648 
‘court influences the mental genius of the na- 
tion, because an universal wish is excited to 
‘imitate that which distinguishes the most 
elevated rank. ' 
*« When the government is so moderate, 
that no cruelty is apprehended from it, and 
so arbitrary, that all the enjoyments of power 
and fortune depend only on its favour, al! 
those who aspire to that favour ought to pos- 
sess a suthicient degree of mental eee illity 
to render themselves amiable, and sufficient 
dexterity to make that frivolous accomplish- 
ment conducive to material success. Mien 
of the first class of society in France, often 
aspired to power, but they ran no dangerous 
hazards in that career; they gafned without 
risking the loss of a large stake, uncertainty 
turned only upon the extent of their advan- 
tage ; hope alone then animated their exer- 
tions ; great perils give additional energy to 
the soul and to the reflecting powers, but se- 
curity gives to the mind all the charms of ease 
and readiness. 
«« The animation of gaiety, still more than 
the polish of grace, banished the remem- 
brance of all distinctions of rank, without, in 
reality, destroying any ; by means of this, 
grandees dreamed of equality with kings, and 
oets with nobles, and inspired even the 
igher ranks with a more refined idea of their 
own advantages, which after a short forgetful- 
ness were remembered again with renewed 
pleasure; and the highest perfection of taste 
and gaiety was the result of this universal de- 
sire to please.” 
* * * 
« The influence of women is necessarily 
very great, when all events take place in the 
drawing-room, and when all characters are 
judged by their conversation, in such a case 
women become a supreme power, and what- 
ever pleases them is assiduously cultivated, 
The feisued which monarchy left to the gene- 
rality of distinguished men in every depart- 
mei:t, conduced very much to bring the plea- 
‘sures of the understanding and of conversation 
to perfection. 
¢« Power was attained in France neither 
by labour nor by study ; a Lon mot, some pe- 
culiar gracefulness, was frequently the occa- 
sion of the most rapid promotions ; and these 
feaeent examples inspired a sort of careless 
philosophy, a confidence in fortune, and a 
contempt for studious exertions, which led 
every mind to be agreeable and accommodat- 
ing. When diversion is not only permitted, 
but often useful, a nation ought to attain the 
utmest point of perfection to which it can be 
carried. 
«* Nothing similar to this will ever be wit- 
nessed in France, whilst under a governmeat 
of a different nature, however it may be can- 
stituted, which will be a convincing proof 
that what was called French genius and 
French grace, were only the result of mo- 
narchical institutions and manners, such 
as they haye for many past ages existed in 
“rance.” * sar tee 
PHILOLOGY AND CRITICISM. - 
Whatever be the truth of the predic-’ 
tion, there is good sense in these remarks. 
We are far trom designing to pass any 
reneral and indiscrimimate censure upon 
ladame Stael; we blame her for affect- 
ing to discourse d2 omni scibile, for talking 
of the Greek philosophers as familiarly 
as Thomas Taylor, and of the English 
poets as boldly as if she were competent 
to be their judge. We would hint to 
her, that itis not every Z£xglishwoman, 
nor Englishman either, who can under+ 
stand Shakespere and Milton. It is a 
pleasanter task to listen to her when she 
is speaking upon subjects within the 
sphere of her own knowledge and ob- 
servation. 
«« A bold and very difficult stratagem, al- 
lowed under the ancient government, was 
the art of offending against the manners with- 
out wounding taste, and to make a mockery 
of morality, by proportioning delicacy of ex- 
pressions to indeceucy of principles. Hap- 
pily, however, this talent is as ill adapted to 
the virtue as to the genius of a republic; as 
soon as one barrier was overthrown, the rest 
would be disregarded, the relations of society 
would no longer have the power to curb those 
whom sacred ties could not restrain. | 
‘* Moreover, extraordinary quickness of 
genius is requisite, in order to succeed in this 
dangerous style, which unites grace of ex- 
pression to depravity of sentiments; and b 
the strong exercise of our faculties, to which 
we are called in a republic, we lose that in- 
genuity. ‘The most delicate touches are ne- 
cessary togive to immorality that grace, with+ 
ont which even the most abandoned of man- 
kind would repulse with disgust the pictures 
and principles of vice.” 
That this talent is as ill adapted to the 
virtue as to the genius of a republic, 
no oue will be disposed to deny ;.but we 
must doubt whether there be nof$uch a 
disposition in 'renchmen to this talent, 
as would unfit them for a republican go- 
vernment, even if they possessed courage 
enough to establish one. ‘* The mora- 
lity of the French,” says Madame Stael 
herself, “* is perverted by the ardent de- 
sire they feel to distinguish themselves 
in any way, but most by the brilliancy of 
their wit. When the qualities they al- 
ready possess are insufficient for this pur- 
pose, they have recourse to vice, in order 
to render themselves conspicuous.”— 
Something of this will exist among indi- 
viduals in ail countries; but woe to the 
country wheréof this can be the national 
characteristic. Because this is the na- 
tional characteristic_of France, we do 
not expect that mental and moral convae 
