66 66 sought to corrupt some of the habitués of her bureau, and for this purpose pitched on a certain Chevalier de Mouchi, who made a report to the minister to the effect, that there was and had long been at the house of Mde. Doublet, abureau de nouvelles,' which was not the only one in Paris; but her employés wrote a great deal, and profited largely by it." It cannot be denied that this Mouchi, author of the Mille et une Faveurs," played, in reference to this bad woman, the part of a base mouchard. He had been received at the officina of Mde. Doublet as a man of letters, and he singled out in his report M. and Mde. Argental, Mde. du Boccage, the authoress of the "Colombiade," Pidanzat de Mairobert, one of the authors of the "Memoirs Secrets," better known as the "Memoirs of Bauchaumont," the Chevalier de Choiseul, and many medical and literary men among the contributors. feverish night in consequence of this unexpected It According to the report of Mouchi, one Gillet, valet de chambre of Mde. d'Argental, was at the head of the bureau. This base, unlettered lacquey, after having collected together all that was said in the best houses of Paris, sent his bulletins (as some infamous Sunday journals in our own day were sent) into the provinces at six and twelve francs the month; his despatches being literal copies of what Mde. Doublet circulated through the capital, on the morning of the same day, under the title of Nouvelles à la Main." The more iniquitous and odious the government, the more extensive the sale and distribution, and the more formidable the influence and effect of the publications. But, alas! all is not "couleur de rose" in the In 1771, the Duke de la Vrilliere exercised in- life of a journalist, as the initiated know but too creased severity towards the authors of this scan- well; and Marmontel confesses that he soon found dalous chronicle. M. de Vergennes proceeded out that to come to Paris to edit a newspaper was still further, for he would not permit literary men to condemn himself-to use his own words-" au to carry on a correspondence with foreign coun- travail de Sisyphe ou à celui des Danaïdes." tries, though the censor, Suard, was ready to cer-Some of the first literary names in France were at tify to their character and conduct. This species of correspondence, wrote the minister, ought to continue prohibited, and those who persevere in it notwithstanding the prohibition, shall be severely punished. Good advice has proved valueless, and rigorous measures can alone prove effective. We have already spoken of three Mercuries, but have not said a word of one, of which La Bruere was the "titulaire," as it was called. This privilege of titulaire was worth, to that fortunate man, 25,000 livres de rente, and having died one fine morning at Rome, about the year 1757, while the court was at Fontainebleau, Marmontel, who was there passing an hour with Quesnai, was sent for by Mde. de Pompadour, who said "Nous avons dessein d'attacher au nouveau brevet du Mercure des pensions pour les gens de lettres. Vous qui les connaissez nommez moi ceux qui en auroient besoin et qui en seroient susceptibles." Marmontel named Crebillon, d'Alembert, Boissy, and some others. Boissy obtained, through Marmontel's instrumentality, the brevet of the Mercure, but Boissy, though able enough to edit the journal, was incompetent to sustain it for any length of time. He had neither resources, nor activity, nor literary acquaintance, and he could not turn to the Abbé Raynal-for he did not know him-who was the man of all work in the absence of La Bruere. In this emergency Boissy held out a signal of distress to Marmontel, and wrote to this effect. "Prose ou vers ce qu'il vous plaira tout me sera bon de votre main."'* Marmontel passed a sleepless and * Memoires de Marmontel, tom. ii. p. 79. this moment connected with the "Mercure" and its editor. Among others we need only name D'Alembert, L'Abbé Morellet, L'Abbé Raynal, Marivaux, and Chastellux. Nor was this collaboration exclusively confined to Frenchmen. The Abbé Galiani, Caraccioli, and the Compte de Creutz, were among the contributors; and the chansonniers Panard, Gallet, and Collé, occasionally lent their blithesome aid. But this voluminous journal was soon to be suspended by the Revolution, not, however, before its columns had been enriched by the pens of Chamfort and Guinguéné. The former delicate, ingenious, brilliant, and witty writer, furnished the Tableau de la Revolution, in which the remarkable events of that remarkable time are eloquently retraced. Of these, Chamfort composed thirteen livraisons, each containing two tableaux, and the work was afterwards continued to the twenty-fifth by M. Guinguéné. We have not spoken of the "Journal Etranger," to which the Abbés Arnaud and Prevost, Toussaint Fréron, (the famous Fréron, of whom more anon,) Favier Heranndex, J. J. Rousseau, Grimm, and other celebrated men, were contributors. The editorship of this miscellany was undertaken by Suard, afterwards of the Academy, in 1754, and its object was to introduce to the notice of France all that was remarkable in the literature of England, Spain, and Germany. The paper existed until the month of June, 1763, when it ceased to appear. Towards the close of the same year, Suard, and his friend Arnaud, were commissioned by the government to undertake the "Gazette de France," each with a salary of 10,000f. A void, however, this period, M. Maret, afterwards Duke of Bassawas created by