The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-21 00:00:00

MARCH 21, 1850

LITERATURE.

WOMAN in FRANCE during the EIGH-
TEENTH CENTURY. By Julia Kavanagh.
2 Vols.

Much a- we were charmed by th -1 beauties and me-
rits of Miss , Kavansgh's former production—the
history of Madeleine of Auvergne, the marvellous
pattern of perseverance—we were hardly prepared
fir such a brilliant evidence of erudition and elo-
quence on the part of the authoress of "Miideleine"
as is afforded by the volumes above-mentioned. In
setting forth the character and extent of the influence

exercised by women in France during the last cen-
tury, Miss Kavanagh has given a succinct and most
interesting epitome of the social history of that corn.-
try during a very momentous period. As the scenes
of 'a panorama, the terrible causes and the as terrible

consequences of the French revolution pass before us
in vivid array. We catch a glimpse of the gloomy
close of the Grand Alanargue's reign ; we are made
acquainted, in a series of brilliant sketches, with the
principal characters and chief features of the polished
but most corrupted court of the Regent Orleans and
the young Louis XV. ; we are then introduced to
the bureaux d'esprits, where in the drawing-rooms of
Madame de Tencin, Madame D'Epinay, and others,
men of letters congregated, and philosophical and
political discussions were freely indulged in, under
the protection of female influence—discus-
sions quite impracticable in any other form
during the then absolute Government. In
the list of females conspicuous for their influence
at that epoch are of course enumerated Madame de
Chateauroux, Madame de Pompadour, and the other
royal mistresses. The power exercised by Madame
de Chatelet over Voltaire also gives occasion for a
very interesting description of the mode of life of these
lovers of science and philosophy at their retreat of
Cirey. Madame de Chatelet, we read, in her devo-
tion to Newton, whose " Principia" she partly
translated, only gave three hours to sleep in order to
bestow a longer time in study, and, remaining at her
arduous labours the whole day, only joined her
friends in the evening, when Voltaire would read to
her the results of his solitary hours. Rousseau is also
briefly but graphically pourtrayed in the course of
the narrative, and in the following passage the deaths
of these two great men are thus beautifully al•
laded to :

THE DEATHS OF ROVS3EATJ AND VOLTAIRE

" Whilst in the triumph of America France alrea3y
hailed her own revolution, she bade a last farewell to
the chiefs of the old sceptic philosophy and the new de-
mocratic theories, Voltaire and Rousseau, who died in
the spring of the year 1778, within a month of each
other.

" After an absence of twenty-seven years, and in the
eighty-fourth year of his age, Voltaire once more vi-
sited Paris. It was decided that he should not be re-
ceived at Court. Mario Antoinette, less strictly devout
than her husband, regretted Leing unable to behold one
of the most illustrious men of his age. Voltaire was amply
compensated for this slight of the Court, by the:extraen-
dinary honours with which he was every where else
received. He no sooner one ircd in the theatre, where
his last piece, Irene, was acted, than the whole audience
rose and greeted him with long and enthusiastic accla-
mations. When the tragedy was over, the author's bust
was discovered on the stage, and crowned with laurel
amidst repeated bursts of applause. Few men ever had
a more passionate love of renown than Voltaire, and few
had their desire so entirely fulfilled. Overpowered with
emotion, he rose at length on trembling limbs and pre-
pared to depart. His countenance was wasted and pale,
but his fine dark eyes, now filled with tears, ha I pre-
served all their former softness and brilliancy. Men of
the highest rank, and the most noble and beautiful wo-
men, crowded round bim as he left his seat and literally
bore him down to his carriage. 'Do you then want to
kill me with joy ?" he exclaimed, addressing those who
surrounded him.

