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    the mischief will be more extensive . Bread will , of course , go up , and after an abundant harvest it will seem strange to the nation to begin the winter with dear bread . The . effects of the commercial crisis are far from having subsided , and there is little prospect of increased trade compensating for increased dearness of provisions . Taxes after free trade , especially in bread , are irksome to be borne and dangerous to enforce . - The nat ional subscription to release M . de Lamartine from his pecuniary difficulties , incurred in the service of France , is making very slow and very unsatisfactory progress . The illustrious poet and writer is the object of most insolent disdain by the vulgar rich , and is the butt of the malice and scandal of soi-disant / pious journalists , like Veuillot , Cocquille , and Fontanes . Men of courage and honest sentiments are afflicted at the * position of France towards the author of the Meditations , and one of them—M . E . Pelletan—having noticed it , M . de Lamartine has addressed to him the following remarks : — tne ui ijer

    " How can you believe ttiat apprenension - sonal indigence can stand for anything in the motive which causes me to support the honour or affront of a national subscription ? Do you know so little of me to suppose that Iwould not prefer a thousand times that glorious poverty and even ostracism to the situation ¦ which my necessities compel me to occupy before the world ? If I persist , if I will have the last word with ill-fortune ( like Moliere ' s Misanthrope ) , it is apparent that a motive superior to the sentiment of that humiliation commands , and that I place my du ' . y above my pride . It is wrong , perhaps , in the sight of men , but it is right according to conscience . Wait till all is known before you condemn too strongly . " I agree with-vow that augured better for the heart of France , but nations have every right , even that of belying themselves . They may as they please glorify by an honourable subsidy the Chateaubriands , CVConnells , Duponts ( de l'Eur ^ , For ? , Lafj ^ ttes , and Lafittes , and humiliate Lamartine . We hs ^/ fao account to ask of their sentiments . When we question , we must accept their reply whatsoever it may be . That answer up to the present time has not been favourable to me . lam grieved , but do not murmur at it . " Moreover , I write down day by day , for the future , instruction- o £ men _ of irreflective devotedness , that which I may call the martyrology of this subscription . . " When I see my own department , presided over by me for twenty years 7 presided to-day ^ by M . Schneider , a department which I wag fortunate enough to endow ¦ with two railways and lucrative , establishments , the revenue whereof is counted by millions—when I behold , I repeat , this meeting of colleagues and old friends blush at my name and pass it over in silence—a shameful poverty to the country—I grow sad , and ask which of us has lost remembrance and sentiment . " When 1 read , on the contrary , the names of those modest subscribers who owe me nothing , and who take but in the richness of their hearts and from their necessities the obol which they contribute to the restoration of a hearth larger than their poor ones , I engrave these unknown names in the memory of my descendants , and am affected to tears at the disinterested devotion of the heart of this multitude . * " Thus beside affronts Providence places consolation Let us forget those who forget and think of those who console . " tnat

    There is , or rather was , a prejudice m n . ngiamt poets and men of letters are impracticable creatures , unfitted , from the delicacy of their mental organisations , to direct political affairs . Thoir atmosphere , it is said , is the clear , pure air which floats around Parnassus , and thoy should leave the direction of nations , the happiness and welfare of their brethren , to less gifted mortals , who aro of the earth earthy . But with a Premier who in his idle moments has proved that he can translate- Horace ¦ with a fidelity and graceful enso never before attained , and sufficient to make the world regret that ho should liavo waaled hia time on politics and horse-racing ; m ith a Chancellor of tho Exchequer who has invented anew stylo of romance , and is an unrivalled master of tho pen ; with a Colonial Minister who is confessedly tho llrst novelist and first dramatist of tho day—tho author of tho Last Days of Pompeii and of tho Lady of Lyons \ mul "with a Minister of Public Works who mado hia debut as tho writer of ballads , albeit possessing but littlo literary merit , tho prejudice must bo regarded as fast passing away . It is difficult , therefore , to understand why certain political journals in England , whon speaking of M . de Lamartiue ' s position , should prosumo him to bo inoapablo of discharging tho duties of a statesman because ho is also a poet—tho truest poet France has had since Ronsard . If M . do Lamartino wore a poot , and nothing more , noithor liis nativo country nor Europe should bo called to contribute to satisfy his creditors ; but in his character as a politician ho has rendered groat public service . I do not claim for him tho loftiest qualities of a statesman , nov do I dony his political errors . The expedition to Homo Was an ogrogioua blunder , and something worse . Ills condutft towards Sardinia during * thiS national war may bo olassdd in tho' same category . But when full allowanco is made for those orrors , tho sorvicos which ho rendered to public order In France , and to the causa of peace in Europe during tho early portion of the

