New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-02-12

name OF Christianity Are tnese InIngs 50, VI an
/ a vile slanderer How many real, devoted ChIlS-
! tians were there present this very morning poor
! bakers dozen or so, at most the rest OF US were
/ mere set Of worlcngs-Ya ant, sleepy looking olu
people ard restless, fippant young One5-hsW llsl-
/ less how Indifferent Had the preacher been en-
lsTging or the properties OF contingent remasdefs
inste ad Of hammeing away as ne 40, upon me me-
cessiiy OF justification by faith, We couldn't nave
looked OF " hit more uninterested or stupid. Had
the scene suddenly been changed 10 the opera, ana
had Elsler come bounding on the stage, wed nave
all been wide awake in twinkling, warrant you
wha. a stretching forth OF necks, what eYellng OF
opera glasses; or had Burton come rolling IN, with
his funny face and his broad Jokes. we should nave
been instanter, bright az buttons On, what aoOni-
nable perverson what an insult 10 the great founder
OF our faith, put his name to such holloD worth
less services as these Do we not need another PAUL.
indeed, 10 stir up these stagnart waters TO alarm
these slumbering consc1ences, 20 create thOrongn
revolution and reform in the church II On, dear
how delighted we all were 10 be let ont, and to fall
back upon the old tTacktse bellies to pick up their
beaux, and the elders TO talk cotton and politics
LECTURES ON THE HISTORY OF FRANCE. BY
Sir JAMES STEPHEN. vo up 10. Harper Brothers.
The author Of this volume is neither a
Macaulay nor a Bancroft, although we can often
trace the influence OF each of those writer's, in
his more ambitious attempts at historical de-
scripton. He is a sagacous, if not profound
thinker a shrewd observer Of facts, on which
he comments with sufficient ingenuity; fully
imbued with the spirit of historical research
highly conservative in his principles and tastes /;
ia miar with the best lore of books, and pos
stssing many elegant accomplishments; but
with no marked originality no depth ofphilo
sophie insight no sympathy with the ideal as
piIati0ns of humanity; and expressing himself
in a style which is more remarkable for its CO.
piousness and literary coloring, than for its
gracefulness, vigor, or point.
Still, we regard the work as an important
and valuable acquisition to the historical stu
dent. Written with singular impartlality and
fairness, ii furnishes an instructive and very
agreeable guide through the wilderness of the
Middle Ages, unfolding the great political events,
III which we find the root of modern institutions,
genially noticing the most conspicuous points
IN the development Of literature, and ske,ching,
with elaborate pencil the portraits of many
eminent characters in craftsmanship, letters,
and war
Mr.. Stephen was appointed Professor of Mod
em History at Cambridge in the year Is1), hav-
ing previously attained the reputation Of learned
writer by his miscellaneous contributions to the
Edinburgh Review. These lectures were de-
liyered before the students of the University, OF
whom we are informed that considerable por-
ton had no acquaintance with any modern Ian
euage except their own, and that the most pOpu-
lar and elementary French works on the History
OF France were apparently unknown to a still
greater number of them With such lament
able and astonishing degree OF ignorance on the
part of his pupils, it was natural that they should
wish for some English book on the subject Of
French History, which would enable them TO
prepare for the instructions of the lecture-room
Finding nothing suitable TO the purpose in Eng
liSh literature, the author was induced to under
take an Introductory course, of which we have
the result in the present volume
The lectures, nty-four in number, extend
from the period Of the decline OF the Roman
despotism, to the close of the age of Louis XIV,
including discussion Of the character and in
fuonce of Charlemagne, the Crusades, the Re.
formation and Religious Wars, the progress
OF literature in France, and other topics Of pro-
found interest.
In three lectures, devoted to The Power the
Pen in France" Mr. Stephen presents several
discriminating sketches OF French writers, at
different periods, among which those Of Abelard,
Pascal, RabelalS, and Montaigne are executed
with the most success We make roo for his
Characterization OF Montaigne, which gives a
favorable specimen of the general style of the
volume.
AS in most other tyrann,ss, so in this the i'm
mediate fleet of the seryituce into which Calvin
Rad subeued the minds OF his disciples was to pro.
woke a favorable revolt. When he was giving his
latest touches TO his Institution Chretlenne Michel
&C. Montague, then in his twenty-second year mad
just taken his seat In the Parliament of Boyde aux
That be aiterward became deputy ID the States
General Of BoiS, though maintained by no incon-
siderable authorizes, seems 10 me impossible but III
is ee2T that his early anhoOi was devoted 10 pub
lie and especially TO judicial affairs He was thus
brought INTO contact with the busy world at the
nonsn, OF a greater agitation of human society
than had occurred since the overthrow of the Roman
empire. Marvellous revolutions, and discoveries
stn NOE maIye lous IN the world OF letters Of po.
ties, Of geography and OF religion the warfare of
mEppessable passions, the working of whatever 10
NEST base and OF whatever Is most sublime in our
common nature and calamiies which mig At seem
70 have fulfilled the mos; awful of the apOcalypslc
visions had passed in rapid succession before the
a eS tbs acute and curious observer. II WIS an
unEelcoHe ard Fepulsive spectacle lie turned
rom II 10 seek the shelter and tie repose OF MS
hare dtaly msr sion. In that retirement he induged
or CHERISHED spirit infexoy opposed 10 the sp,rt
BY which his native country was conyulsed The
age Was icolairouS OF novelties ana therefore Mon
tsisTe lived IN the rsnospect OF a remote antiquity.
IL was age oil restless ambition ard therefore ne
pssslyey committed himself and MS FORUM es 10 the
curFeIt o. events. The minds OF other men were
exploring the foundations and cr,icising the suDer.
structure OF ever social poty and therefore his
mind was avered altogether from the affairs OF the
commonwealth. Because his rsighhors yielded
themselves to every gus, Of passion, ne nus, De