New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-21
NEW PUBLIGA 7TONS.
GopwINs HISTORY on FRANCE.


elaborate work. Many Of the principal topics, it s
true, have been incidentally discussed by Englist
Writers; the great landmarks of French history
form too important a portion of the history Of Eu-
bopeaD civilization, bot to enter largely into every
account Of The middle ages; but no consecutive work
expressly devoted to the subject, derived from orig
nal sources, and with the requisite amplitude and
thoroughness Of treatment has yet been written In
our mother tongue.
The plan of Mr.. Goodwin is intended to supply
this deficiency, by narrative of the history OF
France from the date of the earliest records 70 tne
commencement of the Revolution In 1852 lie d.
vides bis work into six great periods; /. Ancient
Ganl 10 the desth of Charlemagne. III. Feudal
France. closing with St Louis. Eli. France, dur
ing the national civil, and religious wars. Nv.
TIE three great ministers, Suny, Mazarin, Rich
ellen. V. The reign of Louis XIV. vi. The
Eighteenth Century. Each of these periods will be
treated in single volume, which, as far as the
turo ofsuch work permits, viii be complete in it
self
In the volume now issued, the history Of ancient
Gau is related under the divisions of Primitive Gaul,
RomIn Gaul, Roman. German Gaul, and German
Gaul, one book being devoted to each division.
Passing over the description Of Primitive Gaul,
which presents o rather formidable introduction TO
the volume on account of the necessary aoayses of
the distinctions Of race which it includes, although
relieved by numerous gimpses of the social condition
of a transitional age We come to the period sue
ceeding the Roman conquest in depicting which
the author finds more cOngenial task, and pre-
sents gratifying earnest Of the vigOr and address
in graphing with his theme, which viii doubtless
become more and more apparent in the progress of
the work.
The possession Of Gsul by the Romans not only
introduced new system Of government jurispru
dence, and military organization, but gave strong
impulse TO social improvement. Beside the arts,
which served both for establishment and utility,
and exerted refining influence, institutions of
learning were established which powerfully con.
tributed to the spread of intelligence among the
people, The school founded by Augustus at Autun
soon grew into eminence; others of equal celebrity
were created az Vienne, Toulouse, and Aries;
taste for literature was imbibed by many Opulsnt
Gallo families; famous teachers were procured
from distant cities; aud multtudes of youth were
entced by the delights Of study from the excite
ments of the chase and Of war. The culture Of the
Romans, from the first, found q lively sympathy
among the people Of Gaul. They were early ad-
dcted to the refnemens of speech; the love of dis
PutahOn was q passion; orators, actors, and poets
abouDded in the regions which have since been dis
tnguilhed by MassllOn and fletcher, Mirabeau,
and the GiIoDdis1.
In treating the religion of Gaul, Augustus pur-
uo1 "A Tlruid
ism was asserted but not openly only its more cruel
rites were abolished; while it was secretly under
mined in the belief of the upper classes 1t was de-
creed that no adherent of Druidism cOuldepjOy the
privileges Of Roman citizen, though the gods o
Gsul were freely admitted to the hOnOrs of Roman
polytheism.
II Drudism was not, however, by these means
wholly vaBqulshed; If the mass OF the people SILL
chung TO it, In the silence of their cabins, amid the
schudes Of the hills if for centuries yet shall hea
its IecediDg footsteps IS il withdrsws gradually into
Armorics into Britain, into the lonely island OF Mona,
there to breathe tie last sghs among tho breaking bill
lows of the Arctic seas il is The less true that
vitality is sapped and that il s destined TO be NOR
and absorbed in the life Of the new faith. eau
was no longer the chosen home Of the Druids for Gsu
herself was colapsing rapidly in the powerful grasp
of Rome. Her inhabitants, proud and hery vii from
time TO time renew the painful struggle against the III
vader; by incessant revOls they viii continue to pro-
test against his domination, and keep alive the tradi-
ton Of their aRCient freedon but they will exist no
more for az Independent races The old battles OF
the clans already fought out; the res are dying
upon the hearth-stoJes Of the Chiefs and soon their
very language, lingering with sad regrets among the
echoes of the mountains the wild murmurs OF the
rough Breton cifs will be Transmitted into strange
speech
Yet the vigorous characteristics impressed upon the
race by the eternal hand OF Nature will prove them
selves iDdelible the Italian the Spaniard, the Ger
man. the Scandinavian may miDge his blood with that
of the Gau; eighteen centuries Of vclsude, OF war
and change viii pass over him. and after all we shall
be able TO recognize in his descendants, occupying his
ancient pisces the genius which taught slO
qutnee 20 Cicero and disputed victory with Caesar.
GSul fades IN the light Of the more gairsh day OF
the Empire; but, as her planet pales aud the rising
orb seems to til the world with its spend0r, history
notes that her frontiers the Germans blowing
camorous salute upon their OK horns, whe ataT of, in
an obecure and despised province Of the East the
morning stars announce the birth Of child "whose
name they called JEsUs
The introduction of Christianity into Gaul is de- |
scIibed with graphic bIiliancy of densation in one
of the most striking passages of the present volume
The new and divine doctrine revealed by Jesus Of
Nazareth bad been more easily propGgated among the
Jewish sypagogues and Grecsn schools than in the
Silent foxes of the west of Europe. The la6ors aud
euheriuRs of century had produced 1t an Obscure
establishment in Italy and Spain, and brought i, IN
the persons of individuals into Britain, Gau and the
south Of Germany; yet it was nowhere Significant |
enough TO attract Official attention. and much less TO
arouse putHc ALARM Those first prosecutions OF II |
which are commonly ascrbed TO the fears OF the en-
perors arose rather from enmity which eontodnded
II with Judaism or made IL preext Tor personal re-
sentiments. Neither Nero nor Domitisn knew enough /
Of Cbtists uty to deem it proper object OF WRATH
Nor until the time Of Trsjan (after A. d. 99, when
the seDt spread of II had begun 10 threaten the IN
come OF the heather temples and popular animosly