mix in his friend's society in case the Imperial answer to the proposition of a loan should be favourable; from which we infer that, whatever the difference of manners, and perhaps morals, the difference between the character of Frenchmen then and now was not so great as might be supposed. Loans by the Bank of France, upon the terms offered by M. Récamier, were events of everyday occurrenee, but not equally so the fact of the master descending to prevent them from private pique. Forty-eight hours from the moment when M. Récamier told his wife of his impending disasters, those disasters were public, and his bank had stopped payment. From this moment the renown of

puissants Seigneurs," who, by their conduct than alive," and quite determined only to to Bonaparte during his prosperity, did themselves the very worst service that has been done to legitimate Royalty in modern times: they all avowed the same desire to be received by the reigning beauty of the day, but all evinced precisely the same intention to shirk the consequences of so doing. That Napoleon showed himself miserably little in his behaviour towards the two or three women who stood at the head of the Royalist opposition in France, there can be absolutely no doubt; but the foreign princes, and delegates of princes, who allowed him to dictate to them in what was, after all, a matter of private and personal conduct, saved him from the charge of monopolizing all meanness. It must be premised that Napoleon la belle Juliette reached its climax. had seldom expressed himself more resolutely in any case; and such small sovereigns as held to his friendship may well have thought twice before becoming the habitual associates of a person whom "to visit," had said the Emperor, was to be declared his own personal enemy."*

This enmity was, in truth, not shown in the minuter details of social life only-it had a severely practical influence on the fortunes and credit of M. Récamier; and we think we can trace to the revengeful spirit of the unaccepted suitor of 1804, the order to the Bank of France in 1806, not to prevent the ruin of la belle Juliette's husband by a loan of one million of francs. A pitiful piece of spite, surely, but wondrously in keeping with the character of the personage.

On a certain Saturday in the autumn of 1806, M. Récamier had driven out from Paris to Clichy, to acquaint his child-wife with the fact that, by a combination of circumstances, he foresaw a probability of stoppage of payment by his house-a probability that, indeed, could only be averted by the agreement of the Bank of France to advance the sum of a million of francs.

Madame Récamier was at this period not quite eighteen, and upon her was immediately placed by her quinquagenarian husband all the responsibility of the situation, as far as social" appearances" went. M. Récamier feeling himself quite unable to support the burthen of his impending ruin, Madame Récamier undertook to do the honours that day to a large party of persons who had been invited to dine at her house, and whom it was thought advisable not to put off, in order to avoid giving any alarm as to the financial condition of la maison Récamier. As to the head of the firm, the editor of the Souvenirs admits that he was "more dead

*Souvenirs, p. 90.

It has been the custom for all Madame Recamier's panegyrists to demand, somewhat authoritatively, the admiration of the world for her conduct at this trying juncture of her life; and our first impulse is to go with them, and admire without reserve. But, upon narrower examination, we think there are a few qualifying remarks to be made, which, without diminishing the highmindedness shown by Madame Récamier at this crisis, perhaps make her perfect disinterestedness more doubtful. There are minds tempted equally by celebrity as by wealth, and we suspect our heroine's to have been of this temper. We do not say the tempting medium is not a far more avowable and nobler one in the former than in the latter case, but we are inclined to suppose the amount of selfishness pretty nearly equal in both. It is undeniable, that from the moment she had added what her admirers denominated the "halo of misfortune" to her other charms, Madame Récamier had achieved a distinction that nothing could henceforward impair. Now, we have already tried to show that her business in life was precisely to "achieve" distinction; and she did most laboriously and successfully "achieve" rather than have it "thrust upon" her. No sooner is Madame Récamier

ruined," than we have Madame de Staël, with her usual exaggeration, exclaiming that now she knows what the word envy means! "Certainly," writes Corinne, "you may be said to have lost something; but if I could ever envy what I so much love, I would give all I possess to be you!" And when the Duc d'Abrantes joins the Emperor in Germany, and begins telling him in detail all the "pomp and circumstance" of a failure which places Madame Récamier on a pedestal in Paris society, Napoleon sharply interrupts him with the words: "Why, they could not make a greater fuss about

the widow of a marshall who should have died on the battle-field!"

purely social, and less dependent on the political element.

