New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-19
HISTORY OF FRANCE, BY AN AMERICAN.
ANCIENNE GAULE. BY PARKE GOODWIN. VOL. ].

ANCIENNE CATTLE. BY PARKE GOODWIN. VOL. !.
Fro~ fae May Nembe, Of the Rerue dee Deur M0ndss
II is a great relief TO read history OF France, and
above all history of the origin Of old France writ
ten with moral sense go pure, goodwin 70 evi'
dent, with 20 honest dere 10 throw light upon inc
subject, and not to profit by it TO CRAFTY some Ia
vorte preposeesion 1t is pleasant to feel relieved
Gallomania, Of theories which only discover mind
blinded by vanity, or party bias, or equally so by
species OF mOnomania. Our historical SCHOOL has had
some brilliant examples, and it has had much con-
coded TO it. Bot what noble faculties have been
perverted in their direction by bad tendency Of the
duced only defective works, because they were
not used to regard things justly. With his marvellous
instinct of forecast NJ Micbelet is often merely a
s,bari,e of imagination, who reflects only that be
may have the pleasure and transport OF the most
fascinating visions. Henri Martin is patient and
ernde. lie has force of will, but he Is Druid; ne
believes in meempsy Ghosts, in the miraculous voices
OF Joan of Are, to find in her the apotneosis OF
France; he is determined to explain away the vir'
tues of the old Germa ans by vicethe vices OF the
Gauls by virtue, and all this without fire or flame,
without the charm without the excuse OF tne u
puIse of imagination. His enthusiasm Is all OF we
lead, 1t is fever by reason Of a fixed idea lie
cooy declares that France of the sixteenth century
ought not TO have remained Catholic nor become
Protestant but Rabelaisian, probably because ma.
belais was descendant Of the Drnids. And wha'
shall be said of 30 many others, whose PHILOSOPHY
and morale form their ideal after France, In place OF
judging France by truthful ideal.
1t 10 not in the mean time, that the elements OF an
excellent history do not offer themselves to us at
home. NJ. Goodwin, the American historian, OF
whom We are about to speak, who does not pretend
to be an innovator, has known how to gather an
ample harvest in the works Of Guizot, SIsmondi,
Lehnerou, Amadee Thierry, and his illustr1ous
II. he ufa inns on
in such high degree that he might have left be-
hind him works so complete, If he had been less IN
clined to make his poleInics coincident with the
past.
The particular advantage of the American writer
is the merit Of knowing how to appreciate with dis
cernment the gifts of modern science seeking directly
from his heart those which really confomed most to
facts or most proper to explain them. 1t is the merit
of having gone far beyond first Impressions OF being
careful to assign 10 differing influences only their
true character, and to have thus composed = work
intelligent and satisfactory which gives just idea OF
our history, finds Of summing up all the known
materials and of really increasing the knowledge
of the reader in place OF transmitting 70 MN Soleiy
errors preudices and disagreeable inclnations OF
nature to engender new misconceptions in bis mind
When we seriously reflect upon it, how grave ap-
pears the responsibility Of the bisoran What per-
nanent evil no is able TO do in yielding to bad I'M,
pulses; IN allowing himself to put forth vitiated
appreciation, from want OF conscientloueness' by
the folly Of moment he is able to transmit through
numerous generations a progeny Of prejudlces, OF
national hatreds, presumptuous tollies impeing to
wars drawbacks on his country, and misery Tor null
titudes From this fault, which he might have
avoided, may proceed vices OF thought which VIII
become a fstality-a hereditary malay, not only
with his readers and their children, but Of all those
who come under his influence, and who are sure to
call themselves legion, in consequence OF the repug
nance which the masses have to thinking for them
selves.
II is like the lightning messengers, spreading sud
denly across q whole country, thought emtted IN
corner, above all of q thought which chimes IN WIN
that the civity of private life is also aPpl-
cable 70 nations and that If il s improper for an IN
dividual to think only bow he can boast OF himself
and traduce another, it is not less unlawful ana I'M
proper necessarily to atter our national vanity ana
remain rs a people profoundly coutemptuous OF all
that ia not OF ourselves. This would not be much
better than to have two m0rses, one IN the salts
faction of pitilessy condemnng our neighbors, the
ether of persuading ourselves that justice when the
question 10 of France, consists IN considering only
the interest Of France. History by itself sready
task almost superhuman. Never will they who
consecrstc themselves TO il do honor to their name
az long as they do not fully feel that intelligence
learning even genius, are not tho most indispensable
10 hisorisn and that the golden rule for him, the
ONLY means Of leaving works which VIII receive the
sanction of the future s not TO express thai which
he perceives and thinks unless bis hcuities are
guided by the best sentiments.
We are pleased TO see our psst history and our
reputatiou among foreigners Ia the hands OF an IN
terpreter who comprebends these duties, and who Is
capable of comprehending them. Above all, NJ.
Goodwin has q judicious mind. liberal spirit; he Is
free from that which misleads without marked par
taltes without preudices for the cause Of the no
mans. the Celts, or the old Germans; he opens his
eyes, and has quick eye and rare and prompt IN
telligence There is scarcely trace in him OF any
in favor OF the Germans, the anees
Tors of his own race On the contrary, he seeks TO
hiring forward the foundations Of the customs and
in.liiutions which they had in common with the
Celia the Pease1 and the first tribes OF INDIA; that
il 10 saw the foundations OF the institutions OF WHICH
the honor does not belong 10 their particular charac
fer hut which attained with them the highest de-
Gree of DEVELOPMENT the consequences Of their time.
In the same manner, NJ. Goodwin only places IN
a better hght the distinctive peculiarly OF the
.,cieut Germans. that which IN developing
itself under new circumstances, has gwen pflh 10
the Feuta system. speas OF the national custom
according TO which, Young people placed themselves
Sr.eIv under the direction Of the chief whom they
prelerred. Among the Gauls, the clan resemoied
more the patriarchal family OF the time Of Abraham
II recruited itself also by adoption; by the aces
sion Of dependent strangers lhese assiulis'eu
mora the hereditary vassals; free choice did not eA-
lat 90 generally for the youth. IL Is only among the
arcieni Germans, we encounter this strange mixture
nj liberty snd authority this regard Tor Individual
.e,rments. and this instinct Of suboriination. The
preserved his right TO dispose OF himself
freely and he only used his liberty IN the choice OF
"A master To select for himself some other iesthy'
Tbot aOain which struck ia AS one Of the newest
and most instructive points of this history is tie
liyht which II throws the character ana progress
of religious ideas. In taking an elevated point
OF view. NJ. Goodwin we'll resolves some prob
lens. lie paints he defines admirably the
shane which Christianity took, toward Inc
emo of the Roman SWAY, and the new transfor-
nations which cIeeds underwent under the hercVln-
o;ans: he slows with cleaInes the kind OF influence
which they had on the character and course
of events. The historian by few touches also ll-
illustrates curious trait in the character OF Charie
- rrha mani emrarnr nnNittinply euiered MS