COOPER'S RECOLLECTIONS OF EUROPE.

OF the three works which Mr. COOPER has lately published touching his European experiences, this is unquestionably the best. The subject malice, dealing chiefly with great persons and social or conventional institutions, is less haekneyed than tours through Switzerland or along the Rhine, and possesses more of a personal interest. The descriptions of scenery are fewer, shorter, and less elaborately heavy in the handling, than in his two pre- vious works; and they are generally so introduced as to illustrate some historical 1,oittt or S01110 national feeling. There is more of con- tinuous narrative in the framework of the book; which is a kind of story of a travelling family. And though written its the form of letters, it is perhaps rather the summary of much observation thrown into that shape at a late period, than a collection of actual epistles. The author terms these " characteristics of Europe" the "gleanings of a harvest already gathered." We are more inclined to look at them as a selection of the best ears of the crop.

Mr. COOPER LTini with the beginning ; and his first letter con- tains als account of his voyage from New York to the Isle of Wight; which, though distinguished by nothing uncommon in incident, possesses some interest from the mastery of the writer in nautical description, and the judicious remarks with which he in-

tersperses his narrative. Alter exploring and freely criticizing the Isle of Wight, our author temporarily settles his family at Southampton.and runs elf himself to London ; where he first feasts his eyes on Gothic architecture, rating Westminster Abbey as " European sensation No. 1." Returning to Southampton, and exhausting such of its characteristics as had interest for American eyes, Mr. COOPEa and his family steamed away to Havre, and thence to Rouen; the night as-rival in France, and the beating of the drums in the streets of Havre to recall the troops to quarters, creating sensations 2 and 3; and the glorious cathedral of the capital of Normandy giving rise to No. 4. From Rouen the

tourists proceeded to Paris ; their leader agreeably describing the country, and the petty occurrences of the journey, both of which possess an interest from their being examined with American eves and judgment. Paris itself was sensation 5 ; and in Paris or its vicinity Mr. COOPi:R remained domiciled for nearly two years; living, it would appear, very much as a native ; mixing in the first society, to which his reputation as the American Scan. seems readily to have proeureil him access; noting the manners of high and low; seeing the most striking sights of that city of sights. and skimming the cream of the whole, for mingled de- scription, discussion, and a comparison between usages, manners, and things in Europe and America.

In point of tone, Mr. COOPER exhibits a sufilcient amount of what some may call sturdy independence, and others a carping disposition but he is on the whole rather in ire subdued than for- merly. Two personal points strongly stand out,—a morbid dis- like to England—an unwillingfess to allow her any sort of merit, ' even down to those miracles in the eyes of all other Americans, , her horses and stage-concLes ; a disagreeable shrewdness, which , looks at the bad side of things, and is not the less offensive be- cause it is not easy to confute it. The time of our traveller's sojourn in Paris was from July 182:3 ; to February 1828. He was consequently there during the last years of the old Bourbon dynasty, in the full flush of its political , dotage and courtly etiquette. Sonic of the remarks and coojee- tures of Mr. COOPER would prove considerable political sagacity, if they are not thoughts after the event. His descriptions of the Court splendours have now a kind of historioal interest. Of this nature are the following passages from his account of CHARLES the Tenth's dinner in public. Mr. COOPER has got a place within the railing shutting off the regal centre compartment, and has finished his sketches of the apartment, the spectators, awl the courtiers— I was near the little gate, when an old man, in a strictly court dress, but plain and matter-of-fact in air, made an application for admittance. In giving way for him to pass, my attention was drawn to his appeararce. The long white lair that bum; down his face, the cordon Ma, the lame fiat, the iniperturbabhm countenance, mid the nnearlIdy aspect, made me suspect the truth. On in. quit big, I was right. It was M. de lalleyrand ! He came, as Grand Cham- berlain, to officiate at the dinner of his tnaster.

