would be inclined to consider them as the without the occurrence of a prodigy, or productions of a warm imagination, were the interposition of any thing miraculous, ibey not related by persons wortby of “ Analyse, &c."-Analysis of a Course credit. “ However,” adds he, with an of History ; by Volney, late Professor affected candour,“ notwithstanding the at the Normal School. testimony of so many worthy people, it History is a course of experiments is not here pretended to guarantee all which the human race practises on itself. the facts inentioned. The judicious. That these experiments may not be lost, reader will of course make such in- we ought to endeavour to deduce certain ductions as he may deem necessary.” įnferences from them. To arrive at

To compose a volume of this descrip- these, M. Volney purposes to follow the tion, it becomes absolutely necessary to progress of the most celebrated maxims recur from the present to former ages, in respect : and to dwell with particular complai- 1. To the arts, such as agriculture, sance on those dark and bigoted periods, commerce, navigation. when the credulity of a hesotted people 2. To the different sciences, such as produced monsters and chinæras in astronomy, geography, natural history, abundance. We are first presented with 3. To morals, private and public. the history of a robber, who descended 4. To legislation, civil and religious, into the sepulchre of a young maiden, &c. and stole away her clothes, " sans par- And after having glanced at the predonner même à sa chemise." The out. sent state of the globe, he resolves to saged lady, in order to punish this au- examine the two following questions : dacity, immediately awakens from the 1. To what degree of civilization may slumbers of death, and announces, by we hope to see the human race attain? way of punishment, that he shall never 2. What general indications result depart again out of the tomb. She re- from history, towards the perfecting of lents, however, and the thief obtains the civilization and the amelioration of permission to depart, on condescending mankind? to become a priest! This is truly a pretty The doties of an historian are precompliment to the church.

sented to him by the etymology and We next encounter a certain Count de meaning of the word history; ssopios Mâcon, a very violent man, who had dis- signified among the Greeks a perquisition, played, as we are tolu, a most tyrannical or laborious research. History then, aldisposition against the priests, and what- though the moderns seem not to have soever belonged to them. By way of considered it in this point of view, is an ponishing him, he is transported into the inquest concerning facts, whence results air by a demon until he had made repa- the necessity of considering these facts ration for his excesses against the holy in a double point of view; first, in rechurch. Next comes a Huguenot (Protest- speet to their essence, and secondly, in ant) man-servant,who is tormented by the connection with testimony. Accorddevil because he wished to turn Catholic. ingly, in order to appreciate the cerAfter these arrive a number of good souls tainty of historical facts, one ought to post from the other world, who assure us weighthat every thing related concerning it is 1. The means of instruction and in perfectly true. The moral certainly is, formation. * to cause masses to be said for departed 2. The extent of the moral faculties, friends, give money to the neighbouring which are sagacity and discernment. churches, &c.” In respect to these su- 3. The interests and affections of perstitious mummeries it may be said, in the narrator, whence may arise three every age, and in every country, with the kinds of partiality ; seduction, and the Italian harlequin

prejudices of birth and education. * Tutto il mondo é fatto comme la nostra

In his second lesson, the author exafamiglia.”

mines the materials of history, and means

of information among the ancient na. But the principal story here related, is tions. He also compares their situation, concerning a poor unhappy gentleman, both civil and moral, with that of the who slept all night with a demon, who moderns, in order to demonstrate the had enticed him under the forın of a great revolution which printing has propretty girl! This occurred at Paris, we duced in this branch of our knowledge, are told, on January 1st. 1613, and has and our studies. And here he recomundoubtedly happened many times since, mends doubt; not that absurd pyrrho

a

prism, proceeding from ignorance, hut detail of reigns, deaths, wars, combats, scepticism; or in other words, that cir- plagues and famines. cumspect, and inquiring dubiety, which The second is by the connection and keeps the judgment in suspence, so long deduction of facts, which he terms the as there do not exist sufficient motives dramatic, or systematic method. Herofor determination, and which measures dotus's history is characteristic of this. the quantum of belief and certainty by The third, termed par Ordre de Ma. the degrees of proof and evidence with tières, or arising out of the materials, which each fact is accompanied. consists in tracing any subject of art or

In his third discourse, M1. Volney exa- science from its origin, or some given mines the utility of history. This con- epoch, on purpose to consider its prosists of three distinct species:

gress without distraction. Goguet intend. 1. Moral utility, applicable to indi- ed that his work, entitled, De l’Origine viduals.

des Lois, des Arts, 8. des Sciences, a phi2. Scientific utility, applicable to the losophical subject, unfortunately treated arts and sciences; and,

but with little philosophy, should be of 3. Political utility, which is applica- this kind. ble to nations and their gove 'nments. The following are models in this

