TheRev。HenryChristmas，inarecentpamphletonthissubject，showsclearlythatinfiveimportantversionsoftheOldTestament（tosaynothingofversionsoflessnote）thewords，\"byman\"，intheoften—quotedtext，\"Whososheddethman’sblood，bymanshallhisbloodbeshed\"，donotappearatall。WeknowthatthelawofMoseswasdeliveredtocertainwanderingtribesinapeculiarandperfectlydifferentsocialconditionfromthatwhichprevailsamongusatthistime。WeknowthattheChristianDispensationdiddistinctlyrepealandannulcertainportionsofthatlaw。Weknowthatthedoctrineofretributivejusticeorvengeance，wasplainlydisavowedbytheSaviour。Weknowthatontheonlyoccasionofanoffender，liablebythelawtodeath，beingbroughtbeforeHimforHisjudgment，itwasnotdeath。WeknowthatHesaid，\"Thoushaltnotkill\"。AndifwearestilltoinflictcapitalpunishmentbecauseoftheMosaiclaw（underwhichitwasnottheconsequenceofalegalproceeding，butanactofvengeancefromthenextofkin，whichwouldsurelybediscouragedbyourlaterlawsifitwererevivedamongtheJewsjustnow）itwouldbeequallyreasonabletoestablishthelawfulnessofapluralityofwivesonthesameauthority。
HereIwillleavethisaspectofthequestion。Ishouldnothavetreatedofitatallinthecolumnsofanewspaper，butforthepossibilityofbeingunjustlysupposedtohavegivenitnoconsiderationinmyownmind。
Inbringingtoaclosetheselettersonasubject，inconnectionwithwhichthereishappilyverylittlethatisnewtobesaidorwritten，IbegtobeunderstoodasadvocatingthetotalabolitionofthePunishmentofDeath，asageneralprinciple，fortheadvantageofsociety，forthepreventionofcrime，andwithouttheleastreferenceto，ortendernessforanyindividualmalefactorwhomsoever。Indeed，inmostcasesofmurder，myfeelingtowardstheculpritisverystronglyandviolentlythereverse。Iamthemoredesiroustobesounderstood，afterreadingaspeechmadebyMr。
MacaulayintheHouseofCommonslastTuesdaynight，inwhichthataccomplishedgentlemanhardlyseemedtorecognisethepossibilityofanybodyentertaininganhonestconvictionoftheinutilityandbadeffectsofCapitalPunishmentintheabstract，foundedoninquiryandreflection，withoutbeingthevictimof\"akindofeffeminatefeeling\"。Withoutstayingtoinquirewhattheremaybethatisespeciallymanlyandheroicintheadvocacyofthegallows，ortoexpressmyadmirationofMr。Calcraft，thehangman，asdoubtlessoneofthemostmanlyspecimensnowinexistence，Iwouldsimplyhintadoubt，inallgoodhumour，whetherthisbethetrueMacaulaywayofmeetingagreatquestion？OneoftheinstancesofeffeminacyoffeelingquotedbyMr。Macaulay，Ihavereasontothinkwasnotquitefairlystated。IalludetothepetitioninTawell’scase。Ihadneitherhandnorpartinitmyself;but，unlessIamgreatlymistaken，itdidprettyclearlysetforththatTawellwasamostabhorredvillain，andthattheHousemightconcludehowstronglythepetitionerswereopposedtothePunishmentofDeath，whentheyprayedforitsnon—inflictioneveninsuchacase。
THESPIRITOFCHIVALRYINWESTMINSTERHALL
\"Ofallthecantsthatarecantedinthiscantingworld，\"wroteSterne，\"kindHeavendefendmefromthecantofArt！\"Wehavenointentionoftappingourlittlecaskofcant，souredbythethunderofgreatmen’sfame，fortherefreshmentofourreaders:itsfreestdraughtwouldbeunreasonablydearatashilling，whenthesamesmallliquormaybehadfornothing，atinnumerablereadypipesandconduits。
ButitisamainpartofthedesignofthisMagazinetosympathisewithwhatistrulygreatandgood;toscoutthemiserablediscouragementsthatbeset，especiallyinEngland，theupwardpathofmenofhighdesert;andgladlytogivehonourwhereitisdue，inrightofSomethingachieved，tendingtoelevatethetastesandthoughtsofallwhocontemplateit，andprovealastingcredittothecountryofitsbirth。
