It by

no means follows from this, however, that the doctrines he has advanced are not in themselves just, and in the highest degree important to the future happiness of mankind; present popularity in works of abstract thought is an indication of coincidence with general opinion, but by no means either of truth or ultimate success. Few physicians, and none above forty, would admit during his life Harvey's discovery of the circulation of the blood; ages elapsed before the Copernican system forced itself on general belief; and public opinion in Italy

tion when they prosecuted Galileo for asserting that the earth moved.

Unlike Lamartine, he gives his autho- | plained on no other principle. rity for every material fact asserted, and has filled his pages with such a multitude of official documents, that they often rather wear the aspect of a collection of state papers than a literary composition. This patient examination of, and constant reference to authority, render his works invaluable as books of reference, and as a storehouse of authentic information; but, unfortunately, they have very much impeded their popularity. No human ability can render lengthened quotations from state papers, letters, or deeds interesting; and where the judicious system is not adopted, of throw-unanimously supported the Inquisiing them into notes or an appendix, though the work may be valuable as a repertory of information, it will never 29. Sismondi is a Protestant and a be interesting as a history. This de- Republican; he deems kings and nofect is so conspicuous in Sismondi, bles are useless excrescences upon sowhose Annals of the Italian Republics ciety; and his political beau ideal is a have swelled to sixteen, of France to collection of republics, with no estabtwo-and-thirty volumes, that perhaps lished faith, and held together, like the no reader has ever got through the American Union, only by the slender whole of both; and he himself is so bond of a federal alliance. It is from sensible of it, that he has published the influence, therefore, of no preposadmirable abridgments of each, which session against the present tendency all contain nearly all the philosophic con- over the civilised world to popular inclusions that render the larger works stitutions, that he has so strongly and so valuable, and have attained deserved ably at the same time inculcated the popularity. But this very circumstance doctrine that this tendency is fraught shows a great deficiency in the original with the most serious evils which at works; no abridgment of histories, present desolate, and in the end will written with pictorial ability or dra- occasion the entire ruin of Europe. matic power, ever had any success; These evils, according to him, do not you might as well attempt to abridge arise from forms of government, nor Waverley as Gibbon's Decline and Fall. are they to be ascribed to faulty legis28. Least popular with the present lation; they originato in the nature generation of all his works, because of things, and are the direct consemost adverse to general opinion, the quence of that state of society which Social and Political Essays of this pro- is generally considered as fraught with found thinker and erudite scholar are unlimited blessings. The accumulaperhaps the most valuable. They are tion of capital, the increase of machinentirely original, and they run direct-ery, the spread of manufactures, the ly against the current of general growth of large towns, the cheapening thought; it is not surprising, there- of provisions, the free circulation of fore, that they have made very little impression on the generation among which they appeared. He himself has told us that they have had very few readers, and that he does not think they would have had one if the English parliamentary reports had not established facts which could be ex

labour in an old community, which are commonly regarded as the surest symptoms of general prosperity, in his view are the unmistakable indications of social disease and the prognostics of approaching ruin. In them he sees the sad effects of the undue preponderance of capital, and the desper

