The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-03 00:00:00

THE LATE GENERAL BEDEAU,

Scarcely has the grave closed over M. Billault
when another man, who, in different circumstances,
also held for some time a prominent place among
his countrymen, has quitted the scene. Gen. Bedeau
died on Friday, at Nantes, and, like his former col-
league in the Republican Assembly, of disease of the
heart. It was, however, no sudden stroke that car-
ried him off. He had long been suffering, and for
some weeks past all hope of his recovery was given
up.

Bedeau was one, and not the least, of that group
of distinguished officers who learnt the practice of
warfare in Africa. It was in those frequent encoun-
ters with the Arab tribes which so long held their
pound against the French that the military quali-
ties which characterised him were developed. Gen.
Bedeau was born at Verton, near Nantes, in 1804.
His father had served in the navy, but the son's pre.
ferences were for the land service. At the age of 13
he entered the military school of La Fihhe, where
he remained three years, and was thence transferred
to St. Cyr. After the usual course of studies he ob-
tained his commission as sub-lieutenant on the staff.
He got his captain's rank in 1830 ; in 1831 and 1832
ha served as aide-de-camp to Generals Girard and
Schramm, and was remarked at the siege of Ant-
werp. In 1836 he went to Algeria, where he re-
mained 10 years. He distinguished himself greatly
at the second siege of Constantine, and when that
place fell was appointed its Governor. He was
soon after promoted to the rank of colonel, and got
the command of the 17th Light Infantry, in which
he was succeeded by the Duke d'Aumale. His gal-
lantry and ability were equally conspicuous in the

Cherchell, Medeah, and Aliliana expeditions, in
which he was twice severely wounded. As General
of Brigade he conducted the operations on the fron-
tier of Morocco, where Abd-el-Kader had taken re-
fuge. After several combats the Arabs were driven
from all their positions, and Bedeau occupied the
province of- Tlemcen. His conduct at the battle of
Isly, under Marshal Bugeaud, procured for him the
rank of General of Division, to which was at-
tached the command in chief of the province
of Constantine. He took an active part in the
expedition against the Kabyles of Bougia in 1817,
and was soon after raised to the important post of
Governor-General of Algeria. This, however, he
held but a short time, and was superseded by the
Duke d'Anmale. At the close of 1847 he returned

to France, when the banquet agitation, which was

to end in the catastrophe of February and the
overthrow of the Orleans Government, was at its
• height. When the movement in February assumed
its most serious aspect Bedeau was intrusted by
Marshal Bugeaud, who had just been appointed to
the command of the army of Paris, with the corn-
s mand of one of the five columns destined to sup-
s press the insurrection by occupying the great tho-
roughfares of the capital. Bedeau fixed his head-
quarters in the Place de la Concorde, and it was
there that the grave incidents passed which subse-
quently gave rise to a long and angry controversy.
Bedeau was charged with want of firmness towards
the insurgents, against whom he had, so his critics
alleged, ample means at his disposal. One General,
also an African, was reported to have said, rather
unjustly, in alluding to Cavaignac, Lamoriciere,
and Bedeau, that Cavaignac moved too late, Lamo-
riciere too soon, tied Bedeau not at all. The truth
is he was aware of the uncertainty and scruples
that prevailed in the Royal Councils, and was un-
willing to assume the responsibility of commencing
hostilities against the people, and thus closing the
door against all compromise. 13e this as it may,
a great deal of precious time was lost, and the
Chamber of Deputies was invaded by a mob
almost before the eyes of the General. Marshal
Bugeaud subsequently published A letter in which
Bedeau's conduct was blamed. Unwilling to submit
to the slur thrown upon him, he called a meeting of
some of the first general officers of the army, and
gave them full explanations of his coutluct on that
occasion. These explanations were, no doubt, found
satisfactory, for the verdict in his favout was, I be-
Bedeau followed up a is step by
lieee, unanimous.
the publication of a pamphlet in defence cec his con-
duct throughout. The Provisional Govternment
named him Minister of War; but ho held a e post
a very short time and accepted the governorsh, ip of
Paris.
He was soon after appointed to the a am-
wand of the first division of the " Army of the Alp, s."
in the same year he was elected one of the repre
sentatives for the Loire Inferieure to the Constituent
and
Assembly by not less than 97,420 votes,
was
chosen one of the vice-presidents of that body.
Daring the terrible insurrection of June he was so
eeverely wounded that his life was for some time in
danger. In the Legislative Assembly which suc-
ceeded the Constituent he was again elected one of
the representatives for the department of the Seine,
and again chosen one of its vice-presidents. He had
previously refused the post of Minister of Foreign
Affairs offered him by General Cavaignac. As a
y h
member of the Assembly he invariably acted as
moderaton between the extreme revolutionary party
and the majority with whom he almost always
voted, and lie clearly foresaw, like many others,
what would come of the violence of the Mountain.
On the night of the 2d of December, 1851, Gene-
ral Bedeau was arrested at the same time as
r•
ittvaignae, Laenoriciere, Changarnier, and others of
his old comrades; was thrown into the prison of
Mazas, thence transferred to 11am, and finally ex-
pelled from France. The years of exile count for
more than double in the life of man, and Bedeau
grew prematurely old. During his long banishment
in Belgium he followed with intense interest the
events of the war in the Crimea. There is no doubt
that his heart was with his army during that terrible
struggle, and he read with a feeling it is eaey to
imagine the deeds of some of his old comrades, in
which he was not permitted to share. The amnesty
enabled him once more to revisit his country. He
fixed his residence at Nantes, where he lived in
great seclusion and in the practice of his religious
duties. The fervour of his devotional feeling gave
rise to a report a year or two ago that he was about
to enter a religious establishment with a view of
taking holy orders. This rumour he contradiptpq
it: a !t.'tter published in the papere.