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he was freely outspoken only of literature and the theatres, holding his peace on higher and more dangerous topics.

services in porcelain, bronzes, statues, cameos, clocks, &c. But without giving too much heed to these imputations, it may be truly said that his constant and unvarying adulation of Bonaparte is not a little disgusting and suspicious. This servile trait in his character is energetically castigated in an epigram, whose coarse, gross energy may be pardoned under the circumstances:

"Si l'Empereur faisait un pet,

Geoffroy dirait qu'il sent la rose ;
Et le Senat aspirerait

the 18 Brumaire (18th Nov., 1799,) he returned to Paris, and was soon after chosen as theatrical critic to the "Journal des Débats." It were difficult, The history of the rise and progress of the indeed, within the limits to which we are confined, "Journal des Débats" is a moral and psychologi- to explain the immense vogue which his articles cal study, not without its interest. Tact, and man- obtained. Every other day there appeared one of agement, and moderation were necessary in order his feuilletons, of which the occasional bitterness to write at all in that epoch, but the moment Ber- and virulence were pardoned because of the learntin obtained permission to put pen to paper, he ing and the wit. It was, indeed, the liveliest and used the two-edged weapon so discreetly, that gov- most pungent criticism, but frequently partial and ernor and governed were equally content. To use unjust. It was, above all, partial and unjust, in the phrase of Burke, he hit the ruler and the ruled regard to some of the most remarkable actors and "betwixt wind and water." What was the cause actresses of our own day, as Talma, Mde. Contat, of this success? Bertin called to his aid men of Mlle. Duchenois, &c. The virulent war carried science, learning, talent, and art, but all inexperi- on by Geoffroy, also, against Voltaire, was indisenced in the art of journalism. There was not one criminate and unjust, and in some respects ridicuamong them who had ever before written a stupid lous. Venality, in respect to contemporary authors leading article, or graduated in the stenographic and actors, has been more than once imputed to tribune of the constituent or national assemblies, him; and it is openly said in the "Histoire du but they were men of mind and education-not Journal des Débats," that he received cachemires, what in England are called literary men-i. e., men without letters-who have failed in other callings, but scholars" ripe and good," brimful of learning. The greater number of the earlier contributors had been bred in the schools of the Jesuits; some among them were intended for the priesthood, but all were deeply imbued with the literature of Greece and Rome. Among the earliest regular contributors of the new journal were Geoffroy, Dussault, Feletz, and Delalot. On a second floor, in a small, dingy, damp hole, in No. 17, in the Rue des Prêtres, St. Germain l'Auxerrois, where was A l'honneur de prouver la chose." situated the office of the journal, these choice spirits met. After having traversed a dirty court, whose Notwithstanding these and other defects, howsweltering walls conducted to the first floor, they ever, the feuilleton of Geoffroy "faisait fureur groped their way to the second floor, where the parmi toutes les classes." The lively, learned, elder Bertin sat enthroned in all the pomp of edi- alert, ingenious, mocking manner of the ex-abbé torial majesty. When the lively, intelligent, witty, had been unequalled since the time of Fréron. and spirituel populace of Paris-for, after all, they The vogue and popularity of the "Journal des are but a populace-but the cleverest and most Débats" were, therefore, soon established, and the gifted under the sun-when this mob of something people, who were beginning to be tired of war and more than fine gentlemen, though less than per- Te Deums, desired no better pastime than to read fectly reasonable beings, read the first number of the accounts of new actors, new books, and new a journal written with moderation, yet vigorously; plays, by Geoffroy and Dussault. An unheard-of witty, yet with the air of good breeding and good prosperity was the result. The "Journal des society; learned, yet without the rust of the Débats" soon had 32,000 subscribers, a number schools; bitter and incisive, yet without personal never equalled, we believe, even by the "Times" malignity-the town was amazed and delighted, for any lengthened period, though surpassed on as though a new pleasure had been invented, or, particular occasions. Jules Janin relates that a what is equivalent in France to a new pleasure, friend of his saw in Provence a travelling showa new sauce. And a sauce piquante certainly man, with magic lantern in hand, who exhibited was invented, for Julien Louis Geoffroy, the most for two sous the heads of the most remarkable men ingenious critic of our age, and the civilized French in France. The first of these was Napoleon Bonanation, so improved and expanded the feuilleton, parte, Emperor of the French, King of Italy, Prothat it may in his hands have been pronounced a tector of the Confederation of the Rhine, &c.; new creation. A distinguished scholar of the Jes- the second was Geoffroy, writer of the feuilleton nits, at the school of Rennes, Geoffroy afterwards of the "Journal de l'Empire," as it was originally entered the college of Louis le Grand. He subse- called, and indeed as it continued to be called till quently was admitted to the Collège de Montaigue 1805, when it took the name of "Journal des Déas Maître d'Etudes, and was ultimately named bats." The manner in which the "Débats" treated Professor of Rhetoric at the College of Mazarin, public topics was dexterous in the extreme. It where for three years he successively obtained the was not then possible or practicable, indeed it was prize for Latin prose. This success procured him dangerous, to dilate openly on politics; but in the editorship of the "Année Littéraire," in which speaking of the prose and poetry of Boileau and he succeeded Fréron, the redoubtable adversary of Racine and Fontenelle, the ingenious writers genVoltaire, after Renaudot the founder of the journal erally insinuated, as it were, par parenthèse," a in France. In the first years of the revolution his word or two on great questions of state, by which monarchical opinions pointed him out as the col- their political opinions were rather suggested than league of Royou, in the editorship of the "Ami expressed. Thus was literature the wicket by du Roi;" but in the reign of terror he did not as- which they entered into this vast and fertile dopire to the crown of martyrdom, and escaped it by main, which they subsequently made their own hiding his proscribed head in a small village, where in fee. Bonaparte would not at this period have he exercised the calling of a schoolmaster. After tolerated an opposition to his government and pol

