at last so triumphantly overturned, the tyranny of Bonaparte, his panegyric would have possessed more of the simple recommendation of truth. In gratitude for this deliverance, which the people effected for their monarchs, what have these rulers hitherto done for their people? Have they kindled the torch of freedom in Italy, in Germany, or in Spain? Have they not rather laboured utterly to extinguish the beneficent flame in all these states? Have they established a free press ? Have they not rather thrown every possible obstacle in the way of free discussion? Have they not employed every means in their power to fetter the free agency of intellect, and to stop the circulation of liberal opinions? - Did not the king of Prussia promise to bestow on his subjects the blessings of a representative government; and does not the execution of that royal promise seem to be put off to the Greek calends? Has not "the beloved Ferdinand" restored the Inquisition, and again subjected the country which so liberally bled for the preservation of his crown, to the double tyranny of the king and the priest? - If the Holy Alliance exists, do not these things co-exist; and, then, what becomes of the vaunted justice and evangelical charity of this indissoluble brotherhood of European kings?

M. VAN VOORST talks, p. 8, 9., of the conflagration of Moscow, as if it had been accomplished by the immediate impulse and suggestion of the Deity: but, if the Divine agency thus favoured the Russian, might not that aid have been more beneficially vouchsafed at the battle of Borodino, when the army of Bonaparte might have been' defeated and Moscow saved from the flames? We do not think that it is quite consistent with a reverential regard to the Divine attributes, for an enlightened theologian to call in the interposition of the Deity in order to set fire to a populous capital.

The orator then rapturously enlarges on the agency of the religious principle in the breasts of kings, during the late struggle with Bonaparte; the flame of which devout feeling, he says, they transfused into the minds of their subjects. We shall extract this passage in the language of M. VAN VOORST, in order to furnish a specimen not only of his sentiments but of his Latinity; which is, in general, correct and perspicuous, without being elaborated into any high polish of ornament or elegance.

"O mirandam Religionis præstantiam! O divinam ejus, rebus in adversis, ad inexspectatos cum maxime eventus vim et efficacitatem! Ea ingenui cujusque hominis, et Principum quidem primum animos mirum in modum excitavit, et tanquam ignis cœlestis vi inflammavit

ad

ad res maximas fortiter aggrediendas. Itaque Principes, antea animum plane despondentes, Deum adeunt, ejusque opem ardentissime implorant, et hunc ignem in omnes sibi subditos transferunt, eosque ea eloquentiæ vi, quæ pectoris esse solet, vehementissime impellunt et incitant, ut belli fortunam adhuc tentent et periclitentur, et conjunctis viribus in libertatem se vindicent; magnum omnino hoc opus esse atque arduum, sed volentibus nihil se difficile putare. Hoc stimulo magni brevissimo tempore exercitus tanquam ex nihilo creantur, et qui supererant, extenuati omnes et exanimati, veluti vi divina erecti et confirmati, una cum cæteris, alacri animo et intrepide accurrunt, neque ante requietem optant, quam e terris suis longe remotus et prorsus devictus sit hostis. Is quidem, dum Principes de re inchoata perficienda consilia inirent, novum, et immensum quidem, inaudita licentia sævitiaque, contraxerat exercitum ; circiter sexcenta hominum millia victricibus foederatorum Principum copiis objicit. Horum vero in dies crescunt opes animique, et nil desperandum rati, supra id, quod vires valere viderentur, præstant et perficiunt. Sive prælii more, sive catervatim irruentes undique repellunt, fugant, avertunt, reprimunt. Magna denuo eduntur strages; pervicacissimus homo, antea cœli injuriis tempestatumque 'vehementia percussus animoque confusus, nunc obfirmata fœderatarum gentium virtute et inexspectata pugnandi peritia percellitur; at quotidiana vel sic tamen committit prælia, et prospera quidem subinde fortuna, sed perquam sæpe adversa et quam maxime funesta. Quo magis ille, mortalium audacissimus, resistendi furore et pacis plus semel oblatæ conditiones recusandi pertinacia, causam sustinere studet, tanto magis magisque debilitatur, et atrocissima illa prope Lipsiam pugna, quum res esset jam ad extremum perducta casum, plane frangitur. Igitur, omnibus partibus profligatus, et omni de spe decidens, denuo fuga salutem quærit, et ex alienis regionibus exturbatus, in ipsa quoque Gallia a tantis laboribus et ærumnis se reficere non potuit; quotidie ad depugnandum coactus, et continuo repulsus et cesus, omnibus amissis, ita tandem in angustias redigitur, ut victas cogatur dare manus. Jam conditiones pacis antea superbissime rejectas sero flagitat, gratiæ victorum se committere jussus. Communis inter omnes populos fit gratulatio; omnes in tota Europa partes, exstinctis odiis et factionibus, in unum coëunt, et unanimiter laudes Dei celebrant. Magnitudo Principum hostem debellatum domat, et e conspectu hominum removet; sed vitæ tamen parcit. Res contra omnem spem evenit. Nondum annus erat; dum Principes Vienna, domum missis copiis, de rebus Europa digerendis adhuc deliberant, tyrannus ejectus ex improviso ab exsilio erumpit, et sociorum improborum dolis atque præstigiis adjutus, tota contremiscente et indignante Europa, sed vix quoquam obsistente et contra pugnante, denuo imperii habenas arripit; nec tamen paratam jamdiu nefandorum scelerum vindictam aufugere potuit. Principes fœderati, simili atque antea impetu incensi, Religionis et hu manitatis causam, conjunctis civium militumque simili indignatione ardentium armis animisque, iterum suscipiunt, et temerarium ac ferocissimum hostem, quidquid cum sociorum perfidorum grege contra luctetur, gloriosa illa, nostris quoque copiis, earumque cum maxime Duci, Principi nostro hæreditario, perhonorifica prope vi

