The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-10 00:00:00

RAILWAYS.

Cash. Account.
Orleans 1351 25 .. 1352 50

Northern
New ditto
Lyons and Mediterranean
Geneva
Southern
Western
Eastern
Sardinian
—••—
Austrian
Lorebard 490 .. 491 25

985 - 986 25
888 75 .. 890 -
926 25 .. 927 50
410 - .. 410 -
571 25 .. 572 50
522 50 .. 523 75
576 25 .. 577 50

LITERA7DRE.

Henry IV. and Marie de Medici. Part 2 of the
History of the reign of Henry IV, by Martha
Walker Freer, author:of "The Life of Margue-
rite d'Augouleme," &e., &c. 2 vols. Hurst &
Blackett.
Miss Freer's ability and patient research have
raised her to a conspicuous position among our
historical writers. Without being gifted with
those brilliant powers of description which bring
the scenes and actions of a distant epoch as vividly
before us as the celebrities of our own day; without
bringing to her task that grasp of mind and know..
ledge of statecraft which assists the ex-minister or
politician in a similar undertaking, she possesses
some qualities perhaps even more rare. The most
prominent of these is a spirit of moderation and
impartiality, the recognition of the good a'nd evil
that is so strangely mingled in most of us. We
escape the extremes so common in all histories, the
undue elevation of one or two characters and con-
sequent depreciation of others. Miss Freer is more
just in her views. Because a man is heroic in the
field she recognises the fact that he need not
necessarily be wise in the council chamber, or if
both of these, that it does not follow that he
should be disinterested in seeking favours.
Another quality indispensable to the historian is
industry. Miss Freer's ample supplementary in-
formation concerning all the persons mentioned
prove her to be thoroughly familiar with the epoch
she is describing. Her histories are compiled from
M.S. documents in the Bibliotheque Imperiale, the
Archives du Royaume de France, and other un-
published sources; and the fulness and authenticity
of her information will certainly render her work
indispensable to all future writers on one of the
most important reigns in French history. The
earlier portion of this work, it will be remembered,
left the great Henry firmly seated on his throne,
after his triumphant entry into his subjugated
capital, The volumes before us show us the con-
queror of Ivry as legislator and ruler, in which
more difficult position he appears to equal advan-
tange, notwithstanding the moral weakness that
marred the greatness of his character, and was too
often the cause of perplexity and suffering to others.
The generosity and magnanimous forbearance of the
King; were among his most admirable qualities, and
are not always the attributes of those who have
had to struggle for their rights. Voltaire speaks
of him as one
16 Qui par de longs malheurs apprit a gouverner,
Calma les factions, sut vaincre et pardonner."
The latter lesson some hinted he had learned too
well, for in his ready gifts to his reconciled ene-
mies his old adherents considered he was unduly
liberal, and some of them remarked that to obtain
King Henry's favour it was necessary to conspire
against him. Mayenne, Epernon, and Mercoeur
were in turn pardoned and received into favour,
though, in the latter instance, that secret influence
was exerted which too often interfered to the detri-
ment of state interests. The melancholy fate of
the Duke de Biron, the King's old companion in
arms, who was executed in 1602, is scarcely to be
cited as an exception to the royal clemency, since
the open opposition of rebel subjects ,is not to I
be viewed in the same light as the secret treachery
of a trusted adherent. To increase Biron's guilt " Who Breaks—Pays." Dalian Proverb. By the
he made a partial confession to the King, who for- author of " Cousin Stella." 2 vols. Smith and
gave him and continued his confidence ; but on some Elder.
imagined affront to his susceptible vanity or irritable This is a very interesting tale, that is equal to
temper he lent a willing ear to the suggestions of the former production by this author. The charac-
his perfidious agent Lafin. That one enjoying the ter of Lill is very well drawn, and furnishes a very
eminent dignities of Marshal Biron should enter striking instance of what mistakes are made by
into a traitorous league with his country's enemies, those who are really well-meaning, but are impetu-
was certainly a crime of the greatest magnitude, ous and hasty. Lill Tufton led a sad life, indeed,
and the repeated endeavours made by Henry to in- although at first sight she appeared to enjoy so
duce his treacherous and ungrateful servant to con- many advantages with her bright youth and her
fess his faults, and throw himself on his clemency, great beauty. Giuliani is a fine disposition, and
were met by obstinate denials of his guilt. Biron all must sympathise with his sufferings, must ad-
relied on the fidelity of Lafin, who bad already be- mire his zeal in the cause of his injured country, and
frayed everything to the King, and placed in his respect his strict adherence to principle, and his
hands the fatal sheets of instructions given to him resolution to make any sacrifices that were
by the Marshal for transmission to the Duke demanded by duty. Lill would have been far
of Savoy. In these documents Biron counsels happier had she kept to her engagement with
the Duke as to the best means of embarrassing the Giuliani than she was in marrying Sir Frederic
arms of France, and of protecting his own fortresses; Ponsonby. She would always have felt respect for
he tells him the disposition of the best
condition regiments in Giuliani, and he would never, under any provoca-
the royal services; he proves from the
non, have been so testyas was Sir Frederic. It was
most. unwise to leave one so young and inexpe-
of the King's finances that a lengthened war
rienced as Lill in such society as Mrs T
would be difficult, and advises a compact with
e. for a year • and had not her health so
• ownsemp,
Spain, and the proclamation of such an alliance.
man, who
wore direful results might have taken place rapidly sunk
the Nlar
Many other proofs of the treason offlee as re-
ga.iaen her reputation. Sir Mark is a delineation
shal existed, and osnyß was not without practical
evidence, At the siege of the Fort St. Catherine, (t)etst ay
and
last
was also
in the dac's domains, he was riding w d
Crompton amuses us with her quaint
Aslimis! Marshal one day, when the later, who despised. lici
proposed a one in, p ty, which rendered him P. A civilian and parvenu,
0 Snore