66

icy, though he allowed an opposition to his literary ity. These creditable feelings induced him to opinions to his ideas of tragedy and of a perfect leave Paris for Passy, in order that he might live epic. When he drove Mde. de Štael from France, isolated and remote from all solicitation and influthat woman, of a genius so masculine and profound ence. It was from this retreat at Passy that he of feelings so deep and impassioned-the illus-attacked mesmerism and somnambulism, in articles trious authoress of "Corinne" was sustained and | full of wit and talent. It was from Passy, too, that comforted by the support of the "Débats." Cha- he wrote that series of criticisms on the works of teaubriand, too, was understood, sustained, and Chateaubriand, de Pradt, and Madame de Genlis, defended, in the "Journal de l'Empire," at a period when Bonaparte would allow no superiority but his own, and it is now a well-known fact that the proof sheets of “Atala and René" were corrected by the friendly, conscientious, and critical hand of the elder Bertin.

and those celebrated articles on the Jesuits, worthy of Pascal himself, which raised the paper to 18,000 or 20,000 abonnés. Such was the effect of good literary management, that at the end of the year 1805, the Messrs. Bertin were said to be making 200,000 francs, or 80007. a year by their The history of the "Journal des Débats," paper. Hoffmann continued to write in the “ Détherefore, naturally divides itself into two distinct bats" till the middle of April, 1828, towards the epochs. First, there was the "Journal de l'Em- close of which month he died suddenly, in the pire," which at the beginning was more literary 68th year of his age. The last time we met him than political; and, secondly, there was the "Jour-was at the table of a common friend, on Twelfthnal des Débats-the same journal under a new day, 1828, since also numbered with the dead. name-which, in becoming openly political, did His learning, modesty, and rare companionable not cease to be literary. It is hardly possible to qualities, made on us an impression which time overrate the benefits which the "Journal de l'Em- has not effaced. pire" conferred on literature and on France. Its Articles on foreign politics became, from the editors and contributors were the first to revive period of Napoleon's letter, addressed directly to sound literature and a better taste. They raised George III. (14th January, 1805,) a principal feaup and placed on their proper pedestals the ancient ture in the "Journal des Débats." The greatest models, forgotten, and cast down, without unduly number of these articles from 1806 to the end of depreciating any innovators distinguished by inge- 1826, were written by the famous Danish geogranuity, talent, or learning. The principal writers pher, Malte Conrad Brun, more commonly called in the "Journal de l'Empire," were Geoffroy, in France, Malte Brun. Malte Brun was a brilwho died in his 70th year, in 1814; Dussault, who in 1793 published the "Orateur du Peuple;" Feletz, Delalot, Hoffmann, Malte Brun, and Fievée.

