, 1862-01-08

T;tknor & Field, Of Boston, havc just pub
l:shed j translation Of the "Mcmoirs, Letters
md Remains Of Alexis dc ToYucvil1c,' TIC
Memoir is stiff and utterly void Of any facts
that we want 10 know. The letters are full OF
character end life, and make us long for those
that are still withheld, and In which we are to t
See Tie opinion OF this great mind on 1hc !
scenes and actors Of his owu political f1c. !
But The most interesting part Of the BOOK, 10 !:
Americans. will be a little sketch called " A !
Fortnight in the Wilderness" being all ac- !
count Of trip in 1881, from Detroit to sasi- /;
uaw. 1t is exqpisitely finished, like all Of
TooucyiIlc's writings, and contains, Under the
cuise of simple narrative and portrsiture, i
most profound and searching analysis Of the
soeial problems that the journey and its scenes
,:ionecr Of the forest aud his family, Of the
ambition that goads them, of the priTations
tlcy suffer, of the rewards they obtuin, Of TIC
. elect OF their life on the male and 1efnale
character, is tender, apprccjative, phlosopn.
c.l, lis well as just. His tone is rcspeeuui
and dignlicd. He remembers that NC Ii III
the presence Of the American feop1e' VINO
represent the principle Of popular govern
mcnt, and alone uphold the cause Of freedom;
and the smallest fact that passes Under his
npt;en seems to be entitled to careful con5ld
Grafton, that it may be classified in that mas
tcrly discussion of our country which was the
n snlt Of his journey here. The American
People owe Alexis dc ToqucvilIe an eternal
debt Of love and gratitude.
BIZ singular coincidence, We took up, only
few hours before this volume fell into our
lmnds, ssMartin Chuzzlewit,' - the funniest and
except for Il single blcmish, the best Of Ill
Diekens's novels. We looked over those silly,
lying, caricaturcs on America, and called to
mind similar ones in the t' American Notes."
We wondered how much Of the miseoncep-
ton Of our Government, and the gross fgno-
rance Of our true character, which recent de-
vclopments show to prevail 20 extensively in
Europe, Dickens WAS accountable for. He and
Russell and Mrs. Trollope and other compeers,
have had more effect on the European mind
than we had any idea Of. Their defamation,
| which Ee forgot as soon as VIC read it, thel1
| caricatures, which we laughed at, have sunk
deeper than we thought. Toqueyillc's pro
found study and application were all the more
refreshing after Dickens, and we could MOI
help drawing the contrast between them. Tht
English snob came over to this country with {
wide reputation was f6tcd and carcsGed By othe
suobs, treated in a distinguished manner b,
his equals and superiors, Travelled through al
our cities, as one might say, on rose leaves
and saw their best features, and then
in bis rage and spite and morti6c
vanity, because Congress did not pas
the bill be had drawn up and brought over i
! his pocket, gave, as the final result Of his JON
ncy, the summing up Of lis observations o
the country coaFse, stupid, silly carlcature
', some Of our social and linguistic peculfaritie
"a book which simply disgusts all well regt
lated minds. This WAS all. Nothing else struc
linn with sufficient force to make an i1npre
sion. a young French gentleman came hcl
/, nearly fifteen years before the British dand.
e uuheraldcd, except by a few letters Of intr
1 duction; Travelled through the wilderness, O
served, thought, studied, and went HON
= | After long, conscientious, pczscrering 1abo
. llc produced book which cxcitcs, and VI
excite to all future time, the wonder and II
admiration Of all Chrlstendonl, aud will be tt
~ beacon to all future ages, showing the seek
" after liberty the true principles on which alo
6 it can be founded; a book which has earn
& him the love and yeneration Of every Anne
Y, can to whom lis name shall become know
a The contrast is decidedly favorable to t
N Frcnchman; and should VIC not take his Y
- ume, in connection with the recent work
~ another Frcnchman, on the present rebellit
- as an indication that genuine sympathy for {
IL cause, and true comprehension Of our T.
of ernment, are to be sought among Frer
[st philosophers, and not among British suo
;e, dandies and cotton merchants?