Marie de Medici does not occupy a prominent place.
The concluding volumes of the work will probably
give us an account of her regency. As Miss Freer
remarks "The military successes and frank temper
of King Henry have gained for him a renown
which the domestic annals of his life certainly
do not sanction." A few weeks after the
sudden and mysterious death of his adored
Gabrielle, d' the great Henry was cowering
at the feet of an ambitious woman ; false to his
private
and political engagements ; and the credul-
ous dupe of a family renowned for its intrigue."
Mlle. d'Entragues is her© referred to, who was
afterwars concerned in a formidable conspiracy.
The king's treatment of his sister, too, shows nei-
ther justice nor generosity and is unworthy the son
of Jeanne d'Albret. His love of pleasure at
first misled the courtiers, who however soon learned
to appreciate his declaration, " I may cover with
my royal robe the trusty armour worn at Contras,
Argues, and Ivry, but I never lay it aside." Henry's
straightforward logic and plain speech often amazed
prosy dignitaries anxious for oratorical display.
On one occasion, as he entered a town, the munici-
pality met him with their oration,--" King, most
mighty, clement, benign !" "Stop!" cried the
Monarch, " those titles suffice ; add only, and very
weary.' " Before his repast another body arrived
with a second harangue, b, pinning with, ‘' Age
silaus, King of Lacedaimon," when the King im-
patiently stopped them, with the declaration that
Agesilaus had dined, but that he had not. Henry's
determination to register the edict of Nantes was
much to his credit, and many other of his
acts might have taught his successors wisdom.
We congratulate Miss Freer OR having so
successfully continued her laborious undertaking,
which we trust she will bring to an equally satis-
factory conclusion. Important and eventful as the
reign of Henry IV. Was, its details are little known
by general readers among us, and therefore in pre-
senting so complete and interesting a narrative
Miss Freer has done good service to the public,
besides enhancing her own well-earned reputation.