The articles of Dussault were always signed Y.; but such was the spirit, taste, and immense erudition that they disclosed, that they principally contributed to establish the literary infallibility of the journal. M. de Feletz was a man of a different order. He was a gentleman of the old school, polished, perfumed, polite, satirical, witty, instructed, writing paragraphs à la Pompadour, and articles à l'ancien regime. But this veteran of Versailles had such a varnish of finesse d'esprit, that his collaboration was of the greatest advantage. Delalot subsequently became an eminent member of the Chamber of Deputies. Hoffmann, a German by birth, was distinguished by a light, agreeable, transparent style, eminently French. He was a man of real depth and learning, and who gloried in the position of a public writer-a condition of existence he would not have changed with kings or emperors. Distinguished by a love of labor and of letters, he wrote with extreme facility, and could make the very essence of a book his own in a shorter time than any man of his day. He left behind him a noble library, within the four corners of whose walls he spent the happiest days of his existence.

liant but not a profound writer; but it must to his credit be admitted, that he was the first to render the study of geography attractive in France. It is a curious fact, yet perfectly true, and which we may state, en passant, that of the three great geographers of whom France is so proud, not one is a Frenchman. Brunn, or Malte Brun, to use his French name, was a Dane, Oscar M'Carthy is of Irish origin, and Balbi is an Italian. Of Fievée, we shall only say that his literary articles were considered solemn decisions, from which there was no appeal. He passed judgment of life or death on books, like an infallible, immovable judge, and was rewarded by his sovereign with a prefecture. We manage these things very differently in England. No critic, however eminent in England, ever obtained the place of police magistrate, from which an unknown Mr. Twyford has been dismissed, or the place of consul, at Calais, to which a too well known Mr. Bonham has been appointed. Such were the men who sustained the "Débats" up to the year 1814, when Geoffroy died, in the 71st year of his age. The gratitude and good feeling of the proprietors of the journal, of which he had been so long the glory and the pride, secured to his widow a pension of 2400 francs, a sum equal, at that period, to 2001. a year in England now-a-days.

We have heard and believe, that such good and generous things have been done by the Times"

Hoffmann became connected with the "Journal des Débats," then called, as we before remarked, in reference to old writers and reporters, and in the" Journal de l'Empire," in 1805. The con- the days of Mr. Perry, at the "Morning Chroninexion was promoted and facilitated by his friend cle;" but we do not believe that in any English Etienne, formerly secretary of the Duke of Bas-journal, however liberal, the example has been as sano, and who was named by the emperor, " Cen- generally followed as it ought to have been.* seur du Journal de l'Empire." Hoffmann was The death of Geoffroy, and the official occupapossessed of rare qualities. He was learned, not merely as a classical scholar, but as a man of science. He was exact and scrupulous in reading and meditating on the works which he was about to criticise. He had a hatred of coteries and cliques, and a love of independence and impartial

*The "Morning Herald" is said to have passed, recently, into the hands of Mr. Edward Baldwin, a gentleman distinguished by munificent liberality, and the most the good example of the "Débats" will be more liberally gentlemanly feelings. It is therefore to be hoped that followed in this country.