ate consequences of the principles of | but quote the material words relied unlimited competition and free trade, on in a few lines, or even words, in a when applied to the labouring classes note. Perhaps this is sometimes carof the community. Probably there is ried too far; for, by giving only deno disinterested person who contem-tached expressions or sentences from plates the present state of society, the original writers, they suggest a whether in France or the British Is- doubt whether the sense is truly conlands, who will hesitate to admit that veyed, and whether the context, if these views are well founded, and that fully given, would not in some mathe causes of decay which proved fatal terial respects contradict it. But there to the colossal fabric of the Roman em- can be no doubt that it is a very great pire are even now in full activity in improvement on the more voluminous both countries. But they do not war- system, for it not only renders the text rant the gloomy and desponding con- much shorter, but more continuous clusions in regard to human affairs in and uniform in style, and therefore general, which Sismondi draws from interesting, than when there is a frethem, any more than the increasing quent interruption to make way for ills which accumulate round individ- antiquated quotations. And the reual old age justify melancholy views in sult appears in the different success regard to the human race. The evils of the different writers; for the Hisarising from the sway of capital and tory of the Conquest of England by the the principle of competition to the Normans, by Auguste, and of the great bulk of the community are not Princes of the Carlovingian Race, and imaginary, but they are partial, and of Gaul under the Romans, by Amaare the means by which Providence, dée Thierry, each in three volumes, at the time when such a change has have attained very great popularity, become necessary, checks the growth and gone through several editions; of aged communities, and provides for while the forty-eight volumes of the the dispersion of the human race. He History of France and of the Italian who is not convinced of this by the Republics slumber in respected obsimultaneous growth of the evils in scurity amidst the dust of our libthe Old World and the opening of the raries. reserve treasures of nature in California and Australia in the New, would not be persuaded though one rose from the dead.

30. The two THIERRYS belong to the same school as Sismondi, but they have eschewed the chief faults which have impeded the popularity of his voluminous publications. We perceive in them the same untiring industry and patient research by which the historian of the Italian republics is distinguished, and the same combination of antiquarian lore and accuracy of fact with general views and philosophic thought, which render his works so valuable. But the method taken of communicating this information is infinitely more skilful. Not less than he, they give the authorities for every paragraph, often for every sentence; but, unlike him, they do not swell the text with long and tedious quotations from original documents,

31. Although brothers, belonging to the same school of history, equally fond of antiquity, and adopting the same style of composition, the thoughts of these two very remarkable men are widely different from each other. Auguste, the author of the Conquest of England by the Normans, and of the Essays on the History of France, belongs to the Liberal school; he is almost a republican in politics, and, like others of his sect, anything but strongly influenced by religious impressions. But he is humane and philanthropic, and not only eminently dramatic, but often pathetic, in his narrative of important events. Amadée is the very reverse in thought of his brother; he is devoutly Christian in his ideas, and has directed his great powers with remarkable success to the illustration, from historical and antiquarian sources, of the blessings which the Gospel has conferred upon mankind. Upon con

sidering his luminous writings, and comparing them with the arrogant dogmatism of the Roman Catholic writers at an earlier period, which all the eloquence of Bossuet could scarcely disguise, it is impossible to avoid seeing how much the cause of true religion has been advanced by the experience of suffering, and the wrench to general thought induced by the Revolution; and on how much more solid a basis the truth of Christianity is now erected than it was in the days of papal bulls and sacerdotal domination.

heroic spirit of a Crusader; and the reader has now the extraordinary advantage, in the travels of these charming writers, of combining all the associations which can recur to the cultivated mind, in visiting the scenes which must ever be the most interesting of any on earth to the human race.

33. BARANTE belongs to the same school as Michaud, and, like him, is an example of the reaction of genius against the infidel principles and innovating ideas of the Revolution. His greatest work, the History of the Dukes 32. MICHAUD belongs to the same of Burgundy, has the same fault as the school, both in religious thought and works of Sismondi and Michaud, that historical composition, as Amadée of being overloaded with unnecessarily Thierry, and he is an author of very long quotations from contemporary angreat merit. His History of the Cru- nalists and chronicles; but it neversades, in six volumes, is by far the theless conducts the reader without fabest narrative that has yet appeared tigue through ten volumes, by the talent of those memorable wars; and al- for description and dramatic powers though it is not free from the great which the author possesses. He is indefect of the antiquarian school, in spired, like Sir Walter Scott, by the being somewhat overloaded with long true spirit of chivalry, and carries us quotations from monkish chronicles or back, almost like that great magician, contemporary annalists, it promises to to the storming of castles, the jousting be the most durable. For its success of knights, the distressed damsels and it is mainly indebted to the remark- blood-thirsty tyrants of that poetical able combination which the author but unhappy period. He is generally exhibits of antiquarian research with understood to have been the author an ardent imagination and remarkable of the Memoirs of Madame de Rochepowers of description. So enthusias-jaquelein; and if so, there is no author tic was his disposition, that it led him to make a pilgrimage to Egypt and the Holy Land, in order to be able to describe from his own observation, and verify with his own eyes, the scenes of the exploits of his heroes. This has led to one of the most interesting books of travel which ever was written, in which, perhaps even more than in his History of the Crusades, the accomplished and enthusiastic author has shown how much interesting association and historical knowledge can add to the attractions even of the most beautiful scenes of nature. If Chateaubriand has visited the Holy Sepulchre with the mingled feelings of a classical scholar and a devout pilgrim, and Lamartine with the highly-wrought imagination of a poet and brilliant conceptions of a painter, Michaud has gone over the same ground with the