M m 4

сит

cum Waterloo pugna, rursus prosternunt et plane subigunt; et his ita gestis restitutam pacem magis firmam et stabilem reddunt. Evestigio omnes denuo in templa concurrunt, et pia Deo vota læte persolvunt. Una omnium hæc vox est et sententia, quidquid bene et præclare et bono cum successu actum esset, non Principum vi et prudentia, sed Dei nutu atque arbitrio esse actum: Deo soli, vires animosque, tanquam supra id, quod humanum esset, efferenti et corroboranti, universum acceptum referri debere eventum. Et ecce Principes augustissimi, in ipsa illa sacrorum contemtrice urbe Lutetia, SANCTUM illud Religionis FŒDUS ineunt, de quo Tu, optime KEMPERE, et vere et eleganter, ut soles, ex hoc ipso ante annum loco affirmasti, Principes Lutetice potissimum id videri pangere voluisse, ut saltem unum aliquid esset, quod horrorem Parisini nominis apud gentes domaret.":

The notes contain the Holy Treaty, signed by the Emperors of Austria and Russia, and the King of Prussia; as also a letter from the Prince Regent of England to the Russian sovereign, (dated Carlton House, 6th October, 1815,) stating that the forms of the British constitution do not permit him directly to accede to that treaty, but that he shall ever be governed by the principles which it expresses, and co-operate with his high allies for the establishment of them.

ART. XII. La Minerve Française, &c.; i. e. The French Minerva, by MM. AIGNAN, of the French Academy; BENJAMIN CONSTANT; E. DUMOULIN; ETIENNE; A. JAY; E. JOUY; LacreTELLE, Sen.; and P. F. TISSOT. 8vo. Paris.

ART. XIII. Le Spectateur Politique et Littéraire, &c.; i.e. The Political and Literary Spectator, by Messrs. AUGER, of the French Academy; CAMPENON, of the French Academy; DESPRÈS; DROZ; LACRETELLE, Jun., of the French Academy; LOURDOUEIX; LOYSON; PARISET, and others. 8vo. Paris. 1818.

UN

NTIL within a few years, the French had scarcely any periodical publications on the plan of the Reviews and Magazines in this country, their news-papers being the channel for conveying the brief and partial reports of books that were given to the world: but, since the restoration of the Bourbons and the cessation of war, they have begun to imitate their northern neighbours, and have encouraged journals in the periodical form, though still different from our's, the volatile character of French readers preferring a short weekly tract to a more full and comprehensive production at the end of the month. Since the meeting of their parliament in November last, the war of pamphlets has been carried on with great keenness; and the divided state of public feeling affords, and is long likely to afford, a supply of ali

