The Press.
London, England, 1858-03-13 00:00:00

THE PRESS, MARCH 13, 1858.

Taller and fairer she grew ; and the goddess spoke in her

wisdom.
"Courage I give thee; the heart of a queen, and the mind
of Immortals,
Godlike to talk with the gods, and to look on their eyes

uushrinking;
Fearing the sun and the stars no more, and the blue salt

witer;
Fearing us only, the lords of Olympus, friends of the

heroes •
Chastely and wisely to govern thyself and thy house and
thy people,
Hearing a godlike race to thy spouse, till dying I set thee
High for a star in the heavens, a sign and a hope to the

seamen,
Spreading thy long white arms all night in the heights of
the ether,
Hard by thy si►e and the hero thy spouse, while near thee
thy mother
Sits in her ivory chair, as she plaits ambrosial tresses.
All night long thou wilt shine ; all day thou wilt feast on
Olympus,
Happy, the guest of the gods, by thy husband, the god.
begotten."
Blissful, they turned them to go; brit the fair•tressed
Pallas Athene
Rose, like a pillar of tall white cloud, toward silver Olympus ;
Far above ocean and shore, and the peaks of the isles and

the mainland;
Where no frost nor storm is, in clear blue windless abysses,
High in the home of the summer, the seats of the happy

Immortals,
Shrouded in keen deep blaze, unapproachable ; there ever
youthful
Hebe, Harmonic, and the daughter of Jove, Aphrodite,
Whirled in the white linked dance with the gold-crowned

Hours and the Graces,
Hand within hand, while clear piped Phcebe, queen of the

, . . . .
woodlands.
All day long they rejoiced: but Athene still in her chamber
Bent herself over her loom, as the stars rang loud to her

singing,
Chanting of order and right, and of foresight, warden of
nations ;
Chanting of labour and craft, and of wealth in the port and

the garner;
Chanting of valour and fame, and the man who can fall
with the foremost,
Fighting for children and wife, and the field which his
father bequeathed him.
Sweetly and solemnly sang she, and planned new lessons
for mortals :
Happy, who hearing obey her, the wise unsullied Atheue.

Many if the minor poems have already ap-
peared in Mr. 'Kingsley's works. In the pre-
sent collection the reader will be glad to find
that exquisite little song " The Sands of Dee."
Among others, " The Three Fishers," " The
Last Buccanier," " The North-East Wind,"
" The Dead Church," "My Hunting Song,"
" The Bad Squire," and " The Outlaw," are
particularly good. In the latter, as well as in
a poem called " Sappho," we observe a rather
too close adaptation of Mr. Tennyson's words
in " /Ensile " and ," The Lotus Eater," but it
is probably unintentional.

History of the Constituent Assembly (1789).
By Alphonse de Lamartine. In Four Vols.
London : Piper, Stephenson, and Spence.

" WHETHER Lamartine will last in the litera-
" ture of modern history" is a question on
which opinion is divided, both in England and
on the Continent. The question may be ar-
gued either way with great plausibil►ty. On
the one hand, it cannot be denied that his free
and forcible style has great verve and fresh-
ness, and repeatedly reveals the temperament
of genius, even when it does not rise to ori-
ginality of thought. Nor can Lamartine be
refuse.] the honours due to great attainments,
singular facility, and a genial appreciation of
human character. His exploits in word-
painting are remarkably brilliant, and his
vivid 'description of scenes of thrilling inte-
rest is effective. But, on the other hand.
it cannot be forgotten that there is a tone of
rhetorical exaggeration even in his best pas-
sages, and that in reading his compositions
one cannot help recalling Jerome Paturot's
witty sarcasm on Lamartine in IS-18, that he
" was an /Eolian harp, discoursing its music
" to every breeze." Every shade of opinion.
every faction of the Revolution, every question
of political controversy, are so decked by the
ornamental and florid faculty of Lamartine
that the realities of the French Revolution are
apt to lose some of their weird aspects under
his pictorial pen. The French Revo-
lution was more ghastly and appalling than
Lamartine has described it. Several of our
readers have, doubtless, seen the brilliant
pictures by Horace Vernet at the Elysee
Bourbon recording scenes in the life of Louis
Philippe. They are fine specimens of the

painter's talent, but it is often regretted that
their brilliancy of colouring is nit more re-
lieved and toned down Lamartino is a sort
of Horace Vernet in histimic.tl literature. He
excels in descriptive effect ; he revels in glow.
ing characterisation ; his apostrophes have
the stirring power of an orator ; he can dazzle
with his brilliancy and he can delight with the
variety of his transitions ; but at times his
changes are so rapid as to recall the slides of
a kaleidoscope rather than the contrasted art
of an historical composer.
The intensity of Lamartine undoubtedly
runs into positive exaggeration, and in this
later portion of his historical performance
some of the faults of his mannerism are per.
ceptible. His " History of the Constituent
Assembly" is published last, and it reads with
odd effect to be passing backwards through
the great events of the Revolution. The work
thus opens :