Every thing, in a court, goes by elockswork. Your little great may be out of time, and affect a want of punctuality, but a rigid attention to appointments is indispensabie to those who are really in high situations. A failure in this re- spect would ptoduce the same impression on the affairs of men that a delay in the rishig of the sun would produce on the day. Time appearance of the dif- ferent personages named, all so near each other, was time certain sign that our greater than all could not be far behind. They were the dawn of the royal presence. Accordingly, the dour which communicated with time apartments of the King, and the only one within the railed space, opened with the announce- ment of " Le service du Rut ;' when a procession of foot then of the palace ap- pealed, bearing the dishes of the first course. All the vessels, whether already on the table or those in their hands, were of gal, milly wrought, or at least silver gilt, I buti no means of knowing which ; most mutably they were of the former metal. The dishes were taken from the footmen by pages of honour in Hamlet dresses, and by them placed iu order on the table. The first course was no 6,0111)13 ready, than we heatd the welcome announcemeat of "Le • The family immediately niggle their appearance, at the same door by which the service had entered. They were followed by a proper number of lords and ladies in waiting. Every one arose, as a matter of course, even to the " jeunes, jelies, et duchesses:" and the music, as became it, gave us a royal crash. Time nuissicr, iu announcing the King, spoke in a modest voice, and less loud, I observed, than in announcing the Dauphin am: the ladies. It was, however, a different person ; and it is probable one was a common Anissier, and the other a gentleman acting in that character. Charles the Tenth is tall, without being of a too Leavy frame, flexible of move- ment, and decidedly graceful. By remembering that he is a King, and the halal chief of the ancient and powerful family of the Bourbons, by deferring properly to history and the illusions of the past, and by feeling (ant soil pen more respect for those of the present day than is strictly philosophical, or perhaps wise, ills certainly possible to fancy that he has a good deal of that peculiar port and majesty that the poetry of feeling is so apt to impute to sovereigns. I know not whether it is the fault of a cynical aemperament, or of republican prejudices, but I can see no more about him than the easy grace of an old gentleman, accustomed all his life to be a principal personage among the prin- cipal personages of the earth. This you may think was quite sufficient ; but It did not altogether satisfy the exigence of my unpoetieal ideas. His counte- nance betrayed a species of vacant bonhonunic, rather than of thought or dig- nity of mind ; and while he possessed, in a singular degree, the mere physical machinery of his rank, he was wanting in the majesty of character and expres- sion, without which no man can act well the representation of royalty. Even a little more severity of Aspect would have better suited the part, and rendered le grand concert encore plus grand.

These sketches of the characteristics of the Marshals of the Empire, though destructive to military romance, have the interest which always attaches to the appearance of truth.

You have heard a great deal of the celebrated soldiers who surrounded Napo- leon, and whose names have become almost as familiar to us as his own. I do not find that time French consider the Marshals men of singular talents. Most of them reached their high stations on account of their cleverness in some par- ticular branch of their duties, and by their stiong devotion in the earlier parts of eacir career to their master. Marechal Souk has a reputation for skill in managing the civil details of service. As a soldier, he is also distinguished for mane:tiering in the face of his enemy and under fire. Some such excitement appears necessary to arouse his dormant talents. Socket is said to have bad capacity; but, I think, to Massena and to the present King of Sweden the French usually yield the palm in this respect. Davoust was it man of terrible military energy, and suited to certain circumstances, but scarcely a man of ta- lons. It was to hint Napoleon said, " Remember, you has c but a single friend in France—myself; take care you do not lose him." Latino seems to have stood Letter than most of them as a soldier, anti Mataluna!d as a 111311. But, on the whole, I think it quite apparent there was scarcely cite among theni all calculated to have carried out a very high fortune for himself, without the aid of the directing genius of his master. Many of them had ambition enough for any timing; but it was an ambition stimulated by example, rather

an a consciousness of superiority.

In nothing have I been more disappointed than in the appearance of these men, There is more or less of character about the exterior and physiognomy of them all, it is true; but scarcely one has what we are accustomed to thank the car-

