The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-22 00:00:00

-FIRE-- OT FRANCE UNDER NAPOLEON.

By M. A. Th iers, late Prime Minister of France, 4c.,
translated by D. Forbes Campbell, Esq., with the sane•
tion and approval of the Author.
This work, which is a continuation of the history
of the French Revolution, has been looked forward to
with much interest ; and, as far as can be judged from
the two volumes which have just appeared, simulta-
neously in Paris and London, will not disappoint
public expectation. The work embraces the most
important period in the history of France, next to the
great convulsion of the preceding century, when the
French throne was overturned, the nobility and
clergy expelled from the country, war declared
against not only the ancient institutions of France,
but against monarchy in every shape ; and the
golden age of pure republicanism, upright govern-
ment, and stern patriotism, was proclaimed to ad-
miring nations. About the period when these delu-
sions had nearly passed away, when France was
saturated with blood, and anarchy was triumphant,
the " man of the age" became at once the most pro-
minent character among generals and orators and
statesmen ; some of them rendered illustrious by
great deeds and many of them detested, execrated
pud held up to public indignation as the most ruth-
less of mankind. The scene is full of the stirring
events, and embraces a period of fifteen years from
1800 to 1815, when the fatal battle of Waterloo ter-
minated Bonaparte's career of glory, banished him
from France, and established a general peace which
has now lasted for thirty years. In compiling a
history abounding in so many great and
glorious events for his native country, M. Thiers has
advantages which no writer of the age possesses to
the same extent. He is a man of the first-rate abili-

ties, of great energy, tact, perseverance, and compre-
hensive views—he has for more than twenty years
taken an active part in the political affairs of the
country, either as a writer in the leading journals, a
Member of Parliament, or a Minister of State ; and,
at the great revolution of 1830, wasone of the most
active agents in rousing the whole of France against
the imbecile, tyrannical, ai.d worn-out dynasty of the
Bourbons. Since that time he has filled almost
every important office in the State. He has been Mi-
nister of Finance, Minister of the Interior, Minister
for Foreign Affairs, and, finally, Prime Minister.
lie
has therefore enjoyed facilities of no ordinary kind
for procuring from original documents materials for
his work. In addition to these appointments, he was
also at one time Keeper of the Archives of the State,
and had access to diplomatic papers and documents
not only relating to late events, but to those embraced
in the work. It is said he also possesses many diaries,
letters, and memoirs hitherto unpublished, while the
principal men who had served under Napoleon have
supplied him with a great deal of information on
striking events; some of them still very doubtful
as to their origin. He has devoted, too,
many years to the undertaking. He has travelled
to witness the scenes of French glory, perhaps,
too, placed his future fame on his history, knowing
well that a Secretary of State, a Prime 11I;nister, nay
a Sovereign in distant ages is generally a very ob-
scure and ignoble character when placed by the side
of a powerful writer, and, above all, of an impartial,
spirited, and eloquent historian. That fame he
i
ap-
pears to keep n view, for, though partial to his own
country (and that is no blame), though enthusiasti-
cally worshipping the hero of his story, and proud of
deeds which surprised the world, he rarely diverges
from the truth; he blames Bonaparte for his despotism,
and praises Siey6s for his skill in manufacturing con-
stitutions. In reference to the Constitution of the
year VIII., he says:—
. " The plan of M. Sie).es contained two forcible and