VICTOR DUCANGE. 



HAVING already directed the attention of our readers to that por- 

 tion of the literary fiction of our Gallic neighbours, appropriately 

 distinguished by the epithet " convulsive ;" we at present propose 

 noticing another species, altogether different in character and execution, 

 which is known by the name of the " vaudevilliste/' from its resem- 

 blance in style and spirit, to the charming little pieces produced at the 

 Theatre du Vaudeville. This rich and amusing class of productions., 

 light and sketchy, yet philosophical and humorously illustrative of 

 living manners, with its brilliancy, brevity, and epigrammatic point, 

 forms an agreeable contrast, and a pleasant set-off against the wild va- 

 garies and exaggerated horrors of the Convulsives : nor are its airiness, 

 sprightliness and humourous levity, its only charms ; for, frequently, 

 under the sparkling garb of liveliness, it conveys sound practical 

 lessons of political wisdom, and powerfully exposes some of the abu- 

 ses and absurdities flowing from institutions of the " good old times." 



Victor Ducange is one of this school. The same exquisite address 

 in seizing on the ridiculous and absurd in things and men the same 

 easy elegance of expression, playfulness and vivacity of imagination, 

 and piquancy of observation, which have rendered his dramatic works 

 so successful, are eminently conspicuous in his novels. His profound 

 knowledge of human nature is as apparent, as the easy gaiety of his 

 style is amusing ; his skill in the developement of characters, and in 

 tracing the gradual changes and modifications effected by new cir- 

 cumstances, bringing with them new motives and new ideas, is parti- 

 cularly striking and natural. 



Great differences exist between an English and a French noveFof the 

 present day: while the one appeals to the vitiated taste of an aristo- 

 cracy-loving set, by. minute details of the fictitious distinctions which 

 surround the higher classes, their dinners, routs, equipages, tracasserie 

 and scandal, the other recognizes no artificial distinctions, but 

 applies itself entirely to the moral world to measures, not men to 

 things and not to theories and to the accurate delineation of living 

 manners in every department and grade in society. If nobility be 

 occasionally introduced, it is only to afford an opportunity of exposing 

 the absurdity of its pretensions to a privileged ascendancy, derived 

 from old institutions, which in the present state of society, are in- 

 compatible with the happiness of the mass of mankind. In this particu- 

 lar, Ducange may be taken as a fair representative of the sentiments 

 of his countrymen, of the moral revolution and widely diffused 

 republicanism of opinion, of which, none but those who have resided 

 for some time upon the continent, can form any idea. That respect 

 and deference which was formerly the attendant on exalted stations 

 and great names is now transferred to intelligence, developed in 

 well directed industry ; and a successful stock broker at Paris, or 

 the proprietor of a flourishing manufactory in the provinces, eclipses 

 in public esteem, a score of the vielle noblesse. 



Jean Phol (the principal personage in a tale, by Victor Ducange, of 