VOL. III.

in any language who has exhibited greater graphic powers, or a more decided talent for educing interest from heroic incident or pathetic event.

34. SALVANDY belongs to the same school as Barante and Michaud, but he is more philosophical and reflecting than either. His History of Poland evinces it. It contains all the pictorial power and picturesque effect of either of these writers, but more reflection and observation, and therefore it is more attractive to a reflecting mind. Nowhere so well as in his brilliant pages is to be found a development of the real causes of the mournful fate of that memorable people, the bulwark of Christendom against the Turks, and yet the prey of every assailant within their own bosom; often victorious, but never capable of taking advantage of victory; ever jealous of authority, but

N

never able to repress anarchy; the de- | gular way. It is by representing the liverer of Vienna in one age, and in latter as the inevitable consequence of the next blotted from the book of na- the former, and the authors of all the tions. In his pages, as in the History bloodshed which took place as impelof Ireland, if written with equal wis- led by an invincible necessity which dom, is to be found the most decisive it was impossible to resist, and for proof of the great truth, that the first yielding to which, therefore, they were necessity of mankind in rude periods noways blamable. It is surprising is a strong government, and that no that so acute an author did not percalamities are so great, because none so ceive that such a doctrine, if really irremediable, as such as deliver them well founded, was more decisive against up to the slavery of their own passions. the possibility of self-government than Salvandy is a Liberal, but he is a Lib- any other that could by possibility be eral of the new school-that is, warn- imagined; for if the practical applied by the errors and instructed by the cation of Liberal principles leads of sufferings of the Revolution. In his necessity to such results, what can be so pages, accordingly, there is to be found great a misfortune as their extension constant reference to the historical bles- among mankind? sings of, and present necessity for, revelation; and when France had been for some years insane, after the triumph of the barricades in 1830, his sagacious eye first divined whither things under popular rule were tending; and his intrepid hand first drew aside the veil from the eyes of a suffering, and therefore repentant, people.

He himself

36. M. Thiers has very great merits as a historian-in some respects greater than any who has recently appeared in France, fertile as it has been in great men in that department of literature. Not only is he ingenious, dramatic, and eloquent, but his writings abound in important general reflections, and often in just and generous appreciation 35. The historians who have hither- of individual character. to been considered have treated chiefly affords the best illustration of the of the olden time, and their works ex- truth of his own beautiful observation, hibit the reaction in the human mind in reference to the meeting of M. Barafter the delusions and disappointments nave with the Queen, in the journey of the Revolution. But writers of from Varennes: "How often would great eminence are not awanting, who factions the most opposite be reconhave treated of that convulsion itself, ciled, if they could meet and read each and, uninstructed by the lessons of ex- other's hearts!" But by far his greatperience, still endeavour to vindicate est merit consists in the luminous surits principles, and apologise for the vey he gives of countries, especially in crimes of its authors. In the very relation to military events, and the foremost rank of this class of writers clear and lucid manner in which he is to be placed M. THIERS, who, like unfolds the principles of strategy apmost of the other modern statesmen plicable to the campaigns which he had of France, raised to eminence by his to describe. In this he is unrivalled literary talents, has played an impor- in civil, and never was exceeded by tant part on the theatre of public military, historians; and his writings affairs, and taken a share in the most afford a striking proof how completely decisive events which, during the a strong native bent in the mind of an last quarter of a century, have deter-author can overcome the want of pracmined the fate of his country. His tical experience, or acquaintance with first work, and the one which raised the actual operations of war. His him to eminence, but by no means chief defect is the almost entire abhis best, is the History of the Revolu-sence of quotation of authority, and its tion, in twelve volumes. In it he en- inevitable consequence, great and fredeavours to assert the principles and quent inaccuracy in details-a fault palliate the excesses of that convul- which, besides depriving his works of sion; but he does this in a very sin- | their chief value as books of authority,

