The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 3, October, 1851

In Short

This volume functions as a curated miscellany, gathering literary critiques, travelogues, political reporting, and fashion updates from the autumn of 1851. It offers a mosaic of the Victorian mindset, ranging from the technicalities of the comb-making industry to the philosophical weight of Boethius. Because it compiles the diverse interests of its time—including the burgeoning "science" of deception and the romanticized perils of Pacific island life—it remains a vital primary source. It provides a rare, unvarnished window into what the educated public of the 1850s read, debated, and valued as the century reached its midpoint.

The Story

The narrative arc of this volume is not a single linear tale, but rather the unfolding story of a globalized, restless world in the middle of the nineteenth century. It begins with the domestic—the quiet, scholarly life of American poet John Godfrey Saxe—before quickly expanding to the far reaches of the Pacific. We are introduced to the "Island World," where missionaries and natives alike are encouraged to adopt the bracing, communal habit of surf-riding as a remedy for the physical and moral malaise of the tropics.

From the islands, the focus shifts to the complex machinations of European and American society. A critique of the "science of deception" frames the era’s cynicism, positing that the Anglo-Saxon world has perfected the art of the "humbug." This cynical thread is balanced by the idealism of poetry, as Barry Cornwall offers a lyrical homage to the desert travels of the author of Eothen, elevating the act of exploration to a high, soul-stirring pursuit.

The volume then descends into the dramatic, often dark, world of fiction and political intrigue. We encounter the grim, claustrophobic tension of a household where a woman’s dark secret is nearly exposed in a still-room, and the stoic, heavy-hearted silence of a father facing personal ruin. The narrative then pivots to the violent, shadowy world of secret societies, where the Carbonari in France find themselves betrayed by a spy. The tragic death of the boy Scorpione, who dies attempting to save a loved one, marks a shift toward collective vengeance. The conspirators, bound by duty and despair, commit themselves to a final, solemn act of retribution, marking the end of their revolutionary hopes.

Finally, the magazine moves from the high drama of political conspiracy to the quiet, rugged landscapes of the Alps. A hunter’s account of killing his first chamois provides a startling moment of unadulterated, primal joy, stripped of the moralizing tendencies typical of the age. The collection concludes by bringing the reader back to the solid ground of statistics and social order: reports on the census of Hungary, the shifting political tides of American state conventions, and the meticulous details of autumn fashion, ensuring that every reader is equipped with both the latest news and the most refined manners of the day.

How It Unfolds

The portrait of the poet The volume opens by situating the American poet John Godfrey Saxe within the satirical tradition, contrasting his "healthful humorous rage" against the envy often found in his contemporaries. His biography serves as an anchoring point, moving from rural Vermont to the rigorous professional life of a lawyer and politician.

The Pacific experience The perspective shifts to the Sandwich Islands, where the physical vigor of the natives—specifically their mastery of the surf-board—is presented as a model for health. The author critiques the negligence of missionaries who ignore this natural tonic in favor of stifling, indoor habits.

The mechanics of deceit The text turns toward the darker side of modern society, exploring the "science of deception" as a systematic, almost professional pursuit in Britain. This section argues that the modern "humbug" requires the same level of organization and symmetry as the noble sciences.

The shadow of tragedy The volume transitions into intense, serialized fiction, tracking the movements of political conspirators and the quiet, domestic desperation of a household in flux. The death of the innocent Scorpione serves as the catalyst for the characters’ move from despair to a cold, collective vow of vengeance.

The hunter’s triumph The focus shifts to the solitude of the Alps, where the narrator experiences a moment of raw, singular success in the hunt. This account strips away the expected sentimentality, offering a candid look at the thrill of the kill and the beauty of the mountain wilderness.

The news of the world The final movement returns to the orderly reporting of statistics, political nominations, and the changing styles of the season. It concludes with a practical view of the world, balancing the heavy news of revolution in China and Hungary with the delicate, prescribed fashion of silk dresses and muslin frocks.

