Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-14
FRENCH OPINION OF AMERICAN LITERATURE.

The following extract from article Of Mons AmpEaE
in the Rsoas ds Dsax Aondes marked by discrimna
tion, truth, and hberaity:
We sometimes say in France with that slashine Ain
paney which is too common with u.s. The United State
IS country in which people only think of money
There is such thing literature and there cannot
be one AT the most we make exception for Cooper
novels, because we hare them in reading rooms
put IN the hrst place, and speak most disinterestedy
do not see any thing SO shocking in making fortune
when one sacrifices to it neither dignity ndepen-
denee Ii is in all countries the object in life Of those
VINO do not ind ready-made support. Napoleon says
well IN his memoirs speaking Of himself and the other
generals i'll Italy, I'VE had fortunes to make do
not perceive that money is particularly despsed in Eng
land or IN France nowadays. have the chimney
of machne-shop rearing its head beside the feudal
towers or Bedford and our MOBILES at the head
of railway enterprises and very wisely. As my
rades the authors they have honor gain and the
example OF La Bruyeu giving the Ms of his Caracteres
TO the granddaughter of his publisher little girl who
amused him by her pratte, has not had, that have
heard, many mitators
Then, too we must understand what we mean by
literature Do we mean odes, tragedies and epic poems
As to that kind OF literature will say that its day
has gone by Great talents exist doubt and will APP
pear again but evidently the world does incline that
way To-day literature is something and
prehensve. There are crowd of works not to be in
Guided in any OF the recognised classes Of literature
which nevertheless may be immortal masterpieces, and
which, even without that glory attest the cultivation of
nation the merit Of its authors Studies epoch,
on on question OF philosophy, OF
art of history, and of politics. summary Of the results
Of scientific investigation, Of travels and the like these
what would call the literature OF the present day,
which is creating mouds and frames for books and
which, above ALL presents the intellectual life of the times
England possesses gTvas number Of these books in
which information and talent combined. America is
by means without them, and there is nothing pre-
vent her from giving birth to great number of them
believe that America will have Milton Shaks-
peare but do not anticipate many such for Europe.
And what is to prevent the United States from producing
another masterpiece of political philosophy like the Fede
ralst What is to prevent another Franklin from giving
his practical truths the world in his shrewd humor
Gus style?
81 have not spoken Of There excellent
paintings of manners in Paulding, Miss Sedgwick and
Hawthorne, who is much superior to Cooper novelist
We have heard of the fantastic tales Of Edgar Poe
From Patrick Henry, the Virgnan Tribune Clay and
Webster the United States have had orators and their
political habits guaranty them succession Of them fol-
wherever liberty exists there is chance for eoquence
Hence should say that America is already very SINH
lar literary condition to Europe, and the resemblance
| will daily increase.
But it is said commercial, democratic country is
not fitted for art and literature As the first objection
without speaking of Athens, the commercial and
manufacturing city of Greece forget Flo
renee whose existence and prosperity were owing to
commerce The wool merchants built the great cathe
dr letters and science fourished under the dynasty
traders and the vessels of the Medic brought back with
silks and spices, the manuscripts and the marble OF
Greece. The commercial towns Of the low countrie;
erected those Hotel de Ves and churches which are mo-
| dels of architecture"