UponthewallsofWestminsterHall，therehangs，atthistime，suchaSomething。Acompositionofsuchmarvellousbeauty，ofsuchinfinitevariety，ofsuchmasterlydesign，ofsuchvigorousandskilfuldrawing，ofsuchthoughtandfancy，ofsuchsurprisinganddelicateaccuracyofdetail，subservingonegrandharmony，andoneplainpurpose，thatitmaybequestionedwhethertheFineArtsinanyperiodoftheirhistoryhaveknownamoreremarkableperformance。
ItisthecartoonofDanielMaclise，\"executedbyorderoftheCommissioners\"，andcalledTheSpiritofChivalry。Itmaybeleftanopenquestion，whetherornothisallegoricalorderonthepartoftheCommissioners，displaysanyuncommonfelicityofidea。Weratherthinknot;andarefreetoconfessthatweshouldliketohaveseentheCommissioners’notionoftheSpiritofChivalrystatedbythemselves，inthefirstinstance，onasheetoffoolscap，astheground—planofamodelcartoon，withallthecommissionedproportionsofheightandbreadth。Thatthetreatmentofsuchanabstraction，forthepurposesofArt，involvesgreatandpeculiardifficulties，noonewhoconsidersthesubjectforamomentcandoubt。Thatnothingiseasiertorenderitabsurdandmonstrous，isapositionaslittlecapableofdisputebyanybodywhohasbeheldanothercartoononthesamesubjectinthesameHall，representingaGhouleinastateofravingmadness，dancingonaBodyinaveryhighwind，tothegreatastonishmentofJohntheBaptist’shead，whichislookingonfromacorner。
Mr。Maclise’shandlingofthesubjecthasbythistimesunkintotheheartsofthousandsuponthousandsofpeople。Itisfamiliarknowledgeamongallclassesandconditionsofmen。ItisthegreatfeaturewithintheHall，andtheconstanttopicofdiscourseelsewhere。Ithasawakenedinthegreatbodyofsocietyanewinterestin，andanewperceptionandanewloveof，Art。StudentsofArthavesatbeforeit，hourbyhour，perusinginitsmanyformsofBeauty，lessonstodelighttheworld，andraisethemselves，itsfutureteachers，initsbetterestimation。EyeswellaccustomedtothegloriesoftheVatican，thegalleriesofFlorence，allthemightiestworksofartinEurope，havegrowndimbeforeitwiththestrongemotionsitinspires;ignorant，unlettered，drudgingmen，merehewersanddrawers，havegatheredinaknotaboutit（asatourbackaweekago），andreadit，intheirhomelylanguage，asitwereaBook。Inminds，theroughestandthemostrefined，ithasalikefoundquickresponse;andwill，andmust，solongasitshallholdtogether。
Forhowcanitbeotherwise？Lookup，uponthepressingthrongwhostrivetowindistinctionfromtheGuardianGeniusofallnobledeedsandhonourablerenown，——agentleSpirit，holdingherfairstatefortheirrewardandrecognition（donotbealarmed，myLordChamberlain;thisisonlyinapicture）;andsaywhatyoungandardentheartmaynotfindonetobeatinunisonwithit——beathighwithgenerousaspirationlikeitsown——infollowingtheironwardcourse，asitistracedbythisgreatpencil！IsittheLoveofWoman，initstruthanddeepdevotion，thatinspiresyou？Seeithere！IsitGlory，astheworldhaslearnedtocallthepompandcircumstanceofarms？Beholditatthesummitofitsexaltation，withitsmailedhandrestingonthealtarwheretheSpiritministers。ThePoet’slaurel—crown，whichtheywhositonthronescanneithertwineorwither——isthattheaimofthyambition？Itisthere，uponhisbrow;itwreatheshisstatelyforehead，ashewalksapartandholdscommunionwithhimself。ThePalmerandtheBardarethere;nosolitarywayfarers，now;buttwoofagreatcompanyofpilgrims，climbinguptohonourbythedifferentpathsthatleadtothegreatend。Andsure，amidstthegravityandbeautyofthemall—
—unseeninhisownform，butshininginhisspirit，outofeverygallantshapeandearnestthought——thePaintergoestriumphant！
