e present struggle must not ignobly fail in France, still mindful
of its early vows, in spite of its Emperor.

Where duty and honor are so plain, it is painful to think that even for
a moment there can be any hesitation.

Alas for France!

* * * * *

REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTICES.

_History of Spanish Literature._ By GEORGE TICKNOR. In Three Volumes.
Third American Edition, corrected and enlarged. Boston: Ticknor &
Fields.

The first edition of this work was published in 1849, in three volumes
octavo, and it is hardly necessary for us to add, that it was received
with very great favor both at home and abroad. Indeed, we may go
farther, and say that it was received with the highest favor by those
who were best qualified to pronounce upon its merits. The audience which
it addressed was small at home, and not numerous anywhere; for the
literature of Spain, in general, does not present strong attractions to
those who are not natives of the Peninsula. In our country, at the time
of its publication, there was hardly a man competent to examine and
criticize it; and in Europe, outside of Spain itself, the number of
thorough Spanish scholars was and is but small, and of these a large
proportion is found in Germany. But by these, whether in Germany,
France, or England, Mr. Ticknor's History was received with a generous
and hearty admiration which must have been to him as authentic a token
of the worth of his book as the voice of posterity itself. But, of
course, it was exposed to the severest trial in Spain, the people of
which are intensely national, loving their literature, like everything
else which belongs to them, with a passionate and exclusive love, and
not disposed to treat with any tenderness a foreign writer who should
lay an incompetent hand upon any of their great writers, though in a
friendly and liberal spirit. But by the scholars and men of letters in
Spain it was greeted with a kindliness of welcome which nothing but the
most substantial excellence could have assured. Universal assent to the
views of a foreigner and a Protestant was not to be expected: this or
that particular judgment was questioned; but no one said, or could say,
that Mr. Ticknor's History was superficial, or hastily prepared, or
prejudiced, or wanting in due proportions. On the other hand, a most
hearty tribute of admiration was paid to its thorough learning, its
minute and patient research, its accurate ju