LITERATURE, CONTINENTAL, IN 1873. 



425 



" Patria Belgica," published under the direc- 

 tion of Prof. Van Bemmel, is a great national 

 encyclopffidia ; the articles have been written 

 by distinguished professors of the different sub- 

 jects. The history of Belgium is there retraced 

 from the beginning, aud her actual situation is 

 shown, physically and materially, politically 

 and socially, morally and intellectually. The 

 first portion, entitled "Belgique Physique" 

 (the last numbers of which have just appeared), 

 treats of the questions which relate to the 

 climate, to the animals, plants, and the rural 

 economy of the country. The " Patria Bel- 

 gica " is not only a work well calculated to 

 strengthen national feeling in Belgium, but 

 foreigners also will find in it a standard work 

 of reference. 



In the domain of literature properly so 

 called, wo must draw attention to several 

 well-written works, such as " Mjorsures F6mi- 

 nies," by Emile Leclercq, an author of realistic 

 novels, who is full of originality; "Contes 

 Flamands et Wallons," by Cam. Lemonnier ; 

 "Romans ct Nouvelles," by Caroline Gravitre ; 

 and some graceful sketches of life and manners 

 in Brussels, that proceed from the pen of M. 

 H. Pergameni. The works of Auguste Hock, 

 who is a charming story-teller, contain a curi- 

 ous study of popular beliefs and superstitions, 

 a picture of old Liege, and the history of a 

 family through several generations. 



Dramatic literature has produced the com- 

 edies in verse and prose of Romberg and of 

 Delmotte; " L'Echeance," by Stoumon, and 

 "Les Terreurs de M. Duplessis," by Ilen- 

 nequin, the witty author of the Vaudeville 

 " Les Trois Chapeanx," which had such suc- 

 cess in Paris and in Brussels. " La Mere de 

 Rubens " must also be mentioned ; it is a prize 

 drama by Charles Potvin, the best living poet 

 of our French literature. This same author 

 has written an original book, entitled "La 

 Corruption Litt6raire en France," in which 

 he analyzes the decline of French manners as 

 shown by its contemporary literature, and ho 

 passes judgment upon French writers, great 

 and small, with remarkable clearness and firm- 

 ness. Alfred Michiels continues the publica- 

 tion of the new edition, of his "Histoire de la 

 Peinture Flamande," a most attractive work, 

 which unites imagination with erudition. 



In history the year 1873 has furnished a 

 handsome contingent of works. Theodore 

 Juste has published a book on " Guillaume le 

 Taciturne," remarkable for careful study of 

 authorities, and for well-weighed and saga- 

 cious conclusions. The same historian has also 

 written an interesting biography of " Lord 

 Palmerston," who Juste rightly places among 

 the founders and sincere friends of Belgium. 

 " Le Regne de Mario ThCrese dans les Pays- 

 Bag Aiitrichiens," by Cli. Piot, is a conscien- 

 tious work. F. Hfnanx has given a third edi- 

 tion of his excellent " Histoire du Pays de 

 Liege," that curious episcopal principality, 

 which existed up to the close of the last cen- 



tury, and was so noted for its frequent popular 

 tumults and its popular liberties. In a small 

 work, entitled "Etude sur les Origines Feo- 

 dales," P. A. F. Gerard sustains, with much 

 talent and learning, his favorite paradox, 

 according to which the origin of feudal- 

 ism must be sought for in Roman institutions 

 rather than in the organization of the German 

 conquerors. E. Reusens, professor in the 

 Catholic University at Louvain, has published 

 his Elements d'Archeologie Chre'ticune." In 

 this work he traces the history of religious 

 architecture, of ecclesiastical furniture and 

 sacred iconography (images and pictures), from 

 the catacombs of Rome, to the period of the 

 Renaissance. Among works on history, we 

 may include two political pamphlets, one of 

 them " Le Prince de Bismarck et 1'Entrevue 

 des troisEmpereurs,"by A. Deschamps, Min- 

 ister of State, and one of the heads of the 

 old Conservative party. The other pamphlet, 

 "Le Parti Clerical en Belgique," is by Emile 

 de Laveleye, who has also published an elabo- 

 rate treatise, entitled "Des Causes Actnelles de 

 la Guerre en Europe et de 1' Arbitrage Inter- 

 national." 



In the domain of philosophical science, we 

 must give the first place to ' Enseignement et 

 Philosophic," by G. Tiberghien, professor at 

 the University of Brussels. A small, unpre- 

 tending, but very curious work is the " Notice 

 sur les Installations des Charbonages du Haz- 

 ard," by Leon d'Andrimont, who is one of the 

 most devoted of Belgians to nil the institu- 

 tions which have for their aim the elevation 

 of working-men. It contains most interesting 

 details about the vast Hotel-Louise, where 

 two hundred men lodge, belonging to the Col- 

 liery of Le Hazard at Micheronx (Liege). 



i'liree volumes of travels deserve to be 

 mentioned: they are "Sahara et Laponie," by 

 Goblet d'Alviella, who possesses descriptive 

 power, and hns made the most of the effective 

 contrast offered by the two countries which he 

 has explored; "Voyages aux Montagues ro- 

 cbcuses," by the Flemish Jesuit, De Smet, who 

 gives an account of his residence in the midst 

 of the Indian tribes of Oregon (U. S.); and 

 " Voyage de Bruxelles en Mongolie," pub- 

 lished in the name of the Catholic Mission- 

 ary Congregation of Scheutveld, Brussels. 



In juristic literature, we must notice the 

 " Commentaire legislatif et doctrinal sur les 

 titres du Code relatifs d la lettre de change, et 

 au billet a ordre," by Ernest TrVaelbroeck. 

 But especially we must call attention to the 

 second volume of the " AncienDroit Belgique; 

 on, Precis analytiquo des Lois et Coutumes ob- 

 serves avant le Code civil," by the late 

 Eugene Defacqz. It is in truth a master- 

 piece of historical erudition and judicial per- 

 spicuity. The learned Prof. Laurant continues 

 to publish his volumes of civil law, which will 

 probably be the most profound and precise 

 philosophical treatise on French law that has 

 ever appeared. 



