'Quis desiderio sit pudor, aut modus Tam cari capitis.'
THERE is just now quite a passion for _French Literature_ in this country, and translations have not only become frequent, but very indiscriminate. Much that we see is not amiss in its moral tendency, but more is positively pernicious in its effect upon society. 'What a strange opinion the world will have of French Society a hundred years from now! 'Did all married people,' they will say, 'break a certain commandment? They all do in the novels. Was French society composed of murderers, of forgers, of children without parents, of men consequently running the daily risk of marrying their grandmothers by mistake; of disguised princes, who lived in the friendship of amiable cut-throats and spotless prostitutes; who gave up the sceptre for the _savate_, and the stars and pigtails of the court for the chains and wooden shoes of the galleys?' It has been well said of BERNARD, (author of '_The Innocence of a Galley-Slave_,' in our last two numbers,) that 'he is full of fine observation and gentle feeling; has a gallant sense of the absurd; and writes in a gentlemanlike style.' * * * HERE is a clever and characteristic anecdote of 'RANDOLPH of Roanoke,' related by Mr. HARVEY, a spirited (and he must allow us to add improved) _racconteur_: ROBERT OWEN told JOHN RANDOLPH that he should live to see the day when mankind would discover the principle of vitality, and of course learn to live for ever. 'Are you not aware,' said he, 'that in Egypt, by artificial heat, the people create thousands of chickens?' 'Yes,' replied RANDOLPH; 'but you forget to tell us who furnishes _the eggs_. Show me the man who can _lay an egg_, and I'll agree to your 'parallel case.' The proposition was a poser! * * * Mr. PEABODY, in his excellent Address at Dartmouth College, speaks of the tendency of our lighter literature to 'aim primarily at _impression_,' without much reference to the means adopted to secure that end. What must he think of Mr. J. H. INGRAHAM'S last infliction upon the public?--his 'Frank Rivers, or the Dangers of the Town,' the hero and heroine of which are RICHARD P. ROBINSON and ELLEN JEWETT? How captivating to tastes kindred with the author's, will be the headings of the different chapters: 'The two fine gentlemen; the Meeting with ELLEN; the Consequences;' or, 'The Naval Officer; the Kept Mistress,' etc. Can there be but one opinion concerning such shameless '_literary_' expositions as this, among all right-minded persons? * * * MANY a reader of the KNICKERBOCKER, residing in the smaller villages of our country, will recognize '_The Influential Man_' among their 'fellow-citizens.' Our friend at Tinnecum has drawn from life the sketch in preceding pages, and with all his accustomed faithfulness. 'Uncle BILLY PINE' reminds us of the 'influential man' who, when Rip VANWINKLE came back from the mountains, after his twenty years' sleep, made his way through a wondering crowd of his Dutch neighbors, with his arms akimbo, and after gazing at him for a moment, shook his head; 'whereat,' says our renowned historian, 'there was a general shaking of the head throughout the whole assemblage.' * * * PARIS has always borne away the palm in cosmetics, perfumery, fancy toilet-soaps, etc.; but we suspect that Mr. EUGENE ROUSSEL, late of the French metropolis, but now of Philadelphia, has the means, by importation and manufacture, to bring 'nigh us, even to our doors,' the best specimens in this kind to be found in the gay capital. His stores, at the late fair of the American Institute, were the admiration of visitors; and _almost_ outvied the collections of our own artizan, Mr. LLOYD, of Prince-street, near the Bowery, whose perfumery, for excellence and cheapness combined, has 'won all suffrages' from the ladies. * * * WE are glad to learn that the '_American Athenæum_' at Paris is so well appreciated. Its condition is already flourishing, and its usefulness and popularity gradually increasing. American books, newspapers, etc., may be sent free of expense, through the care of Mr. R. DRAPER, Number fifty-one, Beaver-street, New-York. * * * JUST one word to 'F.' Do you remember the lord-mayor, who when told at his first hunting that the hare was coming, exclaimed: 'Let it come, in Heaven's name!--I'm not afraid on 't?' Have the goodness to make the application. * * * IT was our intention to have offered a few remarks upon '_The Embarkation of the Pilgrims_,' the great national picture, by that distinguished American artist, WEIR, which is now open for exhibition at the Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts, corner of Broadway and Leonard-street. We are _compelled_, however, to forego this duty, until another occasion.