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may properly be mentioned in a note, but there is no reason for constantly repeating it in the body of the text. We hardly recognise familiar historical characters under the uncouth and ludicrous appellations of Hlot-her and Merewig.

fore us.

Dumas is one of the most active members of the new French school in literature and politics. The peculiarities of style and opinion, which these men have rendered popular among their countrymen, are strongly marked in the work beThough recommended by great vigor and boldness, they are for the most part equally offensive to good taste and sound principle. Their application to politics is the only point which invites remark in the present connexion, and under this aspect we are free to say, they appear utterly detestable. The earnestness of manner, which sincere politicians may well exhibit, in these men degenerates into utter ferocity, which, united with bold impiety, and a reckless, innovating spirit, forcibly reminds one of the blood-stained actors, the Dantons and Saint-Justs, of the former revolution. Forcible language and imagery convey little pleasure, when they serve as a vehicle for such atrocious sentiments, and are acquired by the sacrifice of every other consideration. There is an occasional affectation of reasoning from first principles, and of introducing profound and sententious reflections; but the philosophy of the writer is too shallow to merit a serious refutation. The following is one of his wise remarks. "It is remarkable, that the civilization which conquers barbarism, is fraught with inherent decay; while the barbarism that conquers civilization bears a fertilizing and self-perpetuating principle.' Ex pede Herculem. There is a great display of curious and antiquarian erudition, but we must doubt the thoroughness of the author's studies, for his learning bears a suspicious air of being got up for the occasion. The laws against sedition under the French government must be tolerably lax, or the author's bold anticipation of the fate of the present dynasty, would ere now have attracted the attention of the tribunals. He traces the descent of the monarchy "from the feudal heights, where Hugh Capet laid the foundation of his edifice, to the popular plains where Louis Philippe, probably the last king of this race, has pitched his tent of a day.' The present monarch is to be succeeded by a form of government entirely popular, quinquennial magistracy, probably "; the chief officer in which must be born among the people, and possess wealth not above the average of private fortunes. He can therefore be "neither a man of the blood-royal, nor a great proprietary."

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"This is the Charybdis where the present government will be ingulfed. The Pharos that we light upon its route will illumine only

its wreck; for even if the pilot were disposed to tack, he no longer has the power to do so; the current which drags the ship onward is too rapid, and the gale which propels it is too strong. But, at the hour of its destruction, the recollections of a man, overpowering those of a citizen, will cause one voice to exclaim, Death to royalty,—but GOD save the King!

"That voice will be mine!"-- p. 376.

It is difficult to give any precise account of the general plan of a work so anomalous in its character. The writer reviews the history of France, from the period of its conquest by the Romans, down to the accession of Philip de Valois, giving, however, but a meagre account of the principal facts, and inlaying the chronological framework with striking anecdotes, and arabesque passages from the elder historians. The writings and collections of Augustin Thierry, one of the most distinguished of the modern French historians, appear to have furnished the chief part of these materials. Among the scattered and picturesque narrations may be found the groundwork of more than one historical drama, which Dumas has prepared for the French stage; and we suspect, therefore, that these researches into the early annals of France were first instituted with a view of obtaining dramatic materials. But our author is a political reformer of the most radical school, and a fanciful theory occurring to him in the midst of his investigations, he throws the fruits of his studies into a new shape, in order to give it expression. Hasty generalizations on a narrow basis of facts, are somewhat characteristic of French speculation. The theory is, that from the earliest period, the power of the French monarchy has been constantly declining from its extreme elevation, and spreading itself out for support upon a wider basis, till now but one short and unimportant step separates it from its natural resting-place, the heads of the whole people. As there are some difficulties in this sweeping view, arising from the comparison, for instance, of a power so absolute as that of Louis the Fourteenth, with the far more limited authority of many of his remote predecessors, it was necessary to pass rapidly over the early history of the country, and give a proper moulding to the most stubborn facts, so that they might not, in appearance at least, contradict the hypothesis. Freaks of this sort on the part of some modern historians, are enough to shake all one's confidence in their previous knowledge of the events of by-gone times. Give an expert speculatist of this class but canvass enough, on which to arrange his selected facts, and distribute the lights and shades according to his will, and he will cause the picture. of antiquity to assume any appearance; he will establish the

