 culars respecting the state of Spain at the present time. The author is a de- 

 cided partizan of the Queen. The following extract, relative to the contest 

 going on between the Liberals and the Carlists, will be read with interest : — 



" The news of Zumalncarregui's death, and the consequent raising of the 

 siege of fiilboa, caused a great sensation at Valencia. The liberal press 

 teemed with panegyrics on the people of Bilboa, who were often ranked with 

 the heroes of Saguntura and Saragossa; odes addressed to them appeared in 

 almost every newspaper, and a heroic poem was published at Valencia, in I 

 know not how many books, entitled, 'The Defence of Bilboa.' That the peo- 

 ple of Bilboa behaved well on that occasion is well known : but it certainly 

 cannot be called a verj' desperate aflFair, when they only lost about twenty 

 men. 



" Had Znmalacarregui lived, there is little doubt hut that Bilboa would 

 have been taken (I have heard this confessed more than once, even by the 

 Queen's officers), and in that case the liberal cause would have received a se- 

 vere blow. Not only would Carlos have obtained possession of a considera- 