The "envy" of Madame de Staël, and the Madame Récamier had, by some strange indignant acknowledgment of the "effect" chance, succeeded to the fair and amiable she produces by the Emperor !-we would Duchesse de Duras in the good-will of M. fain not be thought hypercritical; but we de Châteaubriand; and he now established do imagine that, for a French woman, all himself at the chimney-piece of the Abbay, this may be more than equivalent for the aux Bois, furnishing the idol for the temple, mere power of giving fine dinners, wearing the divinity without which no solid or perfine clothes, and driving about in fine car- manent system of salon-worship can ever be riages. There is here an amount of "fa- organized in France. In every other respect, mosity," to use the French word, for which save only in the adoration of M. de Châthe sacrifice of mere riches might be thought teaubriand, the Abbaye aux Bois might be far from too dear a price. But now that regarded as neutral ground, and this it was we have shown ourselves what some may that chiefly gave it a right to its exclusively think severely just to the individual, let us social supremacy. You might be a Legiti show a larger justice to the time, and say at mist, or an Orleanist, or a Republican even, once how far superior it proved itself to the yet be perfectly well received at Madame present moment by the very fact that its ap- Récamier's, so long as you were convinced plause was won by the apparent disdain of that M. de Châteaubriand was the one greatmere worldly wealth. Half a century ago, est literary genius of the age, and that all in France, fame was secured to whomever the troubles of the French nation were the took up a conspicuous stand against tyranny, consequence of his not having had his own and the preference of fame to fortune was way in politics. The principal object of the a means of achieving position and social in- receptions at Madame Récamier's was the fluence. This, we say, constitutes the supe- fusion between literature and "society,”—a riority of that over the present time; for thing which formed the basis of French soat the present time, in France, Madame Ré- cial intercourse under the old monarchy, and camier would have been forced either to ob- which had come to be nearly impossible, tain, by no matter what means, the "mil- since the democratic theories of the Revolulion" necessary to her husband's credit from tion had left no social superiorities standing. the Bank, or to abandon all idea of achiev- To its credit be it said, French society was ing distinction. The dinners, the chateaux, the immediate result of the fusion we have the equipages, the material luxuries pur- mentioned; when at its zenith, it was intelchased by gold, are now the representatives lectual. From Madame de Rambouillet of social influence; and were a Madame downwards, the respect for human intelliRécamier in our time to dream of com manding fame by despising these, she would be voted a fool for her pains, and would find no "Corinne" to "envy" her, nor would the "effect" made by her cause any Duc d'Abrantes to merit a rebuke from his angry master by his account of it.

But

gence, the homage paid to the works of human thought, were the distinguishing traits of those who most aspired to be considered as the leaders of society in France. then it must be remarked that the purely intellectual sphere was never transgressed; and when the entire social edifice was over. After the Restoration, and under the ré- thrown and built up anew, la société, with its gime of the Monarchy of July, Madame purely intellectual traditions, became unRécamier's position changes. She then re practical, and gradually grew to be a simple presents the social traditions of past times, curiosity, an objét de luxe, an anachronism. and becomes a species of type of bygone From the moment that society in France customs and ceremonies. As the import- was composed of a small number of antag ance of salon life grew to be less and less onistic cliques, and that in the educated in France, so was the importance of Mad- classes the division was made between those ame Récamier's individual salon increased, who did something and those who did noas being the last. Under the Restoration, thing (the latter arrogating to themselves Madame Récamier was eclipsed by the the sole right of being called gens du monde), Duchesse de Duras and the Marquise de from that moment salon supremacy was Montcalm, and the Duchesse de Dino (pre- virtually at an end. The power of salons siding over M. de Talleyrand's receptions); in France was the produce of mutual esteem; but under Louis Philippe's reign the Ab- the esteem of the great writer or savant for baye aux Bois took rank equally, to say the the Grand Seigneur, and of the Grand very least, with the salons of Mesdames de Seigneur for the savant or the writer. NeiBoigne or de Castellane. Some will contend ther exists now; and while the high-born of that it was superior to either, as being more contemporary France affect undisguised dis

