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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5342, 11 May 1878, Page 2

Quit contemporary the Wairarapa Standard has favored us, in its issue of the 7th instant, with the following notice of our critique of the review which appeared in that journal of; Mr. Rees’ novel “ Sir Gilbert Leigh,” or, rather, of the curious “ appendix” to that work of fiction purporting to be a memoir of Sir Geokge has been politely called by the editor ol tho New Zealand Times to a gross typographical blunder which occurred in the review of Sir Gilbert ■Leiirh which we inserted some weeks ago. In reference to the amount sent from the Cape, for £6,000,000 read £OOOO. We rannot, however, congratulate our contemporary on his rendering of the Greek quotation in that it Is more witty than honest. Wo rejoice to find that the “ blunder” of substituting six, million pounds, as the amount of the alleged remittance from the Capo to India, for six thousand was a “ typographical” one ; but this particular exaggeration was so entirely in character with the whole tone of the review that its correction appears only to spoil pro Unto what we regarded, in error ns it now appears as a piece of very excellent literary fooling. With respect to the translation of the Greek quotation from Menandee upon which onr wit is complimented at the expense of our honesty, we venture to follow the example set us by Mr. Geoiioe Jones in 'the recent libel case, and to plead not guilty and j unification. Wo are not without hope that the public supply of judicial impartiality from which the Dunedin jury drew their remarkable verdict was not completely expended in that supreme effort. „ , . We are not guilty, then- first, because the translation was not ours; and secondly, because it was given, avowedly, not for the use of our literal contemporary, but for the use of the ladies. Houtos esti qalcotos geron is a quotation from Menander, which is made the motto of the “Spectator” No. 497, and is there translated into the words we have quoted, viz • “A. cunning old fox, this. In a study of that ‘' Spectator ” may be found an antidote to hero worship whenever a paroxism of that malady isielt to be approaching, Our justification is that the expression being figurative; a literal translation of the words would be senseless. The Greek word galeotcs

means a speckled lizard; it appears to be used emblematically to denote cunor rather, we should, say, the stealthiness which . characterises the movement .of that animal. Jfc is curious that the same quality should bo attributed by the Maoris to the lizard, and that the nickname of “Teßuatara” should occasionally be given to a person ' whom wo should probably describe, coarsely, as a sneak. The words r/aleotes geron have been, with authority, translated “as grey as a cat,” but in that interpretation there is an approach to personality which we avoided, and choose the fox, as the more emblematic and, in Mr. WbliLEb’s sense, the “more tenderer” word. As our contemporary has corrected one error we are obliged to assume that lie regards it as being the only one, and that with a better knowledge than we can have, who have not road Mr. Rees book, the “Wairarapa Standard” accepts the remainder of the review which it has published as giving an accurate summary of that part of the memoir of which it affects to treat. Wo feel bound to intervene here, in order to protect Sir George Grey from his friends. If it be true, as the reviewer says,_ that in any portion of his public career the Great Proconsul was unfortunate enough to acquire or deserve the nick-name of “Promising Geordie,” it does_ not, in our opinion, comport with the dignity of history that that fact should be thus recorded ; . that the recording angel should be a “party by the name of Rees ” is still more incomprehensible. Not less surprising is the analogy which the reviewer appears to find in Mr. Rees appendix between the character of Mr. Rees’ hero and that of the Proconsul Vbrres. This is what Gibbon says about that high official: — “After a triennial indulgence of lust, “ rapine, and cruelty, Yerres, the “ tyrant of Sicily, could only be sued for “ the pecuniary restitution of three hun- “ drod thousand pounds sterling; and “ such was the temper of the laws, the “ judges, and perhaps of the accuser “ himself, that on refunding a thirteenth “ part of his plunder, Ybrrbs could “ retire to an easy and luxurious exile.” There is surely some mistake in all this, to the correction of which we would seriously and most earnestly urge our contemporary the Wairarapa Standard. Unless Mr. Rees be the guilty person, no one has ever accused or even suspected Sir George Grey of using his power to enrich himself. On the contrary, we know, for he has often told us, that on more than one occasion, in an emergency, ho lias applied his own money to the service of the State. It has been a source of the greatest satisfaction to be assured that the advances so made have always been re‘uncled, with interest.