The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-04 00:00:00

LITERATURE.
BRITISH and FOREIGN REVIEW. No.XXV.I

Taplor, London, 1842—.

The reign of Louis the Fourteenth, the longest—
and when its influence on the politics and literature
of Europe is considered, the most remarkable—in the
French annals, has yet to be written. Many histo-
rians, both here and on the Continent, have attempted
the task, but none have fully succeeded ; not because
they had not knowledge or industry enough, but be-
cause they had not the variety of powers that so com-
prehensive a subject demands; and more especially,
because they regarded the period too much per se,
without reference to that which preceded it. No his-
torian is thoroughly qualified to discuss the policy of
Louis the Fourteenth's reign, who has not made him-
self a perfect master of the leading features of Cardinal
Richelieu's Administration, and of the principles on
which that most sagacious, but unprincipled, statesman
acted ; which, though somewhat at a stand-still under
the government of his wily, timid successor, Mazarin,
were carried out in all their rigor by Louis the Four-
teenth.. By most writers this Monarch has been re-
garded merely as a showy vain, ambitious despot ;
but he was much more, than this ; he was the
shrewd, quiet, indefatigable, inflexible, and far-
sighted imitator of itichelieu's policy. What
the Cardinal commenced and carried on by
terror, Louis brought to a triumphant consumma-
tion by tact. It was the leading object of Riche-
lieu's political system to reduce the French aristocracy
to a state of absolute dependence on himself ; to give
them nominal, but not real, authority ; and to raise
up.the middling arid lower classes, by way of counter-
poise. Louis, who early in life foresaw all the advan-
tages that this system would secure to him, embraced
it with ardour, followed it out to its utmost extent,
and never once halted, nor swerved from his determi-
nation, till he had rendered every nobleman a mere
cypher in the State, to be ruised up or depressed at
his Sovereign will. Leaving the aristocratic body in
possession of all such privileges and honours as in
no way interfered with his own despotic authority, he
jealously deprived them of every shred of political
power. But Richelieu pursued his object by means of
intimidation ; Louis, more astute, adopted the surer
and safer methods of corruption and cajolery.
He broke down the fortunes of the noblesse,
by encouraging the utmost extravagance ; he
tempted them by bribes and appointments in his
household ; he sowed the seeds of dissension among
them, and taught them to consider it as the highest
possible distinction to figure among the knaves and
fools at the Court of Versailles. Such we conceive to
have been the leading political characteristic of Louis
the Fourteenth's reign, and not its ambitious foreign
wars, which were all subordinate to this great purpose.
In the Number before us there is a clever portrait of
this distinguished Monarch, which occurs in a review
of the " Historiettes of Tallemant des Reaux"—an
amusing French gossip who flourished in the seven-
teenth century, and has recorded many of the most
piquant and scandalous anecdotes of his time. In
speaking of Louis, the Reviewer says, " He was pre-
cisely the man for his hour, and he was nothing more.
Without a spark of genius, without shining abili-
ties of any kind, he possessed just the neces-
sary qualities—love of order, activity of mind, and
passion for business, graces of person and de-
meanour, reasonably good sense, and unimpeachable
manners." We object to nothing in this sketch, but
the expression, "reasonably good sense," which con-
veys but a niggardly notion of the statesmanlike saga-
city which Louis undoubtedly possessed. " Philo-
sophy of Art " is a rambling, metaphysical article, in
which, however, there are some ingenious—though
not novel—reflections on the subject of poetry. The
difference between learning and wisdom is also
adroitly pointed out. In the observations on the
" Poniatowski Collection of Gems," which have lately
attracted the attention of artists in no ordinary de-
gree, the Reviewer intimates his opinion that these
gems " are not the authentic and genuine works of
the Greek artists whose names are sculptured on
them." Observing, as one reason for the faith that
is in him, that "the gems are all uninjured,
not a chip is to be seen on any of them,
no barbarian finger has ever attempted to muti-
late one of them ; they are as perfect as the
first hour they left the engraver's hands. To find so
extensive a cabinet of antique gems quite perfect, is
very singular !" In an article suggested by " The
Hand-loom Weavers Report," occur some useful and
inteliigent remarks on the propriety
.of providing the
humble classes of society with pleasures and recrea-
tions at the public cost, which, the Reviewer, adds
" are easily provided, and without much outlay of
money." The best passage in the notice of " Passa-
vant's Life of Rafflielle," is the criticism on this un-
rivalled painter's cartoons at Hampton Court ;" in the
justice of which we cordially coincide. The article
entitled " Swisserland," we have not space to en-
large on, so must content ourselves with remarking
that it will be read with pleasure by all who take
any interest in the present political condition of that
country.

THE COLLEGIANS. Maxwell, London, 1842.
This is a republication, in one neat duodecimo vo-
lume, of a novel written by the late Mr. Gerald
Griffin, and which was much admired at the time it
was produced, about nine years ago. The volume is
illustrated with two engravings.

MONEY MARKET und CITY NEWS

FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.

ADVERTISER.—We mentioned' a few days since our
apprehension that a war was likely to break out between Texas
and Mexico, unless some friendly foreign PoWer should inter-
pose to avert so great a calamity. It seems, however, that a
war is not the only scourge the Texians are exposed to, since
various commotions have occurred in the Republic, partaking
more of the character of a potty rebellion than a riot. Bodies
of armed men, in number from thirty to forty each, were
coming into constant collision with each other, under various
political denominations, such as Moderados, &e., and the result
being generally the massacre or mutilation of a good proportion
on both sides, and Lynch-law reigned triumphant in :various
quarters, threatening notices being served upon any one who
became obnoxious to a gang of desperadoes. In one of these
barbarian documents, the party is coolly required to quit house
and lands within a very limited time, although, as the notice
observes, "it may be very inconvenient to him." The whole
state of society in fact, in some parts of the Republic, is
spoken of in worse terms than could be applied to an unci-
vilised. community.
. . . _

SUN.—The business doing in the English Stocks to-day,
was to a fair extent, and there wa4 the same steadiness in
prices. The mercantile community are apparently tot much
inconvenienced by the approaching pay-day in the Bill world ;
but there is as usual a vague feeling of apprehension, seeing
the badness of the times, that some houses may give way
under the growing stagnation. For some time past we have
been anticipating later news from Australia, a large number
of persons here being interested in the trade and prosperity of
those colonies. It is hoped the next accounts will show that
the mercantile community are recovering from their embarras-
ments.

Consols for immediate transfer were worth 89,1 to 89i,
and for Account 89i to 89g. Exchequer Bills were at an
advance to 265. and 295. premium, arid East India Bonds at
9s. to lie premium. New Three-and-a-Half per Cents, were
98,i to 99, and the Three per Cent. Annuities 893 to 893.
Bank Stock for the opening was at 172. East India Stock
was at a decline to 24.:3.

'-here was net much general business in the foreign bonds;
tt.e Spanish Securities, though a shade better, 243 to being
in reality neglected; but if we look to South American Stocks
alone,we should say there was decidedly a good business doing.
parties are sanguine, too, of a further rise in them, as
Many
the public have been buyers lately, and there is hardly a suffi-
ciency of the bonds to meet the demand. If the public, how-
ever, would take our advice, they would be cautious in dealing
at :Al in any such investments. They are at best precarious,
and need a constant surveillance that renders their possession
no sinecure. Indeed, it would be a curious calculation to ascer-
tain the actual amount of wear and tear which the holder of such
a fluctuating property must suffer in his constitution during the
year.
The Railway Shares were brisk again at full prices.