Historical Difficulties and Contested Events. By Octave Delepierre, LL.D. (Murray.)—M.
Delepiorre discusses various historical questions, some about which the learned still differ, and others about which they have come to an agreement, without, however, entirely destroying the popular belief. Whether the Colossus bestrode the harbour of Rhodes, whether there was ever such a personage as Pope Joan, may be taken as specimens of the latter class ; the history of the library of Alexandria and the fate of Jeanne d'Arc belong to the former. M. Delepierro, who seems to have consulted all the available authorities, generally takes the ceptical side, and sometimes, we think, goes too far in his scepticism. Some of the details of the story of William Tell, for instance, are very probably fabulous, but the fact of their occurring in various legends does not actually prove them to be so unless they are intrinsically incredible. It is not impossible that Gassier may have heard of the trial of shooting at an apple on a child's head, and determined on putting it to a practical proof. And surely there is evidence for Charles V. having ordered the performance of some ceremonies which were, at the least, very strange and unusual, in anticipation of his death. There was something of this hypochondria in his blood, and it came out very strongly in some of his descendants. In one instance, that of Jeanne d'Aro, M. Delepierre takes the romantic view, believing that the Maid was not burnt at Rouen, but lived to be happily married afterwards.
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