The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-31 00:00:00

GENERAL CAVAIGNAC.

The sudden death of General Cavaignac has re-
moved from the scene one of the most conspicuous
asters in the great revolution of 1848. Eugene
Cavaignac was born in Paris the 15th December,
1802, and was consequently in his 55th year at the
time of his decease. His father was an old member
of the National convention, and the future Dic-
tator of 1848 was reared in the uncompromising
republicanism of 1792. The young Cavaignac
adopted the military career, and early evinced the
influence of those principles to which through his
whole life he adhere I with Spartan tenacity. His
openly avowed republicanism led to his employ-
ment with (ther hot and ardent spirits, in the wars
of Africa in the early days of Louis Phillippe. His
military career in Algiers was one of high distinc-
tion. Indomitable energy, complete self-mastery
a calculating head, and a stoical integrity of cha-
racter, sidgled him out as a man eminently fitted for
high comman3. In 1847 he succeeded Lainoriciere
in the command of the Province of Oran, and in
February, 1848, by one of the first acts of the Pro-
visional Government, he was raisedto the Governor
Generalship of Algeira. He remained in com-
mand of the province, until, having been elected in
his absence a delegate to the .Naeional Assembly,
he returned to Paris about the middle of May.
Shirtly after his arrival he was nominated
Minister of War. The times required the iron
baud of a Cetenuined soldier, and the party of the
Moderate Republicans believed they had found in
Cavaignac the sole shield of France against the
horrors of anarchy. Ttto terrible insurrection of
June burst forth. On the second day of that tre-
mendous struggle, the Provisional Government re-
signed, and Cavaignac was named Dictator. On
the evening of the fourth clay's fighting, after a
frightful carnage, Cavaignac remained master of the
city—and of France. At that moment the succe.se-
fill soldier who had rescued society from anarchy
might, sword in hand, have converted a temporary
dictatorship into a permanent rule. But Cavaignac
had no sinister aims. He had saved his country,
and he required no more. Then came the election
for the President, and the return of Louis Napoleon
by a vast majority. Cavaignac played his part with
the dignity of true greatness ; holding aloof from all
that scene of facti. us littleness which wearied out
the patience of France ; serving his country as he
could ; holding fast by his principles without corn-
ptomise and without compliance. When Bonaparte
' struck the decisive blow in December, 1851, Ca-
vaignac was seized and imprisoned with the rest of
the known oppeneuts of ahe usurpation. He was,
however, soon released, and has since continued t
reside principally in Fiance. The elections of lesr,
summer, in which he was twice returned by a deci-
sive majority as a member of the Corps Legislatif
for the third circumscription of Paris, threatened
again to force from his dignified retirement
into the arena of public life. It was generally un-;
derstood that Cavaignaiktad determined not to take
the oath to the new dynasty necessary to enable him
to act in his legislative capacity ; still the arrival of
the period at which his resolve must have been
finally made known, was looked for by the whole
Republican party in France with no little anxiety.
Death has released him from the necessity of making
this election, and the Emperor from the embarrass-
ment which would have been created by either his
consent or his refusal to serve. The esteem of men
of all parties will follow this brave rind sincere sol-
dier to his tomb. France has not produced a cha-
racter of more massive heroism, of so stern a self-
denial, of so elevated a sense of duty.—Daily Net vs.

~_~

, APPOINTMENTS,
Legal
VACANCIES
De AND PROMOTIONS IN
sChIiVpI Lo
of
DoncasterSEßVlCE.—Legal ilc E .--
has became.
Hon. Edmund partment.--The Recorder-
appointed deputy recorder of Phipps ;
Liverpool,MvjacaKnt.bAy the death of the
BPviincealAlihrasßlair'
been
appointed judge of the County Court. The Dockyards.
Vlr. . Joseph Beer, third class clerk, Davenport Dock-
yard, has been appointed acting seelnd oiass clerk
during
the at,:lence of Mr. Wm. Morrison Pilchards, on
service in the Storekeeper-General's D?partment at
:long Kong. Coastguard.—Lieut. G. Durbin, R.N.,
Folkestone station, has been promoted to be a comman-
der. Customs.—Mr. James lkionsoll has been appointed
a clerk in the East and West India Docks, London ;
Mr. 1.-L Loveless has been appointed an extra clerk in
London ; Mr. A. Gariiuer has been appointed a searcher
at Greenock ; Mr. M. D. CrOsbie has been promoted
from principal clerk and assistant-controller of accounts,
St. Katharinot; Dockci, to be assistant-controller of ac-
counts in the London Docks ; Mr. R. Gowlland has
been promoted from clerk, first class, in the Legal Quays
to be principal clerk and a•sistant-controller of accounts
in the London Ducks ; Mr. 0. G. Lowe has been pro-
moted from third to second class clerk in the London 1
Docks.—Civil ,Service Gazette.