New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-04
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
lee IrNnrR THE FIRST EMPIRE.

s. Brothers.
Whoever approaches Madame de Remusats
Letters in the hope of finding i'll them proiohga'oh
OF the absorbing and vital interest OF ner
Memoirs" will be disappointed. Inc Le''oi'
have however an interest which is all their own
and ~ not transient. Their political sishiucance
is oaly slight But IN one sense. they supplement-
the Memoirs bv supplying side-lights ana scenery
and m acme degree social background for the re-
marKable revelations of the authors "reminiscences.
They have another special value sufficient in itself
10 make the Letters welcome. The Memoirs have
gwen Madame de Remusat place among the char
acters of literary history and for that reason
high degree of interest will always attach to letters
that throw as these do. photographed light
upon her character, her family aud her daily life.
Ii is too much to say also that these i97 letters
possess sufficient charm OF style and Thought aud
importance of anecdote and incident to entite
them to "a generous reception. even 1t the Memoirs
had never been written. Thanks to q smooth and
idiomatc translation. Madame dc Remusat's
natural grace and piqnancy OF expression as n
familiar correspondent are great measure saved
for the English reader.
For several the picture letters give of
domestic aud social lite under the First Empire is
neither complete nor as free and distinct rs. on
first thought. would be expected from the CORES
pondcnco of Madame de Remusat Her husband
the Enperors First Chamberlain. to whom all 5ut
four of the letters addressed. separated
to several months The continuity OF the letters
therefore frequently broken. Owing to the petty
espionage which Napoleon maintained IL not
safe TO commit free comments upon him and public
events to the ordinary post. And for the
reason the temptation was always strong to be
more or less nsincere to withhold thoughts and
incidents which would be dispeasing to tho I'M
perIal master. and to make great deal of those
sentiments and professions which might find favor
with HIM. Court gossip could be ventured upon
only when 1T had no political import M de
Remusat must have possessed great am,abty and
perfection OF character TO deserve the words of
mingled esprit and affection which his wife con
tinuay bestows upon HIM. She worries mnch
over the hardships he will encounter while
travelling. AT time tho roads reported bad
aud she says: You will be travelling them to-
morrow and l shall be jolted all day long"
Napoleon's personality. we have said does not
stand forth prominently in the Letters Usually her
husbands absence Is consequences of the Empernr's
being away iron Paris. But when Napoleon
is at homo and NJ. dc kfnusat at II distance. the
prudent wife is always ON her guard aud mindful
that the Emperor has no tine notions about The invo
liability of private correspondence While his prin-
cpal motive doubtless general distrnst of every
body and fear of political intrigue. 1t s easy to he
heve. in a fuller knowledge of ms character. that
this chief motive tnIged with curiosity
When her letters travel by post her ailuSious to
Napoleon short like tho follow wing, aud uust
often think, more discreet than sincere:
do not know whether you any French news
papers; if you do yon will have read n circum-
siantlal account OF tue tinperoTs extreme grarIous
ness at Brlenhe. Mime. de Brennc beside her
self with delight. 1t Is true that 1t would br
possible to- be more gracious than the Emperor
OIL that occasion. | some letters to NJ lie
Damas. full of charming little speeches made by
bm he laid himself ont to he agreeable, and the
effect has leen excellent in critical society
Our severest lady critics owucd the anliability of
our sovereign, esnd they are willing now to admit
pleasant
but they add that he does not always like. What
treatise could write on human vanity. What ex-
amples could lind in the very society that values
itself 50 highly There is not one woman of
acquaintance who would not have been much
enchanted Niue de Brienne. yet they are all
laughing at her enthusiasm.
Our winter q SO5-6) will be a dull one the future
IS so misty that we dare rely on nothing, and
sre again IL the state OF uncertainty from which
were just beginning To emerge. 1t is curious fact,
but the uncasiuess and anxiety cannot help feel.
ing under the circumstances disappear when find
myself III tue presepe of him who nevertheless is
their causc On Thursday night at the ST. Cloud
theatre when behrd the calm cOuulenanro of tho
aud Of our future When he first entered his box
he looked grave but not anxious. Toward HE end
hn often laughed. and felt tempted tu thank him
foI his gayety. and t" augur well from the hopes
IT permitted Tie to entertain.
Immediately on waxing this morning threw open
my shutters, and the first person [ saw was the
and the last To retire. always ready and active
Nav Heaven protect ami watch over himl You
morning prayer.
Meanwhile the Emperor is working with super
human assnutv Sometimes. when oycrtired. he
goes Ia bed at seven ght o'clock and up again
at eleven. 1t Is reported here that Monday
he goes to the Senate. aud will starr immediately
afterward. Mon ami. what journey! How
anxious it makes mel feel rs if with him all the
rrposo aud happiness we we're beginning TO enjoy
will depart. May Heaven watch over hint
think by this time he Emperor must be in
Paris. l dreamed last night that saw him. and
fell weeping on his neck. WHAT relief it is to
know that he Is III Paris. and that peace is made
We now look back and with aston ishlnent
how long we have been walking the edge of u
prrcpce. We are safe at last, and the little speck
III The universe called the earth Is safe too; for
everyt hing depends GU that Que life.
Paris is profoundly gloomy. Everybody remains
at home i'll n state OF anxiety and SUSPENSE tho
theatres arc deserted people grOau aud await in
silence the beginning of great events. The mOtlera
ton of the Emperor's speech is greatly praised :;
people desire his sucress-some sincerely, others
from Interested motives; for he bears the proud
title ASOe Morelet used to say, of the Necessary
Nan
Yonr reflections on the wonders of this last cam
paign tlSO6l seem very Just. There is something in
the Emperor's fortune that couiounds ordinary
Ideas and Is, so to speak, above them Ono feels
carried away and almost stunned and vet he seems
to he raised far above circumstances that one has
no right to be terrified at the dangers to which he
exposes himself, and still less to fix the limit at
which he should stop. Yet it makes ones heart
heavy to think of the terrible distance which now
separates him from us. May God be with him and
preserve him to US! This is my constant prayer.
In such fear is sue of having her letters opened
that she withholds note written 10y her little son
Charles to his father. until she forward it by
safe messenger. The child's letter contained the
following passage. which, il it had fallen under the
eye of the Emperor, might have aroused suspicion as
axe.l "a