Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1848-02-02
Frem the Boston Investigator.

ITS CAUSES AND IT'S consequences.


The authors of France would seem to thin
she history Of the great political s. social convu
sions of their country, an inc xhaustibe theme
The present year has been marked by some half
dozen works on the subject, from the pens o
leading French scholars, men whose fame is ex
$ensive as the language in which they WRITE
Michelet, whom we are inclined 10 place at the
head of French historians, has published the
first volume of his history of the Revolution
His hero is the people, and he has treated the
subject with all the clearness, force, and sym
Pathy with popular feeling and regard for pop
ular rights, which are his leading characters
tics as writer. Louis Blanc has also the first
volume of his work on the same subject, to be
followed by nine more. M. de Vaulabeile,s
book on the "Hundred Days. is valuable con-
tribution to historical literature; and NJ. de La
marines 'History of the Girondins'' has made
a great excitement in Europe, and caused peo-
pie in this country to mpatiently expect the
appearance of good translation. Lamartirie's
book has ecljpsed that of MlcheIet according
to some representations, though the latter is
the better of the two. The brilliant reputation
of the former has stood him in good stead, and
the world has been willing to credit him as an
historian, because he has written good senti-
mental poetry, and yet more sentimental trav-
els. OF the two, Michelet's production, we ven
ture to predict, will wear the best.
We are glad the great minds of France are
turned to the events of their countrv's regener
alton. The SUBJECTS indeed inexhaustib.e, and
cannot be treated by too many writers, howev-
er different their views or varied their powers.
We cannot imagine thoroughly worthless
book on the subject. Stupid indeed, must be
the man who could deliberately sit down and
write volume on it which sho'd contain nothing
either frI Sfcolf in
thing useful to others Even the " Bloody
Busy is not wholly valueless,an we would not,
were we empowered to decide its fate, send it
where the pious and exemplary Grammar sent
the old woman who believed as he once believ-
ed himself-namely, ''untoe thee fyre." Roy
alist, republican, and mperialist,--Jacobin
and the admirer OF the ancient
should be heard, and the repre- |
sensations and arguments of each be deliberate |
ly weighed. BY and bye, some great genius |
will afise,-some man of comprehensive intel |
lect--who will, from this mass OF material,
evolve work that shall be for history what
Homer is for the epic, and Shakespe are for the
drama,-a work for all time. Our own age is
perhaps too near the great events of the ReEo
luton, to enable us to hope for the advent of
such author ere we shall leave the stage oflife.
Men are now living who heard the last roar OF
the cannon of the Bastile,-who kept step with
the funeral procession of Mirabau,-who saw
Louis XIV, and Danton, and Robespierre die.
and who read IN the gazettes the first indica-
lions of the rise of Napoleon's STAR Their con
temporaries partake of their feelings; and rigid
mpartiality-hard TO be obtained in any case
cannot be hoped for in one that appeals so
eudiy to the feelings and passions of men.
Almost every man who writes on the French
has his theory as to the causes of I
hat astounding event; and his views as to it's ;
Some will tell you, that it was
i mere outbreak of what they call the principle {
# evil, the triumph of Ahriman overOrosmanes
n that everlasting war, which, according to {
he old Magisn creed, is going on between the
wo powers;-but they are simple Bedamites,
Who would be quite harmless, were it not that s
hey find their way into pulpits, and, working