Having descended the course of time, even to our own
days, in the history of the Girondists and that of the
Restoration, I shall now retrace my steps through those
years, so full of events and so rapid in their flight, to
recount the history of the first French national union,
which has been especially designated the Constituent
Assembly
The mind, however strong its conviction, however firm
in itself and ripe in experience, cannot avoid trembling at
commencing so perilous a narrative. It must feel the
necessity of imploring, from Him who can impart to or
withdraw from man the light of inspiration, nut only the
pathetic genius of history—which, through the medium of
passion, associates the human heart with the scenes traced
by the historian—but the gift still more necessary for one
who recounts the revolutions of ideas than for any other—
the spirit of discernment!
It is only by virtue of this spirit of discernment, which
is the cool judgment of history, that the writer and the
reader, as they contemplate these mighty drain's, can
separate enthusiasm from fanaticism—the truth from chi-
mera—reform from subversion—moderation from excess

—virtue from vice—liberty from anarchy; and it is only
while making this separation with a just mind, with an up.
right heart, and with a rigid hand, that. we can restore the
sound principles of the Revolution, and confer a glory,
legitimate because it is pure, upon the human mind. To
palliate a cause for its errors, or its crimes, is not to sews
but to retard it.
Appeals to Providence are extremely proper
in fit times and cases, but they should be
made with becoming seriousness; and there is
too much of French " sentimentality" in the
foregoing passage. Its tautology of style and
its declamatory tone are obvious at a glance.
The great merit of this work is its extremely
interesting and authentic account of Mira-
beau. Some of our readers may remember
that in the year of the Great Exhibition in
Hyde-park a work was published, which at the
time attracted no attention, but which in a
couple of years afterwards was known in every
circle where letters are cultivated. We allude
to the " Correspondence of Mirabeau with
Count La 111arck," one of the greatest historical
revelations of our time. Lainartine has used
the materials of that correspondence in this
portion of his history, and the result is that
his narrative has gained in substance and
strength as compared with some of the por-
tions of his " Girondins." The whole paint-
ing of Mirabeau's character and conduct is a
grand tableau in fresco, and the delineation
may be accepted as true, though the vicious
parts of Mirabeau's nature are not sufficiently
marked to reprehension. A stiking picture is
presented in the following description :
Mirabean, thus thrown upon his own resources, insntli•
cient for his most trifling necessities, sought for the fortune
of his name and his means of existence in those mercenary
labours which dishonour labour itself. His hireling and
indefatigable pen was applied to everything, even to dirt,
to pick a little gold therefrom. Sometimes an anonymous
pamphleteer, sometimes a salaried publicist, frequently a
disavowed subaltern agent of the ministry in foreign
countries, and sometimes a hired writer of financial com-
panies against rival firms, his mercenary eloquence gave
him notoriety, bread, fame, and contempt. But this med-
ley of interests, of ideas, of finances, of politics, of litera-
ture, and of diplomacy, in the midst of which he laboured,
exercised him in controversy, and unwittingly predestined
him to the tribune. The bold audacity of a character
which had no longer any shame, because he had no longer
any consideration to maintain, made him formidable to the
most celebrated pamphleteers and the most accredited
publicists of the day. He first of all attacked Beaumar-
chais, and silenced him by an apostrophe worthy of the
Philippics. He served and threatened M. de Calonne by
turns; he boldly ventured to rend the hearsay popularity
of M. Necker in finance, and to profane with his sarcasms
the idol of public opinion ; he connected himself in fnend-
ship, interest, and doctrine, with the English and Genevan
writers, the precursors of administrative truths. In p
tica he professed principles which ruined tyranny beton.-
hand, and doctrines in finance which sapped the fomida-
dons of monopoly. The ministers reckoned upon him .

.1111.111.111111
regretted that
nit more re-
Ain() is a sort
literature. Ho
revels in glow.
mtrophes have
; he can dazzle
Might with the
a at times his
tll the slides of
contrasted art
le undoubtedly
m, and in this
al performance
inerisin are per.
he Constituent
nd it reads with
:wards through
Lion. The work
e, even to our own
ate and that of the
steps through those
in their flight, to
ich national union,
ed the Constituent
ction, however firm
avoid trembling at
It must feel the
can impart to or
iration, nut only the
nigh the medium of
ith the scenes traced
re necessary for one
than for any other—
discernment, which
the writer and the
nighty dramas, can
-the truth from chi-
mation from excess
thy; and it is only
it mind, with an up.
. we can restore the
and confer a glory,
human mind. To
imes, is not to save
:tremely proper
they should be
ss; and there is
2n tality " in the
ogy of style and
ous at a glance.
is its extremely
2ount of Mira-
may remember
Exhibition in
ed, which at the
nut which in a
known in every
ted. We allude
Mirabeau with
eatest historical
iartine has used
oondence in this
to result is that
substance and
me of the per-
e whole paint-
nd conduct is a
the delineation
igh the vicious
not sufficiently
:iking picture is
cription :-
1 resources, insntli•
'tight for the fortune
in those mercenary
His hireling and
ything, even to dirt,
imes an anonymous
sliest, frequently a
sinistry in foreign
r of financial com•
ary eloquence gave
ipt. But this rued-
politics, of litera-
' which he laboured,
ittingly predestined
city of a character
se he had no longer
m formidable to the
he most accredited
attacked Beaumar•
oplie worthy of the
M. de Calonne by
hearsay popularity
with his sarcasms
d himself in friend-
ighsh and Genevan
ye truths. In P
Led tyranny beton.-
upon hita
sapped thefonnda;
ekoned