riage of a soldier. It may be known to you that Moreau had very little of this,

and really one is apt to fancy he can see the civic origin in nearly all of them. While the common French soldiers have a good deal of military coquetry, the higher officers appear to he neatly destitute of it. Marecbal Molitor is a fine man ; Mart'vhal Marmont neat, iompact, and soldier-looking, Marachal Mor- tier a grenadier without grace; Mareichal Oudinot much the same; and so on to the end of the chapter. Lamarque is a little swarthy inan, with good fea- tures and a keen eye; but he is military in neither carriage nor mien. ('rooming the Pont Royal, shortly after my arrival, in company with a friend, the latter pointed out to me a stranger on the opposite mile- walk, and desired me to gfieta who and what he might be. The subject of toy examinathmn was a compact, solidly-built man, midi a plodding rustic air, and who walked a little lame. After looking at him a minute, 1 goes-Ld he %Lai some substantial grazier, who had conic( to Paris on business connected with time sloaplies of the town. Afy friend Lao-sated and told me it was Matshal S. ult. To lily inex- pem hawed eye. he lud mm it a bit of the exterier of a soldier, and IV3m as unlike the engravings we Ft e if the French heroes as possible. Put here aiit is art ; and imlte the mm an wimo was aeeused ut betriviog another into a protizaiss specu- lation by drawinz streams mot Lis map aiLLn the laml was a izhout any, and wha mieletoled himself by declaring no one eLar saw a nay with oat swains, the French artists appear to think evory one should be repriaonnal ia it s bleat chai ieter. let him be as bourpciais as Le may in ti trim. I have s,.ea Marshal Sault ia camimpany, and his Lice has much character. The head is gm ad, and the eve seareiming, the whole physiognowas po•setsiag timsm la*od ilia. that one wonia be apt to think would riapsire flit; Wise and excitesneht of battle to awaken. La Fayette Inks more like an ohl soldier than a;ly of that. Gt1;- yard, however, ia bath a handsome ram) amid of a military mien.

Continuirg the sph it of the preceding extract—that familiar acquaintance is a mail diminisher at the grand in all thins—we will take a description of a charge of cavalry, which to the unin- itiated seems one of the most terrible of things. Hear the reality.

I have ureic tha acquaintance here of an old English General, who 1. :s passed all ids life in the (it ;Tamils, and who connuanded brigades of cavalry mm. Spain

and at Watet Ion, be is a sensible old man, t f great ft anlaiess al. I simpli- city a chat aetar, perfeet goed breeding a•al paid Bat:vie, amal morcaLar, so far as 1 em discover, absolutely witImuut prej :dice ag :list A mma Cleat. It Its quite won my heart, and I have availed myself c I his kindness to see a goed deal of imimim.NVe walk together fiequebtly, alai chat of all things in Imeavemi and earth. just as tiler em vale uppermost. The other day i asked Lim te explain the details of It chumge of las ,own particular arm t., in,a, of n!,:c!I I confessed a

propel igneranee. Timis is soon (lane," amid the olmi gentleman, taking: my arm with a sort of sly buniour, asi if were milmaut to relato sonmemlling face- tious: " against foot, a charge is a neenaee ; ml tiaiy break, we wont by it ; if they stand, we get out of the serape aa well as wo cam Wi.en foat are in dis- order, cavalry dces the most ; and it is .i.livaysitt ye ia &Turing a victory, usually taking mast of the prisoners. But as against cavalry, there is much misconception. When two rcz tticmmt5 assaelt esch othar, it is in compact line—" " How," I interrupted liii, " dim not you (yea ma as to leave worn to

swing a sabre ?" Not at all. 'lime timv.ry is knee to knee; bet this is easiea said than dune in actual service. I will suppase ail unsuccessful chamge : we start, knee to knee, on a trot. This loa-ms the rahkm, aaml as we increase the stood, they become still looser. NVe are tinder the time uf artillery er perh.lptl ci illf:ttltrV all tile ii tic', and the enemy wont rin. At :raiment a clever officer will common:I a t Latvia to he sooty% !. If he sheuld mm .t. Slalle officer is opportunely ( r some leaminig 111:01 CO: 11111411a of his horse, a hiell la

wounded and w11.-els the :-quadroa follow,, and we get away es well r.s we can.

'The enemy follow,. ahmi if he catches ti,, we are cut up. Other charges do occur ; but this is time common history of cavalry against eav,i!ry, a:.:: ia un- succetsful attacks if cavslr ma against in-Mi.:nay toe. A klama ledge of ea: nae of the sword is necessary ; fer (lid your tint mtv helieve yen igrorant .of it, he would not fly ; hut time weapon itself is rarely mad on Snell cccaeimmn. 'ery few IIIC:1 are slain in their ranks by the bay (met or the sabre.

