New-York tribune., 1869-02-27
y5ll 1Eu ! Us Ot 3
FRANCE,
WORK on THE SECOND EMPIRE 1.-THE coRIR2ER
| lt ga7sPONDENcR OF NAPOLEON I. sel.qire ri
IFKoh ouH owN" l, wN"P0RREsPokDENr.l

fortnight ago yesterday stont octave Of nearly 100
pages, sold at seven francs-and torday the fourth
edition is nearly exhausted These exterior facts of
publication and sale as well worth noticing as
the book itself, sale publication, or even private
printing Of which in France w6uId not have been
possible two years agoqsi Br - :, ~. aP, - geb
The writing Of book fully justifying the title
this bears is not yet possible IA France y Oar
author is both possessed and besst by diculties.s
within, by the, feelings Of 0 man Belonging to tho
party that most vigorously resisted return to the
institutions Of, the first Empire; without, by the
political regime of fhe Second Empire. Documents
of political history so abundant and interesting in
free countries are here Comparatively rare and in.
significant The use of those published abroad,
whether from the passionate quality of expression
or the alarming gravity Of their statements require
tvo-fold caution from the conscientious historian
who prefers bis own apartment 10 Que IN ste. Peagie
That goal he also runs risk of reaching IL he try To
ascend to the causes OF events by the way or
thesis, or # he indulge In a. tram OF thought on
their results. W175nG g9I.t) ~ !, lh b.sal
M. Delord then. as properly as modestly, admits
that his work is only an attempt toward the history
that has vet been made. The authors age aud pre-
vipus practice political journalist give him adj
yantages aswell as disadvantages for his task. He
was born in 1915, and began writing for the press
while vet in his teens He was one OF the Writers
for Chdrtdi as early 1872 its chief editor In 1913
and the next following years, and frequent con-
tribnfor other Parsiar journals until his recent
occupation with tho preparations Of this Histoire
The organic decree against the press OF Feb. 1852
has had for one result the cultivation by authors
readinr between the lines NJ Delord is q master IN
that art. His book is saddIessed TO French public,
and to be duly appreciated should be read through
French spoctacles So pernsed its often meagerness
takes on q more satisfactory fulness fragmentsry
paragraphs complete themselves. abrupt transition:
are bridged over and numerous seeming defects OF
proportion. Such for example, as the giylag more re
the Imperial guard-beconie more barmonized.
There tIremains among other the journal
vailed % Wit asSns, Iii abusive. demurs always sharp
enough, never coarse nor bufioonish Impartial N.
Delord is not he does not pretend 10 be; sDguarlv
fair considering his provocations and ever gentle
man he notes faults and errors ip all parties and
hardly more than alludes with dec0fous moderation
to the scandalous chyonce rich ia eoloring mate
rial for his portraits OF Napoleon ana ms U9ar ~ -;
volumes BY far the larger part OF their first IS taken
up with the history of parties the declara
condition Of The Bonaparte family previous to 1873
when Prince 1onis in London was such bore TO his
uncle Joseph with ms Napoeonie ideas that the lat
ter dreaded his visits when exskIng Jerome had ap
under the monarchy OF July. After the February
revolution there were found among the papers ready
for the royal signature one % o.
Jerome one half reservable his SON. and the other
named the surviving brother OF the Emperor peer OF
Frapce;y when this son, now Prince Napoleon, being
once suffered on brief visit to France with the adj
vice of n hiers and went to the Tnileries 70 thank
Louis Philippe for his Kindness tofhc family; when
Louis Philippe received. Queen Horteneei with
friendly courtesy; when her son thanked by letter
that monarch for indulgence shown To himself after
hs affair." aPd YasS hhs sGn few by
Boulopne attempt and by ilipending the monarchy
of July In series of newspaper articles which the
laws OF the press in those days let him publish with
s....s x.tf
tthe first election for delegates to the constitn
ent Assembly of lS4S. not vote was cast ior LOUIS
Napoleon. His party at thai tune would not 1aye
filled an omnibus No statesman. no politician OF
any rank or influence had discovered his availability
Before the year was over elected by 44 Z26 ont OF
votes cast ne mad tasep ms Sety s0iemn ot mn
Republic. How soon he broke oath ana confuAtion,
and became Emperor we know. How easiy and
e9tousY he rose parny VIZ sSspsss sv No., 1s
with the politicians but with the people; not IN his
ability but in bis name The nation was possessed
Shs @ ,t s in than S found
exhausted and in possession Of troobs was forgotten
in the glory of his earlier success The dated
from TINT capital. He who had NO pity, became an
exile an object of compassionate admiration. Under
the Restoration and July Monarchy, oppositons OF
all shades joined iu dcfyng him for the effect OF hos
tile contrast, now With Bourbon Of the elder
branch, now with Bourbon Of the younger branch.
Thers. de- lN9rvips Goursaud. Las Casas, and other
nearly 80 years in efriehing the legend. TO which
Befanger and Hugo lent the charm OF verse; and
Dearoche and the other painters the riyal charm OF
form and color. Poor Louis Philippe. with the true,
able politicians skin could conceive no more I'M
genious move against the legitlnists than Playing
the bones OF the Emperor aga1s. ther TIL. Henri eng
in the column of Nendome from wi hieh they had
torn the original of abe image Of his Uncle which
d an CORPORAL. pranatisfs and confessed Yomance
writcrs we're no less busy than historian memoir
writers poets, painters, designers and pollucians
its stock Of truth the exaggeration sprung OF
tional vanity and chauuiattm developed IN the de-
caying memories and fertile imaginations OF gar
ruloas old soldiers and civil servantsdebts glorteax
(that is the consecrated phrase) Of tho Empires and
Topping OH or casting IN the shade OF exuberant
laurel the abomipatons and desolatlons 9i tne I'M
the Eapoleonic deity, and the degraded existences
which hs forced whole classes Of his creatures to
lead in tbeirciyil life. - -. ,,. ,.,,.. . ,,,s
than barely indicate the sizesand Of What
may be styled rendiHal@ OF history IN fespect 70
ths Napeleoais Legend It's q aaits Iess1t G.b bs
Histoede Napoleon by Laafrcy; especially the thIa
and thus far last volume, published but few weeks
ago with fear Of repression. seizure and Prosecution
this Of which the author has written 10 ci OBJ
jecting 10 its lack Of mere Literary charms w psrq
ness, It's dryness. OF musical now Alasl ~
onIy too true Sir, but 4 am trying 10 Judge nos
sing II there were merely question OF art I'm shs
CASE, should never havei undertaken TO object TO
the brilliant romance OF M 'Iniers.s but docs
that romanceP Mediate. that Mr. Abbott, Theirs,
who after al has certain eminent qualities AZ y hs,
foriah, Thiers o romancerL TO thisb category 2t
most valuable contribution tOit belongs 20 the Cor
respondsnos Of Napoleon in course OF pubiicaton ny
the care and under the care OF an edtoriai sonm,t
com rnittee aud its measure of editorial liberty
have been modified since tbe 2ist y9lupie q therI
about AZ they Come nearer 10 the downfall OF the
Firrt Empire they are advised TO be more select IN
heir selection of its authors writings Bus tls eos