Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-02-28
,,o,,,v,, H,.,Ory or ,he United Netherlands

MotIsy's History OF the United Netherlands
We have been favored by the publishers through the
courtesy Of A. Norris bookseller and ssatOner OF this
city, With tie
HIsrORY OF TAX VNTTED NETHERLANDS, from the death
Of William the Silent TO the Synod OF bort; with
fun vieN>oi the Ergsh-DGtch struggle against SPAN,
aud Of the origin and destruction Of the Spanish Ar
mada BY John LOhrop Motley, LII. d., u " L.,
Corresponding member Of the Institute oil France
and author Of "rhe Rise OF the Dutch kepnohe' -
In two volumes svo. New York Harper Brothers
Another work from the author of the Dutch ne
public" will be hailed with delight by the friends of sub
stanal literature everywhere. Though previously un-
known to fame a. historian the appearance Of his work
on the Dutch Republic established for Mr.. Motley high
tank among the graceful and reliable writers of his time
Toe work before us from the eursOry examination which
we have been enabled give to the first volume, Is like
II materially to add the reputation justly acquired
The entire work, when finished will comprise four vol
umes bringing down the history oHOland to the peace
of WestphaGa, by which the eighty years war of the
Netherlands was brought to a close. We can only say
that so far as he has progressed with his abor Mr. Mot
ley has done himself great credit the first two vol
umes are monument to his discriminating aud patient
research, and his ability a writer.
The following extracts will entertain the reader, as
well as furnish fair specimen of Mr.. MOtleys style
PRINCE ALEXANDER OF PARMA.
Untring uncOmpl1inirg thoughtful of others, prodi-
pa of himself generous modest brave; with so much
intellect and so much devotion Whist he considered
his duty ne deserved be pa riot aud champion OF
the right rather than an instrument OF despotsm.
Aud thus be paused for mOment-wh much work
already accomplished but his hardest fetask before him;
still in the Of manhood fine martial figure stand
ing spear in hand full in the sunlight, though all the
4 = F.ln
handing shape entitled the admiration which the en-
ergetic display Of great powers however unscrupulous
must always command. A dark meridiana physiognO-
my; quick alert imposing head jet black, close clip
ped ha; bold eagles face, with full, bright, restless
eve; a man rarely responding, always ready, never
alarmed living in the saddle with harness on his back
such the Prince of Parma; matured snd mellowed
but s.ill uLharmed by time.
HENRY NAVARRO.
AT his very figure TO leap forth from the
mist OF three centuries instinct with rudy vigorous life
Such was the intense vitality Of the Bearnese prince that
even nov be seems thoroughly alive and recogniza
bic than half the actual pSrsonages who are tretng their
hour upon the stage.
We see. at .ouce a man of moderate stature, light
sinewy and strong face Drowned With continual expo
sure; small mrthiul vet commanding blue eyes glitter
ing from beneath arehng brow aud prominent cheek
bones long hawks nose, almost resting upon salient
chin a pendent mous,1che, aud thick, brown curly
beard prematureiy grzzed We see the mien of frank
authority aud magnificent good humor We hear the ready
lilies OF the shrewd CASTOR mOth5rwit, feel the eec
sity which flashes out Of him. and sets all hearts around
him on fire. when the trumpet sounds to battle. The
headlong desperate charge the snOw-white plume
ing where the tire hottest the large capacity for enjoy
ment Of the man. r0tug without aheeaton IN the ce-
,,4inis gaq the insane galop, after the combat, to
m the trophies at the feet OF the Cynthia OF the minute
ID thus 20 forfeit lis fruits all familiar to as if
the seven distinct wars the hundred pitched battles the
wo hundred SIEGE in which the arnese was PERSONAL
y present, had been occurrences OF our own day.
HENRY H. OF FRANCE.