"Ile was lcd home by an enthusiastic crowd, bearing
lighted torches, so that all might behold once more the
idol of France. The streets resounded with shouts of
triumph as he passed by.
"A few weeks after receiving these memorable
honours, Voltaire died, on the 30th May, 1778. The
clergy refused to bury him ; and whilst his name was on
every lip, the Government forbade his death to be men-
tioned in the public journals—a strange instance of the
wilful blindness of those by whom France was then
ruled.
" A month after the death'of Voltaire occurred that of
Rousseau. No lofty and dazzling triumph awtaited the
obscure end of the apostle of democracy. Surrounded
by the few friends whom his misanthrophic temper had
not yet wholly estranged, he felt the hand of death steal-
ing upon him at the close of a lovely summer's day.
Let me behold once more the glorious setting sun,'
was his last request; and with his dying glance turned
towards the western horiz m, he passed away fiona life,
his last look greeted by those pure harmonies of creation
in which alone had his feverish and troubled spirit ever
found repose.
" Though Rousseau's death produced no visible sensa-

Lion in French society, he left behind him a spirit far
more potent than that of Voltaire. To destroy creed
bad been Voltaire's chosen mission; to ciente a new so-
ciety was that of Rousseau. On these two principles
tested the whole theory of the French revolutier."
Although its avowed subject, the influence of women,
is still the same, very different is the character of the
second of these volumes. In the place of the gaiety
ace dissipation which characterised the scenes de.
scribed in the first volume, blood and murder, cruelty
and suffering, abound in this, and, greater and happier
dissimilarity, deeds of surprising heroism take the
place of records of unequalled profligacy. If the
women of the present day find ample cause to blush
and weep over the stearneless conduct of their sex in
the depraved days of the monarchy, they will also
experience consolation in contemplating the sublime
examples of female heroism and devotion of which the
revolution affords such innumerable varieties. Miss
Kavanagh has described with equally successful effect
the hollow splendours of the courtly drawing-room, the
superficial refinements of the philosophical bureaux,
and the heart-thrilling events of the fearful struggle,
the inevitable " deluge" which resulted from those
corruptions. The second volume opens with a sketch
of Marie Antoinette's memorable career. Madame
de Geniis, Madame Necker, Madame Roland, and
Madame de Stael, are successively introduced, and
their characters and histories most beautifully pour-
trayed. After speaking of the latter, the authoress
thus sums up the result of her investigations :
" With this woman, the greatest and most gifted in
intellect her sex has yet produced, closed the social and
political power of women in France, during the
eighteenth century. Let us look back and see the part
they enacted during that ever-memorable age. Madame
du Maine and the C,llamare conspiracy, voluptuous
Madame de Is Verrue, and intriguing Madame de Ten-
cin, re-appear before us with the profligate days of the
regency!: they add to its deep corruption ; whilst, chas-
tened by penitence, sorrowful Mademoiselle Aisa6 dies
silently, asserting, though she knows it not, the undy-
ing strength of woman's faith and purity. The name of
learned Madame de Chatele t remains, associated with
that of Voltaire and his cold philosophy. Aladame de
la Popelhaiere. graceful and elegant as she is, is, only the
protectress of that degraded art, which suits a degraded
age, when four sisters became the mistresses of the
King. The haughty favourite, Madame de Pompadour,
has no power beyond the political power she wrings from
her lover. The philosophic Madame d'Epinay, the good-
natured Madame Geofftir, Madame du Deffand, selfish,
caustic, and ennuyee, and impassioned Mademoiselle de
Lespinasse, with so much that is generous and true in
her erring nature, rule society under Louis XV. The
abandoned old King dies; Louis XVI., young, pure, and
weak, ascends the throne to reap the thorns his grand-
father has sown. 'Women still govern society. Marie
Antoinette, the gay and imprudent Queen, the clever and
supple Madame de Geniis, Madame Necker, sedate and
grave, have their day. Bat this empty world is passing
fast away. The storm which has gathered through cen-
turies breaks forth. In that new contest. destined to
ruin her power, woman still takes an active parr. She
rules parties, defends a monarchy with Mario Antoinette,
or founds a republic with Madame Roland. We behold
her avenging outraged humanity under the form of
Charlotte Corday; teaching men now to suffer and die
in every prison and on every scaffold; overthrowing the
whole fabric of tyranny with the generous Madame Tal-
lien, and defending freedom of thought with the gifted
daughter of Necker."
In addition to the rich historical and biographical
information collected in its pages, this work is neces-
sarily enlivened by a multitude of anecdotes. Among
other startling incidents, we read that "at one time
the whole Court was thrown into great commotion by
a sudden fancy which the King (Louis XV.), took
for worsted work. A courier wasi nstantly despatched
to Paris for wool, needles, and canvass ; he only took
two hours and a half to go and come back, and the
same day all the courtiers in 'Versailles were seen,
with the Duke of Gesvres at their head, embroider.
ing, like the sovereign.".

