PRINCIPAL EVENTS OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. Considerations on the Principal Events of the French Revolution; à Posthumous Work of" the Baroness de Staël, published by the Baron de Staël. 3 vols. 8vo. Delauny, Palais Royale, Paris. THIS work seems contrary to many received opinions, although it contains principles which appear in the end to unite all parties. Every one who is a sincere partizan of order and liberty-all those who desire to see a representative system, because they are fond of a legitimate monarchy, will admire this work, because the author has so eloquently defended those two principles, and has marked in their reunion that end so long sought after, and so requisite for the civil troubles of France. Madame de Staël who, at first, only projected to write the political life of her father, felt the necessity of extending her ideas round the whole circle of the revoJution. We shall not reproach her for her frequent recollections, her first plan, or the sentiments by which she was actuated, It must be confessed, if we wish to form an exact opinion of M. Neckar, we must seek it in his writings, and particularly in his French Revolution, composed in the bosom of retirement, devoid of all interested views, all party influence. It is somewhat surprising that Madame de Staël has not referred to this work, a monument of the perfect loyalty and honourable views of M. Neckar. We find in it proofs of a worthy and elevated mind, a distinguished understauding, more enlightened than strong. It is the real history of a statesman, who always sought after, and who almost always knew how to discern what was right, but who failed in his power and his will to act accordingly. M. Neckar did not endeavour to gloss over those faults, of which he has been accused. It is to be wished that Madame de Staël, who partook of all his noble sentiments, had adopted that reserve and justice which are always to be met with in the works of M. Neckar. If be traced the causes of the revolution from anterior circumstances, he did not judge Louis XIV. with that bitterness, which we are sorry to find falling from the pen of No. 118.-Supplement. Madame de Staël; and in a reign so mes morable, he found something more to admire than military parade, and the invention of madrigals. It seems to us that this flippant kind of injustice towards a great monarch, is not worthy that superior good sense which we have ever found in Madame de Staël. Why collect together, and repeat after a century has past away, those reproaches that the jealousy of a foreign state had lavished on Louis XIV.? Why extend them to literature, and tarnish, in a manner, the genius of Bossuet? Madame de Stael, who, when France was overthrown, spared not the humiliation of his cotemporaries, should not have thus ceased to acknowledge one of the most brilliaut epochas of the French aunals. The Eng lish are often referred to by the author, and. we never degraded the memory of our Eli zabeth; a sovereign full as absolute as Louis XIV. A part of this work of Madame de Staël's, contains those aristocratic principles, which appear at war with her ideas in general: yet, if she favours aristocracy in a few chapters, she seems through other parts of these volumes to be rather too partial to democratic principles. What, however, meets with the least. quarter from her, what she combats with as much wit as eloquence, and depreciates by ridicule and indignation is Buonapartism. Certainly, the praise of liberty, and the hatred of tyranny are natural to this illus trious woman, so long proscribed, and ever the friend to the generous minded-always favourable to the vanquished party. Those Considerations of Madame de Staël appear destined to preserve an eminent place in literature, though they contain nothing that is not very generally known: but she places on these events the stamp. of superior wisdom, and the marks of an elevated soul. The opinions of such an author must have some influence on the U u 840 literary world, and much over every reasonable and thinking mind: that there are contradictions in this work is most certain; it contains bitter truths and sentiments of benevolence; undisputed patriotism, and much energy when speaking of the faults of France, which at times, almost degenerates into spleen and hujustice: but there never was any work of Madame de Staël's that was more rich and ingenious in its perceptions, in the justness of its observations, nor in its singular elegance, and literary merit; the style is beautifully simple; the language flowing, familiar, and natural; and when introducing dialogue, brilliant, and animated; it is not wanting in eloquence, whenever a generous incident is mentioned and several situations are painted in the most striking colours. This work, as it may be termed, of the dying fingers of Madame de Stael, preserves the finest impression of her understanding, and "On the Continent, people have been pleased to say that the English are unpolite; and a certain independance, & great aversion to being put out of their way, may have given rise to this judgment. But I know not of any kind of politeness, nor any protection more delicate than that which the English afford to women, in every circumstance in life. Is peril in question, embarrassment, or any service required to be rendered, there is nothing they leave undone to help and defend the weaker sex.”