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BARONESS STAEL ON ANCIENT. AND MODERN LITERATURE. 
avoid blunders. A similar error we 
have heard noticed in Sir Richard 
Steele’s dedication of the first volume of 
the Spectator to Lord Somers: “ the sur- 
_ prizing influence which is peculiar to you, 
643 
in making every one who converses with 
your lordship, prefer you to himself, 
without thinking the /ess meanly of his 
own talents.”* 
Arr. VI. A Treatise on ancient and modern Literature, illustrated by striking References 
to the principal Events and Characters that have distinguished the French Revolution. From 
the French of the Baroness Stat. DE Horstein. 8yo. 2 yols. 4 
- WE must let the baroness herself say 
what she has designed to perform in the 
work. 
| «© The first part of this work will contain 
2 moral and philosophical analysis of Grecian 
and Latin literature ; some reflections on the 
effects produced upon the human mind by 
' the invasions of the northern nations, by the 
revival of letters, and by the establishment of 
the christian religion: a rapid delineation of 
the discriminative traits of modern literature, 
with somewhat more detailed observations on 
the master-pieces in the Italian, English, 
German and French languages, considered 
agreeably to the general scope of the work, 
that is to say, with a view to the relations 
that subsist between the political state of a 
country, and the predominant spirit of its Ii- 
teratare. I will endeavour to shew the par- 
ticular character which eloquence assumes 
from this or that form of government; the 
moral ideas which this or that religious creed 
is calculated to beget in the human mind; 
andthe effects of imagination that are pro- 
fluced by the credulity of certain nations; the 
poetical beautiés that belongto the inflnence 
of climate; the degree of civilization that 
best promotes the strength and perfection of 
literature ; the various changes that have been 
introduced into the art of composition, as 
well as into manners, by the different modes 
of existence of women, before and after the 
establishment of the christian religion ; and, 
finally, the universal progress of knowledge, 
sesultin 
‘These s 
first part. 
_ Jn the second, I will examine into the 
State of lights and of literature in France 
since the revolution ; and I will hazard afew 
‘conjectures respecting what ought and will 
~be their future state, if we are one day to en- 
joy the possession of republican freedom and 
morality. The analogy of the past will lead 
constitute the materials of the 
_ -me to a knowledge of what is yet unknown ; 
and by re-stating the observations I will have 
_ Made in the first part of this work, respecting 
influence ofa particular religion, a parti- 
lar form of government, or particular man- 
ners and customs, I shall be enabled to draw 
yme inferences relative to my supposed fu- 
state of things. In this second part will 
: sbe seen, at once, both our present degradation 
_ our future possible perfection. This 
ubject must, sometimes lead me to obserya- 
tions on the political situation of France for 
om the mere succession of ages. » 
these ten years back}; but I shall touch on it 
only as far as it is connected with literature 
and philosophy, without diverging ‘into‘any 
digression foreign to my general purpose. 
“As I survey the revolutions of the gee. 
and tlie succession of ages, one great idea is 
ever uppermost in my mind, from which L 
never-allow my attention to be diverted, I 
mean that of the perfectibility of the human 
race. I cannot bring myself to think, that 
this grand work of moral nature has ever been 
abandoned ; in the ages of light, as well asin 
those of darkness, the gradual advancement 
of the human species has never been inter- 
rupied. 
* * * 
“© To this philosophical creed do I cling 
with all the faculties of my mind. ‘I see, 
among its chief advantages, that it inspires an 
high sense of self-esteem, a lofty elevation of 
soul; and I appeal to every mind of a certain 
cast, if there be in this nether world a purer 
enjoyment, than that bestowed by this con- 
scious elevation?. To it is it. owing, that 
there are sti!l moments, in which all these 
mean groyelling beings, with all their sordid 
calculations of self-interestedness, fade away 
and sink before our eyes, We raise and re~ 
invigorate our faculties, by contemplating the 
future state of knowledge, ef virtue and of 
glory: certain vague impressions crowd in 
upon us, and sentiments which we cannot 
well define, that alleviate the load of life, 
while the whole rhoral man swells with the 
pride of virtue, and swims.in the overflowings 
of happiness. If all our efforts were to be 
strained in vain, if our intellectual labours 
were to be exerted.to no purpose, but irrevo- 
cably swallowed up in the oblivious gulph of 
time; where is the object which a’ virtuous 
man could propose to himself in his solitary 
meditations? Fo: my part I have, through- 
out this work, incessanily reverted to every 
circumstance that tends to evince the perfec- 
tibility of the human species. Nor is this to 
be confounded with visionary theories: it is 
the result of observation, and stands on the 
evidence of facts. It is wise, indeed, to 
guard against that sort of metaphysics that 
derives.no support from experience; but nei- _ 
ther should it be forgotten that, in-times of 
degeneracy and corruption, the name of me- 
taphysics is. given to every thing that is not 
circumscribed within the narrowness of self- 
love, or that does not coincide with the cal- 
culations of self-interest.” i 
rp 
The first thought that will o¢cur to 
3 a 4 
