The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-07 00:00:00

THE FRENCH ACADEMY.

The French Academy held its annual public sit-
ting on Wednesday, for the distribution of prizes to
the authors of works of distinguished merit; and
also of those founded by M. de Monthyon, for the
work most useful to morals, and for distingilished
acts of virtue by poor natives of France, Three
reports were read—one by M. Villemain, Secretary
of the Academy, giving an account of those who had
competed for prizes, the first of which, 3,000
francs, has been awarded to M. Augustin Cochin,
the author of a remarkable work on slavery, appro-
priately dedicated to the Duke de Broglie.
Portions of the speech which gained the prize
of eloquence were read, and several passages of this,
as of M. Villemain's report, were applauded. The
third report, on the recompense awarded to per-
sons who have signalized themselves by acts of
philanthropy and charity towards their fellow-
creatures, was by M. de Montalembert, whose
turn it was to preside on the occasion. The hall
oiftttinhges vira , Institute,s where the Academy holds its
s
crowded to excess, and additional
seats had every moment to be provided to ac-
commodate those who could not find room on the
benches. The proceedings commenced at 2 o'clock,
but long before that hour every place was taken, and
numbers had to remain outside. A few persons, Eng-
lish or American, but who had evidently never before
attended a sitting of the Academy, seemed puzzled
to account for the presence of soldiers among so
select and so pacific an assemblage. There were
about eight or nine mounting guard with their side
and fire arms in several parts of the hall; and cne of
the strangers I allude to asked with candid simpli-
city whether the Paris garrison for the time being
were honorary members of the Institute, or whether
the men in any way contributed to the composition
of the "Dictionary" and the extension and purifica-
tion of the language, which, as he hadbeen told,were
among the chief objects for which the Acaaemy was
founded. The person he addressed smiled, and ob-
served that though the soldiers now and then did,
to a certain extent and in a certain way, add to the
French language, yet the words thus added did not
always appear in the "Dictionary." The soldiers, he
said, were there merely as a guard of honour, but

they usaally retired from the hall when the pro-
ceedings of the day commenced.

At two o'clock precisely M. de Montalembert, as
President, accompanied by M. Villemain and AL de
Sacy, took their places. They were followed by the
other Academicians, who mustered strongly, and
the reading of the report commenced.

Of M. de Montalembert's report I have not time
or space for a summary, but it was one of the most
eloquent discourses which even he has ever deli-
vered; and of the uncontrollable and uncontrolled
bursts of applause which often interrupted him told
how completely he carried his hearers away with
him when he dwelt on the modest virtues of the
lowly and the indigent, whose poverty and suffering
were no impediment to their doing good to their fel-
low creatures. Political allusions are of course dis-
covered or imagined in every speech or writing of
M. Montalembert. In the noble essay he read on
the present occasion every such allusion, intended
or unintentional, was instantly caught up by the
auditory, and applauded not merely warmly, but
enthusiastically ; and when he alluded to the
Society of St. Vincent de Paul, repeated rounds of
applause showed how his hearers admired and sym-
pi.thised with noble sentiments, uttered in such noble
language. It was, indeed, a great oratorical
triumph. The proceedings closed at 4 o'clock, and
the sitting broke up. About 40 soldiers were drawn
out in two lines before the entrance, I suppose, to
pay the honours to the Academicians—" cedunt
arina togce!' Among the persons who seemed to
listen to the speeches with real pleasure was
General Changarnier, who was looking in excellent
health.