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HER LIFE AND WORKS.

F Napoleon was the greatest man of his time, Madame de Staël was no less the most eminent woman. If he, beyond all men who have ever lived, was subtle in contrivance, strong of will, and daring in exploit-she, as a woman, was the most original thinker, powerful writer, and eloquent talker, the world has yet produced. Even setting sex aside, we doubt whether they may not be said to differ less in the actual amount than in the nature and direction of their individual powers. Both were giants, both intensely desirous of fame and glory; but his was a cold-blooded egotistical ambition, that united with contempt for his fellow-men, and could take

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est until he saw them under his foot; hers, a generous d loving enthusiasm, that could enjoy no distinction unaccompanied by the conviction, that in raising herself, she was helping to elevate the whole human race. And hence the continual jar between them, his hatred of her, and the tyrannical persecution which imbittered and shortened her life. There was, nevertheless, in her high moral patriotism and purpose, a clear and distinct voice, which, though overborne and inaudible amidst the éclat of his first military glories, was afterwards eagerly listened to, and had no feeble share in discrediting, and finally undermining his empire. Unfortunately, the recognition came too late for her safety. Like Macbeth with Banquo, he felt that in her royalty of nature reigned much that would be feared,' that 'under her his genius was rebuked, his sceptre barren;' and less scrupulous than his prototype, he dared with bare-faced power to sweep her from his sight, and bid his will avouch it.' It was the over and over again struggle the old barbarian victory of physical might over intellectual and moral right. As she naïvely expressed it: she had nothing to conjure with except her poor genius, and for a time at least genius could avail little against a mounted gendarme.

A complete and faithful portraiture of Madame de Staël would be a desirable addition to literary biography; but the task will be a difficult one. The most ambitious attempt that has yet been made, even in her own country, towards setting forth the inner life and outward manifestations of this very remarkable personage, is the sketch of her character and writings by her accomplished kinswoman, Madame Necker de Saussure, which was prefixed to her posthumous works published by her son in 1820. The review or analysis there given of her numerous literary productions, is carefully and admirably executed, and contains some useful notes and explanations to be met with nowhere else. But the memoir makes no pretensions either to completeness or impartiality. It is an eloquent and affectionate eulogium, rather than a biography, impressing us throughout, somewhat too much, perhaps, with the cleverness, elegance, and fine moral tact of the author; and chiefly interesting as indicative of the large and important place Madame de Staël held through life in the hearts and minds of those who had the best opportunity of knowing her. Though enriched with many admirable illustrations, and containing an abundance of striking and varied characterisation which ought to place, and really does place, her heroine on the very highest pinnacle of human elevation, it must be owned that the effect, on the whole, of Madame de Saussure's elaborate notice, is rather to dazzle the eye by a profusion of luminous points and brilliant tints, than to satisfy it by the presentment of a carefully shaded and lifelike portrait. She succeeds much better in the sketches she attempts of the Neckers and other subordinate persons of the scene; but there is in her manner a certain air of rigidity and scientific

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precision particularly unfitted for the delineatio figure-of one so entirely out of the common moulu intellectual proportions seem to lie floating many a whom it may so well be said, that her soul was larger hity even We are, however, greatly indebted to Madame de S. her affectionate labours. It would have been difficu k As a ht, or to says with her usual elegance of expression,' to write M e Stael's history while her contemporaries were yet on th. We with stage, to disengage her part from theirs, to select the thread of her course from the delicate and complicated ther for the history of the present time.' But from Madame de ge own works, from her Thoughts on the French Revolution an'in er Years of Exile, especially, we learn many additional partic which, with the numerous and interesting notices of her by temporary and succeeding writers, would now furnish materals for a tolerably complete biography. At present, we propose to lay before our readers as entire an outline of her eventful life and important works, as our ability and the limits of this paper will allow.

Anne Louisa Germaine Necker, afterwards Baroness de Staël Holstein, was the only child of M. Necker, the wealthy Genevese banker, and his wife, Susanna Curchod, a beautiful and accomplished Swiss lady. She was born at Paris in 1766, at the commencement of the most important era that has yet occurred in the history of civilised Europe, and was about ten years old when her father, who had been long distinguished as a financier and able writer on political economy, was called upon to fill one of the chief offices of the state, as Minister of Finance to Louis XVI. Although Mademoiselle Necker was by nature quick witted, energetic, and affectionate, the accessories of her position and education must have prodigiously increased the power and vivacity of her natural faculties, and had great influence over her peculiar intellectual development. Perhaps there was never so excitable a child, or one so early and imprudently stimulated. Her father's position, and the esteem in which he was held, with her mother's beauty and talents, made their house the resort of the most intellectual society in Paris; and we have a picture of the precocious little wit at ten years of age, with brown complexion and bright black eyes, already sparkling with kindness and intelligence, surrounded by the chief men of the day, and eagerly listening to conversation on subjects far beyond her years. By the side of Madame Necker was a little wooden stool on which sat her daughter, obliged to hold herself very upright indeed. Scarcely had she taken her customary place there, when three or four gentlemen of the company came up and accosted her with the tenderest interest. One of them, who wore a little bob-wig, took her hands in his, and held them for a long time, conversing with her as if she had been five-and-twenty. This was the Abbé Raynal; the others were Messrs Thomas, Marmontel, the Marquis de Pesay, and Baron von