dain for whosoever is guilty of any intellect- out the world, but which, at the same time,
ual labour, the man of mere intelligence we cannot regret was never, could never, be
seems to ridicule, but in reality envies, the established amongst ourselves.
man of birth,—thus, by his very envy, ad-
mitting the superiority of his antagonist.

This brings us to the point from which we started; namely, to the fact of the regrets so frequently expressed by highly educated Englishmen upon the difficulty experienced in establishing salon influence in England. We take it not to be a difficulty, but an impossibility, and we are by no means disposed to deplore it. Salon influence is, we believe, incompatible with the practical duties of a hard-working, self-governing, business-like race. One broad distinction should certainly be made between the English and the French in this respect; while the French were so proud of the organization of their society, they were preeminently an intellectual, idealistic race. We have always been (under one form or another) an almost exclusively political race. Englishmen work too earnestly, throw themselves too vehemently into action, ever to be talkers par excellence. When they talk, it is to obtain some end; whereas the very perfection of la causerie is to promote an elegant interchange of ideas without any object being too ardently pursued. The French consecrated a large portion of what they would perhaps call their energies into the work of talking of what other people did; we have always been more or less busy governing ourselves. A salon was the arena of a French gentleman; Parliament is, sooner or later, that of the English one. The two are incompatible. From the hour when any country becomes, or thinks it becomes parliamentary, saion life is really at an end. This is what we have to observe in the case of Madame Récamier. The institution died with her, because the elements of salon life in France had become extinct. Whether, since that period, the attempts made by the French race to substitute pub lic for merely polite life have been altogether successful? whether they have really established anything better suited to them than the salon influence which helped to form so many intellectual superiorities under the ancien régime?-this might be matter for long protracted study and discussion. But such as the men of modern France are, whether for good or for evil, we believe them to be now past deriving any benefit or any pleasure from the elegances of salon life. Madame Récamier's Souvenirs have interest, as it seems to us, from their being the record of the last French salon, of the last of a social species of institution that endowed France with brilliant renown through

ART. II.-The Military Opinions of General
Sir John Fox Burgoyne, Bart., G. C.B.
Collected and Edited by Captain the Hon.
GEORGE WROTTESLEY, Royal Engineers,
A.D.C.

THE first session of the present, and the last session of the late Parliament, were alike remarkable for the unanimity which prevailed amongst their members on the important subject of national defence; nor was it surprising that the nation should have been at length aroused from its apathy, when France was seen springing to arms at the sound of the trumpet, prepared, at a moment's notice, by land and sea, to enter upon a war, the duration of which few were bold enough to make an attempt at guessing. A few angry words, spoken at a court reception, by a sovereign, whose establishments were ostensibly kept upon a peace footing, created surprise and alarm throughout Europe; but it was scarcely anticipated, at the time, that, before eight months had elapsed, the Emperor who had thus spoken would be returning in triumph to his capital, surrounded by captured banners and cannon, and by the bronzed troops who won them, in three pitched battles and three combats, from an enemy who accepted a peace at the cost of a captured province.

The uncertainty in which events thus appear to be shrouded, makes it incumbent upon England to be, at least, as ready in her means of defence as her neighbours are in offensive preparations; but when the English people began to look about them, they found, that notwithstanding the millions they had annually been spending on naval and military establishments, their house was not in order, and that it would require a large outlay in money, and a considerable amount of time, before this could be effected. Whilst giving the late Ministry full credit for their exertions, we believe this was a question upon which they must have fel there was no choice open to them; for the spirit of the country was thoroughly aroused, and no Government would have remained a week in office, which was unwilling to incur the responsibility of placing the national defences upon an efficient footing. It is, of course, very unpleasant to be compelled to attend to such matters, and it is still more

