The New York herald., 1878-07-07
LII IIERATURE.

GUIZ0T.
The late William Nassau Seniors posthumous vol
ume, Conversations with ~ Theirs, NJ Guizot and
Other Distinguished Persons During the Second EN-
pire" (Hurst Blackelt), Is a boog Of more than
ordinary Interest, few copies OF which have found
their TO this country. In 1868 u volume OF Mr.
Seniors conversations" were gwen TO the pubic
and attracted general attention. The present work,
wb,oh In Two volumes, Includes conversations
with Theirs, Guizot, King Lsoped, the Due do
Broglie Victor Csusin, Lamartne, Mermee, Rossni
and other distinguished men OF France and
England, besides numcer OF distinguished
ladieR Mr.. Senior evidently appreciates ths
privilege Of chatting on familiar terms
with great men, ana unsslnsniy maze Of
his conversations for the Of posterity. Not only
had Mr. Senior good memory. but after writing out
the conversation delivered on hand. he gave the
script to his riend Tor revision, that nothing IS
printed that the speaker was not willing 10 father.
Mr. Senior, though exceicnt at reporting 4
ton, lacks that Instinct which would lead some men
convey the reader idoa OF tho circumsts
under which tho c0nve rsation was held or the emo
tions Of the speaker Ono the descriptive peD
but is s thankful 10 g, the subject matter OF tho
conversations that he Ia not inclined 10 complain OF
the style IN which they are set Mr. Seniors social
position gave MIN the entrte only 10 the salons
ilustrous persons, but gave him their confidence
weli aud he never abused II The conversations with
MN. Theirs and Guizot are the most notable 10 tho
book. The writer's Intercourse with n. Tn;ers was
apparently tho most intimate. Tho book opens with
conversation held with Th,srs the spring Of 1852
u few months after the coup deta, which was natur-
ally the subject OF every Frsnchman's thoughts
Thiors opened his remarks by sayins, "rhe corner
my policy has always been tho English ali-
anco." In speaking Of Louis Napolson, hs said:-
He tried 70 sesuoe me through my family. 1
absolute out OF doors, but slave at home tell my
s 'ha a, n9%s s% n ss IL a e"e,
.he Orieans. l.my. though sns 'rynss' ,ke myself.
from tho 6ovSeose what no wanted,
above ALL WAS my sanction to his imperial tendences,
have sometimes almost regretted thas did not
favor them, ana Try 10 turn him Into constitutional
monarch He fears The sosiass. and hts isposition
is Of thsa who hate whatever they lear, bat he
has many points In common with shsrn He sym.
pAhzes with their decstAtou Of the oorgscfsse and
VI tho educated classes.
In this same year n. Theirs thought that villa
England was not improbable Tor he said:-
The temptation 10 punish you for Waterloo, mot
only to avsngs Napoicon, but 10 eclipse him, effect
what the hero OF ihs century did not venture TO
temp, is which his wild, irroguisr presu mptuous
noss,bIa He probably viii per,sh by war
he certainly would perish by peace and he viii prefer
q remote and perhaps brilliant fall 10 an Immediate
On the OF the Crimcan war Mr. Senior had
important conversation with M Thiers In which the
famous statesman said:--
The English Cabinet trusts to the good faith OF
Nicholas, ana 70 mis- ASSURANCES that he Win enter
Conssantnope Nicholas. without doubt, Is honest
man, and far us that 10 possible, an b0ucst siatss
man. but the promises o to be trused
instant alter they interfere with the
wishes OF his country. Such wishes Irresistible
They sweep away like cnsn understandings and en-
gagements aud even treaties. You have O.
fused TO interfere; you have let Nicholas twist
soif rounu The bunilo. In a lev years ho will have
broken all It's bones. and then, and ull then. ho
viii begin actually TO swallowu Dearly you wall pay
for when Russia 10 mistress Of the Black Sea we'll
as the Baltic. France and England viii then SINK
into second rate Pow She will have army twice
large rs ours and fleet equal TO yours. sweden
and Norway are already hcr vasssls
In . iurther conversation with N. Thers In
answer to Mr. Seniors question, What would you
have us TO dor ho said
advise you as sincere friend OF the alliance, TO
rtatng opposition 10 tho Soez Canal, keeping Perrin
ns y se.on, n you want IT, aavito you, as l advise
France, 10 prove your lcg,sassu as TO crimes CON-
mittcd abroad or against foreign countries. Our
,ntoi national intercourse advise your new spapsrs
to avoid ripping up old sores bot aUovo all, advise
you 10 take OF your army and OF your navy aud
not 70 leave the Channel ungusrdsd IN order to block
ade the ports Of Guinea
Int general conversation with 0u,zot, the veteran
historian saio, speaking about Eugsnd:-
lam gong TO give tho Enehsn some praise aud
clemens OF good company, more knowledge or
Imagination, or ,tasts, or nutuor VII. bet they
too roRsrvcd INDECENT to make tbs best
OF them IN want FREQ traae ideas, aId Often sub
stitule words for them. From time to umo have
lived IN an English country ncigntoraood; ANA IN
every house ate tho dinner aud heard tns
cOorsrsstssn. ~. i.s. 1pee..'f .c .e.r-
The work Of editing these volumes has been care
lully done by Mr.. Seniors daughter N. ~ simpson.