the demise of the Journal Etran- no, and who was editor of the "Bulletin de l'Asger," which the two friends determined to supply by the creation of the "Gazette Litteraire de l'Europe.' This new periodical, protected by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, bore no more charmed existence than its predecessor, and when it died a natural death, Suard and Arnaud were paid by their subscribers to the tune of four volumes in advance. Where should we find such easy gullible subscribers now-a-days in the new world or the old? and echo answers, where, in mournful response to curious and inquiring aspirants to authorship. semblie Nationale," agreed to incorporate his paper with the "Moniteur," and soon after became the first rédacteur en chef of the latter journal. As Maret was an admirable short-hand writer, the paper became, to use the words of his biographer, a tableau en relief. It was not merely fidelity of expression that was transmitted, but the spirit of the debate was embodied, and the gesture and demeanor of the orator described. Something more, however, than mere reports were needed; and a series of articles were determined on, comparing Let the meanest among the dregs of the Row the parliamentary system springing from the Revoand Grub-street, pluck up "heart of grace," how-lution, with the system that prevailed anteriorly. ever, for be it known to all the dullards and dunces The exact and conscientious Peuchet undertook for their comfort, that among the most complaisant this difficult task. His articles, under the title of and contented contributors to this journal were the an introduction, form the first volume of the collecfamous Denis Diderot, and the gentleman philoso- tion of the "Moniteur." pher Saint Lambert. Nor were other appliances wanting to success. Suard had married one of the cleverest and most agreeable women of the day, Mdlle. Panckoucke, the sister of the famous printer and bookseller. His house and hearth were patronized by the "grand monde," under the title of "le petit ménage ;" and here the munificence of the prince de Beauvau, and of the Marquis de Chastellux were exhausted, to place the petit ménage, to use the language of the biographer of Suard, en etat de donner des festins à la haute littérature." * It is the fashion among some Englishmen to cry up their own country at the expense of France; but where, we would ask, can any Englishman lay his finger on prince or marquess who exhausted, not his munificence, but who contributed one hundred pounds, either in gifts or otherwise, to place the "petit ménage" of an English journalist in a condition to worthily entertain men of letters? From this period the principal and the most precious recommendation of the "Moniteur' was, and is, that it is a repertory of all the important facts connected with the annals of modern France. The "Moniteur," indeed, is the only pure well of undefiled historical truth, though occasionally dashed and brewed with lies, more especially in the Napoleonic time, from which a thorough knowledge may be obtained of the parties and history of France. Tables compiled with diligence, method, and clearness, and published for each year, facilitate the researches of the student, and conduct him through the immense labyrinth of facts which have been accumulated during half a century. Men of extraordinary merit have occasionally coöperated, either as men of letters or as philosophical writers or as publicists in the editing of this remarkable journal. We have already cited the Duke of Bassano, who was rédacteur en chef, to the end of the Constituent Assembly. Berquin, the author of "L'Amie des Enfans," succeeded him at a time when Rabaut de St. Etienne, La Harpe; Laya, the author of "L'Ami des Lois"; Framery; Guinguéné, author of a Literary History of Italy; Garat, who was minister and senator; Suard, of the Academy, of whom we have before spoken; Charles His, Gallois Granville, Marsilly, La Chapelle, and others, enriched the very same pages with their united labors. Under the Convention and the Directory, M. Jourdan performed the duties of rédacteur en chef, and was assisted by Trouvé, Sauvo, and Gallois. Under the Consulate, Sauvo was placed at the head of the "Moniteur," and is, or lately was, editor in chief. It may be in the recollection of our readers, that during the crisis of the ministry of Polignac, that weak foolish man The founder of the "Moniteur" was a great and sent for M. Sauvo, and handed him the famous enterprising bookseller, of the name of Charles ordonnances which produced the Revolution of Joseph Panckoucke, the father of Madame Suard, July, with a view to their publication in the official of whom we have just spoken, and celebrated by journal, when the courageous journalist remonthe publication of the "Encyclopédie Méthodique." strated with the president of the council, and pointed Panckoucke had, in a journey to England, been out to him the folly-the madness-of his course.