He recommends those books, the ob- species of composition : L'Astronomie ject of which is biography, to the Ancienne, by the celebrated but unfortuprimary schools, as admirably calculated nate Bailly'; Robertson's l'Histoire des for forming the minds of young nien; and Finances de France, by Forbonnais; to he purposes to substitute the Illustrious these the author is inclined to add Men of Cornelius Nepos and Plutarch, l'Histoire du Fanatisme, by Pluquet, in the room of the Lives of the Saints. which, along with his Dictionnaire des

The characters of the great men of Hérésies, prepared the way for another France should also be studied; and even history of the same kind. if she had not produced any, such never- The fourth, which is the Aanalytical theless should be written: in this point or Philosophical Method, is nearly the of view romance might be rendered su- same with the preceding; only, instead of perior to history.

treating of any one subject of art, The art of studying, and of composing science, &c. it embraces all the pa of and writing history, forms the subject of the political body : in short, it is, at it the 4th discourse." Every one ought to were, a Biographical History of a People, begin with the history of his own country, and a Physiological Enquiry into the Laws and then open that of the neighbouring that regulate the Encrease and Decrease nations, before he searches into the res of the social Body. It is to be lamented cesses of antiquity. An analysis of the that no work has hitherto been conducted 'Treatises by Lucian and Mably, on the on a plan su vast in point of execution, manner of writing history, follows, and and so useful in regard to the benefits to the works of these celebrated men are be derived from it. criticised with great impartiality and While treating of the influence of judgment.

historical works on human actions, M. The object the 5th or principal dis- Volney mentions the effect produced by course is to exhibit some observations on the Iliad on Alexander, a circumstance the art of collecting and presenting that perhaps determined the conquest of historical facts.

Asia; the history of that same prince, He conceives that there are four dif- written by Quintus Curtius, which beferent manners of treating and com- came the instigator of the warlike furies pusing history.

of Charles XII. as well as the terrible The first, that in which the order of wars, which during his reign agitated the time is followed, which is termed the north of Europe; and the Hebrew writers, didactical. It consists in collecting and which have produced the commotions of classifying events according to their dates, nations for these last 1500 years. and in mingling with a narrative, pure After deprecating a superstitious veneand simple in its nature, few or no re- ration for the Jews on one hand, or the Sections. This, which is known by the Greek and Romans on the other, the name of Annals, or Chronicles, has been professor concludes thus: elevated to a high degree of merit by “ Ah ! let us cease to admire the the pens of Tacitus and Thucydides; ancients who have taught us but little in but in general, it is confined to a barren respect to morals, and nothing at all in

regard

a

regard to political economy, the only have all paid the strictest attention to truly useful result of history; let us this subject. cease to hate our contemporaries, our Action consists in three things: neighbours, who were the first to teach

1. The memory; us the real theories of government, de- 2. The voice; and, nonstrating by an evident but simple

3. The gesture ; series of facts and reasonings, that the all of which are cultivated by reflection riches consist only in the products of the and practice. earth, which feed, clothe, and lodge

“ Le personnage seul nous plait et nous mankind; that these products are only étonne, to be obtained by labour; that labour « Toute le charme est detruit, si l'on voit being accoinpanied with pain, is only

la personne.” excited among free nations hy the hope

It may be fairly said, that any man of enjoyment, that is to say, the security who speaks in públic* ' acts a certain of property ; that in order to maintain

part; on this occasion the orator ought this security, a public force, called go

to be particularly attentive not to allow vernment, becomes necessary, and that himself, but his character, to be visible. this government may be defined a bunk The illusion is destroyed,' if be cannot, of ussurance, in the preservation of conceal that he is but repeating what he' which every one is interested in pro- had formerly got by heart. Memory portion to the quantum enjoyed by each, is therefore necessarily the first accoinwhile those who do not possess any, na- plishment in an orator. Each phrase turally wish to dissolve it. Let us cease

should be ready at command, and the to admit a savage doctrine, which by recollection ought to be prepared not means of war, conducts every nation, only with what is wanting at a particular whether victorious, or vanquished, to

moment, but also with what may be recertain ruin, because the abandonment

quired afterwards. of cultivation and manufactures, the

The connection of ideas, as Condillac consequence of external wars, leads to scarcity, to troubles, to civil wars, and very justly observes is the principle of

the memory;

This therefore depends finally to the power of the strongest. “ Áfter having enfranchised ourselves best and surest kind of memory is that

greatly, on the order and analysis. The from Jewish fanaticism, let us repel that connected with the judgment. I wish Roman or Vandal fanaticism which for example to get a discourse by heart; places assassination itself among the I accordingly meditate on the principal number of the virtues, since the testi- and accessory ideas, their number, their mony of history proves, that assassina- order, their connection, the plan of each tions have always occasioned still greater part, the divisions, and the subdivisions disasters than they were intended to re

of each subject. After this, I may medy; because, wherever poniards are unsheathed, the laws are eclipsed and loss. If the orator forget the discourse,

assert, that it is impossible to be at a obliterated."