Orsaythatyouwholookuponthiswork，beold，andbringtoitgreyhairs，aheadboweddown，amindonwhichthedayoflifehasspentitself，andthecalmeveningclosesgentlyin。IsitsappealtoyouconfinedtoitspresentmentofthePast？Haveyounoshareinthis，butwhilethegraceofyouthandthestrongresolveofmaturityareyourstoaidyou？Lookupagain。Lookupwherethespiritisenthroned，andseeabouther，reverendmen，whosetaskisdone;whosestruggleisnomore;whoclusterroundherashertrainandcouncil;whohavelostnoshareorinterestinthatgreatrisingupandprogress，whichbearsupwardwithiteverymeansofhumanhappiness，but，trueinAutumntothepurposesofSpring，aretheretostimulatetheracewhofollowintheirsteps;tocontemplate，withheartsgrownserious，notcoldorsad，thestrivinginwhichtheyoncehadpart;todieinthatgreatPresence，whichisTruthandBravery，andMercytotheWeak，beyondallpowerofseparation。
Itwouldbeidletoobserveofthislastgroupthat，bothinexecutionandidea，theyareoftheveryhighestorderofArt，andwonderfullyservethepurposeofthepicture。Thereisnotoneamongitsthree—and—twentyheadsofwhichthesameremarkmightnotbemade。Neitherwillwetreatofgreateffectsproducedbymeansquitepowerlessinotherhandsforsuchanend，oroftheprodigiousforceandcolourwhichsoseparatethisworkfromalltherestexhibited，thatitwouldscarcelyappeartobeproduceduponthesamekindofsurfacebythesamedescriptionofinstrument。ThebricksandstonesandtimbersoftheHallitselfarenotfactsmoreindisputablethanthese。
Ithasbeenobjectedtothisextraordinaryworkthatitistooelaboratelyfinished;toocompleteinitsseveralparts。AndHeavenknows，ifitbejudgedinthisrespectbyanystandardintheHallaboutit，itwillfindnoparallel，noranythingapproachingtoit。
Butitisadesign，intendedtobeafterwardscopiedandpaintedinfresco;andcertainfinishmustbehadatlast，ifnotatfirst。ItisverywelltotakeitforgrantedinaCartoonthataseriesofcross—lines，almostasroughandapartasthelattice—workofagardensummerhouse，representsthetextureofahumanface;butthefacecannotbepaintedso。Asmearuponthepapermaybeunderstood，byvirtueofthecontextgainedfromwhatsurroundsit，tostandforalimb，orabody，oracuirass，orahatandfeathers，oraflag，oraboot，oranangel。Butwhenthetimearrivesforrenderingthesethingsincoloursonawall，theymustbegrappledwith，andcannotbeslurredoverinthiswise。GreatmisapprehensiononthisheadseemstohavebeenengenderedinthemindsofsomeobserversbythefamouscartoonsofRaphael;buttheyforgetthatthesewereneverintendedasdesignsforfrescopainting。Theyweredesignsfortapestry—work，whichissusceptibleofonlycertainbroadandgeneraleffects，asnoonebetterknewthantheGreatMaster。Utterlydetestableandvileasthetapestryis，comparedwiththeimmortalCartoonsfromwhichitwasworked，itisimpossibleforanymanwhocastshiseyesuponitwhereithangsatRome，nottoseeimmediatelythespecialadaptationofthedrawingstothatend，andforthatpurpose。TheaimoftheseCartoonsbeingwhollydifferent，Mr。Maclise’sobject，ifweunderstandit，wastoshowpreciselywhathemeanttodo，andknewhecouldperform，infresco，onawall。Andherehismeaningis;
workedout;withoutacompromiseofanydifficulty;withouttheavoidanceofanydisconcertingtruth;expressedinallitsbeauty，strength，andpower。
Towhatend？TobeperpetuatedhereafterinthehighplaceofthechiefSenate—HouseofEngland？Tobewrought，asitwere，intotheveryelementsofwhichthatTempleiscomposed;toco—endurewithit，andstillpresent，perhaps，somelingeringtracesofitsancientBeauty，whenLondonshallhavesunkintoagraveofgrass—grownruin，——andthewholecircleoftheArts，anotherrevolutionofthemightywheelcompleted，shallbewreckedandbroken？