est until he saw them under his foot; hers, a generous ad loving enthusiasm, that could enjoy no distinction unaccompanied by the conviction, that in raising herself, she was helping to elevate the whole human race. And hence the continual jar between them, his hatred of her, and the tyrannical persecution which imbittered and shortened her life. There was, nevertheless, in her high moral patriotism and purpose, a clear and distinct voice, which, though overborne and inaudible amidst the éclat of his first military glories, was afterwards eagerly listened to, and had no feeble share in discrediting, and finally undermining his empire. Unfortunately, the recognition came too late for her safety. Like Macbeth with Banquo, he felt that in her royalty of nature reigned much that would be feared,' that 'under her his genius was rebuked, his sceptre barren; and less scrupulous than his prototype, he dared with bare-faced power to sweep her from his sight, and bid his will avouch it.' It was the over and over again struggle the old barbarian victory of physical might over intellectual and moral right. As she naïvely expressed it: she had nothing to conjure with except her poor genius, and for a time at least genius could avail little against mounted gendarme.

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A complete and faithful portraiture of Madame de Staël would be a desirable addition to literary biography; but the task will be a difficult one. The most ambitious attempt that has yet been made, even in her own country, towards setting forth the inner life and outward manifestations of this very remarkable personage. is the sketch of her character and writings by her accomplishe kinswoman, Madame Necker de Saussure, which was prefixed her posthumous works published by her son in 1820. The revie or analysis there given of her numerous literary productions, carefully and admirably executed, and contains some useful note and explanations to be met with nowhere else. But the memoir makes no pretensions either to completeness or impartiality. is an eloquent and affectionate eulogium, rather than a biography impressing us throughout, somewhat too much, perhaps, with the cleverness, elegance, and fine moral tact of the author; and chief interesting as indicative of the large and important place Madam de Staël held through life in the hearts and minds of those who had the best opportunity of knowing her. Though enriched wit many admirable illustrations, and containing an abundance striking and varied characterisation which ought to place, really does place, her heroine on the very highest pinnacle human elevation, it must be owned that the effect, on the whole of Madame de Saussure's elaborate notice, is rather to dazzle the eye by a profusion of luminous points and brilliant tints, than t satisfy it by the presentment of a carefully shaded and lifelik portrait. She succeeds much better in the sketches she attempts of the Neckers and other subordinate persons of the scene; there is in her manner a certain air of rigidity and scientifi

an

bu

precision particularly unfitted for the delineation figure of one so entirely out of the common mould of intellectual proportions seem to lie floating many a whom it may so well be said, that her 'soul was larger for We are, however, greatly indebted to Madame de he her affectionate labours. It would have been diffe says with her usual elegance of expression, 'to write Mic Staël's history while her contemporaries were yet on th stage, to disengage her part from theirs, to select the thread of her course from the delicate and completed the history of the present time.' But from Mad own works, from her Thoughts on the French Revolution an Years of Exile, especially, we learn many additional partic which, with the numerous and interesting notices of her by temporary and succeeding writers, would now furnish mate for a tolerably complete biography. At present, we propose p lay before our readers as entire an outline of her eventful Me and important works, as our ability and the limits of this paper

will allow.

Anne Louisa Germaine Necker, afterwards Baroness de Stacl Holstein, was the only child of M. Necker, the wealthy Genevese banker, and his wife, Susanna Curchod, a beautiful and accomplished Swiss lady. She was born at Paris in 1766, at the com mencement of the most important era that has yet occurred in the history of civilised Europe, and was about ten years old when her father, who had been long distinguished as a financier a able writer on political economy, was called upon to fill one of the chief offices of the state, as Minister of Finance to Louis XVI, Although Mademoiselle Necker was by nature quickwitted, energetic, and affectionate, the accessories of her position and education must have prodigiously increased the power and vivacity of her natural faculties, and had great influence over her peculiar intellectual development. Perhaps there was never so excitable a child, or one so early and imprudently stimulated. Her father's position, and the esteem in which he was held, with her mother's beauty and talents, made their house the resort of the most intellectual society in Paris; and we have a picture of the precocious little wit at ten years of age, with brown complexion and bright black eyes, already sparkling with kindness and intelligence, surrounded by the chief men of the day, and eagerly listening to conversation on subjects far beyond her years. By the side of Madame Nec a was a little wooden stool on which sat her daughter, oblige hold herself very upright indeed. Scarcely had she taken customary place there, when three or four gentlemen of company came up and accosted her with the tenderest inter One of them, who wore a little bob-wig, took her hands in his, held them for a long time, conversing with her as if she had five-and-twenty. This was the Abbé Raynal; the others Messrs Thomas, Marmontel, the Marquis de Pesay, and Baro

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