Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-07-03
.tFRoM DUBLIN PAPERS TO HAY I61
A NeW Work on MnCiane de ,StneI

| CONSIDERATIONS ON THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.
| -, BY THE LATE MADAME DE sTARL
Inc last production of this celebrated writer
has just been published under the above title.
ne general character of the work is less a
continued narrative than series of generaI
observations on the unparalleled events of The
iast thirty years. II consists of three volumes :;
the first treating of the ministry of her father
IN. Necker,) and of the earlier scenes of the
revolution; the second, of the farther progress
or the revolution, and of the reign or, to speak
more properly, the desp0t.Sm of Bonaparte
without denying him military talents and mn.
co mmon penetration into tie character of indi.
viduais, she shows clearly, that as the head of
state, he was great only in diplomacy and
tacticS, being altogethera stranger TO the mo.
tIves that actuate men Of principle as we'll az
TO the means of founding permanent pover ON
liberal institutions. In regard TO The Bour-
bons, though induced frequently to animadyert
on the policy pursued before the death of
Louis AFl. and not always satisfied with the
measures of their ministers since the restora.
ton, Madame de Stael speaks always with the
highest respect of the members of that family:
vlUdicating the memory OF the unfortunate
Marie AntoiDette from the coarse asperSions
OF the TevOlUtiDniSts, and eXpatiating iargeIv
en the extensive information and benevolent
disposition of the present KIM But the grand
meme OF her applause, We are proud 10 saw is
our own CONSTITUTION. Throughout iIIe work
but particularly in the 'iird volume our Gov.
ernment is analysed with philOsOphlc eve
and held up win persuasive eIoqHence, 10 the
limitation OF our continental nci1hhorS Ma.
dame de Siael deduces from The progressive
influence OF free government, those traits
OF ndtiOual character, which constitute our
strength and happiness, and which the supeyfi.
ciai and minimizing are content to ascribe TO
very Inherent causes. On the whole the book
VIII be found equally marked by iiiersiity of
views and depih of historical eIuditioD. The
anihor 'iiewing herself firm friend 10 rational
liberty, such as II was promised in the course
OF the French revolution, and AN equally de
termined enemy TO those excuses which under
tie name Of absolute equality, dissTaceA France
and convuiSed Europe during the sway of the
JacObins and their succeSsors,
Ertraets from the NS. Of the Duke of Rouigo.
VI. ESMENARD.
The Duke OF Rovigo speaks with great an.
probation OF the wit and talents Of the late NJ
EsMENARD: no one possessed equal facility.
whichever canse he was called upon to sup
port, arguments aad special pleas crowded
under his pen with an abundance really mex
haushblo. His ENcellency assures he never
knew more flexible spirit in proof Of which
he quotes the following TACT
" When II was i1 agitation to erect the Re.
public of Holland into a Kingdom, Napoleon
directed M. de IalIeyTand, then minister tor
| foreign affairs, 10 furnish him, within eight
days, with a memorial, calculated 10 convince
the authorities Ut that republic that their form
OF government was incompatible with the sys
TEN generally adopted ~ Europe, and that the
only means OF maintaining thCir coautry's i'm.
dependence in the political balance vi Europe
was, to choose a Hing ont o. Napole0u's family
On quitting the Ihnlleries II de ! iileyYand
ran 20 his usual drrdges; he called by turns on
Messrs. dHauietiye, Roux- Laborie, aud the
Able D0srenandes all OF them confessed
themselves iue~pable Of completing so v0lrui-
nous = work ~ so short time His ExceiltpCv
then thought Of NJ ESmeuard, WHOM he used
Familiarity 20 call Fjcaro he sent for him, and
10 smooth away all difficulties. coupled lis pro.
posal witlI a promise Of 200 Louis. The otter
was accepted. aud On the appointed day Figafs
gave ~ The memorial, wits winch M. dc I'ai
leyTand, the ImprFor-in short, ail tie world
excerpt the states of Holland. we're nightly
pleased
" IL was perfectly felt sr '.rs rIlm. fiist
iniima'ions Ot thai k.nd anoUu.e ,o positive.
commands. fetit wiz resolved TO tiya lass