Edited by 18. Specimens of Foreign Standard Literature. GEORGE RIPLEY. Volumes First and Second. Containing Philosophical Miscellanies, translated from the French of Cousin, Jouffroy, and Benjamin Constant, with Introductory and Critical Notices. By GEORGE RIPLEY. Boston Hilliard, Gray, & Co. 1838. 12mo. pp. 383. 376. THIS is a very praiseworthy undertaking, and we wish it all possible success. "The publication, of which these volumes are intended to form the commencement," says the editor, "has special reference to the three leading divisions of Philosophy, History, and Theology; but its plan also includes writings of a popular character, selected from the most finished specimens of elegant literature, and adapted to interest the great mass of intelligent readers. Among the writers from whom it is proposed to give translations, are Cousin, Jouffroy, Guizot, and Benjamin Constant, in French; and Herder, Schiller, Goethe, Wieland, Lessing, Jacobi, Fichte, Schelling, Richter, Novalis, Uhland, Körner, Holty, Menzel, Neander, Schleiermacher, De Wette, Olshausen, Ammon, and Twesten, in German." A translation, well executed, of some of the most valuable works, judiciously selected, of the writers named in this list, will be an extremely interesting and valuable contribution to the cause of letters, of theology, and of thinking in general. 66 The two volumes now issued, are made up of selections from the writings of Cousin, Jouffroy, and Benjamin Constant, and compose an interesting and valuable body of philosophical essays. The introductory notices are judicious and well written, and the translations are executed with fidelity, elegance, and good taste; perhaps occasionally Mr. Ripley has erred, through an over fastidious shrinking from any strangeness of expression, any thing unusual in idiom. For instance, in the translation of Cousin's preface to the second edition of his Philosophical Fragments, we have the following sentence: Philosophy rests on observation; but it has no other limits than those of reason itself, just as physical science starts from observation, but does not stop with it, and rises by calculation to the general laws of nature and to the system of the world. Now, reasoning is in philosophy what calculation is in physical science; for after all, calculation is nothing but reasoning in its most simple form. Calculation is not a mysterious power; it is the power of human reason itself; its peculiar character consists entirely in its language." Now, "le calcul," the calculus, is a entific term, used by Cousin in its precisely technical sense, and a great part of the force of his reasoning depends upon its being so taken. Would it not, therefore, have been better to have thus translated it, as Hecker has done in his German version of the same preface? We make this suggestion to Mr. Ripley in all kindness and respect; for, in general, his translations are remarkably well executed, and his undertaking deserves every encouragement. We will only add, at this time, that the work is brought out in the usual beautiful style of the well known publishers. Hereafter, we may take occasion to discuss somewhat at large the character of the modern French and German thinking. 19. The Conspiracy of the Spaniards against the Republic of Venice, in 1618. Translated from the French of Abbe St. Real. Boston: Otis, Broaders, & Co. 1838. 18mo. pp. 108. THIS little work of the Abbe St. Real has long been known as a beautiful episode in history, and needs no mention from us, except as a translation. In this respect it appears to be well enough executed, (for we have not the original at hand;) and as the subject has been made the foundation of one of our standard dramas, the translation will probably be acceptable to those who have not read the original work. 20. A Tale of the Huguenots, or Memoirs of a French Refugee Family, Translated and Compiled from the Original Manuscripts of JAMES FONTAINE. By one of his Descendants. With an Introduction, by F. L. HAWKS, D. D. New York: John S. Taylor. 1838. 12mo. pp. 266. THIS is an authentic narrative, dedicated by the translator to "the two thousand descendants of the exemplary Christian" by whom it was written, "who are now living in the United States of America." It is, every way, one of the most beautiful, interesting, and instructive things, of the sort, that we have seen. It is a vivid picture of a period of history which has always been strongly exciting to the imagination; and in the remarkable incidents of the writer's life-a Protestant, enduring various persecutions for his faith; flying from his country on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, his trials and sufferings, and the final settlement in this country of most of his children—and in the charming tone of piety that breathes through it, there is every thing to excite interest, and to leave the most salutary impressions upon the heart. Dr. Hawks is entitled to the thanks of the community, for the suggestions which led to the publication of this old relic. 21. General History of Civilization in Europe, from the Fall of the Roman Empire to the French Revolution. Translated from the French of M. Guizor, Professor of History, etc., and Minister of Public Instruction. First American, from the second English edition. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1838. 12mo. pp. 346. THIS is too important a work, to be adequately treated in a cursory notice. Our present object is merely to announce, with satisfaction, its recent appearance in this country in an English dress. The translation is spirited, and, in general, appears to be executed with fidelity and good judgment. 22. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym, of Nantucket. Comprising the details of a mutiny and atrocious butchery on board the American Brig Grampus, on her way to the South Seas, in the month of June, 1827 with an account of the re-capture of the vessel, by the survivors; their shipwreck and subsequent horrible sufferings from famine; their deliverance, by means of the British Schooner Jane Guy; the brief cruise of this latter vessel in the Antarctic Ocean; her capture, and the massacre of her crew among a group of Islands, in the eighty-fourth parallel of southern latitude: together with the incredible adventures and discoveries, still farther south, to which that distressing calamity gave rise. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1838. 12mo. pp. 198. NOTWITHSTANDING this circumstantial and veracious looking length of title, the work is all a fiction. It is written with considerable talent, and an attempt is made, by simplicity of style, minuteness of nautical descriptions, and circumstantiality of narration, to throw over it that air of reality which constitutes the charm of Robinson Crusoe, and Sir Edward Seaward's Narrative. This work has, however, none of the agreeable interest of the two just named. It is not destitute of interest for the imagination, but the interest is painful; there are too many atrocities, too many strange horrors, and finally, there is no conclusion to it; it breaks off suddenly in a mysterious way, which is not only destitute of all vraisemblance, but is purely perplexing and vexatious. We cannot, therefore, but consider the author unfortunate in his plan. Empire to the French Rete at *. ruction. First Amer.car, the m work, to be adequately treated a ect is merely to announce, WLNA In this country in an Eng drag same preface? We make this suggestion to Mr. R' general, appears to be exec 19. The Conspiracy of the Spaniari Venice, in 1618. Translated from Boston: Otis, Broaders, & Co. THIS little work of the Abbe S a beautiful episode in history, ar cept as a translation. In this re executed, (for we have not the has been made the foundatio translation will probably bethe original work. 1 20. A Tale of the THIS is an "the two th whom it wa America." and instr vivid pict ar pos descendants akeful solicitude, morals, which form page of their history do will assert, that the memory or be retained only with cold ve in their religion, that they were ere in some cases too severe and even e in advance of their age; and, if their eir own time, that they must be acquitted." r and strong lines, the character of John ounders of the colony; and we are glad to which leads to one concession very often withis subject—namely, that the objects of the Puexclusively religious as many claim them to have ss, the free enjoyment of their religious opinions was exciting ad fundamental end they sought; but commercial and writer' pjects had a very important influence with them, and parfaith the latter. It is scarcely too much to say, that political obNar were as much an inseparable part of their enterprise as relitry Nor do we think the less of them on this account. th John Davenport and his compeers, were in some respects men of t more comprehensive policy and profounder statesmanship than the founders of the other colonies; as, for instance, their studious ference to England, in the constitution of their many things in their opinions and proceedregard as ridiculous, without considering specially without considering the prinled. Thus, we laugh at the restricchurch members," without conht they had into the necessity 'ts this in a clear light : Pym's Narrative story of Civilization in Europe, From 18, 1944 ire to the French Revolution, 'vizor, Professor of History, etc, and Mars on. First American, from the second Eing : D. Appleton & Co. Pa?, 12mm. be adequately treated in a cut rely to announce, with satis sutry in an English die sa appears to be executed .it. ling public offices to church ton, Mr. Davenport, and from the first to make before been adopted the English law, iving the sacrar holding any office christian community are this important object, public transactions to thosse, professed to make them the adopting the opinion, that church aw with exclusive privileges. On the hould be excluded from any civil right ants and planters,' and that all should have .ernment where they live.' To make distincto have the commonwealth swallowed up of the at there is a great difference between a commona commonwealth yet to be settled, and wherein men are chey shall judge best.' In the latter case, he would limit .ch members, if possible; but that a majority should control acations of voters, he readily admitted. Whoever affirmed the ended the inherent right of the church to exercise the powers of as, according to John Davenport, a more fit subject for physic than at the planters had in view, may be approved, without admitting the proprithe means adopted for accomplishing their purpose. They wished to secure esty and integrity in the public service; to bring the best men into office; those who would well understand the public good, and undeviatingly pursue it. That so desirable an end could be attained without some limitation of the right of suffrage, they did not believe. All restrictions on this right, whether of age, residence, property, or rank, are defensible only as they afford securities for an intelligent and honest exercise of so important a privilege. If such restrictions fail here, they are unjust and oppressive. The colonists, like other founders of states, aimed to ascertain the character of those who were to vote for public functionaries. They were aware, that such as are the electors, such ultimately will be those who are elected, to administer the government. Hence the solicitude so strongly manifested by the first colonists of New Haven in executing what they denominated their foundation work.' If this should be firm, they had little apprehension about the super structure. "The opinion of the planters as to the correspondence between the character of laws, and the character of those who make them, was obviously the same as that of the founder of Pennsylvania. 'Governments,' says William Penn, 'rather depend upon men, than men upon governments. Let men be good, and the government cannot be bad; if it be ill, they will cure it. But if men be bad, let the government be never so good, they will endeavor to warp and spoil it to their turn. I know some say, let us have good laws, and no matter for the men that execute them; but let them consider, that though good laws do well, good men do better; |