he will be enabled to recover himself inMany of these doctrines reflect not a

stantly. little discredit on Bonaparte; and their author, M. Volney, has been accordingly call forth ideas at the moment they are

The principal intention of order is to for some time in disgrace.

wanted. Class every thing therefore, “ Reflections on the Art of Declaim- make extracts from whatever you read, ing;" by Herault Sechelles.

use order in your affairs, your thoughts, That talent so peculiarly fitted to set

&c. There is every useful and commooff all others, was termed by the ancients

dious custom, particularly serviceable to action, and is called by us declamation. Its value is well known. Deinosthenes, facility; this to retain only the catch

those who wish to acquire readiness and on being interrogated what was the first

word of each phrase. Voltaire has some. merit in an orator? replied, action. The

where observed, second, action? The third? action. He himself had received lessons from Satirus,

« Les mots sont les courriers des pensées." the most celebrated actor of his age. I would use this adage in another

Although the governments of modern days be less fitted for the developement * Consult the scarce works of Servanduni 1 of eloquence, yet we have not ceased to d Hannetaire, father of Madame la Rive, sur

perceive the merit of action. Our advo- l'Art du Comedien. Also that of Riccobini cates, players, and celebrated preachers, Remond de Sainte-Albine Dufresnel, &c.

>

energy; it is only sufficient to pronounce two days previous to that on which he
it. Change your tone with every change was to pronounce them. He did not
of the sense. Never commence the possess the most natural delivery, but he
following phrase in the same key in was extremely graceful; he laid a stress
which the former one was concluded. on certain words, which seemed like
Be careful to give their just value and affectation; but it was an atfectation
proper extent to your tones, a merit far that gave delight.
more rare than is generally imagined; I prefer speaking to reading a speech,
every expression has its own proper ac- notwithstanding the practice of the advo-
cent. Manage the voice and its move- cates of the ci-devant parliament of
ments; it is principally by husbanding it Bourdeaux. One ought always to have
that you will be enabled to shine at its the appearance of creating the ideas
expence.

on the spot.

The notion of declaiming « What do you wish to he? An orator? before inferiors in mental powers, and in Be one in every thing, in your own cham- talents, confers liberty, assurance, and ber, in the street; nothing is stronger even grace. I once visited d'Alembert than habit, and its effects are universal. in his garret, for surely his apartment In general we ought, if it be permitted deserved no other name. He was surto say so, to colour the words with the rounded by a circle of blue ribbons, sentiments they are intended to produce. ministers, ambassadors, &c. whom be For example, in Massillon we find the despised; and I was prodigiously struck following passage :

on this occasion with the superiority “ Cet enfant uuguste vient de naitre which talents naturally confer on the pour la perte, comme pour le salut de possessor. plusieurs." It should be repeated thus : Sensibility cannot be produced without « Cet enfunt auguste vient de naitre detail, memory without activity, elopour la pert-comme pour le salutade quence without assurance, mingled with plusieurs." In pronouncing la perte, ex- audacity, or grace without liberty. The hibit on your countenance that grief na. inost astonishing thing about Le Kain turally arising from seeing men con- was the perfect unison between his modemned; when you come to salut, let tions, his gestures, his countenance, and you features brighten with joy."

his voice. He studied his parts proM. Thomas informed me that Made. foundly; there was a character in partimoiselle Clairon was quite unhappy dur. cular, at which he lahoured during ten ing the first ten years she appeared at the theatre, che perceived that her mode There is one remark with which I of declaiming was not strictly natural, and that violent exclamations produced

• The celebrated d'Alembert, in his youth less effect than sympathetic and pene- possessed the talent of imitation in a wondertrating accents. But what was she to ful degree. Dining one day with the Mardo? All Paris was accustomed to her quis de Lomellini, envoy from Genoa, he manner, and would have been shocked mimicked the voice,countenance, and manner, at the alteration. She therefore re

of Sarrazin, Quinaut.Dufresne, Poisson, &c. paired to Bourdeaux, where she effected they were not present, he caricatured their

with uncommon facility and truth; and, as her new plan with prodigious success,

most triling faults. Mademoiselle Gaussin, and on her return to the capital was

a famous actress of that day, who happened listened to with enthusiasm. One day, to be one of the guests, begged to be taken off, she sat down in a chair, and without and was not a little flattered at the illusion. speaking a word, or making a single On this, her companion, Mademoiselle Du. gesture, by means of her face alone she mesnil, insisted on having her turn; but described not only all the passions, such as young d'Alembert had not recited more than hatred, anger, indignation, indifference, seven or eight verses, in one of her favourite sadness, grief, love, &c. but all the slight characters, before she jumped from her chair, shades between these. On a bystander's exclaiming." Ah! look at my left arm testifying his adıniration, she replied, my cursed left arm! I have been ten whole that she had studied anatomy on purpose,

years endeavouring to correct its stiffness, which had enabled her to know what ceive, sir, that nothing escapes you, and I

whole years.