most absurd theory in politics or philosophy on the sure basis of universal history. The system of Dumas really gains as much from the imagery which he uses in expounding it, as from the facts directly adduced in its support. The dome of the national monarchy, too vast and elevated to be supported by Hugh Capet's single hand, was propped by him with the twelve grand vassals of the crown, who, like huge pillars, sustained the edifice. The downfall of the feudal system shattered these columns, and Louis the Eleventh, scattering their fragments to the winds, stood alone in the centre to support the superstructure. His successors were too feeble for this mighty task, and Francis the First remedied the loss of the twelve massive columns, by erecting in their stead a multitude of inferior ones, by substituting two hundred great seigniors for the grand vassals. The dome rested at a lower level, but its strength was increased by the depression. The reformation sealed the doom of these nobles also, and Richelieu appeared as their exterminator. Louis the Fourteenth ascended the throne as the sole supporter of the monarchical edifice, and held all the strings of royalty attached to himself, "with such a firm and long-continued tension, that he foresaw they would snap in pieces in the hands of his successors." leased from his grasp, "the monarchy was to be reorganized;" and in place of the twelve grand vassals of Hugh Capet, and two hundred grand lords of Francis the First, Louis the Fifteenth was forced to prop his tottering edifice with the fifty thousand aristocrats of the Orleans regency.' 39 "The third era of the national royalty had brought forth its fruits, fruits of the Lake Asphaltus, full of ashes and rottenness." A few years more, and "Louis the Sixteenth saw gleaming in the East the flames of the Bastile, and in the West the iron of the guillotine."

Re

NOTE

TO ARTICLE VI. OF NUMBER CXI.

In our recent article on the "Cochin-Chinese Language," we stated, that we had not seen in any English or French publication a notice of Mr. Du Ponceau's work on "Chinese Writing," until the appearance of that in the London " Monthly Review" for December last, which was taken from our own pages. This was an error; a hastily written article, misconceiving and misstating Mr. Du Ponceau's views, had previously appeared in the "Foreign Quarterly Review"; but the article had made so slight an impression upon us, that it had escaped our recollection, when we made the statement which is now corrected.

QUARTERLY LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

BIOGRAPHY AND MEMOIRS.

The Life of Paul Jones. By Alexander Slidell Mackenzie, U. S. N. 2 vols. 12mo. pp. 260 and 308. Boston: Hilliard, Gray, & Co. Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott. By J. G. Lockhart. Revised Edition. New York: C. S. Francis. 12mo. pp. 300.

A Memoir of the Very Reverend Theobald Mathew, with an Account of the Rise and Progress of Temperance in Ireland. By the Rev. James Bermingham, of Borisokane. Edited by P. H. Morris, M. D., and by whom is added, the Evil Effects of Drunkenness physiologically explained. New York: Alexander V. Blake. 12mo. pp. 216.

Memoir of Mrs. Mary Anne Hooker. Philadelphia: American Sunday School Union. 18mo. pp. 140.

Memoir of Howard Erwin.

School Union. 18mo. pp. 86.

Memoir of Eleanor Vanner.

Philadelphia: American Sunday

Philadelphia: American Sunday

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A Classical Dictionary, containing an Account of the Principal Proper Names mentioned in Ancient Authors, and intended to elucidate all the important points connected with the Geography, History, Biography, Mythology, and Fine Arts, of the Greeks and Romans; together with an Account of Coins, Weights, and Measures, with Tabular Values of the same. By Charles Anthon, LL. D. In one vol. 8vo. pp. 1430. New York: Harper & Brothers.

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NO. 112.

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James's until the Separation of the Churches. By the Rev. Benjamin Dorr, D. D., Rector of Christ Church. New York: Swords, Stanford, & Co. Philadelphia: R. S. H. George. 12mo. pp. 430.

Boston: Hil·

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Lame John. American Sunday School Union. 18mo. pp. 144.

Philadelphia:

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The Seasons. Philadelphia: American Sunday School Union. 18mo. pp. 105.

Tales for You; a Collection of Original and Selected Literature from celebrated English and American Authors. Philadelphia: J. J. Sharkey. 12mo. pp. 240.

Robert Ramble's Stories, selected from the History of England, from the Conquest to the Revolution. Philadelphia: R. W. Pomeroy. 18mo. pp. 128.

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