New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-13
SKETCHES OF LECTURES
MODERN FRENCH LITERATURE.

BY NJ. PAUL ARPIs.
large and fashionable audience assembled on Saturday
night in the Chapel Of the University to listen to the first
lecture of NJ p ARPIs late Editor of the Courier DIES
Etats Jnis The majority were Americans, ladies' par
tcuary who seemed very attentive and much pleased with
the entertainment This fact shows that there is among
our community very decided taste for the French Ian
gusge which these lectures will contribute TO extend and
improve The subjec, treated by Mr. Arpn for h debut
was general view of French Literature FROM 1900 to this
year and the lecturer presented II with cearness which
was very acceptable the hearers rapid Introduction
offered vivid sketch Of what French Literature had been
during the last two centuries The superior elegance,
grandeur ard perfection Of the eminent writers
who he'd been the glory of the seventeenth
bad been succeeded by the precision and powerful cearnes
Of the philosophers of the ish century But the language
by successive degradation Lost nearly all ts native quail
ties purity and the harmonious proportions by which II had
been once into phosoph
zeal dryness abstraction superseded the poecsl genius and
classical rule extnguished inspiration moral decline
was apparent in literature when the French revolution
broke ou. and then seemed TO have entirely disappeared
Parliamentary eoquene indeed was at that time beyond
tle limits of literary rules and amid the great things
they had TO accomplish in the way Of social reformation.
did not feel disposed to pay attention to the secondary
interests oleTature. IL be said that this was II not
entirely dead least IN such state Of ehargy that there
were but faint hopes OF lis revying. Napoleon cane
and in bis efforts TO reconstruct new society, heidi
net forget literature; but this is net Ut SUBJECT
for regulation the great Emperor could call around him
men oletters give them es privileges and court dresses
but be could create by decree, men of genas so Mat
in spite Of the powerful influence Of the Master the ieih
agic state Of French literature was to last longer two
of tie brightest which human Intellect boast Of
he'd not made their appearance ct the same period Nine
De Sae and Chaeaubriond. Both were hostile 10 Ma
roleon The former after having played Conspicuous
pert during the first years OF the French Eeyoiun nad
refused 10 bow before the man who he'd hoery
and she had been exled The other hed come back
10 France during the Consulate and been CT r ayoraby
treated by Eepoeon but his conscience obliged him soon
10 renounce al allegiance to the murderer OF the Dde d
Epghein Chatsaubrand the last descendant Of the
iustrious family of that His youth had been wild
and melancholy. Attracted toward savage life by the
writings Of Rousseau and the account given by La Fay
site and bis companions be came 10 America and after
eoryersng With Washington and visiting the battle fed
Of Lexington travelled amid the deserts He struck
by the msgakcenee and freshness Of naInrs sesney co
rely new to bis imagination, and he brought back with
him me Of description and poetry On his return to
Europe be found the Wrench Revolution raging AZ home
and faftirg abroad be to London, where he had
u nuenee on hi; rand and contributed to foster in him
that sensb y that generosity that devotion TO hamsn
w. which be has shown during his whole fe nos only in
rs books but in bis actions Exile and misfor made
nan sense Of ths word Religious feeling cane to Cha
teaubrisnd Ike potry-throuqh the heart. lie saw his
mother dying ard he returned TO the faith Of his infancy
- wert" said be, sand I believed" Jai pleare ct
Ii cru so his riety well his genus sprang olt
irom sentiment The first work pabiished by Chateaaos
ard Afold in 1sol 1t printed n the HreaTe De
IrGnc and rede at aunversa sen9eion ch whstne
novelty ofthe Inject and the beauty OF the sye
lated 10 al he languages Rem epg
tnon Of the author ard when the Geae ~ CAristsae
appeared u commanded an immense ejaculation ms
book In which upfoded In fac most poetca, style ell
III tears Of Christianity, IN harmony With the gene
raj feeling CT the time. Ater he sgeEings Of the rsvoa-
.icn ever one asped to religions consloations every
ore ssssd FOR fsh and that dee found ample saisac-