The New York herald., 1844-10-03

FRENCH LIrERAruRR. The first number Of a
new periodical, entitled the "Revue Franc aise,"
has just made its appearance, and we think with
every prospect OF success. II is published month
" by the Editor, F. c. Bereau, 3l5 Broadway,
New York. Mr. Berteau's name is a good guar
antse that the work will be conducted in an un-
excep,ionable manner; his acquaintance with the
prevalent taste of his readers, will enable him to
cater successfully to please them; and his extern
sive French reading-his perfect mastery OF that
polished language, and his ready access TO
the best, and most classic and standard periodicals
and publications, issuing from the French press, at
ford him abundant means to carry on his "Revue
Francai through long and brilliant and useful
career.
During the last fifteen or twenty years, quite d
number of attempts have been made by this and
that adventurer, to supply the French reading pub
lie with that description of literary matter adapted
to their taste. In nearly every instance in which
this was assayed it proved a failure no traces
Of these attempts remain, and all these shortllved
and ephemeral productions have gone down to the
land of forgeuulness. Not SO, however, the read
ing taste which they were ostensbly intended to
please. The same desire to read good works, the
same appetite for whatsexcellent IN French litera.
ture, prevails to large nay, TO far larger extent
than ever. Indeed, this can be readily accounted
for. 1t is well known that the French language
is from day to day becoming more admired and
more relished, more studied and cultivated by all
who pretend to refinement OF taste or the posses
sion of liberal education. So 1t should Keep
ing out of view the soitened sound OF its conso-
nants and felicity OF t0urnnres, 1t Is hardly going
TOO Tar to say that the person who is a good
French scholar, is also tor that better English
one; and possessing in his mother tongue, if that
that be English, superiority to him who Is igno-
rant of French. These are truths which are daily
becoming more obvious, and the study OF the
French language is making q corresponding pro-
gress. Moreover, OF late years, the Immigration
from France, from Belgium, from Switzerland, and
those countries where the French language Is
spoken, has been greatly on the increase. Instead
OF hundreds as formerly, the numbers OF persons
landing on our shores have beenaugmented to thou
sands, who carry with them their French tongues,
French associations, French tastes, and wants;
amongst the rest, the requirement of entertaining
and. instructive books TO read in their dearmother
tongue-in the beautiful, musical, and persuasive
French language.
Well, to supply this want-this urgent require
ment-to provide increased means tor the COM
mendable indulgence of the growing appreciation
for French reading, the "Revue Francaise" has
started in its high and promising career of utility
We believe that Notwithstanding the great demand
for reading matter that prevails, there exists in
this city but one publication OF general charac
ter in that tongue, and that one, which is publish
ed, we believe, tri-weeky does not in the mode OF
its management, in the taste displayed in the selec-
ions, nor in that judgment which is so requisite to
unite variety and utility, give all the satisfaction
which is essential to really successful and
entirely useful periodical. Under these circum-
stances, then, the "Revue Francase'' has
high destiny before it, There is no dangerous
rival in the field the crowds Of the reading public
are awaiting this new movement of the literary
waters the gentleman who has undertaken the
conduci o this new work is every way competent
to the task and with all these things before us,
we cannot but consider the enterprise as both well
timed and well intentioned, and ihat it will secure
a popularity and patronage beyond the sangunt
calculations of its editor, F. G.. Berteau, Esq.