The Sun. — 1841-01-02 (London, England)

TAI7'S MAGAZINE.  Miss Martineau's late romance, " The Hour and the Man," wherein she has shadowed forth the destinies of that extraordinary neglo soldier and statesman, Toussaint L'Ouverture, forms the subject of one of those sensible critical notices for which Tait has always been celebrated. The Reviewer justly condemns Napoleon for his conduct towards this illustrious black chief,who achieved the independence of St. Domingo, in the face of a thousand difficulties ; but the condemnation might have been more severe, and still not have been more so than  the circumstances of the case warranted. Toussaint was secretly murdered in a remote Swiss prison by the express orders of the First Consul, for no other reason than that he was an inflexible, disinterested, high-souled patriot, whose example might in time have become dangerous to the system of despotism which it was sought to establish in France. Dazzled by the splendour of his renown, we have long held the character of Napoleon in admiration ; and it is not without reluctance, therefore, that we have lately been brought to the conviction that it is one which will not bear too close an investigation, It shows to the greatest advantage at a distance. With many great and good qualities, the French Emperor combined abundant paltry ones ; he was jealous, heartless, and vindictive ; and when we desire to think as  highly of him as we once did, truth stands between us and our admiration; and we scarcely acknowledge even the long dreary imprisonment of St. Helena, to be a sufficient retribution for the murders of the heroic Hofer, and the still more heroic deliverer of St. Domingo. " France, England, and the Palmerston Policy," takes the people to task for not being sufficiently alive to the rumours of impending war. Why should we be ? Surely the pompous vapourings of M. Thiers are not such as should throw us into convulsions We are content tranquilly to bide our time, prepared for war, should war take place, but by no means anxious to provoke it. We consider the present calm attitude of England to be, not the result of indifference, but the repose of a giant conscious of his strength, and careless, therefore, of making a premature parade of it. The " Biographical Sketch of Beethoven" is an article which will give infinite delight to all readers of musical tastes. " Violet Hamilton" runs its course rejoicingly. We subjoin a specimen of our friend Tait's poetics :  Old year, good by ! with bumpers glowing, Around the couch of death we stand ! Thy coming once, as now thy going, We chanted, joining hand in band ! In draughts of punch we welcomed thee, And, pledging, sang Crambambuli ! ;Crambimbambuli, &c. Faithfully through thy short life by thee, Warm-hearted Burschen, firm we stood ; Nor in thy hour of death will fly thee, Although thou wort not over-good. But still thou gav'st some moments bright, For which here's thanks in punch tonight ! True Crambimbambuli, &c. Sometimes our hearts did nearly fail us, You let such jilts upon them seize! Sometimes an empty purse did quail us, No cash to pay for our degrees ! But now 'tis ever, we'll forget, Nor for such fleeting sorrows fret! But drink Crambambuli, &c. Freely we grant thou host had troubles To bother the cabroad, at home ! British fl ire-ups and Yankee bubbles, The Kirk, too, in a froth and foam ! And monarchs at their ancient tricks,— Egyptians blowing up like bricks! Without Crambambuli, &e. But, go ! for here comes thy successor ! Shout out, ye Burschen ! shout out, Mail! For our Princess, new-born (Gad bless her !) Of candle see he brings a pail ! But ammunition for the kings, And grog for us he also brings! The true Crambambuli, &c, New year, come on !—we gladly hail thee, Our glasses lifted up on high ; Nor shall our cheers a moment fail thee, If with good luck our fates you ply : Be good to us, and we will be As kind, as fond, as true to thee ! With Crambimbambuli, &c. Bring out life's bowl to brew the measure, New Year! which thou for us bast planned ; Pour in the spirit strong of pleasure, With wisdom's water make it bland,— Love's lemon with joy's sugar link, The punch is made—we drink ! we drink ! This grand Crambambuli, &c.