Letushopeso。Wewillcontemplatenootherpossibility——atpresent。
INMEMORIAM——W。M。THACKERAY
IthasbeendesiredbysomeofthepersonalfriendsofthegreatEnglishwriterwhoestablishedthismagazine，{1}thatitsbriefrecordofhishavingbeenstrickenfromamongmenshouldbewrittenbytheoldcomradeandbrotherinarmswhopenstheselines，andofwhomheoftenwrotehimself，andalwayswiththewarmestgenerosity。
Isawhimfirstnearlytwenty—eightyearsago，whenheproposedtobecometheillustratorofmyearliestbook。Isawhimlast，shortlybeforeChristmas，attheAthenaeumClub，whenhetoldmethathehadbeeninbedthreedays——that，aftertheseattacks，hewastroubledwithcoldshiverings，\"whichquitetookthepowerofworkoutofhim\"——andthathehaditinhismindtotryanewremedywhichhelaughinglydescribed。Hewasverycheerful，andlookedverybright。
Inthenightofthatdayweek，hedied。
Thelongintervalbetweenthosetwoperiodsismarkedinmyremembranceofhimbymanyoccasionswhenhewassupremelyhumorous，whenhewasirresistiblyextravagant，whenhewassoftenedandserious，whenhewascharmingwithchildren。But，bynonedoI
recallhimmoretenderlythanbytwoorthreethatstartoutofthecrowd，whenheunexpectedlypresentedhimselfinmyroom，announcinghowthatsomepassageinacertainbookhadmadehimcryyesterday，andhowthathehadcometodinner，\"becausehecouldn’thelpit\"，andmusttalksuchpassageover。Noonecaneverhaveseenhimmoregenial，natural，cordial，fresh，andhonestlyimpulsive，thanIhaveseenhimatthosetimes。NoonecanbesurerthanI，ofthegreatnessandthegoodnessoftheheartthatthendiscloseditself。
Wehadourdifferencesofopinion。Ithoughtthathetoomuchfeignedawantofearnestness，andthathemadeapretenceofunder—
valuinghisart，whichwasnotgoodfortheartthatheheldintrust。But，whenwefelluponthesetopics，itwasneververygravely，andIhavealivelyimageofhiminmymind，twistingbothhishandsinhishair，andstampingabout，laughing，tomakeanendofthediscussion。
WhenwewereassociatedinremembranceofthelateMr。DouglasJerrold，hedeliveredapubliclectureinLondon，inthecourseofwhich，hereadhisverybestcontributiontoPunch，describingthegrown—upcaresofapoorfamilyofyoungchildren。Noonehearinghimcouldhavedoubtedhisnaturalgentleness，orhisthoroughlyunaffectedmanlysympathywiththeweakandlowly。Hereadthepapermostpathetically，andwithasimplicityoftendernessthatcertainlymovedoneofhisaudiencetotears。ThiswaspresentlyafterhisstandingforOxford，fromwhichplacehehaddispatchedhisagenttome，withadrollnote（towhichheafterwardsaddedaverbalpostscript），urgingmeto\"comedownandmakeaspeech，andtellthemwhohewas，forhedoubtedwhethermorethantwooftheelectorshadeverheardofhim，andhethoughttheremightbeasmanyassixoreightwhohadheardofme\"。Heintroducedthelecturejustmentioned，withareferencetohislateelectioneeringfailure，whichwasfullofgoodsense，goodspirits，andgoodhumour。
Hehadaparticulardelightinboys，andanexcellentwaywiththem。
Irememberhisonceaskingmewithfantasticgravity，whenhehadbeentoEtonwheremyeldestsonthenwas，whetherIfeltashedidinregardofneverseeingaboywithoutwantinginstantlytogivehimasovereign？IthoughtofthiswhenIlookeddownintohisgrave，afterhewaslaidthere，forIlookeddownintoitovertheshoulderofaboytowhomhehadbeenkind。
Theseareslightremembrances;butitistolittlefamiliarthingssuggestiveofthevoice，look，manner，never，nevermoretobeencounteredonthisearth，thatthemindfirstturnsinabereavement。Andgreaterthingsthatareknownofhim，inthewayofhiswarmaffections，hisquietendurance，hisunselfishthoughtfulnessforothers，andhismunificenthand，maynotbetold。