In taking this rapid survey of the events of a
century, it is difficult to say whether we find most
cause for lamentation in the sins which characterized
its commencement or the sorrows which marked its
close—which is the more pitiable spectacle, Marie
Antoinette or Madame Roland on the scaffold, or
Madame Pompadour by the King's side, ruling his
kingdom.
Attractive as these volumes are to those who
read for pleasure, they are so excellent in
their character, notwithstanding -the subjects on
which they occasionally touch, that they may safely
be commended to general perusal. While Miss Kava-
nagh has narrated all incidents of a pathetic or heroic
nature in such a manner as to invest them with
peculiar interest,' she has spoken of the conduct of
the snore corrupt epoch in such appropriate terms as
to present vice in its fit odiousness—there is nothing
attractive in the Court sins as here alluded to. The
votaries of Mrs. Ellis and the advocates of the rights
of women may preach 'a useful homily with these
volumes for a text. " If," they may say to the gentle
subjects of Queen Victoria, " if such women in such
times could exercise so much power, and effect so
much good, what may not you achieve ? How
pure should be the morals, how refined
the taste, how universal and unostentatious
the charity of that society which it is
your privilege to influence and your duty to en-
noble ?" Whether or not such may be the reflections
suggested by a perusal of these charming volumes we
cannot say, halve my very safely promise to all

who venture on their perusal much pleasure and
I perhaps, not a little profit. The style is simple,
I earnest, and, to a certain extent, eloquent, and the
I passing reflections upon the spirit and customs of the
(successive epochs are characterised by great libe-
rality of sentiment and judicious reasoning. The
volumes are embellished with portraits of Madame
du Barry, Madame du Maine, Madame de Tencin,
Madame de Chatelet, Madame de Pompadour, Marie
Antoinette, Madame Roland, and Madame Tallier,.

SPRING-TIDE ; or, The Angler and his
Friends. By J. Yonge Akerman.
The bright green covering of this little volume is
en appropriate symbol of the cheerful tone which
pervades its contents. An old angler—an
enthusiastic lover of the sport—a lover of rural
scenes, and of the Angle-Saxon dialect,
accompanies a young Visitor from town to the banks
of a fishing stream. The volume entitled " Spring-
tide," is a summary of the conversation of
the friends and their humble attendant, Simon,
whose almost unintelligible language is, as is
proved by his patron, a counterpart in many respects
of the Saxon tongue, as used by Alfred. The
style of these partly piscatorial, partly etymological,
and partly rural conversations, is simple and natural,
enlivened with anecdote, rich with advice to the
angler, and information to the scholar, and withal
studded with such a variety of poetical quotations in
illustration of the beauties of nature and of natural
history which surround the anglers in their wander-
ings, as to render the little volume altogether de-
lightful. It is embellished by numerous well-execUted
pictorial illustrations.