tions of Fievée obliged the elder Bertin, who had to write in the paper, and in such a season it was been for some time judge of the Tribunal de Com- that the Abbé de Lammenais, since become so merce of the Seine, to look out for recruits. The famous in a democratical sense, composed some restoration had now taken place, and a new era remarkable articles, not yet forgotten after the dawned on literature. Men breathed more freely, lapse of a quarter of a century. The old classical and dared to utter their thoughts in a somewhat school of literature in France was fast disappearbolder tone. A hundred thousand new ideas, ing, and Bertin soon perceived that the classical stifled amid the clangor of battle and the din of school of criticism must disappear with it. He arms, now found free expression. The reign of again cast about him for young writers, and fixed terror had passed, and the reign of despotism. upon M. St. Marc Girardin, then a nearly unknown Men were sickened with the smell of gunpowder, young man, but whose "Tableau de la Littérature and fatigued with the sound of cannon. The pen, Française," subsequently to 1829, obtained the now that the sword was sheathed, began to be prize of eloquence from the French Academy, and used. Mind vindicated itself against matter who is now one of the most learned professors of intellect against mere brute force. There was on the Sorbonne, and M. de Sacy, the son of the the throne of France a learned and philosophic celebrated Orientalist, a young and learned advosovereign, a gentleman and a man of letters; a cate, of ripe studies and a pure taste. Both these royal author, if not a noble one; for Louis the gentlemen still afford their valuable assistance to Eighteenth had translated Horace with spirit and the paper, and both are among the ablest writers fidelity, and was the writer of the "Voyage à in France. Previously to this period, Salvandy, Coblentz," not exactly a tour, but a forced the present minister of public instruction in France, march, or flight from France, made by himself on | had written some remarkable articles, distinguished the 21st June, 1791. It was therefore a moment by a felicitous imitation of the style of Chateaubripropitious to letters and progress. Chateaubriand and. From the period of the death of Louis gave full rein to his imagination; Lamartine com- XVIII., in September, 1824, of whose character posed his first "Méditations Poétiques," Victor he gave an admirable sketch, till the present day, Hugo started into literary life, and Scott, Byron, M. Salvandy may be considered among the conGoethe, and Schiller, found hundreds of transla-tributors to the Débats. There are few public tors and imitators. The classic taste of the learned men in France who have more of the talent of the and voluptuous old king recoiled from much of the new literature; but he resolved that, at least, the Muse should be free, that the thoughts of man should range unconfined, and that no padlock should be clapped on mind. The "Journal des Débats" was the first to understand the new era. Bertin the elder was a keen observer, and he comprehended the distinctive character of the restoration as readily as he had understood the quality of the empire. New and fresh, if not young blood, was infused into the rédaction of the paper. Duvicquet-the worthy and excellent Duvicquet, so fond of a good glass of Clos Vougeot, and so devoted an admirer of the plats truffés-had succeeded to Geoffroy. But Duvicquet was a rigid classicist, and it was necessary to find some one who would read and comprehend the rising literature of France, and not be disposed to make a holocaust of it. Charles Nodier, a man of an easy and facile character, of gentle manners, but of solid learning, a pupil of the school of Chateaubriand, was the censor chosen to stretch out the friendly hand to the new band of innovators. It were difficult to fix on a happier choice. Nodier was not merely a classical scholar, in the best acceptation of the word, but a man well read in the modern and living literature of England and Germany. His articles were learned without pedantry, and distinguished by an admirable freedom, freshness, and grace. While Nodier yielded to the spirit of progress in literature, the high political doctrines of the journal were maintained by Castelbajac, Clausel de Cousserques, and the famous De Bonald.

journalist than Narcisse Achille de Salvandy. To an extreme vivacity of intellect he joins great power of expression, an energy and enthusiasm almost inexhaustible. Some of the best and most bitter articles against the Villêle ministry proceeded from his pen, and he it was who, from his country-house near Paris, dealt, in some very able leading articles, the deadliest blows against the Polignac ministry. To this deplorable ministry the "Débats" was as much opposed as the "Constitutionnel," and both waged an inextinguishable war against the Jesuits.

From the death of Hoffmann, in 1828, Eugene Béquet, the last of the old school, took a more prominent part in the literary department. His productions were distinguished, not more by sound sense than by exact learning, and a pleasant vein of humor.

In 1826-7 the "Débats" counted not more than 12,600 subscribers. This was not owing to any lack of interest or ability in its articles, for it was conducted with amazing tact and talent; but a formidable competitor had appeared, in the shape of a journal called the "Globe," to which some of the ablest and most educated young men of France contributed. Among others, M. de Rémusat, one of the deputies for Garonne, and minister under Thiers, and M. Duvergir de Hauranne, one of the deputies for Cher, MM. Duchatel and Dumon, now ministers of the interior and of public works respectively, and M. Piscatory, minister of France, in Greece.

