Rome. The mass of learning
exhibited is astonishing. The idea of the author is that through the
great course of history, humanity is ripening to a state of universal
peace and fraternity. It is unnecessary to say that from this
stand-point, international law becomes a subject of the grandest
proportions and significance. Prof. Laurent treats it with as much
ability as erudition.

ALEXANDRE DUMAS is the subject of a masterly criticism in the
_Grenzboten_, in which justice is done him with that impartiality and
moderation in respect to which a competent German is unequalled among
critics. Among Dumas's dramas, the writer regards _Caligula_ as the best
in spite of its grossness. In all the excesses, indecencies,
improbabilities, and lawlessness of his romances, there is the trace of
splendid talent. It is doubtful whether this talent could have been
developed by industry and an earnest love of art into a higher sphere of
power. Finally, the writer concludes that Dumas is doing more to corrupt
the taste of France and Germany than any other romancer, except,
perhaps, Eugene Sue.

* * * * *

Among the French socialists there has recently been considerable
discussion on the principles of Government--discussion which has
resulted in angry separation of the republican party into opposite
camps; Rittinghausen, Considerant, Ledru Rollin, and Girardin having
been severally aiming at the destruction of representative government,
and the erection of _Direct Legislation_--a scheme which LOUIS BLANC, in
his _Plus de Girondins_ and _La Republique Une et Indivisible_, has
opposed with a degree of ability which promised to restore him to a
respectable reputation. But PRUDHON, in his last book, not only
denounces Rollin, Girardin, Blanc, and all the rest, with a school-boy
vehemence, which _The Leader_ says is "pitiless," but he attacks without
disguise _all government_, no matter what its form, as false in
principle and vicious in effect. He believes neither in absolute
monarchy, in constitutional monarchy, nor in democracy; he admits no
divine right, no legal right, no right of majorities. He only believes
in the right of justice in the empire of reason. The principle of
authority he rejects in politics as in religion: he will admit only
liberty--reason. Prudhon has won a name for talents, and has frequently
written with real force--but such propositions are a disgrace to any man
who has ever possessed