TRACTS OF AN ANTI-TRACTARIAN.
Nos. VII., 1111., and IX.
__

This is a valuable and well-timed work. Each
successive number seems to increase in interest, and
we shall follow them in their progress. We naturally
expect to find acuteness of intellect in a barrister, as
without it he would be unfitted for his vocation, but
to find him closely acquainted with what is going on
in the religious world is more than we should have
expected. Mr. Sedgwick--,-for we collect from the
preface to the first number tbat the Tracts are from
his pen—is doing a great service to the public in
drawing its attention to the Jesuits ; the influence
which they are at present gaining in England, in
France, and throughout the leading states of Europe.
They havei their agents in every quarter of Paris at
this moment busied in imposing shackles upon the
freedom of education. The great question of public
instruction is principally under the control of a
party in the Chamber of Deputies willing to carry
out their views, and to become instruments in their
hands. The importance of the following cannot fail
to be appreciated :

" Thii the Jesuits are extending themselves, regularly
and rapidly over France, and this, too, with the aanetien
and secret support of the President, has -of late been
strongly manifest. Their influence furnishes there, as
elsewhere, that consolidating pressure essential to the
stability of absolute power. Victor Hugo announced
the fact openly in the French Assembly. The evidence
of it is palpable and direct. The dissensions which per-
plex and break up the public peace are the fruits of it.
There, as here, their missionaries have the same errand;
and in both countries they are realising the same results.
Their indications correspond, bearing everywhere' the
stamp of the same relationship. They are all under the
same covenant; guided by the same spirit, and governed
by the same will. The same marks of pre-arrangement
pervade every act and every movement, and the conse-
quences which follow are equally palpable. The low
state of morality in France is the scourge of Christen-
dom. It is more fearfully so since she has pressed the
Jesuits into her service. Austria and Russia have done
the same. The Revelations represent the prophetic
horses as vomiting out of their mouths, ' fire, smoke,
and brimstone,' by which the third part of man was
killed.' They have fulfilled the preliction. They have
done their work of misery frightfully; but in doing this
they have taught the people 'a lesson not to be un-
learned.' To extinguish the propensities by which the
misery was produced is not within their power; but' the
authors of the misery—kings—crowned heads—and the
diadem that encircles their brow is doomed : the ten-
dency of the popular mind is everywhere Republican;
that tendency has become too strong to be shaken, too
stern to be tampered with. The Rulers of Europe have
themselves to thank for it. Their subjects have bought
their experience at a dear price, and they will profit
by it.
"It is this tendency that has raised the Jesuits to
power. The continental Sovereigns urgently join in al-
liance towards upholding it. They feel the perilous po-
sition in which they are placed, and know well the value
of Jesuitical divinity and Jesuitical intrigues. The ex-
piring influence of the Papal See renders this alliance
still more indispeissable. Whether the ninth Pius will
ever again visit the Vatican is doubtful. His subjects
find their account in humiliating him, and even his pro-
fessed friends are among his worst enemies. He has
nothing before him, poor man! but the worm and the
winding-sheet. The grave knows no distinction of per-
sons. All there is equality and fraternity. It is only
there that we are out of the reach of this world's perfidy.
Let us be thankiul that we can there be at peace.
" But though the dead find a resting-place, the evils
which survive them in the living world are not tt erelore
to 1-e less earnestly wrestled with. While a dangerous
and debasing enemy is making head against us, and our
sentinels are sleeping on their post, we must undertake
our own defence. We muss stand with our lace to the
foe, not relaxing our vigilance even for a-moment.
They have instruments among them suited to every
prtjeot of conquest, and are always w a'ching the
time and the tide. It behoves us also to be
sted a-t'y upon the watch. They assume all positions ;
they are sometimes in one disguise, sometimes in ano-
ther. Holding themselves forth as a society incorporated
by the Redeemer of the world, the vulgar are easily
made to regard them as having higher claims to venera-
tion than the clergy with whose faces they are familiar
in the walks of everyday life; a belief which, in the race
of rival religions, is an eminent advantage. It gives
them an influence over the popular faith, and these per-
sonified demons of infidelity pass for holy men.
" St. Patrick has the credit of having cleared Ireland
of Serpents. If our patron-saint of England would
clear us of a race of infinitely more noxious reptiles, he
would render us an infinitely greater service than by
having slain the dragon."
This is powerful writing, and will have its effect.
The public mind was never better prepared for it.
The style and the subject of these Tracts will induce
us to notice them as they appear.

