The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 01, No. 06, April, 1858: A Magazine of Literature, Art, and Politics

In Short

This April 1858 issue of the landmark American periodical presents an extraordinary snapshot of a culture in transition. Gathering together personal memoirs of the Napoleonic era, serialized fiction, investigative detective reports, regional poetry, literary criticism, and sharp political commentary, the issue balances creative artistry with fierce civic critique. It endures as a vital historical artifact that captures nineteenth-century American literary ambitions while directly confronting the moral and political failures of its government—particularly regarding the spread of slavery and the mishandling of national crisis—on the eve of civil war.

The Story

The volume opens with a vivid personal narrative set during "The Hundred Days" of 1815, recollecting the author’s youth in Paris as a student in an imperial lyceum. Raised in a quasi-military atmosphere where the roll of the drum dictated schoolboy routines, the narrator witnesses the sudden shift of French power when Napoleon returns from Elba. The text captures the domestic and civic stir in the streets, the departure of the old regime, and the electric, thunderous roar of the crowd as the Emperor re-enters Paris, offering a reflective look at how historical revolutions feel to those living through them.

From historical memoir, the issue transitions into creative and narrative prose. Domestic scenes unfold in serialized drama, where personal relationships, courtship, and familial duty are negotiated. In these narrative vignettes, characters navigate delicate social expectations, romantic anxieties, and the return of long-awaited suitors. Paralleling these domestic scenes is the tense, detailed procedural account of a London police investigation. Written in epistolary form between a Chief Inspector and an overconfident new detective, the narrative traces the minute, hourly tracking of suspected rogues, unexpected female accomplices, and stolen property through the streets and parks of London.

Interspersed throughout the issue are historical sketches and verse that ponder faith, devotion, and fate. A detailed historical account examines the life, martyrdom, and late sixteenth-century exhumation of St. Cecilia in Rome, contrasting physical decay with spiritual endurance. Poetic entries ranges from John Greenleaf Whittier's poignant New England ballad "Telling the Bees"—which details the local tradition of informing bee-hives of a family death—to translations of Persian poets like Hafiz and Dschami, exploring friendship, love, and transience. The issue also includes lighthearted humor, such as a satirical piece on learned societies written in intentional "boarding-school French."

The final third of the issue turns decisively toward urgent contemporary critique. A lengthy review of James Buchanan’s presidential administration offers a biting assessment of federal policy. The commentary systematically critiques the government’s vacillating handling of the Mormon population in Utah and its aggressive actions in Kansas, framing these missteps as symptoms of a deep moral compromise tracing back to the Fugitive Slave Bill. The issue concludes with serious literary journalism, evaluating recent editions of old English authors and reviewing a newly published American encyclopedia, advocating for high intellectual standards in the nation's burgeoning literature.

How It Unfolds

The Imperial Scholar An American schoolboy in 1815 Paris recalls his daily life under Napoleon's military education system. He observes the seamless, almost routine overthrow of dynasties as Napoleon returns from Elba to claim the city.

Scenes of the Heart Domestic lives intersect through letters and dialogues as young women and their guardians manage love, social decorum, and suspense. A long-awaited arrival brings tears of relief and a quiet blessing to a household.

The Detective's Journal Mr. Matthew Sharpin files meticulous, hourly reports to Chief Inspector Francis Theakstone regarding a London robbery. Sharpin tails suspects through Regent's Park, only to be surprised by the crucial involvement of a young woman.

Faith and Tradition A historical narrative details the ancient martyrdom of St. Cecilia and the subsequent discovery of her preserved body centuries later. Alongside this, verse like "Telling the Bees" captures New England folk customs surrounding grief and memory.

The State of the Union The commentary shifts to a rigorous political critique of President Buchanan's administration. The writer dissects the mishandling of the Utah expedition and condemns the moral erosion caused by the Fugitive Slave Law.

The Literary Ledger The issue finishes with critical reviews of contemporary publications, measuring new collections of old poets against strict standards and praising a comprehensive new American cyclopaedia designed to showcase national intellect.

The People

The American Schoolboy A young student living in Paris during 1815 whose daily life is shaped by the strict military discipline of the French lyceum. He provides an observational eye to the grand political upheaval of Napoleon’s return, feeling both the thrill of history and the domestic warmth of his schoolmates.

Mr. Matthew Sharpin An eager, untried police detective tasked with solving a London robbery. Overconfident in his abilities, he insists on sending exhaustive hourly updates to his superior while discovering that his preconceived assumptions—especially regarding female accomplices—are repeatedly upended by the realities of the street.

Chief Inspector Francis Theakstone Sharpin's stern, no-nonsense superior in the London police force. Practical and dry, he wastes no time on pleasantries, constantly urging his subordinate to stop writing empty preamble and focus strictly on the facts of the investigation.

Kate and Charlie A sister and brother navigating delicate personal matters. Charlie, a bedridden invalid, watches over Kate as she waits in anxious, disciplined silence for the suitor she respects to return, balancing intense emotion with strict social propriety.

President James Buchanan and his Cabinet Analyzed as political figures lacking firmness and moral clarity. They represent a government struggling with the Utah territory, compromised by partisan policy, and capitulating to the interests of slavery.

In Its Own Voice

"The roll of the drum roused the scholar to his daily work; a uniform with the imperial button was the only dress allowed to be worn..."

This vivid recall of a Paris lyceum establishes the military atmosphere surrounding young students during Napoleon's reign.

"I give up the sex,--excepting Mrs. Yatman, I give up the sex."

Detective Matthew Sharpin writes this exasperated line to his chief upon discovering that a key suspect in his robbery investigation is a young woman.

"A race conservative beyond all others of what is established... they have yet three times in the space of a century and a half assumed the chances of rebellion and the certain perils of civil war..."

This stern observation underscores the political essay's warning regarding the limits of a free people's patience with legal and moral tyranny.

What It's Really About

Beneath its variety of genres, the issue is fundamentally about the responsibilities of citizenship, morality, and cultural stewardship. The non-fiction articles argue that a nation’s strength depends not on clever political maneuvering or superficial legalism, but on an unyielding commitment to justice and moral principle. The political critique warns that ignoring core human rights—whether through the enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Law or botched territorial governance—leads directly to national demoralization and collapse. Meanwhile, the literary essays and poetry insist that a young republic requires a serious, elevated literature that avoids low popular taste, honoring both historical memory and intellectual honesty.

Why Read It Today

This volume offers a remarkable, unfiltered window into the American mind in April 1858, just three years before the outbreak of the Civil War. It is ideal for readers who enjoy nineteenth-century prose, political history, and literary journals. Reading it feels like sitting down with the leading intellectuals of the era—figures like John Greenleaf Whittier and Oliver Wendell Holmes—as they attempt to build a distinctly American literary tradition while watching their country fracture over slavery.

The prose is naturally characterized by mid-nineteenth-century conventions: long, periodic sentences, classical allusions, and formal syntax that require a patient reading pace. Modern readers must also navigate dated period attitudes and historical references that assume familiarity with 19th-century politics. Yet, the rewards are immense. The sheer variety of content—from crisp detective fiction and haunting folklore to blistering political prose that remains astonishingly relevant in its critique of executive overreach—makes this issue a deeply rewarding dive into the living culture of the past.