General Mathieu Dumas, that of 1812 has called forth the powers of another writer equally suited to its description— Count Segur."

"If the military histories of France during the Restoration is a striking proof how strongly the public mind had been turned to warlike achievements, the still greater crowd of memoirs is a yet stronger proof how violently the passions of the people had been excited by the Revolution."

"If any proof were required of the difficulty of the task which M. Villemain has undertaken in giving a history of literature, and of the skill with which he has surmounted it, it will be found in the great work of M. Ginguené."

If Ginguené is in a manner buried under the stores of his own learning, and already forgotten except as a storehouse of erudition, the same charge of want of generalisation cannot be made against the great political philosopher of the nineteenth century-M. de Tocqueville."

"If the literature of France during the eighteenth century may justly pride itself on the compositions of Buffon, that of the nineteenth is equally distinguished by the writings of Cuvier, by far the first of the inquirers into the pristine order of creation."

If Delille failed because he was not the man of the age, Beranger has succeeded because he was."

"If the love of admiration is 'par excellence' the great characteristic of French women, Mademoiselle Mars was the incarnation of their temperament."

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"If modern French architecture is remarkable for the imposing effects which it exhibits and the purity of taste by which it is distinguished, the same cannot be said of its painting."

It was my intention to wind up in this place our long list of Ifs; but the recent appearance of a fifth volume of the work from which they are taken, enables me to furnish the reader with

some further examples. Those already cited are from the chapters on English and French literature; those now presented are from that on German literature. Sir Archibald seems to reserve this species of jugglery for the exhibition of his views of men of letters, science, and art. He pulls the strings, and the several puppets, each heralded by its proper if, pass in rapid succession before the reader's bewildered eye.

"If, in Oberon,' Wieland has rivalled Ariosto, and fascinated the world by the most charming conceptions that were ever formed of the romantic school, in his lesser poems he has rivalled Ovid in the skilful use he has made of classical imagery."

'If Goethe's genius was somewhat dimmed by the multitude of objects which it embraced, the same cannot be said of the author who with all obtains the second, with some the first, place in German literature."

"If general and widespread celebrity is to be taken as the test of excellence, the next place must be assigned to the great epic poet of Germany, Klopstock."

If celebrity on the stage and temporary theatrical success is to be taken as a test of real dramatic excellence, Kotzebue is to be placed at the very head of the literature of Europe in that department.”

If ever two branches of literature stood forth in striking contrast to each other, it is the poetry and prose of Germany."

"If general and widespread fame, at least among scholars and learned men, is to be taken as the test of real merit, Niebuhr must be placed at the head of the historians of Germany."

If Niebuhr's usefulness and fame have been seriously impaired by the want of lucidity in his style, of order in his arrangement, and brevity in his expression, the same cannot be

said of the next great author who has devoted his energies to the elucidation of ancient story."

"If Heeren has seldom struck out original thought himself, there is no one who has furnished in greater profusion the materials of it to others."

"If the Revolution in France has warmed into life a crowd of memoir-writers, the War of Liberation in Germany has been hardly less efficacious in calling forth a host of writers who have portrayed, with equal felicity, the changes and feelings of that eventful era."

"If it be true, as the wisest men in every age have affirmed, that

'Music hath charms to tame the savage breast,'

there is no country which should be so civilized as Germany." If Beethoven is the Michael Angelo of Music, Mozart is its Raphael."

Alison has a peculiarity of a still more offensive form, which consists in the repetition of certain words in close succession to each other. Of this I have noted the following instances in his "History of Europe during the French Revolution:"

"The circumstance which ultimately brought about the contest was the success with which Cardinal Richelieu succeeded in destroying the rural influence of the French nobility."

"It would seem as if in the very disposition of the seats, it had been intended to point to the intended union of the Orders."

"Crowds of all classes daily came to Versailles to encourage the members in their courageous resistance to the measures of the court."

"The able leaders of the popular party, keeping in advance of the movement, advanced steadily in their career of usurpation."

"Lafayette, who was employed on the frontier at the head of the army, employed his immense influence for the same object."

"Cradled in snowy mountains and habituated to severe habits, the Swiss peasantry exhibited the same features."

"The French leaders were not insensible to the danger arising from the attack of so formidable a coalition of foreign powers as was now preparing to attack them."

"He was at first succcessful, and succeeded in obtaining possession of Breda."

"The troops which the chiefs commanded were divided into three divisions."

"To oppose this formidable invasion, the Royalists were divided into four divisions."

"They formed the nucleus from which those intrepid bands of Chouans were formed."

"Another striking proof of the consequences of disorders consequent on popular ambition."

"Consequences so extraordinary, so unlooked-for to every class of society, from the throne to the cottage, are singularly instructive as to the consequences of revolutions."

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Contrary to all expectation, and in opposition to what might have been expected from the previous energy of their measures."

"A compulsory regulation which compelled the shopkeepers to accept of the depreciated French assignats."

"We may see in its history what would have been the fate of all the northern nations, if their fierce and unbending temper had not been tempered by the blood of a more advanced civilisation."

"The cities of Italy have been celebrated since the very infancy of civilisation, from the marvellous celebrity, in arts. and arms, which their inhabitants have attained."

“The Archduke Charles being now assured of the direction which Moreau had taken, directed Latour and the detached parties to join him."

"The secret spring of all his actions was a deep and manly feeling of piety which pervaded all his actions."

"These constituted so many separate republics, who organised themselves after the model of the great French model.”

"Sir Sidney soon experienced the effects of that feeling, from the treatment which he experienced from his enemies on a reverse of fortune."

"Sir Sidney succeeded in getting off by means of fictitious orders, which his friends procured, purporting to order his transference from the Abbaye to the Temple."

"In the expectation of what he might expect from the probity of the English Cabinet, Sir Sidney was not mistaken."

"Those movements were all punctually executed, notwithstanding the excessive rains which impeded the movements of the troops."

"From the first the disposition of its columns, disposed in part in echelon along the road, indicated an intention of retreating in that direction."

"The same character has characterised their descendants in modern times."

"By the Portuguese law every person is legally obliged to join the battalions arrayed in defence of the country."

"The principle of admitting divorce in many cases was too firmly established in the customs and habits of France, to admit of its being shaken."

"The brave Switzers to the north of the St. Gothard evinced the distinguishing features which in every age have distinguished the nations of German or Teutonic descent."

"This circumstance renders his revelations of the political arrangements which rendered abortive all the efforts of the allies, of peculiar value."

"They do not feel the ardent desire for elevation, which, in free communities, elevates a few to greatness, and consigns many to disappointment."