The History of France, from 1789 to 1848. By M.
Gnizot. Edited by Madame de Witt, née Guizot. Vol. IV. (Sampson Low and Co.)— It is not clear how much of this volume is due to the authorship of M. Gnizot. On the whole, we gather from the editor's preface that he was accustomed to converse on this period of history with his family, that he committed to paper some "instructions," which his
daughter has collected and preserved ; and that a peculiar interest was given to his words, by the personal knowledge which he had of many of the actors in these scenes. We have, it may be concluded, the embodiment by a competent hand of a recent tradition; and the book, though there is nothing very striking or novel in it, adequately answers the expectations that we should form of it. But exception, perhaps, may be taken to some phrases, to such, for instance, as we find in the brief introductory summary,—" The noble attempts to realise constitutional govern- ment under the two branches of the Royal House from 1815 to 1830, and from 1830 to 1848." This is not the view commonly taken of the monarchy of Louis XVIII., or of that of Louis Philippe. Generally, however, we find a fair and candid view of men and affairs. The volume may be said to begin with the taking of the Bastille ; and it ends with the return of Bonaparte to France in 1799, and the over- throw of the Directory.
Previous page