If，intherecklessvivacityofhisyouth，hissatiricalpenhadevergoneastrayordoneamiss，hehadcausedittopreferitsownpetitionforforgiveness，longbefore:—
I’vewritthefoolishfancyofhisbrain;
Theaimlessjestthat，striking，hathcausedpain;
Theidlewordthathe’dwishbackagain。
InnopagesshouldItakeituponmyselfatthistimetodiscourseofhisbooks，ofhisrefinedknowledgeofcharacter，ofhissubtleacquaintancewiththeweaknessesofhumannature，ofhisdelightfulplayfulnessasanessayist，ofhisquaintandtouchingballads，ofhismasteryovertheEnglishlanguage。Leastofall，inthesepages，enrichedbyhisbrilliantqualitiesfromthefirstoftheseries，andbeforehandacceptedbythePublicthroughthestrengthofhisgreatname。
But，onthetablebeforeme，thereliesallthathehadwrittenofhislatestandlaststory。Thatitwouldbeverysadtoanyone——
thatitisinexpressiblysotoawriter——initsevidencesofmatureddesignsnevertobeaccomplished，ofintentionsbeguntobeexecutedanddestinednevertobecompleted，ofcarefulpreparationforlongroadsofthoughtthathewasnevertotraverse，andforshininggoalsthathewasnevertoreach，willbereadilybelieved。Thepain，however，thatIhavefeltinperusingit，hasnotbeendeeperthantheconvictionthathewasinthehealthiestvigourofhispowerswhenhewroughtonthislastlabour。Inrespectofearnestfeeling，far—seeingpurpose，character，incident，andacertainlovingpicturesquenessblendingthewhole，Ibelieveittobemuchthebestofallhisworks。Thathefullymeantittobeso，thathehadbecomestronglyattachedtoit，andthathebestowedgreatpainsuponit，Itraceinalmosteverypage。Itcontainsonepicturewhichmusthavecosthimextremedistress，andwhichisamasterpiece。Therearetwochildreninit，touchedwithahandaslovingandtenderaseverafathercaressedhislittlechildwith。
Thereissomeyoungloveaspureandinnocentandprettyasthetruth。Anditisveryremarkablethat，byreasonofthesingularconstructionofthestory，morethanonemainincidentusuallybelongingtotheendofsuchafictionisanticipatedinthebeginning，andthusthereisanapproachtocompletenessinthefragment，astothesatisfactionofthereader’smindconcerningthemostinterestingpersons，whichcouldhardlyhavebeenbetterattainedifthewriter’sbreaking—offhadbeenforeseen。
Thelastlinehewrote，andthelastproofhecorrected，areamongthesepapersthroughwhichIhavesosorrowfullymademyway。TheconditionofthelittlepagesofmanuscriptwhereDeathstoppedhishand，showsthathehadcarriedthemabout，andoftentakenthemoutofhispockethereandthere，forpatientrevisionandinterlineation。Thelastwordshecorrectedinprintwere，\"Andmyheartthrobbedwithanexquisitebliss\"。GODgrantthatonthatChristmasEvewhenhelaidhisheadbackonhispillowandthrewuphisarmsashehadbeenwonttodowhenveryweary，someconsciousnessofdutydoneandChristianhopethroughoutlifehumblycherished，mayhavecausedhisownheartsotothrob，whenhepassedawaytohisRedeemer’srest！
Hewasfoundpeacefullylyingasabovedescribed，composed，undisturbed，andtoallappearanceasleep，onthetwenty—fourthofDecember1863。Hewasonlyinhisfifty—thirdyear;soyoungamanthatthemotherwhoblessedhiminhisfirstsleepblessedhiminhislast。Twentyyearsbefore，hehadwritten，afterbeinginawhitesquall:
Andwhen，itsforceexpended，Theharmlessstormwasended，And，asthesunrisesplendidCameblushingo’erthesea;
Ithought，asdaywasbreaking，Mylittlegirlswerewaking，Andsmiling，andmakingAprayerathomeforme。
Thoselittlegirlshadgrowntobewomenwhenthemournfuldaybrokethatsawtheirfatherlyingdead。Inthosetwentyyearsofcompanionshipwithhimtheyhadlearnedmuchfromhim;andoneofthemhasaliterarycoursebeforeher，worthyofherfamousname。