Against that illegal ordonnance of Charles X. which abolished the press, the "Débats" made no In March, 1815, the proprietor of the "Débats" such energetic remonstrances as the other journals. followed the king to Ghent, and in the September In speaking of the tumultuous groups of workmen following was named President of the Electoral traversing the boulevards, the writer of a leading College of the Seine. Soon after, he was ap- political article remarked, "On s'attendait à des pointed to the Secretariat Général du Ministère de actes énergiques de la part de l'autorité, l'autorité la Police. Meanwhile the columns of the "Dé- ne se fait remarquer que par son absence." bats" resounded with the eloquent prose of Cha- When, however, the insurgents obtained the teaubriand, and this was a step in advance of the upper hand, the note of the writer suddenly ultra and excessive royalism of 1814. Men of changed, and Lafayette was then spoken of as "le genius in every walk of life were now encouraged | viel et illustre ami de la liberté, le defenseur intre

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pide de l'ordre, dont l'âge ne refroidit pas le zèle patriotique."

This was in the first days of August, and within seven weeks afterwards M. Bertin de Vaux was named minister plenipotentiary to the King of Holland. In a very little while afterwards, Armand Bertin, the present gérant responsable of the journal was appointed "commissaire" of the Académie Royale de Musique.

he is seized with a forced gaiety, which is, after all, but an abortive and lugubrious hilarity; anon he assumes a melancholy, which, if not sickly and sentimental, is put on as a mask to suit the occasion. Jules Janin is just the man who, for effect to use the phrase of Curran-" would teach his tears to flow decorously down his cheeks; who would writhe with grace, and groan with melody." He has sought the pretty, as Longinus sought the After the revolution of 1830 Duvicquet retired sublime. He delights in ingenious paradoxes, to his native place, Clameci, and the feuilleton which he presents to you in ten different fashions: of the "Journal des Débats” passed into the hands sometimes all rude and naked; sometimes with a of Jules Janin, who had previously been connected thin robe of gauze; sometimes painted, powdered, with the "Messager," the" Quotidienne," and the and patched, with flounce and furbelow to match. "Revue de Paris," and who was then better Janin is seldom deficient in delicate irony, but is known as the author of “L'Ane Mort et la Femme always full of mincing airs and graces, and an esGuillotinée," published in the year previously. prit à-la-mode de Paris. But in his gallon of The modern feuilleton under his management, no sugared sack, there is but a “ha'porth" of bread, longer resembles the ancient. Whether it has after all. In the stream of pet phrases which he been improved is, we think, more than questiona- pours forth, there is a tinyness, if not a tenuity of ble, and it certainly no longer possesses the au- idea. His style might be stereotyped. It would thority which it enjoyed in the time of Fréron, be a great saving to the "Débats" to have certain Geoffroy, Feletz, and Hoffmann. The earlier fond familiar words always set up, standing in feuilleton was distinguished by learning, judgment, case. Scores and scores of times, speaking of critical acumen, and discretion, and a measured débutantes, he has said: "Pauvre jeune fille aux moderation of tone. It was occasionally dry, joues roses, aux maius blanches, elle si pure, elle sometimes smelling too much of the rust of the si candide." schools, almost always ignorant of, and invariably Would he describe an age or an epoch, here are intolerant towards, foreign literature. But though his words :-"Ce xvIIIe siècle en manchette, en it did not exhibit the variety and vivacity of tone dentelles, en talons rouges, en velours, en pailof the modern feuilleton, it was devoid of its shal-lettes, avec ses mouches, son rouge, ce XVIIe siè lowness, pretension, and parade. The ancient cle si fardé si corrumpu," &c. This carillon of feuilleton aspired to instruct, the modern seeks click-clack, this fredon-to use a musical termmerely to amuse. If the ancient feuilleton adhered somewhat too strictly to certain canons of criticism, certain cardinal principles in literaiture and art, the modern has too freely trifled with received notions, too much in paradox, and a laisser aller style. In seeking to avoid a heavy, pedantic manner, the modern feuilleton has become affected, mincing, and maniérée. The ancient feuilleton was too learned and too erudite-the modern is too ignorant and superficial. The ancient frequently dived too deep into the subject in hand for a daily newspaper-the modern almost always skims too lightly over the surface of the subject, if it does not give the real question the go-by.

