Facts and events, whether we regard
them singly or in their relations, can be perceived and remembered
only as they are presented to the whole nature. They must be realized
as well as generalized. The sensibility and imagination, as well as
the understanding are to be addressed. As far as possible they should
be made as real to the mind as any event which experience has stamped
on the memory. History thus written, is written close to the truth of
things, and conveys real knowledge. Far from departing from facts, or
exaggerating them, it is the only kind of history which thoroughly
comprehends them. We should never forget that the events which have
occurred in the world, are expressions of the nature of man under a
variety of circumstances and conditions, and that these events must be
interpreted in the light of that common humanity which binds all men
together. History, therefore, differs from true poetry, not so much in
intensity and fullness of representation; not so much in the force,
vividness and distinctness with which things are brought home to the
heart and brain, as in difference of object. The historian and the
poet are both bound to deal with human nature, but one gives us its
actual development, the other its possible; one shows us what man has
done, the other what man can do. The annalist who does not enable us
to see mankind in real events, is as unnatural as the poetaster who
substitutes monstrosities for men in fictitious events.

We accordingly welcome with peculiar heartiness all attempts at
realizing history, by evolving its romantic element, and thus
demonstrating to the languid and lazy readers of ninepenny nonsense,
that the actual heroes and heroines of the world have surpassed in
romantic daring the fictitious ones who swell and swagger in most
novels and poems. Mr. Gayarre's work is more interesting, both as
regards its characters and incidents, than Jane Eyre or James's
"last," for, in truth, it requires a mind of large scope to imagine as
great things as many men, in every country, have really performed. The
History of Louisiana affords a rich field to the poet and romancer,
who is content simply to reproduce in their original life some of its
actual scenes and characters; and Mr. Gayarre has, to a considerable
extent, succeeded in this difficult and delicate task. The work
evinces a mind full of the subject; and if defective at all, the
defect is rather in style than matter. The author evide