The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-06

Christians frequently retalated on Sainte-Beuve,
and ne never forgave them Tor he added to the
merit OF being vigorous polemlst that or being Q
first class hater. 1t Is goou 20 see now In his
essay on Balzac, he repays O grudge which the
great novelist had contracted by ridIculing him as
.pedant In "Un Prince de la Boheme." Bal
mad poKed fun at the critics style. Says saiDte-
Beuve, abiding to BalZacis own style, at Is dry
and sllpshod; but let us beware OF dwelling ON IL
lest we should lapse into Imitation For tnose
who can read between the lines the essays abound
with little shafts Of this sort, evelled in reprisal
Tor the stabs OF wounded novelists and poets, and
one is compelled TO laugh, even though many OF
the structures are unjust. In the present
two volumes, which contain only the
essays published from 1924 TO 1889 ttheY
were contained in the Constitutional Montteer
ana Temps till the date OF Sainte.Beuye5 death,
1sesl more than forty French ana foreign authors
are reviewed and there is not one OF the essays
out can furnish valuable hints in composition 10
young authors. Salnte-Beuye was Sarans Ills
eruditlon was both varied and deep, his taste
faultless his shrewdness for detecting the strong
and weak points OF writer snguarly keen. Nor
can IL Ee contended that lie was IN general other
wise tnan lar critic. Good hater as he might be
personal luminosity never blinded him TO the
merits or an adversary, and he would often begin
an essay with q feeling euogy OF man he dis
liked, thereby giving greater tai tness to the Dash
oil yerjulce be would throw in at the end. 1t is
Impossible not to enjoy these essays, they are so
forclble and malicious, so scholarly and chatty.
Tney also abound with anecdotes which give them
the interest OF a book OF memoirs-racy memoirs
too.
L,ANNEE PoIITIQUE Par Andre Daniel. Paris:
Charpentler ct Gle. 1875.
This work is new essay in French periodical
literature being the first publication OF proposed
annual register or political events throughout the
world 1t contains the history OF the year 1874
with copious introduction, detailing the causes
which led to the overthrow OF Theirs in May, 1873,
and the collapse oil the schemes Tor a monarchist
restoration In the following November. NJ. Daniel
is accurate and paInstaEiug. and possesses that
clearness in narrative which Is sucn an admirable
characteristic OF his countrymen. OF course he
would nave been more tnan mortal Frenchman
had he conulved TO speak OF English affairs with.
out introducing 'qe WIgglsmen into the situation;
but his accounts OF the transfer OF power which
last year witnessed both IN the United States and
Great Britain are eminently satisfactory and con-
else. Lucidity and 0rev.ty: those are the quail
ties which constitute history.
HIsToIRE DE IA TRANSMISSION DU PoUvoIE IMPE-
RIAL A RomE EFT A CoNsTANTINOPLR Par Al
phonse PaIllard, Ancien PIelet Paris: L. Plon
ct Gle. 1879.
This is a curious and learned work, written by
former Project OF the Second Empire. Its design
is to show the stability OF Roman imperial lnstitu-
tons both IN the capital or the West and In later
ages at Constantinopio. From the tyranny or
Caligula or a Domltlan NJ. Pailard appears TO
draw the inference that the Empire must have
possessed an inherent excellence 10 survive IL.
BUT it is not necessary to accept the political
illusions OF the author 10 appreciate the worth OF
his labors. In the compass OF 500 pages he sum-
marlzes with careful accuracy tie history OF 1000
years. One remark OF his deserves to be quoted,
IL only as showing that new remedies for the
political maadles Of France are never likely to
fan in number or variety. NJ. Paillards idea IS
tnat after the picotscite Of May. 1870 the sou OF
Napoleon III. should have been associated WITH
his Iatnsr in the imperial authority. Hence me
probably imaglnesl the course OF government
would have continued unbroken after Sedan ana
the captivity OF the elder monarch.
DU REGIME DIES rRAvAUX PUDLIC5 IN ANGLE
TERRE. Par On. DC Frsnqueyllle. Paris: Hacuette
ct C1e. 1879.
M. de franquevile Is a istlngushed Official In
tue French Department OF Pubic Works. lie has
travelled In England, he has seen Parliamentary
Commit ees at work, he has spoken 10 general
managers OF railways and carefully studied Eng
lisn legislation on the subject. lie has, IN short,
spared 70 pains 10 make his work complete
and exhaustive. IL consists Of four thick sized
volumes which In spite or the dryness OF the
theme nave already reached a second edition. N.
de Franqueyllle arrives az the conclusion that he
could not recommend the French TO adopt the
English system, or rather, no-system OF public
wcrKs, though ne l. convinced that II Is suited to
the temper OF the English people and 20 the greater
wealth OF their country.
PRIgCrPEs DE SCIENCE ABsOLUE. Par NJ James
Thomson. Paris: J. Rothschld. 1875.
NJ Tnomson's very learned work bears a Sec
ond or explanatory utle-viz., Questions or Ab-
solute science, OF Science Based Upoa Natural,
integral Analogical Reduction Of the Unity or
the Absolute Pact.r This sentence alone requires
careful digestion, and the remainder or the book
IS nlIed wltn equally weighty matter. But IL must
NOT be fanced that the book Is tedious; on the
contrary IL Is Just such q one as Charles Lamb
would nave loved 70 saunter through, passing
rom grave 0 gar, from lively 70 severe, from Ms.
tory e. phloso2 hy, from theology 10 politics, sure,
wherever n paused, TO be arrested By some Wild
nower OF thought, for Mr. Thomson Is fettered by
the trammels Of no conventional school. II should
be added that Notwithstanding IN purity OF ms
French, the authors knowledge of biblical lore
betrays his Anglo-Saxon nationality.
CAMILLE DEsaoULSEs, &C. Par Jules arctic.
Paris Il. pom CT CIe. 1875.
NJ. Claretfe always writes agreeably, and ne has
made the history OF the French Revolution his
special study. lie Is at home, not only IN the va
tional Convention, but Ia the drawing rooms as
well Is the garres, OF 1895. The interest OF the
present work centres IN the beautiful ana accom-
plished La lie Desmoulins, for Camille himself
was OF a wasp'sh and unamiable disposition and
has been somewhat unJustIy localized by pos
terity.
Among the hitherto unpublished documents
consulted by NJ CiaretIe are the Notes" taken ny
Topln0-Lebrun, juror Of the Revolutionary Trl
bunal a. the trial OF Danton. Camille, FaDre Dig.
lantne aud their iriends-materials winch would
confer the highest value on a less entertaining
book than that or NJ. Claretie.
PAssE FL PRESENT. BY "Memor.n Paris: Plon ct
Gle.
guisted French dlpIomatiss has published a short
and nvely bsok treating Of the policy pursued BY
Prussia toward France within the last ten years.
French minds are naturally still sore at the events