ExtunrrioN OF 1851.—The little town of Llanelly,
Caermarthen, bold a preliminary meeting of 12 persons
only on the 18th instant, to support the exhibition, and
then and there spiritedly subscribed 120/.6i., at the
same time expresiing a hope that they would be able
to add another hundred or two to it.

CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAlLWAY.—Traffic for
the Week ended March 17, 18p:—C. and H. Main Line,
1,1461. Os. 10d.; Mold, 831. ris. 9d.; Ceara boats, 911.
sd.—Total, 1,3211.45. Od.

ELECTIONEERING IN FRANCE.—The Salut Public
of Lyons says—" In the department of the ArdeThe the
Reds caused 100,000 copies of the following circular to
be printed:—' Remedy for Burning, for Adults and
Children.—As soon as you are burnt, take somsirfiite
wheaten flour, mix it in water, and apply the paste on
the burn without any rag: leave it there until it falls
off, and then the burn will be cured. If, however, the
burn is so strong as to pierce the paste, you must put
some new paste over it. Ten minutes after you will not
feel any pain. This remedy also cures the itch, scurvy,
and ringworm; it is also applicable to horses. If- the
candidate, Jean Louis Roche, wheelwright, at St Lau-
rent do Mure, be elected, he will distribute this remedy
gratis to the electors'."
LADY MINERS IN CALIFORNIA.—A young man
from Maine, writieg to his friends from California, says
that almost thirty miles from any other digging are two
intelligent and beautiful young ladies, with no attendant
except an old gray-headed negro whom they had en-
ticed to accompany them, and who is the servant of the
father of one of them. The eldest of these was not 20.
It seems their imagination had become excited by the
gold stories which they had heard, and they determined
to try their hands at making a fortune. The old negro
was past work, and was left in the camp during the day
to look after the household affairs, and keep watch
while the girls pursued their mining operation. When
the party reached their camp the old darky was alone
in it, but the girls came in during the day, and received
their vistors hospitably. They expressed no fear of
being molested or robbed, and said that they should
leave for home when they had accumulated 10,000 dolls.
they had already gathered 7,000 dolls. They were
from Florida, and the youngest ran away from school to
enter upon the expedition.—Toronto Independent.
What a pity, that common sense, for want of uses
should have become uncommon.—Eliza Cook's Journal.
DIABOLICAL MURDER IN AMERICA:One of those
crimes which startle humanity with their atrocity has
been brought to light within these few days past at
Lowell. It appears that a young and singularly hand-
some girl, only nineteen years of age, who had been
employed in the factories, had suddenly disappeared,
leaving no clue by which she could be traced. It was
more than suspected that she had been seduced,pointed and a
person named Taylor, a livery stable keeper, Was
at as the man by whom she bad been victimised. When
last seen alive she was entering the house of Dr. Clark,
a medical man residing near Lowell. This date was the
21st of December, and it was not until some time after-
wards that her fate became known, when a coarse look.
ing sack, which had lain for weeks in the river near the
bridge of Lowell, was taken up and examined, where her
body was foundlenclosed; her nostrils and mouth stuffed
with cotton wadding, a cotton band passed four times
round the head, covering mouth, eyes, and nostrils, and
a fine rope drawn round the throat, which was indented
half an inch with the pressure. The !post mortem exa-
mination 3 established the fact of her having been five
months ;enceinte; her murder was
perpetrated under cir-
cumstances which have inducid the arrest of Dr. Clark
and his wife, and the above-named Taylor, the reputed
father.—American Paper.
A MISTAKE.—The Western Times tells a story of a
" distressed agriculturist." " A farmer dropped in here
on Wednesday last, to pay his rent, putting up a long
face to correspond with the times. On entering the
house, he told his landlord that times being so bad, he
couldn't raise the money at all; and, dashing a bundle
of bank-notes on the table, There,' said he, that's all I
can pay.' The money was taken up, and counted by
Mr. , the landlord, who said, 'Why, this is twice as
much as you cwer
Deng.. ee, give it to me again:
said the farmer. ' dashed if 1 Net a took it cat of the
I wrong pocket! I-