The Sun.
London, England, 1840-10-15 00:00:00

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AN ACCOUNT OF 'ME AUTHOR
OF THE MARSEILLA [SE ipoiri.

(From the Taller of Sept. 20, 1830.)
M. 11,-ntot l'lsle, author of the w)rils and truis:c
of this noble composition, was born at Lniis le S
in the department of the Jura, M...y 10, 1760. He is
now, therefore, in his seventieth year, enjoying a second
spring of hope and glory.
At the breaking out of the first. Revolution, M. de
l'lsle was an officer of Engineers. He adopted the new
opinions with fervour, and out of the heat of his pa-
triotism struck the Hymn before us, which is said to
have added many thousands to the French armies. He
was before known as a man of letters and a composer.
In 1796 he had produced an ode to Hope (Hytnne a
l'Esperance) and a small dramaic piece entitled " Ade-
laide and Monvil!e." From time to time he has sub-
sequently published other pieces, both in verse and
prose. We have seen none of them but the Mar-
seillaise Hymn. It is seldom that a writer has the good
fortune to be able to compose such fine music, and
at the same time to have wrttten words not unworthy
of it.

This great song of liberty was no sooner heard, than
it was heard everywhere. It was shouted in the
streets ; it filled the theatres ; it was struck up where-
ever freedom was to be expressed, or tyrants daunted ;
it was thundered forth by whole armies. A celebrated
living poet saw the French army, after the battle of
Hohenlinden, enter that town, singing the Marseilla,se
Hymn, in one mighty and victorious body. What.
ever it did for th.! nation, however, it did not save the
author train the injustice of the Reign of Terror, He
was thrown into prison, and only escaped with his life
in consequence of the re-action against Robespierre.
In the ensuing year (1795) he was in due favour with
the National Convention, and accompanied Taliion in
his mission to the West, in order to oppose the landing
of the emigrants. On this occasion, M. de l'lFle
fought as ardently as he had written, and received
many wounds. On his return to Paris be probably
found the Government in a state unsuitable to his
opinions, for he neither received nor asked employ-
ment ; and under Napoleon he was constantly in dis-
favour. The Bourbons, of course, took no notice of
him, except by their spies. It is delightful to see a
man of genius thus faithful to the principles which in-
spired it.
It is probable that for the last five-and-twenty years
our author lived by his writings. The second Revolu-
tion was the day of good men. One of the first things
mentioned of the new King of the French, was, that
he had given a pension to M. Rouget de !Isle, author
of the Hymn des Marseillaise. Perhaps he had as-
sisted him before ; that is to say, supposing M. de
wanted assistance, or let him know as much.

But men of his cast, however ungrudging to the beni-
ficence of those they love, are not likely to apply to
strangers and Princes.
The Marseilles Hymn is one of those genuine com-
positions, warm from the heart of a man of genius,
which are calculated to please the highest of the scien-
tific, and those who know nothing of music but by the
effect it has upon them. It. begins nobly, and conti-
nues noble throughout. Its emotions are varied ; the
variation is justly made emphatical,—pressed upon us
—because on such an occasion they would naturally be
so by a speaker; and there is deep pathos, as well as
the most exalted resolution. The rise upon the word
Patrie is a most elevating note of preparation : this no
sooner prepares us for war, than we are reminded of
the affecting necessity for it, in the threats of the tyrants,
followed by that touching passage respecting the tears
and cries of our kindred ; and then comes another ex-
alting note, the call to arms. The beating of the drum
succeeds. We fancy the hurried muster of the pa-
triots ; their arms are lifted, their swords unsheathed ;
and then comes the march, a truly grand movement,
which even on the pianoforte suggests the fulness of a
band. In the pathetic part, the E flat on the world
fits, and the whole strain on that passage, are particu-
larly affecting. The tears seem to come into the eyes
of the heroes, as no doubt they have into thousands of
them, and thousands of those that have heard the
song ; but it must be played well ; and not be judged
of by the performance of a new or a feeble hand.