† struck with the immense size of the London jour- The minister refused, even at the twelfth hour, to nals. He resolved to introduce a larger form into listen to the voice of wisdom, and our readers know France. This was the origin of the "Moniteur the result. During a period of nearly forty years, Universel," which first saw the light on the morn- M. Sauvo has written in the " Moniteur" the prining of the 24th November, 1789. But the "Moni- cipal portion of the matter under the head Théâtres, teur," in its infancy, did not, as the reader may and all parties most capable of judging of such matwell suppose, possess its present organization. Áters admit the taste and the tact he has uniformly very small space was allotted to the report of the proceedings of the National Assembly, and the debates were often incorrectly given. Shortly after It is not our purpose, and it would far exceed the compass of an article, to go over the journals and newspapers of the Revolution. Most of them were scandalous-many of them were bold-a few useful; but there was one journal which sprung out of this great crisis, which has survived that stormy and terrific epoch, and which has lived to see many great changes even in our own day. We allude to the "Moniteur Universel," the official journal of the French government. Born of the first Revolution, and a witness of all the political revolutions which have succeeded it, the "Moniteur" has had the rare advantage of surviving times of trouble and civil strife, without losing any portion of its high consideration, and without changing either its character or its language. *Vie de Suard, par Charles de Rozior. Paris, 1839. *Souvenirs du Duc de Bassano, par Mde. Charlotte de Sor. Bruxelles, 1843. + Memoires de Lafayette, par Sarrans. Procès des Ministres de Charles X. "England and France; or, the Ministerial Gallomania."-Murray, 1832. exhibited in this department of his labors, his criti- | France, died young. Their mother, a woman of cisms being extended not merely to the pieces, but sense and talent, afforded them the advantage of to the actors and actresses. If these essays were the best and most careful education. In the revopublished separately, they would form no mean lution of 1789 they were both young, but the elder course of dramatic literature. Among the nume- was old enough to have witnessed many of the rous collaborateurs of M. Sauvo, from the Consu- horrors of 1793. He assisted at some of the temlate and Empire to our own day, we may mention pestuous and sanguinary debates of that epoch, Peuchet; Tourlet; the learned Jomard; Cham- and was saved from being a victim by his extreme pollion, of the Academy des Inscriptions et Belles youth. Lettres; Amar; Tissot, of the Academy; Kératry; Petit Radel; David, formerly consul-general in the East; Aubert de Vitry, and Champagnac. The "Moniteur" is the only journal, it should be observed, which reproduces exactly the debates of the Chambers, for other journals have recourse to analysis and abridgments. The only certain basis of an exact analysis would be the words of the "Moniteur;" but this journal, contrary to its agreement, which imposes on it the obligation of furnishing proof sheets to all the journals on the evening of its publication, appears after the latter have been printed off, and cannot consequently be of the least use for an analysis of the debates. It were, perhaps, a piece of supererogatory information, to state that the "Moniteur," which forms a collection of more than 100 volumes, is furnished to all the higher functionaries of the state, and is constantly referred to, not merely in France, but in every civilized country. It is the best repertory of contemporaneous history, and complete copies of it are therefore very rare, and always fetch a high price. During the emigration, Monsieur, afterwards Louis XVIII., had a species of Moniteur of his own, under the title of "Journal de Monsieur," in which the Abbés Royon and Geoffroy, the latter afterwards so celebrated as the feuilletonist of the "Débats," both wrote; but this paper necessarily expired the moment his majesty landed on the French soil. The Abbé Geoffroy, indeed, played an important literary part after the Restoration; but before we speak of him, it will be necessary that we should enter into the history of that journal, which he rendered so celebrated by his criticisms. In so doing, it is indispensable that we should speak somewhat at length of the very remarkable founders of the "Journal des Débats," the MM. Bertin. These two brothers, François Bertin the elder, and Louis Bertin, commonly called Bertin de Vaux, were the men who first elevated journalism in France into a power in the state, and made of newspapers a great instrument, either for good or for evil. François was the elder brother of the two, and continued till the period of his death" Rédacteur en chef and Gérant" of the "Journal des Débats." Louis, the other brother, after having been fifteen years a member of the Chamber of Deputies was, soon after the Revolution of 1830, sent ambassador to Holland, and elevated to the Chamber of Peers. Bertin the elder was a man of large and liberal views, intelligent, instructed not merely in letters, but in politics and legislation-a man of the world, in the best sense, generous, indulgent, and great, not only in accomplishments of the mind, but what is rarer, and better, in virtues of the heart. Bertin de Vaux, his brother, was an active, indefatigable man of business, and at the same time a distinguished and spirited writer, and a scholar of no mean pretensions, especially in classical literature. Both these remarkable men were born at Paris, of a rich and respectable family. Their father, who was secretary to the Duke de Choiseul, premier of It is not our purpose to go over the history of the press during the consulate. It will be sufficient to state that soon after Bonaparte had established himself in the seat of power, he practically annihilated the decree of the