The great abuser and perverter of the modern feuilleton has undoubtedly been Jules Janin. There is, as it appears to us, in everything that he has written, what has been well characterized a "marivaudage de bas-étage." He seems always to wish to be saying things uncommonly fine, witty, and clever, and to be fully persuaded that it is his duty not only to write, but to think, differently from other people. To accomplish this, he performs all sorts of mental gyrations and contorritions, all sorts of grey-goose antics. Sometimes

* An explanation of the word "feuilleton" may be needed by some of our readers. Till within the last ten years, that part of the newspaper separated by a line of demarcation from the politics and mere news, was called the feuilleton. It consisted of small, short columns, and was devoted to literature and literary criticism. It was in these columns that the Geoffroys, Hoffmanns, and other able and learned men of the day, produced articles worthy of a permanent place in the standard literature of France. This was the ancient feuilleton, which degenerated in the hands of Janin. Though subsequently sought to be restored to its pristine purity by Evariste, Dumoulin, Saint Beuve, Nisard, Gustave Planche, and others, the ancient feuilleton has now expanded into the "Roman feuilleton," in which all sorts of literary monstrosities are perpetrated.

of phrases; this fioritura of variations and doubles, called by musicians "follia di Spagna," is very contemptible; but it has had great vogue; for the object of this writer is more to amuse than to inform the reader, more to be playful than profound, more to be satirical than solid or satisfying. It is, therefore, no matter of marvel that Janin has many admirers and many imitators, and is the rage of men, women, and children.

One of the burning and shining lights of the higher feuilleton of the "Débats" in 1830 and 1831, was Loëve Weymar, who had become known in 1828 and 1829, by translations from the German. His articles were distinguished by considerable brilliancy, and secured the approbation of the minister of the day. He was, in consequence, sent on a kind of literary mission to Russia. At St. Petersburgh he married a young Russian lady, with 700 or 800 slaves for a dowry, and is now consul-general of France in some part of the eastern hemisphere. This is a sort of accident which has never happened, we believe, to any writer in the "Times" or "Chronicle," literary or political. Ministers in England claim no kindred, and have no fellow feeling, with the press; and if the "sublime of mediocrity," the descendant of the Lancashire cotton-spinner, has anything to give away, he bestows it, not on writers or literary men, but on the stupid son of some duke, who calls him Judas and traitor, or on the thirty-first cousin of some marquess, who tells him, for his pains, that he is no gentleman, and does not know what to do with his hands; or on the nephew of the Countess of Fashington, who simpers out, with a seductive smile, that the premier is like Thresher's best silk stockings, fine and well woven on the leg, but, after all, with a cotton top.

*

The "Débats" was also enriched shortly after

*This is the mot of a fashionable countess.

seem to write so often; but Alexandre Dumas often fills ten of the smaller columns with the productions of his inexhaustible pen. From two to four columns are generally dedicated to leading articles. The price of the journal is seven francs

the revolution of 1830, by the letters and articles of Michel Chevalier, an elève of the "Ecole Polytechnique," and former editor of the "Globe. Some of his earliest productions in the "Débats" were the Letters from America-letters remarkable in every respect, and well entitling this cele-a month, 20 francs for three months, 40 francs for brated economist and engineer to the renown he has subsequently attained. On the early freaks of M. Chevalier as a St. Simonian, it is no part of our business to dwell. He has outlived those follies, and is now pursuing a useful and prosperous career, not merely in the "Débats," but as a professor in the university; and what is better still, in his profession.

six months, and 80 francs for a year. The price in London is 31. 10s. the year, il. 15s. the halfyear, and 17s. 6d. the quarter.