The People

John Godfrey Saxe is the primary model of the "professional man of letters," transitioning from Vermont farm life to the bar and the political arena with a blend of regional pride and literary ambition. He represents the era's ideal of the well-rounded citizen.

The figures found in the fiction, such as Sir Philip Hastings and his daughter Emily, are defined by their internal struggles. Hastings is a figure of "gloomy, thoughtful" stillness, his face a mask of iron-willed repression as he navigates the collapse of his private world. In contrast, Mrs. Hazleton is the agent of domestic tension, a woman whose sudden, guilty transformation reveals the fragility of polite society.

Taddeo and the Vicomte D'Harcourt represent the revolutionary spirit, caught between the desire for honorable combat and the necessity of "nocturnal vengeance." Their tragedy is the betrayal by an anonymous spy, which forces them into a path of moral compromise. The poor, doomed Scorpione stands as the ultimate casualty of these political currents, a simple lad whose death is the only pure, if tragic, moment in their complex, shadowed struggle.

Finally, the hunter Joseph and the narrator represent the untamed side of the human experience. Their joy in the hunt is unabashedly primitive, providing a stark contrast to the politicians and poets earlier in the collection. They are characters who act, feel, and celebrate without the filter of Victorian moralizing, reminding the reader of the visceral life that persists alongside the civilized world.

In Its Own Voice

"The disease of the satiric muse in this country has been the spleen, and the reason why we have had so little of the healthful humorous rage... is, that those among us who have attempted this kind of composition have generally had far more to do with persons than with manners."

In an opening essay on John Godfrey Saxe, the author critiques the state of American satire by comparing it to the healthier, more detached tradition of the old masters.

"The science of deception has of late years attained an immense importance in this good realm of Britain."

This opening line from a series on the "Age of Veneer" sets the tone for a biting assessment of how modern society is governed by artifice and "humbug."

"That rich, soft black eye, filming over with the frosty breath of death, and that last convulsive kick of the hind legs, ought perhaps to have made us feel that we had done rather a brutal and selfish thing; but they did not."

Following a successful hunt in the Alps, the narrator confesses to a lack of moral remorse, preferring the honesty of his own reaction over the expected literary response to the death of a creature.

What It's Really About

At its core, this volume explores the tension between civilization and the wild—both in nature and in the human heart. It asks how a society can maintain its order and its "science" while being constantly threatened by the irrational forces of revolution, political betrayal, and personal deceit. The recurring theme is the struggle for authenticity in an age of "veneers." Whether through the lens of a hunter in the mountains, a politician in Vermont, or a revolutionary in France, the text examines how individuals define themselves against a backdrop of global change. It questions whether the "consolations of philosophy" are enough to sustain a person when the foundations of their life—whether a country or a family—are being eroded by the forces of history or the treachery of peers.

Why Read It Today

Reading this collection today feels like stepping into a brisk, wide-ranging conversation held in a nineteenth-century study. It is not a polished, cohesive narrative, but that is precisely its charm; it captures the fragmented, high-speed intellectual climate of a world undergoing massive shifts. Readers who enjoy historical immersion will find the fashion tips, political tallies, and travel notes fascinating, as they reveal the trivial and the profound side-by-side.

However, the modern reader should be prepared for the dense, often flowery prose characteristic of the era. The political segments regarding the Carbonari or American state conventions can be slow going, as they rely on a level of context that the nineteenth-century reader held for granted. You must be willing to lean into the period's specific attitudes—its casual imperial confidence and its moralizing, yet often hypocritical, views on race and social standing. What stays with you, however, is the unexpected moments of raw humanity: the hunter’s visceral joy, the poet’s quiet ambition, and the sheer, overwhelming curiosity of a magazine trying to account for everything from the fall of an empire in China to the chemical composition of a hair comb. It is a rewarding, if challenging, look at the intellectual DNA of our ancestors, showing us that they were just as preoccupied with the "science of deception" and the quest for meaning as we are today.