    revolu' tion , are stupendous , and impossible to be recompensed by money or mere honours . Who can think , even at this remote period , without t error mingled with admiration , on the conduct of M . de Lamartine in February , 1848 ? Who can forget how , for three days and three nights , he stood upon the steps of the Hotel de Ville , the , sole barrier between the surging red waves ' of communism and terrified society ^ while those who now vilify him were crouching , craven and abashed , in obscurity ? Never was human courage more grandiose and imposing , never was human eloquence more effective and beneficent , than in the dismal February days . The crowd , rendered desperate by their necessities , goaded to evil speculation by the counsel and presence of that hideou 3 population which , voided from Toulon and Rbchefort , is compelled to hide in peaceful times in the dens of Paris , but always appears menacing and repulsive at the first sign of disorder , —the crowd had raised aloft the red flag , and proclaimed the division of property , the spoliation of the rich . Force could not deter them from this design , and as they clamoured round the Hotel de Ville for its quasi legislation , the reign of terror appeared imminent . There was but one obstacle in the path , and that obstacM was M . de Lamartine . They were awed by his courage , charmed by his eloquence , and then the simile of another poet was realised and made to appear almost a prophecy : — . cooriui

    " Ac veluti magno in popuio quum saape . e » . Seditio , saevitque animis ignobile vulgus , Jamque faces et saxa volant ; furor arma ministrat : Turn , pietate gravem ac meritissi forte verum quern Conspexere , solent arrectisque auribus abstant ; Hie regit dictis animos , et pectora mulcet . " M . de Lamartine saved France from a civil war , her wealthy citizens from the horrors of a modern jacquerie , and Europe from a desolating strife—and alone lie did j it : In March , 1848 , he was called the " saviour of his j country , " the idol of the bourgeoisie , and might have taken tithes of all men , so unbounded was national gratitude . But to-day , barely ten years afterwards , when the danger is past , * as they imagine in their selfish blindness , the bourgeois—for , in spite of the affectation of titles , there is no nobility in France—treat M . de Lamartine ' s poverty as a crime in him ; they accuse him of having been unthrifty , and they keep their money to spend in nameless pleasure . If M . de Lamartine has spent his money unwisely , it has been for their benefit ; his purse was for years open tp the needy , and many helped themselves ia ' rgely who _ did not require aid . Whenne left the direction of Foreign " Affairs he was -a poor man . A few montlia' services to France were sufficient to shallow up his ample fortune and steep him in debt . Few are perhaps more modest or sober in their tastes ' and habits , npne more magnificent in their generosity . M . de Lamartine ' s means have been exhausted in the service of his country . Had he been thrifty , it might have proved a public calamity , for his unthrift , his indifference for himself , proved thesalvation of France ; Saving M . Guizot , M . de Lamartine is perhaps the only modern French minister who has not made the possession of office the means of personal profit and advantage . The base and despicable ingratitude of the CxmseirGe ' neral of his department , worthily presided over by Ml Schneider , may afflict him surely not so much for his unkindness towards himself as for the shame they have won . M . Schneider is Vice-President of the Legislative Body , the chief proprietor of tho Creuzot works , a brother speculator of M . de Morny , and in all capacities largely indebted to M . de Lamartine . Of course wo do not alludo to money borrowed . That he should have evinced so short a memory will be his only title to bo remembered bv posterity ' .

    It is with great curiosity and some shame that people hero inquire how the subscription in England progresses , i Tho remarks of the Times on the scandalous spectacle ] presented to the world raised a vast deal of virtuous indignation and patriotism—as they may be displayed i without cost—but extracted no money . Had it not been < for tho example set by tho Emperor—to his credit be it J spoken—the subscription would have been more insigni- < ( leant than it is . Courtiers must follow in the imperial ) fashion , but still the great majority of tho wealthy i classes stand aloof . Should tho subscription with you i bo successful , and tho amount considerable , it will prove , 1 as has been shown ropoatodly , how largo-hearted are the t British peoplo , and How catholic aro their sympathies . But , savo from M . do Lamartine and hia friends , you must l not anticipate your motives will bo fairly appreciated : 1 M . Mario Martin and M . Veuillot will say you gave < from ostentation . While you do the work they have ] left undone , thoy will cast back insult in your face—if , ^ iiulood , coining from so low it could reach so high . Nevertheless , it ia sincerely to be desired that tho Eng- ] lish subscription may bo tho chief means of rostoring 5 M . de Lamartino to his homo and to his studies . Eng- f lishmon are not prone to pay inuuh heed to what l tho world may say of them , nor to bo deterred from ft J righteous action bocauso it may bo misrepresented . j Tho patience of tho Paris public has been sorely vexed i of late , ami thoir fngoriulty ^ orely tried , to discover tho < signification * of tho rapid movements ( it tho Prince Nft- ' poleon . Last week ho wont to Biarritz , stopped a night , < and was back again before the papers discovered his 1 absence . Whon tho trip was ilrst mentioned , for it was not chronicled in tho ofllcial journal , It was Uemod in one i

