The Sun.
London, England, 1829-11-07 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

THE FOREIGN REVIEW, No. viml. LONDON, 1829.
We regret to find the stale old visionary sub-
ject of phrenology—the very name of which
quackery acts, we verily believe, as a scare-crow
on nine-tenths of the English community—oc-
"Ping, at an inordinate length, the pages of so
intelligent a periodical as the Foreign Review
We thought that this science, ant quocunque
also nonline gaudet, had been by this time
Pretty neatly exploded, or at any rate that it was
confined to crazy physiologists and half-witted
logicians. The author, however, of the present
dissertation seems inclined to raise it to
the dignity of a philosophical science—with
what success, those may learn who are hardy
enough to peruse his arguments. " Letters
on Germany," is the review of a book written
by a native of Wurtemburg, on the subject of
the personal and mental differences existing be-
tween the North and South Germans. The
article is pleasant reading enough, but affords
scanty materials for comment. " French Drama''
is sensibly and impartially written, and among,
other pertinent remarks, contains the following ob-
servation, of which every one in the slightest
degree acquainted with French dramatic litera-
ture will at once recognise the truth. " The
faults. of French dramatic literature are want of
imagination—absence of truth and faith in
the style convenu '—its merits are purity
of diction—judiciousness of plan—and a tact
at arrange ment, so as to throw the faults
into a dark shade by a bold relief of the beau-
ties.' " Bourrienne's Memoirs," is as its writer
aptly observes, singular in the style and freedom
of its comments. It is an elaborate attempt,
bolstered up with showy declamation and specious
sophistry, to depreciate and reduce to the level
of common-place, the late Emperor Napoleon.
BY a singular process of logic, all this great
man's virtues are proved to be nothing more nor
less than vices ; even the high tone and quality
of his ambition, which even his worst enemies
one and all concede to him, are stated to
have grown out of the basest and most vulgar
Passions. 1 le is even denied " personal courage."
" Napoleon," says this flippant Zoilus, " lacked
Personal courage ; as he was base in mind, so
Was he pusillanimous at heart." The reader of
these startling assertions, made in the very teeth
0f Europe's recollection of the warrior's conduct
at Lodi, Arcola, the Pyramids, the shores of the
Red Sea, and a hundred other places, will pro-
bably ask for proofs : unfortunately they are not
.at hand to convince hint ; they exist only in the
distorted fancy of the Reviewer. Another re-
ark, equally absurd, is, that " Napo-
leonN
was the child of circumstances."—
Zhat great man was ever otherwise ?
"hat were Caner, Cromwell, and dozens of the
same stamp, in the ancient as well as in the
Modern world, but creatures of the same con-
troulling power ? Cxsar and Cromwell both set
cut in their career of glory nearly at the same
age when Napoleon quitted it. Why, because
they were compelled to await the coming of the
tide that should waft them onward to immorta-
lity. The test of greatness, whether religious,
political, literary, or military, is not to fashion
circumstances—which is ridiculous and unin-
telligible, though we will allow it sounds well—
but to make the most of them when
they
offer ;—not idly to strive to com-
pel the tide to flow, but when it is
flowing, to divert it into a pro Fer and useful
euannel- This Napoleon did, he took advan-
tage of the circumstances that surrounded him,
and without appearing to controul them, so
Inoulded them to his purposes as to ensure an
unquestionable supremacy over Europe. "As
legisl •
ator," the Reviewer goes on to say, " the
Emperor was covered with a false lustre. The
actual labour of reconstructing the laws was exe-
cuted by the ablest lawyers in the kingdom, in
the shape of Commissioners, from whom
it was carried to the Council of State, and
from them to the Legislative Body." What trash
is this ! In like manner may we say of St.
Paul's, the actual labour of constructing
it Was executed by the ablest workmen
in the kingdom, in the shape of day-
labourers, from whom it was carried to the over-
seers, and from them to Sir Christopher Wren.
Yet who, for all this, denies Sir Christopher the
merit of having built St. Paul's ? His was the
head to conceive and plan the majestic model;
and so was it with Napoleon. The grand and
simple fabric of the " Code" was projected by
him, and by him, and him alone, brought to a
state of completeness and general utility. But
suPposing that he only selected the artificers for
this task, surely even in this case he deserves
the same praise that has been awarded to
Elizabeth, and instanced by Hutne as among
that
h' h
ig of her sagacity ; namely,
she est
hadp therootis acuteness and superior judg-
tnent to draw round her, and install into her
government, those most likely to advance the
glory of England ! There are a variety of other
coarges brought forward wills singular pomp and
exceeding impudence against Napoleon, which
we have neither space, time, nor inclination to
eunircent on, inasmuch as they are part and
Parcel of those to which we have here briefly
alluded. One thing, however, we may ob-
serve. 13ourrienne, the Reviewer's autho-
rity, is (he makes no secret of the avowal)
a declared enemy to Napoleon. He conceives
that he was unjustly treated by him,
and two volumes of vituperation have been the
consequence. In addition to this, he is a pro-
fsessed Bourbenist ; and so far as we can learn,
it is not orthodox among these precious politi-
cians, to sin in favour of the departed Emperor.
A little generosity on this score, goes a great
way towards ensuring their exclusion from the
Tuileries. Evidence of this kind, therefore, can-
not but be tainted, and must and will be received
every where with suspicion. "It is, however,"
says the Reviewer, ,c daily received and acted
°t.n in our Courts of Law and penal inflie-
,l""." So it is ; but certainly never until
truth has been established beyond all question
by other and more satisfactory proof: The