New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-19
NEW BOOKS I'M PARIS.
Prom Orr Own Correspondent.
pAprs April 26, 1860.


PARIS, April 26, 1860.
There are no fewer than eight grave octavos, all
of French history, and all published since last
wrote you something about books critic ofone
of them aptly says: 90 We live in an eminenty his
"torcalepoch, which isprepariDg the most instruc-
"tive variations for future generations. Conse-
"quently, there never wasat time when the study Of
"history was more interesting and more necessary"
That the public is much of NJ. Peyrat's opinion
here, is shown by the ready sale and thoughtful OK
animation which several of the volumes above re-
ferred to meet with. None Of them has been
more distinguished in these respects than TiaesS
seventeenth volume of the Consulate and EN-
pire." The whole work taken together is probably
the best one work on the subject; this volume Is
the best of the whole work 1t is marked by oil
the good qualities Of narration to which M.
Theirs accustOms us--clear statement and VIVID
description of events, arranged with harmonious
regard to their relative Importance, as well as to
their logical and chronological order. 1t 49, like It's
predecessors. too d1use but that is defect which
we think of rather in looking at its formidable buk
than when once engaged in its perusal. 1t covers
the period from November, 1913, to April, loi4
period so crowded with great events ana great per
sonages that the 900 pages seem not 700 many ~,
their story 1t begins with the last chance 0Iereu
10 NapoleOn of making peace that should sun
leave him master of great empire, goes on with
the invasion of the allied armies, with the nome
campapn. where Bonaparte's military genius sh0ne
with undimmed luster, on to the abdlcaton-to the
adieux sObbed out by SCARED warrlOrs at L Onahe-
beau, and the Dominic salram tdc regem Lnd0r'-
cum loudly chanted by cheerful priests at Notre
Dame And the people cried, turning this way ana
that 1ire lie ROi! Eirent les BOur6ons 6as H
Iuran mort
Al seeing this prodigous reign end so dlsastrously,
reflections suggested by the grandeur the abundance,
and the strange character OF lis events hrohg upon the
mind" - ~
Having closed the narration, NJ. Theirs opens
with these words, a mastery dissertation on the
Reign of Napoleon 1t combines, in singular de-
gree the chroniclers learning and the acuteness OF
an advocate, with a magisteral impartlality This
remarkable fconclusion" does not breathe the
spirit of the highest philosophy, still less OF the
highest morality NJ. Theirs remains as always
Frenchman and a politician; but here he APP
proves himself as free from prejudice as IL ~. Is
qiypn TO any but TO your abstract (oftenest indi-
ferent) philosopher to be- The " Conclusion
is the summing up Of a Judge who is guided in his
decision BY the laws Of French political utility.
For the case in hand this adds to the weight OF his
uameni "To Judge the man himself as captain,
8 politician. administrator, legislator, thinker,
writer. and to assign him his place in that giori-
:" Gus family that counts among Its members Alex
" ander, Hannibal, Caesar, Charlemagne, Frederic
" the Great" Theirs awaits the final end OF his
career-the Hundred Days-the story Of which he
has vet TO record. AFTER which," he says, "we
" shall be able to Judge the whole man, and after
having Judged the man impartially our task VIII
be done and we shall leave it 10 poserty to judge
our Judgment ITSELF if deigns to occupy itselwith
its revision or confirmation" This brief quotation,
by the way exposes fairly the merits and defects OF
our authors style of thought and wrItlng-his adj
miratOn of pure ability, Of glory and success; his
clearness and diffuseness. The CONCLUSION" is
made up of rapid summary of the most important
events of NapOeOns reign and of the reflections
inspired by their consideration. Let it be constantly
borne in mind that NJ. Theirs is an admirer of Ma
poleon as ardent as Mr.. Abbott, but wiser. he goes
so far as 10 approve his Selling of the dictatorship
after the 18th OF Brumaire From that date up 10 /
the Autumn of 1873 First Consul or Emperor, the
Man of Destiny had six different opportunities OF
securing his position as the Chief of frst-class Eu-
ropean Power, which, at the first and last oil these
oppOrtuntes-that is, in its most limited conditions
-was the position of supreme ruler over France
bounded BY the Rhine the Alps, and the Pyrenees.
Why did he successfully neglect, wantonly reject,
every one of these opportunities Examining each
separate ease, ". Theirs arrives at SIX answers,
differently phrased, but essentially one. Why not
rest i'm the first case, he content with his secured
position as Consul for life, France content with the
large conquests accorded to her by treaties OF peace
and still under the sway of the terror and disgust
and WEAKNESS excited by the reign of terror, the
Yendean war, religious schism, bankruptcy, conhs-
catOn-
Asking no more liberty than is implied in the mod
Grafton of a great man But alas the moderation OF
great man. invested with all the powers Of the State,
though he lie endowed beside with universal genius
les - ia q nl-
meTes the most chimerical "
The prudent pacifcator of 1903 became the pro-
yoker of general war, solely because he did not
know how TO master his passions"
60 Ii ii is asked how 30 great n captain and even
politician, comes TO commit such mistakes these are
neglecng, rejecting the opportunities OF returning,
after FIiedland and AuseTiIz, to the wise policy OF
the Consulate completed consolidated and having the
sole defect of being too extended we ask why, with
such varied and great talents and generous sent-
ments the French Revolution came TO the sangulnary
madness of 1893; and we answer that 1t comes from
setting aside to give way to passion Only Ma
poeon has one less excuse for restraint should be easier
for man than for the multitude"
The following observation on Napoeons second
marriage is but another form of the one expana-
tory answer-the old story of Microcosmus con-
founding himself with MacrOcosmus of humans
playing ut Cod and approving themselves only poor
gOdasers
Go to, let us build us tower whose top may reach
unto heaven, and let us make as name est we be
scattered abroad" In conclusion, ne Thought OIL
marrying again though by securing heirs he would
secure the Inheritance though the Imperial happl-
ness must be the happiness OF the people,! These
objections the moderate representations OF Russia his
aly in 1871 reused NapOleons indignation. To re-
sist him, though quietly, though without the worlds
knowing it, was, in his eyes, TO give the signal OF re-
volt because that some one, somewhere, opposed an
ob elton TO his arbitrary WILL he considered himself
Geied."
Ii is an error to see in the terrible disasters Of
he sIu mr.