ment

ment to this bloodless hostility. Of the two productions before us, the Minerve is of prior date; being a continuation of an old periodical work called Le Mercure, which formerly attended very little to politics and appeared only once in a month. The association of Parisian literati, whose names are mentioned in the title-page, bought the property of this venerable but fallen journal, infused new spirit into it, sent forth a number once in a week, and were soon rewarded for their exertions by a rapid increase of sale. Their principles, however, were anti-ministerial; and some unlucky sarcasms on the Concordat induced that formidable tribunal, the Censure, to stop the circulation of the Mercure, and to oblige the proprietors to adopt a new title: hence the name of Minerve, under which the journal has, we understand, prospered fully as much as before. It continues to be published every week, but on undetermined days, in order that it may be exempt from the Censure, which is applicable only to works that are strictly periodical. The articles are signed either with an initial or with the name of the writer at length. We extract a specimen.

A. Meeting of the Academy. These meetings are allotted chiefly to the reading of unpublished productions of members, and the rule is to read alternately an essay in verse and one in prose. The following is a report of one of the sittings, which take place on the first Tuesday of every month.›.

M. François de Neufchateau began the Séance by reading a small poem on Tropes, which he has since published. M. Baour de Lormiau read a canto of a translation of the "Jerusalem Delivered," which is nearly finished, and will soon be published. M. Parceval Grand-Maison read a canto of an epic poem on Philip Augustus of France, which has occupied him ten years, and now approaches to completion. M. Aignan read fragments of a "Translation of the Odyssey;" M. Reynouard, a canto of a poem on the Machabees; and, finally, M. Lemercier a poem on Moses.

'We have here an abundance of poetical labours of the highest class; we are next to advert to the prose-essays; which were chiefly historical, that kind of reading being now in favour with the public, to the exclusion, it is to be hoped, of romances. M. Darse read fragments of a "History of the Republic of Venice;" M. Charles Lacretelle gave specimens of his "Moral Lessons deduced from Antient and Modern History;" M. de Segur read partial extracts from his "Course of History for Youth;" and Lacretelle the elder, brother of the historian, submitted to his fellow-academicians several passages of a work which will bear the title of "Etudes sur le Style," or " Essays on Composition."

At another meeting, and one that was open to the public, M. Biot made a report of his late travels to the Shetland-Islands; M. Remusat read an abridgement of a dissertation on the different

races

races of the Tartars; and M. Quatremère, a member of the department of the beaux arts, illustrated at great length the principle that the imitation of nature could not and ought not to be an exact, but only a faithful, imitation. M. Campenon read a fragment of a poem on Tasso, which is perhaps the first instance of a great poet being made the subject of a poem, but the misfortunes in the career of Tasso supply ample materials.'

The ensuing passage is taken from a different part of the journal, and may serve as an exemplification of the impressions circulated by the writers in the Minerve with regard to foreign countries.

"Germany tends like England, we mean the sound part of England, towards a national representation of a fair and substantial kind; above a hundred petitions have already been presented on this subject to the Diet. In Saxony, the cry for reform is unanimous; men of family and men of no family are agreed on this subject.

Colonies. The name of colonies recalls the idea of servitude, and is like the prohibition of foreign goods, like the maintenance of a standing army, like many abuses which have acquired the force of law merely because they exist, and because one nation is under the necessity of keeping them up until others have relinquished them. Oh! what a subject of boast it would be for that people which should take the lead in their abolition! One nation only seems to have the power of doing this; I speak of that which holds in its hands all the liberties of the world: but it is to be feared that she will act with regard to this as with regard to liberty of another kind.'

The French have no idea of the financial difficulties under which we labour; they have felt our arms by sea and land, and they behold our General at the head of the allied troops; from all of which they infer that we have it in our power to act in matters of legislation as we chuse; without considering that, from our enormous burdens and high price of labour, we are, in point of taxation, less able to innovate than any nation of Europe. -The rival paper, the Spectateur, looks to England with a more friendly eye; having been established with the concurrence, perhaps under the influence, of the French ministry, whose disposition is altogether cordial towards their brother-ministers in this country. The editor of the Spectateur is M. AUGER, a member of the Institute, and a writer of eminence in the department of the belles lettres. M. LACRETELLE, the well-known historical writer, and author of the History of France during the Wars of Religion *, supplies what may be called the politico-philosophical part; while the periodical survey of foreign transactions proceeds from * We propose to give an account of this work in our next Appendix.

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