1

so when we are called upon to pay for them; try. On the threatened rupture with Rusbut the unkindest cut of all is, when we are sia, he again withdrew from his duties as told we must pay all the more, in the long Inspector General of Fortifications, and prorun, on account of previous economy; and ceeded on special service to Turkey; but when it appears that our gratitude to the very shortly after his return, he was again economists of the day had been quite thrown ordered out, to join the army at Varna, away, and that, after all, while we were from whence he accompanied it to its landclipping at estimates, and pruning down ing at Old Fort, and remained to share Chancellors of the Exchequer, we were doing with it the privations of that terrible winter, so to our own ultimate loss. lending his advice and counsels in that great struggle, the history of which, though much has been written thereon, is but little known.

We cannot say, however, that we have not had sufficient warning on the subject for several years past; and amongst the earliest of those who wrote, was the author of the Before closing this short notice of his various essays comprising the volume, pro- military career, we may be permitted to fessing to contain the "Military Opinions of remark, that a very erroneous idea existed, General Sir John Fox Burgoyne." There and still exists amongst a few, regarding is in the work so much that relates to mat- the nature of Sir John Burgoyne's employ. ters which continue to occupy people's ment in this campaign. He was supposed minds, that we believe, notwithstanding its by many to have been sent out as the Chief disjointed nature, it is one which will be Engineer of the army; but such we believe carefully studied. The views of an officer not to have been the case. We are not who served in Egypt, the Peninsula, Amer- aware, of course, of the precise nature of ica, and the Crimea, in a service which gave the instructions given to him; but the more him peculiar advantages for studying such correct statement respecting his position in subjects as the defences of a country, and the army would be, that he was an adviser various points connected with the organiza- to the Commander-in-chief. That he was tion and administration of the army, are en- not second in command, though from his titled to weight; and although the work seniority he was entitled to be such, if from now before us contains but a portion of the no other cause, was well known; whilst his essays which have emanated from the high rank, as well as his age, would have writer, it gives evidence of a life spent in precluded him from filling the more subthe pursuit of military knowledge, both ordinate post of Commanding Engineer. practically and theoretically-of oportuni- We have, in this imperfect sketch, alluded ties made the most of-and of an ardent love for his profession.

but slightly to the civil duties upon which Sir John Burgoyne has been employed, Entering the army in 1798, as a second wishing to contine ourselves as much as lieutenant, in the corps of Royal Engineers, possible to the character in which he comes a branch of the British service at that time before us-as writer of the essays now for Occupying an unimportant position, Sir the first time collected together under his John Burgoyne has served in it continuously name. It will also scarcely come within to the present time, holding, when enabled our present limits to enter into any review by his rank to do so, most important posi- of Sir John Burgoyne's administration of tions. Director of an attack at both sieges the office of Inspector-General of Fortificaof Badajos and at that of Ciudad Rodrigo, tions. He had filled his present post under and commanding engineer at the sieges of such men as Wellington, George Murray, Salamanca forts and of Burgos, he succeeded Anglesea, Hardinge, and Raglan; and he to the command of the Engineers at the was highly esteemed, and his advice valued, siege of St. Sebastian, upon the death of by all of them. Of late years, however, Lieut. Colonel Sir Richard Fletcher; and at during the changes of organization which the the close of the Peninsular war, Lieut.-Co- War Office and Horse Guards have gone lonel Burgoyne accompanied the flower of through, and which do not yet appear to the army on its ill-fated expedition to New have been completed, Sir John Burgoyne's Orleans, and was thus shut out from parti- name has been less prominently brought cipation in the final triumphs of his great before the public in military matters. chief and master. He subsequently held must apologize for devoting so much of our important commands in his profession, and space to the author before entering upon was placed at the head of the corps of En- his book; but it is necessary to do so, in gineers in 1845, from the duties of which he order to acknowledge the authority with was soon temporarily called away to Ire- which he can discuss subjects now of the land, to assist, during the famine, in carry- deepest importance and interest. ing on the great work of relief in that coun

