French Literature tends in a remarkable degree towards monarchical institutions. Guizot and his associates publicly advocate the Restoration. M. Cousin has published a new argument against Republicanism, and M. Romieu, whose curious book, which men doubted whether to receive as a jest or an earnest argument, _The Era of the Cæsars_--in which he declared his belief that the true and only law for France is _force_--is before the public again, in a volume entitled _Le Spectre Rouge de 1852_. He predicts the subversion of all order, and such terrible scenes as have never been witnessed even in France, unless some one bold, resolute, scorning all "constitutional" figments, and relying solely on his soldiers--some one who shall say _L'état c'est moi!_ shall save France. A Cromwell, a Francia, or in default of such Louis Napoleon--any one who will constitute himself an autocrat, will become the saviour of France!
The COUNT DE JARNAC, formerly secretary and _chargé d'affaires_ of the French embassy in London, has published a novel which is well spoken of, entitled the _Dernier d'Egmont_.
A French traveller in upper Egypt has collected for the Parisian Ethnological Museum copies of many curious inscriptions upon the walls of the great temple of Philæ. Among others, there is the modern one of Dessaix, which the Parisians think "reflects the grandiose simplicity of the Republic." "The sixth year of the Republic, the thirteenth Messidor, a French army commanded by Bonaparte descended upon Alexandria; twenty days after, the army having routed the Mamelukes at the Pyramids, Dessaix, commanding the first division, pursued them beyond the Cataracts, where he arrived the thirteenth Ventose of the year seven, with Brigadier-Generals Davoust, Friant, and Belliard. Donzelot, chief of the staff, La Tournerie, commanding the artillery, Eppler, Chief of the twenty-first Light Infantry. The thirteenth Ventose, year seven of the Republic, third March, year of J.C., 1799. Engraved by Casteix." The last date, however, strikes us as a base compromise to the _temporal_ prejudices of the world, on the part of the author of this "simple and grandiose" inscription.
M. de Saint Beauve has published in Paris some hitherto inedited MSS. of MIRABEAU, consisting of _Dialogues_ between the great orator and the celebrated Sophie (Madame de Monnier), written when Mirabeau was confined in the fortress of Vincennes, principally, it seems, from the pleasure he had in reflecting on the object of his passion. He gives an account of their first meeting, the growth of their love, and their subsequent adventures, in the language, no doubt, as well as he could recollect, that had passed between them, in conversation or in letters. There is not much that is absolutely new in these papers, or that throws any peculiar light on Mirabeau's character, but nothing could have been written by him which is without a certain interest, especially upon the subject of these _Dialogues_. Circulating-library people had always a morbid desire to see illustrious personages while under the influence of the tender passion.