He had not beel born without natural gifts such
Heaven rarely denies prince peasant but the
AGE which be possessed had been exhausted on the
field on Moneoutour, his manhood had been let behind
him ~ Venice aud SUCH vi. Heaven had endowed him
hal Eas nov expended IN dartng vigorous epigrams
courades whom ne was only capable OF dshOEorif by
aumuy and whose charms he burned 10 ouriyal in the
e,.in auou Of his miuious With silken tOuu-
ces eweed stOmacher aud painted face with pearls OF
~ pre adorniug his barred neck and breast and satin
.ppered feet OF whose delicate shape and sizs he
Justly vain it was his delight pass his days and nights
in eeaseess round OF gorgeous festivals Journeys pro-
c-ssOns masquerade tauquets aud balls the cost OF
which gGtteriug fryo les caused the popular burden,
and the poputr eNecratOu 20 grow, from day 70 doF,
more iutolersble anG more audible. Surrounded by
Gang OF minious. the most debauched and the most
desperate Of France whose bedizsned dress exhalcd
uetfumss throuebog, Paris aud whose sIUguiu-
ary encounters dyed every steot In blood, Henry
Lived a lite of what he called pleasure, careless OF
what MIGHT come after for he the last Of his
I, fo-tges OF MS rinons rose higher and higher ns
cir crimes rendered them more and mo esimable in
the ewes Of a King who took vomaLs pride ia the val
r OF such champions TO bis weakness, and more odicus
CD a peopl, whose miserable homes we've made even more
miserable that the Golfers of few court ayOres might
b. filled Now sauutering, full dressed in the public
p-omenaics with CHASTITY little deaths heads strung upon
bis sump nous garments and fragments OF human bones
dangling among his orders OF knishthood playing atcup
and sa ae he walked, and followed by few select cour
tiers who grasry p-Tsu-d the same occupation; now,
presdrg like queen OF beauty, a. Q tournament TO
son the prize Of ytor aud now, by the advice OF bis
mother going about the streets in robes OF pentence,
lrg his beads AS he went that the pOpulce might be
,din.i o. as uiety and soenly Offering up prayers in
The churches ths e sssngs OF an heir might be youeh-
.,ted 70 him-Henry OF Falo5 -a-eed straning every
Earve in order TO bring himself and his great oce into
contempt
As orthodox as ne vas proagate he hated the Hugue-
Eots who sought his projection and who could have
saved his throne as cordially be loved the suits,
who passed their lives il secret Plot,ngs against lis au
h,rity and his person, Ia her0s deuulciaOns from
the Paris puDits against bis manifold cf!ncs Next 10
AN exquisite aud sauguiuaEy fOp, be dearly loved molk.
Tire presence of friar he said, e1erted As agreeable
a eject upon his mind rs the most delicate aud gentle
tickling could produce upon Ms boiy; anl he des
tined to have Iuie. desc OF that charming presence
than he coveted.
PHILIP H., SPAIN.
A small dull elderly, impericotlS. educated patient,
uodl,ng INVALID with white hair and pfotrudng under
~ and deary vislge sitting day atter day, sci
dom speaking, ueyef smiling, Cegen eight hours out
oi every twenty four a. a wriing table covered with
haps Of iutermnable despaehes in cabinet far away
bsyond the seas aud mountains, in the very heart of
Soain clerk or two no5elessy opening and shutting
the door from time 70 time fetching fresh bundles Of
letters aud taking away OtheIs-all written aud
oossi by secretaries or high unconaries all to be
craVled over in the margin by the diligent old man. in
big schOoboys hand Gad styeif ever schoolooy, even
I'm the sixteenth century could wFite 50 illsgioy. or
express himself so aSkwardly cOuriers in the court
ward. arriving ON or departing for the uttermosJ
ulrts of the earth-Ass, Africa, America, EurOpe-to
fetch and carry these iGtermiuable epses whi:h
timed the pOn,be commands OF this individual
aud were fegEled with the doom and destiny OF count
loss mi lions of the worlds inhabtants-such was the
system of government against watch the Netherlands
had protested and reyol.ed Il was a system under
which their fields bad been made desolate their cities
burned and piged their men hanged burned drowned,
or hacked 10 piec s; their subjected every
outage aud 20 Dut an end to which they had been de
voting their treasure -uG their blood for nearly the
NTH Of one generation. II las system too, which,
among other sus had just brought about the death
o. the statesman Of Europe, aud bad nearly eff
leeted simultaneously the murder of the most eminent
,ve,ei-q in the world The industrious Philip fe and
.poui in the desths of the Escura saying his prayers
.lre, times day with exemplary regularity, had just
sent three bullets through the body Of William the 81
leat at his dningroom door in Delft.
4 most important dispatch-in which the King, with
bis own hand vas supposed 70 be conveying secret in
tsgence to Mendoza concerning the Armada, together
With minute die, c0G5 FOX the regulation OF Guses con-
lnet ~ ths m morAte epoch OF the lag Cade5-cOn-