We

Captain Wrottesley has arranged these

essays in three distinct parts. The first are equally sure, that a man of Sir John part, treating of National Defences, is de- Burgoyne's clear-headedness and sagacity, cidedly of the greatest interest, especially at must have soon foreseen, that the words of the present moment; the second relates to the great man who so long led our armies the events of the war with Russia; and the to victory, and who was well known for the third is made up of several essays and pa- accuracy of his statements, would not fall pers, written from time to time upon a va- upon a wholly barren soil; and that, sooner riety of military subjects, during the greater or later, this nation, remarkable as it is for part of Sir John Burgoyne's professional intelligence and sound sense, would act upon them.

career.

The latter comprises considerably the We are not disposed to agree with the largest partion of the work; and though to editor in the opinion expressed at the foot the non-professional reader it may be the of the first page, that there is very much least attractive, yet, when examined by difference between the facts which called military men, it will be found stored with forth this paper, and those which now exist, valuable and practical information. Of at least not as regards the stability of our course, in a progressive age (and in military relations with France. And with reference matters, we believe that we have at last to the difficulty of procuring seamen, alluded drifted into progression), there is much re- to at pp. 13, 14, it remains to be seen, lating to detail, which has undergone great whether we have yet arrived at any satischange since the remarks were penned; but factory mode of effectively manning our great principles-and of these Sir John fleet. The great fact likewise remains, that Burgoyne seems to be a master-still re- there exists still the same desire on the part main pretty much as before, as no agent has of the French army for constant active em. yet been fully developed in warfare, which ployment, and for the acquisition of glory; will make a thorough revolution in the and that, by a large portion of it, England whole principle of the art, like that caused is still looked upon as the stage on which to by the introduction of gunpowder, and, in make the most favourable display of their later years, by steam. We recommend to prowess. The augmentation of the French all our readers, and especially to our mili- navy to such an extent as to be able to cope tary ones, an equally careful persual of the with that of England, is, as alluded to by Sir three divisions we have alluded to; for in John Burgoyne at p. 13, still a favourite each of them are to be found important project with the ruler of the French nation; truths brought forward in a striking man- and the spirit which prevails amongst French ner, opening up wide fields for study; and naval officers, is to strain every nerve to some of them fraught with practical instruc- promote the naval superiority of France to tion, to which we should be glad to see such a degree, as to emulate that superiority effect given. The book contains evidence which she must fairly be allowed to possess of the writer being at heart a thorough sol- both in the numbers and organization of her dier; and of his possessing that thorough knowledge of soldiers which experience alone can impart.

army.

Sir John Burgoyne endeavours, in this article, to confine himself as much as posThe first article, is the statement prepared sible to the state of our military defences; in 1846 upon our military condition at that but his observations regarding naval operaperiod, which originated the celebrated letter tions, pp. 13 to 18, are well-grounded, and from the Duke of Wellington; the publica- useful for present application, as showing tion of which, had the Duke lived to the the possibility of losing superiority in the present time, he would probably have ceas- Channel for a short period, and what might ed to consider in the light of an indiscretion. be the consequences of such a disaster. It Sir John Burgoyne has lived to see the fruit of should be recollected that, whatever the that letter slowly yet very slowly indeed, but danger was in that respect in 1846, it is surely, ripening by the increased interest now greatly increased, first, by the auggiven to subjects of National Defence, and by mentation of the French navy, since that the greater readiness of the nation to follow year, having been out of all proportion to out the general system which is advocated in that of ours; and, secondly, from the great every paper in this portion of the work,- advantage which the application of steam namely, that of rendering our peace estab- has given to the French for cases of sudden lishments more efficient in warlike organiza- emergency. The latter is by far the most tion, so as to be more easily raised to a important consideration, because it enables war footing when necessary. And though them to turn their previous inferiority to us we are sure he much regretted the publicity into a positive superiority. Their inferiority given to the Duke's letter at the time, we was attributable to their naval reserves,