The Count Agenor de Gasparin. Translated from the French of
Th. Borel. (Hodder and Stoughton.)—The Comte de Gasparin was well known in France as a writer on religious subjects, and on politics, especially on their ethical side. His own political career was cut short by the Revolution of 1848. After that event, he refused to occupy any public post, and indeed lived for the most part in Switzerland But his patriotism, according to his own conception of duty, never flagged, and he occupied himself incessantly with his pen, on the side of a moderate freedom. Meanwhile, his domestic life was a beautiful picture of a bright and cultured piety. His last days were saddened by the terrible disaster which overtook France in 1870 ; and indeed his last illness was the result of the infection brought by the army of Bourbaki (oddly enough described as " having been in hot pursuit of the German troops ") when it took refuge in Switzer- land. The memoir, written by a friend whose knowledge of him extended over many years, is interesting. But it is to be regretted that this interest is obscured to the reader by the deplorable weakness of the translation. This is evident enough, without any need to con- sult the original. The translator seems to be under the impression that the French perfect may always be translated by the same tense in English. The tenses accordingly are mixed up in inextricable con- fusion. Even such a common word as " citron " seems to be strange.. When the Count spills a bottle of ink, the valet " armed himself with two citrons."
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