Mr. CANNING made his celebrated visit to Paris during the residence of Mr. Coors:ft, who was invited to meet him at a dinner given at the American Ambassador's. The account of it. swelled ; as it is with a description of Freneh hotels, an expos( • of Mr. C A NNING'S ill-breeding in not knowing bow to lead a lady out of the room, and sundry other matters, fills a very long letter. The description of the arrivals, the most interesting part, we'quote to conclude.

The first person who appeared was a handsome, compact, well-built, gentle. man-like littie man, who was annomiced as the Duke of Villa Herinuea, the Spanish Ambassador. Ile was dressed with great simplicity and beauty, hav- ing, however, the breast of his coat covert .1 LL'ith stars, among which I recog- nized, msith historic:LI reverence, that of the Golden Fleece. He came alone, his wife pleading intliapositiou for her absence. 'lime Prussian .Minister and his wife came next. Then followed Lord and Lady Granville, tlie lepresentatives of Eugland. He was a large, well-looking man, but wanted the perfect com- mand of movement aid manner that so much distinguish his brethren in di- plomacy : as for mere physical stuff, he and our own 3littiater, who stands six feet four in his stock iogs, would make mate, ial enough for all the lest of the corps. He ssa re the Star of the Bath. "f he Austrian Ambassador and Am- bassadresa followed, a couple of eingularly high air and a good tone of man- ner. Ile ia a Hungarian, and very handsome ; she a Velem...se, I believe, and certainly a woman admirably adapted for her station. They had hardly made their salutations before M. le Comte et Mad. la Conitesse de Villde were alumina:ed. llcie, then, we had the rrench Pi line 31iniatcr. As the women precede the men into a thawing-room here. knowing bow to walk arid to curt- sty alone, I did not at first perceive the great man, who followed so close to his wife's skirts as to be nearly hid, But he was soon fly Mg a'auut the room at large, and betrayed himself immediately to be a fidget. lusted of remaining stationary, or nearly so, as became his high .quality, be took the initiative in compliments, and bad uearly every diplomatic man walking apart in the adjoin- ing room, in a political aside, in less than tivelity minutes. lie had a counte- nance of shrewdness, and I make little doubt is a better man in a bureau than in a drawing room. His colleague, the Foreign Minister, M. de lianas, and his wife, came next. Ile was a large,Zeavy-lolLing personage, that I suspect throws no small part of the diploniacy on the shoulders of the Premier ; though be had mole time nrioner of good society than his cons .gue. Ile has already exchanged his (Alice for that of Governor of the Heir Presumptive, as

I have already stateaa 'flare was a pause, when a quiet, even paced, classical- looking man, in the attire of an ecclesiastic, appeared in the door, and was an- nounced as "My Lend the Nuncio." He was then an Archbishop, and wore

the usual dress of his rink; but I have since met him at an evening party with a red hat under his arm, the Pope having recalled him, and raised him to that dignity. Ile is now (7ardittal Macchi. Ile was a priestly and an intellectual- looking personage, and, externals considered, well suited to his station. He wore a decoration or two, as well as mast of time others. ".My Lord Clanricarde and Mr. Canning came next, and the great in ollowed by his son-in-law, made his appearance. He walked into the room with the quiet aplomb of a man accustomed to being lionized; and certainly, without being of striking, lie was of very pleasing appearance. His size was ordinary, but his fiame was compact and well-built, neither too heavy nor too light fur his years, but of just the proportions to give one the idea of a perfect management of the machine. His face was agreeable, and his eye steady and searching. Ile and M. de Villele were the very opposites in demeanour, though, after all, it was easy to see that the Englishman had the most latent force about him. One was fidgetty and the other humorous; for, with all his command of limb and gesture, nothing could be more natural than the expres- sion of Mr. Canning. I may have imagined that I detected some of his wit, from a knowledge of the character of his mind. Ile left the impression, how- ever, of a man whose natural powers were checked by a trained and factitious deference to the rank of those with whom he associated. Lord Granville, I thought, treated him with a sort of affectionate deference ; and, right or wrong, I jumped to the conclusion, that the English Ambassador was a straight- forward, good fellow at the bottom, and one very likely to badger the ffilgetty Premier, by his steady determination to do what was right. I thought 111. de Dames, too, looked like an honest man. God forgive we if I do injustice to any of these gentlemen !