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

AXIV. Chapman and Hall, London, 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 alter Scott, just as 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 of Yankee authors, and pointing out the sources whence they derived some of their best ideas. Not a few 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 much to learn, as well as much to unlearn, before she can cultivate the Muses with any prospect 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 other 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 his 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 character of this royal dissembler. In the review of " Mignet's Historical Essays," we find a hasty memoir ocilie .:snotorious Abbe Sieyes, so well known during the early period of the hevolution.for his constitutional theories, as also for the part he played on the occasion of the Eighteenth Brumaire, when Citizen Bonaparte upset the Directorial overnment, and under the specious form of the Consulate established a systematic, military despotism. " Sinde, its Am ,and its People" makes no great addition to.fqratock of knowledge we already possess on this subject, still it is an interesting article, and is put forth at a seasonable juncture, when all eyes are directed with eagerness towards this new conquest of the Indian Government. From the notice of Mignet's " Historical EssVs" we quote an anecdote or two respecting the eminent French physician Broussais  " He had n-ot 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 participation. 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 Chouaris 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. His progress in study was rapid; and having attended the hospitals of St. Malo and Brest, he was appointed surgeon to the frigate Laßenomm6e. On the eve of departure he recerveda letter from the Mayor of St. Malo, which commenced in these terrible words Tremble in receiving this letter I' . . . It announced that the house of his aged parents had been attacked by les Couans, who had murdered them both and mutilated their bodies. The grief and indignation felt by Btoussais cannot be described. Forty years afterwards, says Mignet, he became pale as he spoke of it."