...g ac et ju pri RDETZA JU ditë kaq and to wala Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, Canto IV. By Lord Byron. 8vo. Murraysburo A It is now about eight years since the first Canto of Childe Harold made its appearance between that period and the present, the public have been presented with two other parts. This volume, the fourth and last, closes the series. The noble Lord, so real a favourite with the poetic muse, has not been chary of his talent, but has favoured England with the most picturesque and charming descriptions, in verse, of the different countries of Spain, Greece, Asia-Minor, atid Switzer land. The world, we venture to affirm, cannot sufficiently estimate the effusions of this illustrious poet: though his ideas are often the same, they still appear new; and we pardon a species of egotism in such a writer, because when SELF seems the chief object, it is not the consequence of vain glory, but rather a brooding over, indivis dual misfortune, whether real or imaginary; the latter too often the lot of sensitive minds, and of men possessed like Lord Byron, of superior genius. The present pilgrimage of Childe Harold commences on The Bridge of Sighs, at Venice; a grander subject than the fall of Venice could never have been pitched on by a poet; and it required also a poet of his Lordship's talents to treat íl in the way that it deserved.→ Herelise aonwide field opened for the descriptive powers of the noble Lord, and a fair occasion” given him posof displaying the classical knowledge he pas ng us through the wide asesses, by leading panse of history. V. Through the whole of this Poem, we find scattered many select, beautiful, and novel ideas; and the versification increases Ho much in beauty, that we feel real regret when we find the work 'drating a conclusion. Some critics have accused it a. seg reading of being ponderous; a second (and it will well bear a second, and évén COMMENCEMENT OF THE PILGRIMAGE. "I stood in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs; O'er the far times, wheu many a subject land REFLECTIONS ON THE FALL OF VENICE. Their gilded collars glitt❜ring in the sun; "In youth she was all glory—a new Tyre,— Immortal waves that saw Lepanto's fight! ||For ye are 'names no time nor tyranny can 516 Poblight" : DA, ENAB DESCRIPTION OF ST. PETER'S, AT ROME. But theu, of temples old, or altars new, Power, glory, strength, and beauty, all are In this eternal ark of worship undefiled. “Enter, its grandeur overwhelms thee not; advance, Like climbing some great Alp, which still doth Deceived by its gigantic elegance; following stanzas, with which we conclude our extracts: the address to the Ocean still continuing: "Thou glorious mirror, where the Al- Glasses itself in tempests; in all time, Icing the pole, or in the torrid clime The image of Eternity-the throne Obeys thee; thou goest forth, dread, fathom- "And I have loved thee, Ocean! and my Borne, like thy bubbles, onward; from a boy THE ANGLO-CAMBRIAN, The Anglo-Cambrian; by M. Linwood. 8vo. Longman and Co. Is there no beacon in the assassin's eye, Whence men turn fearfully, they know not why? Can conscience, year on year, bid guilt faré- Nor justice once her laggard arm propel? THIS poem is founded on the conquest of Wales, and its entire subjugation, by Edward I. It is a fine subject; and though it has been treated of before, we find an air of novelty and interest in this work, which cannot fail, we almost venture to affirm, of rendering it popular. Tradition has been resorted to, it is true; but it is pardonable in poetry, where it presents imagery; and though the disguise of Llewelyn in a monkish habit, at the time of his fall, has been almost universally discredited, yet it gives interest to the poem, which Her trumpet laurel-crown'd, her name & the contains many lines beautifully descriptive; a few of which we beg leave to lay before our readers. BEAUTIFUL OPENING OF THE POEM. "Has murder no identity of face, That, deck'd iu court disguise, he 'scapes dis grace? before, Drove my expatriate foot on Cambria's shore, Tho' England bade her wand'rers from on bigh, cry. Wrongs deep as ours, so complicate, so rare, ToEngland's throne?—'t is barr'd by treachery. THE ANGLO-CAMBRIAŃ. When hark! the couch sbell, Is't my love She leaves not late as this Llewelyn's balls; None other sylvan sound could move thee $49 With fear he strives, in close contested chase, To measure best the stranger's towering His form and features none could truly tell, 'Twas all he utter'd, tho' a mild reply. And stampt conviction on poor Emma's heart. Who all unus'd to combat with the brave, Unbrace those nerves, upraise that beetling Mak'st previous computation of the foe, brow. Thus, when the twice-told summons bade him 'It is her signal, by this echoing heart! "A bow'r grew nigh, where nature reign'd, In robe most princely, and in form most pure. He bore me fainting tow'rd yon friendly grove, MEETING BETWEEN THE WARRIORS. And now, thy observations we would know. to requite A trespass aided by th' intriguer night?' "None, mighty chief and now he casts aside Those weeds, and dons his air of manly pride. None,' but the sovereign's best prerogative, To shield th' opprest, the seeming wrong forgive, Or what by christian prince were nobly given, "Llewelyn, shrinking from th' unwelcome sight, True, true!' he said, with lengthened pause betwixt, Profuse of motive, for his purpose fixt; And (so it seems) for Englishmen's applause. Ha! mock'st thou, slave? then tortures thou |