exposes him to constant well-founded and state papers has led to his last attacks from that numerous class of work being enriched with a great vawriters who look to accuracy in these riety of important information not to respects rather than general merit, and be met with in any other publication; nibble at the corners of an edifice of and in no other annals is there to be which they are unable to throw down found so copious an account of the dithe pillars. In regard to English plomacy of the Empire, and the intertransactions, he labours under one nal legislation of Napoleon. grievous defect, which has made his works of little value in regard to its history: he does not understand English, a circumstance which renders him about as competent to write our annals as the author would be to convey an idea of those of France, if he could not read its language.

In

38. Inferior in genius to Thiers, and unacquainted, like him, with the practical duties of a statesman, less versed in the archives of cabinets, M. LACRETELLE has still considerable merits, and will always hold a respectable place among French historians. His History of France during the Eighteenth 37. By far the best work of M.Thiers, Century, though not distinguished and one which belongs to the highest either by the philosophy of Guizot, the class of political history, is his History brilliancy of Lamartine, or the military of the Consulate and Empire, now con- descriptions of Thiers, is yet a very cluded in twenty volumes. It shows valuable work; and to one who wishes that his mind had grown immensely to obtain a general idea of the events during the course of his political ca- of that momentous period, without reer, and cast off many of the indiscre- diving into all its details, is perhaps tions or errors of his more juvenile the best that can be referred to. But years. He is no longer the ardent by far his most masterly production is student fresh from the revolutionary the Histoire des. Guerres de la Religion; school, and ready, on all occasions, to and it is not only highly interesting, share in its dreams, or palliate its ex- but written with the brevity and gencesses; but the experienced statesman, eral glance which is often the most versed in the ways of the world, and indispensable element for general suctaught by disaster the futile nature cess in historical compositions. of all visions of perfectibility founded any other age or country he would upon the supposed immaculate char-have attained great and deserved emiacter of the great majority of men. His talent for military history seems to have increased with practice, and acquaintance with the leading generals of the period; and there is no work in existence which the general reader can consult with more pleasure, or the military with greater instruction, than his History of the Campaigns of Austerlitz, Jena, and Wagram. But in addition to this, his political opinions appear to have undergone a considerable change with the lapse of time, and a practical acquaintance with the duties of statesmanship. His mind is candid; and albeit bred in the school of Infidelity and the Revolution, his late volumes contain frequent allusion to Supreme Superintendence, and the punishment, even in this world, of the sins of men. But above all, his acquaintance with the secrets of cabinets

nence; but such is the constellation of historical talent which has arisen in France since the storm of the Revolution was succeeded by the lull of the Restoration, that he has already been eclipsed by more brilliant writers.

39. M. CAPEFIGUE is both an abler and a more voluminous writer than Lacretelle, but such is the multitude of his publications that he is wellnigh buried under their weight. His works, like those of Voltaire, exceed a hundred volumes; and no one need be told that, among such a multitude, many must be of inferior merit, and made up, like the medicines of apothecaries, of drugs prepared by others. Some of his writings are admirable; his History of Louis XIV. is by far the best which has ever been written of that momentous and interesting period. The works he has published