The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-07-11 00:00:00

CHATEAI-RRI AND.

Chatesubriand was born in 1767, at Comboury, in Bei-
tanny. Ile was under-lieutenant in the regiment of Na-
varre, before the Revolution. After the discharge of the
soldiers of that regiment, he ret.eived leave to go to Ame-
rica, in 1790. When he arrived in the United States,
he formed the design to cross the New Continent, and
arrived on the shore of the South Sea; but when
the war in 179 i broke out, he abandoned his design.
bade adieu to the forests, rivers, and savages, among
whom he hail wandered for two years, and went to
the banks of the Rhine, to place himself under the banners
of the emigrants. Being wounded at the siege of Thine,-
vine, he hastened to England,where he published, in 1797,
his Kasai sue lei Rerolnlinns, a liberal work, which was
unknown in France till lately, but it has now appeared in
the edition of all his works. After the 114th Brumaire, M.
Chatesuhriand came hack to his native country, anti pub-
lished his ANN, which caused both exaggerated praise and
undeserved criticism. This novel must be considered as one
of the best arguments in favour of the romantic school.
The Genie du Christionisnie appeared in 1108, under
circumstances very favourable to it—not because the
French people were returned to bigotry, but because it was
the wish of the First Consul to see them return to it.
The priest+, who wanted to recover some part of the
consideration width they hail lost, pretended to be ➢leased
at M. Chateaubriatiors mythology : but we must confess
the work has pleased every body except those for whom
it was written. If it had been published fifteen years
sooner, the Sorbonne would have condemned the work to
the flames, as full of heresy ; anti if they had that power
now, they would probrbly do it without mercy. Bona-
parte, whose vanity •led him to wish to see himself sur-
rounded by persons whose names recalled the recollections
of the ancient noblesse, appointed M. de Chateaubriand,
about this time, Secretary to the Embassy at Rome, and
a year after he was made Minister Plenipotentiary to the
Valais, hut he resigned when he heard of the murder of
the Duc d'Etighien.
hi. de Chateaubriand set out for Jerusalem in 11406,
passed through Greece, and came hack by Africa and Spain.
lie spent almost all his fortune in this journey, but the
success of the Marty s indemnified him for this sacrifice.

Being appointed in 1811 to succeed Joseph Chenier in
the Academy, instead of making an Eulogy, as usual on his,
predecessor, he spoke against him with so little decency,
that he was not permitted to recite his speech : it was. in fact
a political pleading, in which M. Chatenuhriand freely
stated his opinions concerning the trial of Louis XVI., on
which Chenicr had been one of the Judges. 11 this showed
his courage, it showed also a neglect of the rules of pro-
priety. The Emperor disapprovtd it very much, because
he did not wish to see another war of opinions on the
yet burning matter of the revolutionary eruption. On
the other side, M. de Chateaubriand persisted in not
snaking any other speech.
The Itineraire dr Paris d Jerusalem, published a short
time after, would be more entertaining, if some puerile and
often ridiculous details did not occasionally destroy the in-
terest of the work ; yet the style is sornetimel very splendid,
and there are in it many magnificent descriptions.
Tile Restoration at last gave M. Chateaubriand liberty to
profess openly his opinions. The first use he made of it
was to abuse that liberty, and he must now regret baring
published his pamphlet, De Bonaparte et dem limtrhon..,
in which the overthrown idol is so ungenerously insulted.
When Bonaparte appeared again in France, M. Chateau-
briand followed Louis XVIII. to Glicnt, was made one
of his Ministers, and came back with the title of Peer and
Minister of State; but a new pamphlet, La Monarchic
•rlon Ia Charte, caused him, in 1816, to receive his dis-
missal. Why did not .l. de Chateaubriand then appre-
ciate wisely the favour of courts, and return to literature,
which was the pleasure of his youth, and will alone secure
his immortality? Why did he venture again upon a career
for which he was not fitted, since he was obliged to connect
himself with Villele and Corbiere, men whose incapacity
the French nation must ever lament. M. Chateaniniarrl
was again appointed to the Vittiatry in Is2l, but
was almost immediately removed from his office, he-
cause he wished to act on his own principle a. No
form is observed in dismissing a Secretary of State: a
note of two lines, signed by Villele, contained the order to
him to leave the Foreign Office; and another note, not less
laconic, signed by Chateaubriand, let M. Villele knot: that
the office was at his service. M. Chateaubriand now de-
votes himself to polemics, and:the suffrages of' his country-
men revenge him for his disgrace. After his first dismis-
sion, he displayed in the Conael caterer more eloquence than
is necessary to make a splendid reputation for any one man.
We are glad to see him now the advocate of' national in-
terests and public liberty. Men endowed with an idnigina-
tion like his take their resolutions instantaneously ; they
write and speak under the inspiration of the moment ; but
they act generally with good faith, as they are only dupes to
their enthusiasm.