The "Journal des Débats" is said now to have 9,000 or 10,000 abonnés; and 10,000 abonnés at 80 francs a year, we need hardly say, is equivalent to 20,000 at 40 francs, the price at which the "Constitutionnel," the "Siècle," the " Presse," Another recruit obtained in 1830, was our ex- and other journals, are published. The political cellent friend, M. Phîlarete Chasles, one of the articles in the "Débats" are superior in style and half-dozen men in France who are learned in an- reasoning to anything in the English periodical cient lore, and complete master of their native lan-press. They are not merely distinguished by firstguage. M. Chasles is one of the very few French-rate literary ability, but by the tone of well-bred and men well versed in Greek literature. He accom-polished society. For these articles large sums panied Marshal Soult to England in 1837, and are paid in money; but they bear a value to the wrote the articles and letters on his visit which ap- writers far above any pecuniary recompense. An peared in the "Débats" at that time. M. Chasles eminent writer in the "Débats" is sure of promowas then also deputed, on the part of the govern- tion, either to a professorship, to the situation of ment, to inquire into the scholastic and university maître de requêtes, or conseiller d'état, to a consystem of England; and from conversations we sulship, or, peradventure, to the post of minister had with him on the subject, we can take upon at some second or third-rate court-a position atourselves to assert, that he had a more accurate tained by M. Bourquenay, a fourth or fifth-rate knowledge on those matters than falls to the lot writer in that paper at the period of the July revoof the great majority of Frenchmen. M. Chasles' lution. It was the well-founded boast of the familiarity with ancient literature in no respect in-Times," little more than a twelvemonth ago, that disposes him to the modern; and he is well read in it had made the son of one of its proprietors, and our English historians and poets. its standing counsel, Mr. (now Baron) Platt, a We have now gone through with the greater judge; but the " Journal des Débats" may boast, number of regular writers in the "Débats," and that it can give power as well as take it away. of these M. de Sacy, M. St. Marc Girardin, M. It has made and unmade ministers, ambassadors, Philarete Chasles, and others, still afford their prefects, councillors of state, and masters of revaluable aid. At the head of the establishment is quests, as well as poets, historians, orators, musiM. Armand Bertin, the son of one of the late pro-cians, dancers, modistes, perruquiers-nay, even prietors and the nephew of the other-a scholar, a gentleman, and a man of large and liberal feelings. The great boast of M. Armand Bertin is, that he is a journalist, and nothing but a journalist; and for renowned journalists of all countries M. Bertin has a predilection. With one of the most celebrated journalists that England ever produced, he was on terms of the warmest friendship; and we are ourselves in possession of his last gift to his and our departed friend, the rarest edition of Lucan, according to Brunet, beautifully bound by Koehler, which bears this autograph, "To my friend, Thomas Barnes. Armand Bertin."

to that ninth part of a man called a tailor, or to that eighteenth fractional part of a man, unknown in England, called a " tailleur de chemises."

The "Constitutionnel" was, about twenty or twenty-five years ago, (i. e., from 1820 to 1825,) the most successful and flourishing, and certainly one of the best conducted papers in France. It had then a greater circulation than any paper in Paris, as the following figures will prove :Débats, Quotidienne,. Journal de Paris, Courrier Français, Etoile,

Journal de Commerce,
Moniteur,.
Constitutionnel,.

13,000 abonnés.

5,800

4,175

2,975

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2,749

2,380

2,250

16,250

But the writers who afford a literary support to the "Débats," and whose names are not known, or at least not avowed, are of as much, if not more, consequence to the journal, than the regular contributors. There has been scarcely, for the last forty years, a minister of France or a councillor | But the "Constitutionnel" had, from 1815, two or of state of any ability, who has not written in it; three staple articles to trade in, of which it made a and since the accession of Louis Philippe in 1830, great literary market. First, there were the its columns have been open to all the king's per- Voltairian principles and opinions, which it put sonal friends, both in the Chamber and in the forth daily; 2ndly, there were denunciations of the House of Peers. In the Chamber of Deputies "Parti Prêtre" and of the Jesuits, and the affair of alone there are eight or ten members attached to the Abbé Contrefatto; and 3rdly, there was the the king personally, aid-de-camps and employés on retrograde march of the government, caused by the civil list, and such of these as are capable of the intrigues of the Pavilion Marsan, which prowielding a quill, place it at the service of the "Dé-moted, and indeed justified, a vigorous opposition. bats." Among the feuilleton writers of this journal, are some of the most celebrated in Paris-as Jules Janin, Alexandre Dumas, Theophile Gautier, &c. Since the size of the journal has been increased, the lucubrations of Jules Janin appear more rarely, and Theophile Gautier, too, does not

The soul of this opposition was Charles William Etienne, who had shortly before, somewhere about 1817 or 1818, acquired a single share in the paper. Etienne started in Paris as secretary to the Duke of Bassano, and was named, in 1810, as we have stated, one of the higher political writers of the

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