ninth of September, 1789, which declared that the liberty of the press was one of the inalienable rights of men. With one stroke of the pen, the little Corsican decided that among the numerous political journals existing, twelve should alone survive, and to these was conceded the exiguous liberty of publishing the list of sales of real and personal property by auction and otherwise, the bulletins and recitals of battles published in the "Moniteur," the new laws, and dramatic criticisms on the spectacles of the day. It should be remembered, that in those days the largest journal was no bigger than a quarto sheet, and that charades and rebusses were then more in vogue than political disquisitions. It was in such a season as this that Bertin the elder purchased for 20,000 francs, or £800, of Baudoin, the printer, the name and copyright of a "Journal d'Annonces." With the sagacity of a man of profound sense, M. Bertin soon perceived that the journal of which he had become the proprietor ought neither to resemble the journals of the ancient regime, such as the "Mercure de France," of which we have already spoken, nor the journals of the revolution, such as the "Orateur du Peuple," formerly conducted by Dussault, of whom more anon, nor the journal, reeking with blood, of the cowardly Hebert, called the "Père Duchesne." The "Mercure de France," though supported by Marmontel, and the beaux esprits of the court, was but a pale reflection of the inane vanity and emptiness of the old monarchy. But the journal of the "Père Duchesne" was the very image of the blood and fury and worst democratic drunkenness of the revolution. Such journals as either the one or the other were impossible, under a strong and intelligent government. Neither as consul nor as emperor, had Napoleon permitted their existence; and even though he had, the nation would not have long supported it. It was a difficult task to hit the house "betwixt wind and water," to use the familiar phrase of Burke, in speaking of the wonderful success of the wonderful Charles Townshend in the house of commons, and no less difficult was it for M. Bertin to hit the will of the emperor, and the humor, whim, and caprice of the good people of Paris. It was, indeed, an up-hill task to make a journal palatable to a successful soldier, who had made himself emperor, and who desired that neither his laws nor his victories might be discussed or criticised. And nearly as difficult was it to conciliate the good will and favorable attention of a people accustomed to the rank and strong diatribes of the democrats. Any other man than Bertin the elder would have given the task up in despair—but the word "despair" was no more to be found in his vocabulary than the word "impossible" in the vocabulary of the emperor. To create a journal without freedom of speech were indeed hopeless. M. Bertin spoke, therefore, freely, but he was freely outspoken only of literature and the theatres, holding his peace on higher and more dangerous topics. Journal des Débats," that he received cachemires, 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; 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 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-ofwitty, 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 uits, 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 72 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 Stael from France, isolated and remote from all solicitation and influIt was from this retreat at Passy that he that woman, of a genius so masculine and profound ence. 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 The last time we met him 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. vée. 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. Articles on foreign politics became, from the pire" conferred on literature and on France. Its editors and contributors were the first to revive period of Napoleon's letter, addressed directly to The greatest 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.' 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 were Geoffroy, in France, Malte Brun. Malte Brun was a brilin the "Journal de l'Empire,' who died in his 70th year, in 1814; Dussault, liant but not a profound writer; but it must to his who in 1793 published the "Orateur du Peuple ;"credit be admitted, that he was the first to render Feletz, Delalot, Hoffmann, Malte Brun, and Fie- 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 Of Fievée, his French name, was a Dane, Oscar M'Carthy is of Irish origin, and Balbi is an Italian. 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" The gratitude and good up to the year 1814, when Geoffroy died, in the 71st year of his age. 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 2007. a year in England now-a-days. 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. We have heard and believe, that such good and Hoffmann became connected with the "Journal generous things have been done by the Times" 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.* The death of Geoffroy, and the official occupaHoffmann was seur du Journal de l'Empire.' possessed 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 He had a hatred of coteries and to criticise. 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 gentleis therefore to be hoped that gentlemanly feelings. man distinguished by munificent liberality, and the most the good example of the "Débats" will be more liberally followed in this country. |