The Express.
London, England, 1858-04-10 00:00:00

DR. SIMON BERNARD.

The impending trial of Dr. Bernard has excited a
natural curiosity respecting his antecedent*, which commis-
' ideation' from redacts quarters have enabled us in some
manure to gratify.
Simon Bernard was born, of respectable parents, at Car-
canonise, in the year 1817. His family were attached to the
liberal side of politics, and his mind was early imbued with
their views. When arrived at the age when it was neces-
sary to millet a profession, be resolved to pursue that of m-
acaw ; instigated to this choice, it Is believed by those who
then knew him, by the conviction that he could thus render
himself useful in alleviating human suffering. The auxiliary
studies of the medial profession were ill calculated to de-
velop any tendency to hero-worship in a youth of a re-
Beating turn of mind, whose first political lesson, had been
learned in the school of French liberals, at a time when
iJfss Rapokoninsaes were rather in discredit, and when the
Bourbons could inspire no admiration for royalty.
Bernard's first entry into active life was as assistant sur-
geon on board a man of war. He was present at the attack
on the fortress of San Juan d'Ulloa, and afterwards in the
roads of Vera Crux. He is represented as having dis-
played groat tenderness for the wounded, and sin-
gular coolness while discharging his; prohesiond
duties under heavy fire. Ho afterwards took part in
the expedition to the Rio de la Plata, where the French en-
countered severe loss; and there his services, although he
had no patrons, procured for him the appointment of chief
surgeon in the Uruguay fleet. He remained in Uruguay
till peace wu concluded with Room The opportunities be
had of witnessing that chief's abuse of power contributed
materially to increase the hatred of derpotiam instilled into
him In his youth.
On his return to France he finally abandoned the sea, and
from that time began to take an active interest in political
discussions. He attached him/relit° what wu known as the
school of the Phalanitirs : that section of the Socialists
who sought to work out the ideas of Fourier. The
main difference between the St. Simonians and the
Fortrinists seems to consist in the former directing
their attention chiefly to the phenomena of the natural
distribution of property ; the latter, to those of its
production. The most distinguished members of the
former school were the Pareires and others who have gene-
rally ended by becoming speculators on the Bourse; among
the latter were many of the ablest erre* of the Polytechnic
SchooL The St. Sinionian school early received the impres-
sion of a fantastic character from the hierarchical tendencies
of Pere Enfantin. The Fourieriet ha, maintained a more
rational character, but has branched out into an
infinite multiplicity of sects. In fact, Socialism in
France does not mean • definite political or amid creed,
but simply • habit of regarding social phenomena from •
particular point of view. There are Christian Socialists and
free-thinking Socialists, republican Socialists and monarchical
Socialists, peace-at-any-price Socialists and fighting So-
cialists. Bernard does not appear to have adopted implicitly
the views of any of these subsections. He endeavoured to
disseminate those opinion, of all of than which wars most in
accordance with his own. For this Usk he was qualified by
a rare faculty of quick apprehension and clear exposition.
In 1842, Bernard, then of the age of 26, became editor of
the democratic newspaper oT the town of Tarn. He soon,
however, resigned the appointment and travelled through
the mat of France, lecturing on Political Economy and the
various social theories which at thattimedivided public opinion.
His ardour, the boldness of his speculations, and a certain
winning kindliness and sincerity which spoke through all hie
words and actions, won for him crowds of followers. Hit
took up his residence fur some time at Perpignan, and than
established Le Names, a democratic journal, as an antidote to
the Jesuitism of the Spanish monks.

At the outbreak of the Revolution of 1848 Bernard found
himself irresistibly attracted to Puri,. As an erertor of
democratic principles he was remarkable throughout, but
it wee after the tide of reaction had set in that he became
especially conspicuous. On the very day that the law
against clubs was passed he opened one. His agitation was
by public addressee—for which his pleasing and sonorous

voice, his v;vacious yet dignified action, his facility of diction,
and • certain elevation of Ptetiollll2t, peculiarly qualified him.
Some who have heard him speak in public do not hesitate to
compare his oratory with what is recorded of of Yirabeau.
As fast hi the police shut up one of the places of resort
when be used to speak, be found mean. to open another;
end be was in the habit of addressing audiences at various
please to the course of the same day. Prosecution followed
apes prosecution, till In May, 1819, ha was forced to seek
refuge in Belgium.
In Belgium he practised es a surgeon with great sweets
for about • year. He subseitiently travelled in Ger-
many. Wherever be went his modes of treatment
attracted &Retake end excited discussion. On his
snivel in Harland he hand his limited means pre-
cluded his following out a proles siotal career, and Oa had
therefore moons so the teaching of languages as the means
of awning a livelihood. He has been an inhabitant of
Bayswater for somewhat mom than six years. It is
simple justice to say that during that time be
has earned the esteem and &Section of all who have
ease in contact with him. He wee remarkable far
assiduity in the diacharge of his duties as • beacber; tar
gasses' readiness to amist every one who aced to need easy
services he could render; for • high erase boawsr, sad
serepaloes punctuality in meeting his pecuniary eisligatiosa
As a private individual he was loved and respootal La •
he Li always, we have steady remitted, amid
slows, enrolling himself under the harmers of no mot. It
was to London that be first became acquainted with Orsini,
sad similarity of sentiments cemented • friendship between
them. Situated as Dr. Bernard now is, it would be indecorous,
le enter at proposal epee the discussion of the charges made
against him ; hat than am be so bans in stating the boa
which we have mow recorded, and they are the pure sad
simple troth.