went in their name to study Holland and Prussia.
addressed counsels of freedom to the Dutch, and he
wrote a bold work on the Prussian monarchy. Frederick
tie Ureat received him at Potsdam, talked with him about
future destiny of Europe, and died bequeathing to him
,prophecy of his genius. He travelled incessantly from
Germany to France, from France to Switzerland, from
Switzerland to Holland, from Holland to London, and
from London to Paris ; flying from country to country from
pursuit of his creditors, and (Lagging everywhere alter
the stigma of his vices, the fame of his talent, and the
mystery of his new amours.
'le ideas by which Mirabeau's mighty intel-
:t were animated are thus recounted :

The philosophical principles by which he was animated,
which he bad mentally vowed to make triumph, had
in his great intellect, that blind anl passionate charac-
, of fanactistn which overturns, as chance directs, every-
thing that exists before it, to make room for what is abaci-
'ute or impossible. In him the passious were subject to
intellect; his historical, and, so to speak, innate experience,
regulated and ruled the application of his theories ; be
ok obstacles into account, he compounded with habitudes,
knew the immense influence which the past, however
unfavourable, exercised on the present and future destinies
*a nation; be did not rely upon the enthusiasm which
inspired it, as a permanent force ; he knew that this en-
thusiasm, which, like boiling water, suddenly raises a
nation above its natural level, lets it fail as suddenly, when
it cools, far below itself. Mirabeau, when destroying, was
desirous of replacing; he felt, with the great majority of
the nauon, at this epoch, that the institutions, without
roots and without ancestors, imported from America into
Trance by Lafayette, were premature and unsuited to the
ancient state of Europe; that the ample and almost un-
rivalled space occupied by a throne for thirteen centuries
in France, would leave, if this throne should disappear too
soon, a void which would only be filled up by anarchies,
dictatorships, and military or popular despotisms; he be-
lieved neither in the pre-existing right nor in the eternity
of the monarchy; but he did believe in its temporary ne-
ressity he even liked the institution ; he did more—he
liked, from traditional loyalty, the family of the Kings of
his fathers; he would have been equally happy in saving
them as be was proud of attacking them ; he only
threatened to destroy them that they might feel the neces•
sity for his services in restoring them.
We agree with Lamartine in his opinion that
" the deplorable position of Mirabeau resulting
"from the immorality of his youth is the most
" powerful lesson of virtue that history can
"give to men of genius." If Mirabeau had
been a virtuous character an enormous mass
of opinion would have rallied around him in
France, and he might have been able to have
saved the State. It is a solemn and sublime
fact that even in degraded and licentious com-
munities the magic of character is a powerful
spell in the swaying baser natures :

To be the champion of a people, the conqueror or sup-
port of a conquered King—these were the two dreams of
Mirabeau, who incessantly fluctuated in imagination be-
tween these two great parts. We have witnessed the ad-
mirable judgment which forced, him to renounce the first,
and we are going to see the inevitable declivity which led
bim towards the second.

"Ah !" he exclaimed at this period, to the Count de la
Marck, his most confidential friend, when discussing with
him these two desires of his heart; " how injurious the
immorality of my youth has been to the public good !"
The noble part of an honest mediator of the people, and
of an independent and accredited counsellor of the King,
of which he felt himself worthy, seems by this exclamation
to have been equally beyond his reach, from the little
estimation in which his past life was held by the people,
and from the repugnance the Court would have to employ
so disreputable a minister. He was, therefore, compelled,
in spite of himself, by the pitiless logic of his f►ults, to be
nothing more for a long time than an eloquent but sus-
pected agitator for the people, and a hidden conspirator
with the Court. The deplorable position of so great a man,
ender these circumstances, is the most powerful lesson of
virtue that history can give to men of genius. In spite of
the clever sophism of Mirabean on the two moralities, life
is one; each of our actions is, unknown to us, the conse-
quence of another. A dishonoured youth is a bad founda-
tion for a respectable maturity.
The third and fourth of these volumes still
await our notice, and we shall return to them
on another day.

The Case against the late Ministry Plainly
Stated. By Sir Arthur Hallam Elton, Bart.,
M.P. London : Ridgway.
Sin ARTHUR ELTON is well known as one of
the most respectable of that band of poli-
ticians who decline to enrol themselves under
the banners of party. We do not agree with
the theory of Parliamentary Government
which such conduct necessarily involves : yet
the imposture which has been steadily main-
tuned for some years by the so-called Liberals
affords an excuse for this attitude on the part
of all genuine progressionists. The object of the
present pamphlet is obviously the vindication
of Sir Arthur's own vote on the 19th of Feb. ;
but it naturally falls under various heads, such
as the guilt of the Government, the position

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