The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-12

PARls. February 10, 1854
Recent French Literature.

PARls. February 20, 1854
Recent French Literature
lately invited my reader VISIT the Qusi Voaire
the dc positoy from which Hector Bossange dslrb
ates 10 The nations the choicest literary of France
The Of thi. enerprlsing and amabe commission
aire de la ibrare" is less familiar all librarians in
the United States than 70 those of other countries need
not remind our FrancoAmerican population, and the
creasng number OF Americans who recognise the claims OF
modern French literature that nj. BossaDges principal
American sgeney IS in Pearl street, at New York.
Look these huge piles of publications. after hav
ng listened the OF bulls and bears Bourse
and Admired the brilliant shops the bouleyad and the
multitude OF buildings which rising II by
magic, all Paris. and you will wonder that American
journals should have echoed the sanderous assertion Of
certain English journals, that the coup deia Of
had parayzed the intellectual activity well shattered
the political liberties of Trenchmen True it is that the
coup dstat senced the of the tribune ana the
clubs and everywhere reduced whispers and shrugs Of
the shoulder the expressions Of political opinion But the
surdest advocate OF the liberty OF speech will not deny
that that memorable date France both in and Of the
egislave assembly, had become Babel Of confused
voices. and silence IL voluntary, would have been virtue
and, even involuntary, blessing 1t Is true also, that
liberty Of the press, well as berry ofspeech suffered from
the terrible blow But who will deny that the vio
lent partisan strife which then ragged in the newspapers did
little advance the interests of republicansm, while
il exhausted abilities that have since been otherwise
ercised? The fury Of factions. which had brought France
brink Of civil war, abruptly and unconstuton-
ally, but, for the moment, ehectualy, arrested But 1t is
absurd imagine that the French stopped thinking the
I'd OF December, 1851
Not speak OF the energy and industry the govern
manifeed every branch OF It's adrninstr aon
The prodgous growth OF material prosperity in France du
ring the past wentysix months surely the product Of
mental activity displays OF parliamentary eoqnence
OF literary skill would be- Not few of the superior
telects, who had given ito party what for
kind" have proted by this enforced leisure
dies of which the world will reap the fruit ministers
peers Of France dplomatsts, and orators
have remembered in private life, or in exile that the pen
the first instrument of their celebrity IlussIious
statesmen have again become men OF letters The lee
and libraries of the capital thronged by
sudous youth, who preparing rival their predeces
the poets and pzewrters of 1922 and already be-
gin boast of ink their fingers The Latin quarter
not now be described inhabited by etudrants qu ne
udient pas" Far be IL from agree with those who
contradict history in sfrmng that revolutionary times
uniavorable TO intellectual development. Books not
always the nobest forms in which this is exhibited but
books are not wanting rstute abundany such
ton The natural sw however, that pressure strength
ems resistance Is univera Despotsm, by REFRESHING
times concentrates forces that would otherwise be wasted
and which, given moment, sha rebound with irress-
ble might Thus, good educed from seeming evil The
actual French government has found il the
mouths OF indictments Tin public at leasD than to take
away their pens. Depend upon II, millions Of winged
words will yet fly forth vindicate the French mind
against the charge OF orpor during the past years
Even if but few books had been published during This Pc
ROD would prove nothing against the mental activity Of
the French. There is time for all things Years of
perence and toll have elaborated many work Of
literature. More than author has passed the best
ments of his genius in silence and obscurtY The poet
his Inspiration il eve, done II uavale-he is
mute to- he shall sing Though, pre-
cede expression. The butterfly springs from the chrysais
Look again the piles publications in Hector
Bossange depository, and you scarcely think that the
French mind be compared the chy Sails great
their number and variety To be the revival OF the
book ade, which began in 1882 has been signazed by
akable quantity OF reprints But quality these
hes been less remarkable One publisher. Jannet has
issued a and elegant edition OF the famous Maximes
Of De La Rocheioncau!d that consummste model OF STYLE
aud Bible OF the Man Of the World II edited by the
late M Dupless, has preface by Ssnie Beuve oc
casoned Ia the Journal Dsbas for the 18th January
mastery review by s. de Sscy, who, with equal Justice
spplands the style and condemns the utter hears Of
this chef dEnvre of skepticsm Il hate the Max
inns, excaims the Indignant and honest criuc"I hate
hem from the bottom Of my sour' Another publisher
Eugene Didier has exemphed the retrospective activity
literary production apparent late In reprints, by his
Iectons from the works Of certain brilliant and celebrated
writers the eighteenth century. He has published the
works gallant Chevaer de Bouies who really need
ed all that Arsene Houssanyc could say recommend him
in curious biographical preface OF that witty
sationist. DE Rivaro whose bon mots
now Of Chsmfot of M and Nine Fsvsr OF Fsntepelle,
and Of philosopher DAembe; and the other dsy the
interesting correspondence Of Grimm, that associate and
shrewd observer Of vosre and the other tsaSr piu
that time.
The 18Th century has been studied by few careful
w. and Is detcsted by no heartily, than by NJ
Bungener Protestant minister, whose Historic du Concie
du Trene un Sermon Louis XIV Tui. Sermons
sou. Louis XIV, and Votsire temps well the
dicoures on history, with which be opened the confer
ences held in 1859 Geneva in attack.
on Proesan,ism have for him considerable reputation
for learning and eloquence. He exhibited modea-
ton in The di.courses just mentioned Than work which
Cherbulisz has lately published for him Paris, four
volumes under title OF Julien, la fin dun Steele In
this singular work literary criticism is blended with his
tory and controversy weighs down II has neh
er unity OF composition unity Of style The author has
aimed 10 trace ali the follies frivolite, faults Scandals
mierie and an shame and all the crimes of the 18th
century from IT'S until 1898 The hero OF his is
young man wbo heightened to believe in Catboli
cistn and TOO regiousy disposed himself with
philoophy" Repairing for counsel lean jacques Rous-
he oyerhears monoogue OF that philosopher and de-
parts for Paris believing in nothing the Savoy
ard Vicar He Afterwards learns that he Is OF the Ave
children whom Jean Jacques and Theese had abandoned
the the founding hospital at Paris He becomes
villa re cursie and then fwihout ceasng TO be pries)
Protestant or rather deist In graveyard he falls IN
love with young Protestant girl Of Mines Marie de Cha
yiguy who as he learns from another priest, Jesuit bis
profe..ea htend Csmbei also child OF Rousseau. The
revolution breaks out and Csmbel who has tried In vain to
ednea Marie fbjures his religion, and the arrest OF
The nd sister, the unfortunate children OF the phios
opb.r They are both guiotned ct the time Around
these two principal figures M Bongener has assembled all
The hsrca personsges OF those sad Orators and
poeis political economists and philosophers, bishops and
priests Of the people ard ro"a 'eiT~s~' psre" and