Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol. 66, No 409, November 1849

In Short

This volume serves as a time capsule of British intellectual life in 1849. It blends heavy-handed political commentary—focused on the "transportation" of criminals to distant colonies—with lengthy, informal, and deeply opinionated round-table discussions about literature. By preserving the specific, often prickly personalities of its contributors, the work captures the era’s preoccupation with social stability, colonial management, and the nuances of dramatic art. It remains a vital document for those wishing to understand how the Victorians grappled with the moral and administrative anxieties of their expanding world.

The Story

The volume opens with a stern, authoritative analysis of the "transportation question." The authors argue that imprisonment at home has failed to deter crime, leading to a dangerous overflow in domestic jails. They advocate for a return to the colonial transport system, framing it not merely as a necessary punishment, but as a "philosophic and politic" way to prune the mother country of its "wicked citizens." The text traces the economic history of New South Wales to demonstrate how early convict labor turned a wilderness into a prosperous society, while warning that such a system only works if convicts remain a small, manageable minority rather than a dominant, criminal class.

From this grim administrative discourse, the narrative pivots toward lighter, albeit equally opinionated, ground. A traveler details his journey to Falmouth, filled with wry anecdotes about tedious, talkative fellow passengers and a culinary incident involving "splendid bloaters" that exposes the social posturing of a gentlemanly "Major." This leads to a reflection on the life of Wellingborough Redburn, a young man whose romanticized notions of the sea are dismantled by the harsh realities of a merchant vessel. The book then broadens its scope to include scathing critiques of contemporary political figures like Richard Cobden, whom the authors mock as a "vaunting Achilles" for his performative approach to European peace congresses and the Hungarian struggle for independence.

The final act of the volume retreats into a private, intellectual sanctum. A group of men—North, Talboys, Buller, and Seward—gather for a series of sprawling, argumentative conversations regarding Shakespeare’s Macbeth. They pick apart the play with remarkable intensity, debating the nature of Lady Macbeth’s resolve, the "showings" of ghosts on the Elizabethan stage, and the inconsistencies in the playwright’s management of time. They move from high-minded aesthetic theory to aggressive, witty bickering, ultimately asserting that Shakespeare’s genius is so overwhelming that it transcends standard critical inquiry. The volume concludes not with a final resolution of these debates, but with a sense of the ongoing, restless energy that defined the publication’s editorial voice.

How It Unfolds

The problem of the prisoner The editors establish the failure of the domestic prison system, arguing that the country is being "flooded" with reoffending criminals. They posit that exporting convicts to colonies is the only efficient, historically proven solution to maintain social order.

The logistics of empire Statistical data and historical anecdotes are used to justify the colonization of New South Wales as a success. The text warns, however, that the ratio of "tainted" to "free" settlers must be carefully maintained to avoid social ruin.

Travels and tribulations The tone shifts to a narrative of a voyage, marked by humorous social friction between a common-sense narrator and pretentious travelers. This section highlights the mundane difficulties and petty disputes of nineteenth-century transit.

Political skirmishes The focus turns to the European political landscape, specifically mocking "Peace Congresses" and the grandstanding of public figures. The critique is biting, dismissing idealistic diplomatic efforts as "seedy crusades" and "radically absurd" posturing.

The Shakespearean salon The volume closes with a long, discursive dialogue among a group of critics analyzing Macbeth. They dissect the psychological motivations of the characters and the staging of the supernatural, treating the play as a living, breathing subject of debate.

The People

The volume features a blend of editorial personae and historical figures. The primary, unnamed voice of the magazine is that of the stern, traditionalist moralist, who views the state’s duty as one of firm regulation and colonial expansion. In the travel sections, Gingham stands out as a "talented individual" and a master of social manipulation, who uses his wits to navigate a hotel hierarchy and outmaneuver local boatmen. He is a pragmatic, if slightly abrasive, opportunist.

Opposite these figures are the participants in the literary dialogues: North, Talboys, Buller, and Seward. North acts as the moderator and senior voice, while Buller is the contrarian, frequently dismissing the others' theories as "cursed nonsense." They are united by their deep reverence for Shakespeare, yet they are constantly at odds regarding how to interpret him. They want to be seen as men of taste and deep learning, yet their discussions often descend into petty, sharp-tongued rivalry. They emerge not as objective scholars, but as vivid, flawed personalities who are as interested in asserting their own cleverness as they are in the text itself.

In Its Own Voice

"The great question of SECONDARY PUNISHMENTS has now been settled by experience, so far as the mother country is concerned."

The editors open their political argument by declaring that traditional domestic imprisonment has been a failure.

"Transportation is a blessing to a colony when the convicts are kept in a minority, perhaps in a fourth or a fifth of the community to which they are sent."

This passage clarifies the specific colonial policy the authors propose to stabilize the empire.

"Between them, Duncan already is a dead man."

During the literary discussion, North highlights the cold, inevitable nature of the conspirators' plot in Macbeth.

What It's Really About

At its core, this volume explores the tension between order and chaos. Whether discussing the logistics of dumping a criminal population into a colony or the psychological descent of a king into murder, the underlying question is how a society maintains its integrity when faced with internal rot or external upheaval. The authors are deeply concerned with "proportions"—the ratio of criminals to settlers, the balance of power between nations, and the degree of artifice in dramatic representation. It is a work that values established tradition, historical precedent, and strong, decisive leadership. It asks whether humanity can be managed through policy or if, as in the case of Shakespeare’s tragedies, the human spirit is ultimately driven by forces that defy simple, rational explanation.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the "deep dive" style of modern long-form journalism will find the roots of that format here. It is a rich, atmospheric experience that places you directly inside the nineteenth-century Victorian parlor. The book feels alive, energetic, and unapologetically opinionated. You will encounter the prose of a time when writers were not afraid to be long-winded, combative, or overtly moralistic.

However, be prepared for significant hurdles. The political sections are dense, occasionally dry, and rely heavily on the reader’s knowledge of 1840s British bureaucracy and specific parliamentary debates. The attitudes toward colonial "management" and the treatment of criminals reflect a nineteenth-century perspective that many modern readers will find callous or troubling. Additionally, the literary dialogues, while brilliant, are sometimes difficult to follow, as the speakers jump between obscure references, stage directions, and biting insults. If you are interested in the evolution of political thought or wish to see how the Victorians grappled with the complexities of their own national identity, this volume is an essential, if challenging, artifact. What stays with you is the sheer intellectual confidence of the contributors—their conviction that every problem, whether a failing prison system or a complex Shakespearean tragedy, could be resolved through the power of rigorous, sharp-tongued debate.