The Sun. — 1844-01-16 (London, England)

LXIV. Chapman-and Hail, Lonthm, 1844. Alluding, some few weeks since, to the past and present state of American literature, we took the opportunity of observing that the United States had not yet produced one single author of eminence of whom it could justly be said that he was original. We remarked that the writings, whether in prose or verse, of the New World, were merely so many faint, feeble copies of those of the Old; and that even Cooper himself, though supposed to convey a faithful image of national peculiarities in his works, was often nothing more than an echo of Sir Walter Scott, just aa'Emerson is of Carlyle, and Bryant of Wordsworth. An article in the present number of this journal, entitled " American Anthology," fully bears out our opinion, by passing in review a whole tribe if Yankee authors, and pointing out the sources whence they derived some of their best ideas. Not a fe.w of the poetical specimens quoted by the Reviewer are of the most grotesque character it is possible to conceive, and satisfy us that America has yet inuell to learn, as well as much to unlearn, before she can cultivate the Muses with any praspect of success. The memorable " Congress of Vienna" in 1815, when Europe was coolly partitioned out by a set of despotic Legitimates, without the slightest regard to any ether consideration than their own convenience, forms the theme of an amusing critical notice, in which occur several whimsical sketches of illustrious individuals who figured prominently in that scene of royal tom-foolery. The portrait of Isis fat Majesty of Wirtemberg—that " tun of a man," who possessed all the obesity of-Falstaff without a tithe of his wit, is, we have no doubt, perfectly accurate ; and the passing gliMpse we have of the sentimental Alexander, whom Napoleon justly described as " a Greek of the Lower Empire," gives us a vivid idea of the chlracter of this royal dissembler. In the review of " Mignet's Historical Essays," we find a hasty memoir of the notorious Abbe Sieyes, so well known during the early period of' the Revolution for his constitutional theories, as also for the part he played on the occasion of the Eighteenth Brumaire, when Citizen Bonaparte upset the Directorial Government, and under the specious form of the Consulate established a systematic, military despotism. " Sinde, its Aineers and its People" makes no great addition .to the- stock of knowledge we already possess on this subject, still it is an interesting article, and is nut forth at a seasonable juncture, when all eyes are directed with eagerness towards this rieW conquest of the Indian Government. From the notice of Mignet's " Historical Essays" we quote an anecdote or two respecting the eminent French physician Broussais " IJ4e had not quite finished his studies when the revolution burst out. . His family embraced the cause of liberty. His ardent and impetuous imagination was inflamed by it. The time arrived for participa. tion. The Prussians, in 1792, had advanced to Verdun, and the alarm had roused the patriotism of all France. Broussais, then twenty years of age, enrolled himself in a company of volunteers, of which he was named sergeant. In one of the frequent encounters with les Chouans he signalized his force, his generosity, and his courage. The company of volunteers had been surprised and beaten. In retreating, one Of his comrades was shot, and fell at his side. The war was without quarter, and the enemy were but a few paces in arrear. Yet Broussais, at•the peril of being taken himself, stopped, lifted his wounded companion upon his shoulders, and continued his retreat, his pace somewhat slackened by the burden. Les Chouans fired upon him. One ball passed through his hat. But he escaped. Arrived at a place of safety, he deposed his comrade on the ground ; and to his horror found him dead. He had run that risk to save a corpse. He could not long animate the company with his example. Seriously ill, he was obliged to return to his family ; and on his recovery he embraced the paternal profession. MS progress in study was rapid; and having attended the hospitals of St. Malo and Brest, he was appointed surgeon to the frigate Laßenominee. On the eve of departure he received a letter from the Mayor of St..Malo, which commenced in these terrible words :---‘ Tremble in receiving this letter!' . . . . It announced that the house of his aged parents bad been attacked by les Chouans, who had murdered them 'both and mutilated their bodies.  The grief and indignation felt by Broussais  cannot be described. Forty years after;vards, says Mignet, he became pale as he spoke of it."