    of the semi-official papers , a . Peop sadly wanted to know why he had gone . The prohibitionists were the first to discover a mare ' s nest . The Prince had gone to implore , his cousin to introduce a slight modification of the Algerian tariff , if only to save appearances , and" to allow it to seem that the Prince-Minister Had Some authority . These same sapient gentlemen , who know everything that occurs in the intimacy . of the Court , discovered that the Emperor " was not at home , " refused to see the Prince , and ordered him back to his post . Without pretending to exclusive or early information , I have no hesitation in saying that these rumours are false , and that their authors are not gifted with even ordinary penetration . The Emperor , for certain reasons , prefers , when practicable , to give his instructions verbally , especially when they relate to a novel political proceeding . The Emperor of Russia is about to hold a grand review at Warsaw , and the military men who are to be despatched thither as representatives of Austria , Prussia , and the vassal monarch of Germany , have been announced . The partisans of the Russian alliance a tout jirix , the chief of whom is M . de Morny , have beset the Emperor to do something handsome " towards the Czar . They have represented that the Queen ' s visit to Prussia , and the previous alliance , were a deep political combination , to neutralise the great influence in Germany of France , and take the sting out of Cherbourg . England , it is said , has drawn near to Austria , and is closely allied with Russia , so that in case of accident she would find , herself at the head of a coalition , and in almost the

    | same condition as in 1815 . As a counterpoise xo ner preponderance , un rapprochement towards Russia was urged with a persistance which would be justifiable if patriotic . In spite of his uncontrolled power , the Emperor of the French cannot always have his own way . Perhaps there is also a secret desire that the visit to Stuttgard may be returned in the Tuileries , and an ambition to exhibit to the Parisians an Alexander and a Napoleon in amity , as a sequence to another interview which took place between another Alexander and another Napoleon nearly half a century ago . Rumours are also afloat that the red , or the black , or the blue eagle is to be asked for the babyPrince of the Asturias , in accordance with _ wishes that have dome fronTthe other side of the Pyrenees , and for which , if obtained , the greater latitude will be allowed respecting " certain negotiations now going on In which the question of frontier is involved . But these may be dismissed until they acquire more consistence . At last the French Emperor determined to send some one to congratulate his Imperial brother at "Warsaw . M . de Morny having Deen so successful in his speculations when sent as ambassador to the ^ Czar's ^ coronation , was naturally anxious to repeat the operations . So confident did he feel that he would be again selected , that he has purchased largely , it is said , from all the bric-a-brac shops , pictures , china , and old iron swords , &c , to form , collections to furnish the palaces of Warsaw , St . Petersburg , and Moscow , and enable the ingenious speculator to clear a few more millions by disposing of this rubbish as diefs-d ' auvre . Whether report be true or not , I do not pretend to say , but Sir Robert Peel can vouch for its being vraisemblabla . But"this I can positively affirm —the prices of these classes of goods have risen enormously lately . Large quantities of old china have been selling since Monday in the auction-mart at prices which must appear fabulous , for the ware is very apocryphal and devoid of all merit in workmanship and painting . The extraordinary prices were imputed to the Count's operations . But it would seem that the Emperor had sufficient credit from M . de Morny as his > onMoiintii > itiii TTn iliri not fenl innlinfd tn rim tllfl Sfinift

    ¦ ¦ risk a second time , nor did ho deem it politic to allow tho philo-Russiaus to take credit for having weakened the A . nglo-French alliance . Ho accordingly determined to send his cousin , the . general who commanded tho French livlsion which stood shoulder to shoulder with tho British division under Sir de Lacy Evans on the banks > f tho Alma four years ago . The Emperor is willing—it nay be admitted even is desirous- — of ontering into more ntimato alliance with Russia , but ho is determined to naintaiu intact and without reproach that ^ which consti-; utes his real strength—tho British alliance ; and in iclecting the Prince Napoleon to represent him at Warsaw , I prefer to believe that ho desired to inako apittrent that , while wishful to livo on good terms with ho autocrat , he would not loosen his alliance with the > nly free state in Europe . It ia in this view that Prince Napoleon has accepted tho mission , and not with any i ' iow to a matrimonial speculation . A lawsuit has just been tried at Pau which ought to [> rovo a warning tp Englishwomen . There is an individual in that city sous-ohif in the prefecture , and a law student , who made tho acquaintance in his grandmother ' s house of an English girl from Lobury , Horo-[ brd , who was engaged aa companion to an invalid lady , % friend of tho grandmother ' s . From what tr « n »|> irou In court , it appeared that the individual hnil ; » " »» "tf ' ' ? . jotluco tho girl under pretext of loaruliiff . }'< "V "™ J *" under the priniiite of marria ^ o . A > >« " iW « J f * ««¦¦ covered , the girl was scut back u > England , a 111 followed by the profo ^ ions of afttotlp .. of U . c I renehmon . Ho / rote , enclosing u 'booli , to . bIiow hi- » w . blo bli h (?) , ad itatlng that his fwrinuo amounted- to 100 / . a yoar and

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    nd then reaffirmed le No . 445 , OnroBEB 2 . 1858 . 1 THE LEADER . 1023

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 2, 1858, page 1023, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2262/page/7/