Star.
London, England, 1830-09-07 00:00:00

THE COLLEGES OP P.4m,ls.

The Colleges of Paris lave all, according to custom, pruceeded to the
distribution of prizes amongst their pupils. It is impossible for us to
give an account of each of these solemnities t we must confine ourselves
to a few words upon the distribution at the College of Henri 10. at
which the presence of the Queen, and all her young family, together
with that of Madlk. d'Orleans, gave an eclat and a pcculiar interest. It
is some days since. the Read Muter had expressed to the King his fear
that the care of public affairs would prevent the College this year from
having the honour of his presence. " You are right,' replied his Ma-
jesty, w►th his accustomed grace, " I hove no loom, as in former
years, two bouts a day to devote to my pleasures." The young Duke
of Nemours, and the Prince of 'pineal., were mixed amongst their com-
rades, soon to be called hem their nmks to receive the crowns, adjudged
by the most strict impardslity. Ohba* success during the whole year
their comrades had teen whams, and consequently were judges. "This
fortunate cooaurence prevented say stupid= of favour or flattery. It
would be superfluous to add, that the royal party were overjoyed, and
that the pupils joined, by their applause, io the triumph of the Duke of
Nemours, who bore away the first and second prizes for Latin version
and the Mathematics t and that of the Prince of Joinville, who, in an
inferior class, obtained the first prise in another branch of science. It
is thus that the Prince Royal, In the same spot, hats set the example to
his younger brothers.

M. Alfred Wailly, Professor of Rhetoric, delivered the following
address r it is, however, impossible to convey an idea, or do adequate
justice, to the young and eloquent orator, by a recital of his discourAe,
which loses in reading what it possessed, when joined to the animated
and impressive manner with which it was delivered :-
1
" OxittLeteser—This is not the time for long speeches. All
words are cold, all expression lifeless, In the presence of the living
reality which surrounds us. There are periods where the power of
facts predominate in such a manner, and proclaims so loudly, that the
orator most be silent and resign himself to mute admiration. What
a spectacle in effect bas been exhibited before our eyes. Amo narchy
eight centuries old, arms itself from head to foot, descends into the
streets, and throwing the gauntlet to the people, provokes with a de.
lighted heart, to an unequal conflict, a nation without arms, and sang-
gird with her for three days, map to man, without the fear of slipping
her foot in blood. Sixty hours were sufficient for justice to get the bet.
ter of such culpable folly.
" The people, still more admirable Eas conquerors than intrepidi as
combattanta—the people, still breathless after victory,:reste peaceably on
the field of battle, and without uttering a single cry of vengeance, rec-
kons their wounds—staunch their bleeding sides—end although pro-
ceeding to exile, exile henceforth, without hope of return, this fallen
royalty, who were moving step by step through the population as.
ambled to witness dude postage, and beholding it with mute attention.
Solemn and terrible sentence, more expressive than the *bouts of vie.
tory. Not a single outrage ofkeed to old age, whose white hair was his
only crown;—but not a single regret foe that last and seerowful pro.
cession of fleeing legitimacy. I mistake, gentleness; Mere were shed, bat
they were shed by old servants, the voice of whom bed sot been listeeed
to--mbose advice had been repelled, whose prudence Ineghed at ; above
all, that of the noble companion of the Prince, which the nation had
just taken by the hand, to lad him to the throne. Alas 1 Notwith.
standing the Royal prospect on the eve of being opened to her race, and
which was to make a mother's heart beat, her eyes were diffused with
tears, shed upon Royal misfeetunee—and when she left her country
house, to descend as a Queen into Paris, she could not wake her mind
to agree with us that there was a family too much in Prance.
" Admirable revolution ! where all is noble, all Is great. The people
who offer the Crown, and the citizen who receives it. Contract of reci-
procal good faith, cemented with the blood of the great city of Pads—
causing for eves the disappearance of that decrepid phantom of royal
legitimacy, who, to oppress the earth, called herself the daughter of
Heaven, and substituting in her place the legitimacy of nations, daughter
too long unknown of the law of human reason.
" Nevertheless, Gentlemen, let us be quick in proclaiming that es.
tastrophes, which renew the face of empires, cannot be effected without
violent concussion, and the social edifice being shaken to its very foun.
dation. To strengthen it on a large bese—..to give to its firm, lasting,
and better stability, a prudent and steady hand was wanting--able to
rebuild from the foundation, by little and little, without shaking the
whole. Thank Goa we have found the only one who could direct
that immense work, and reconstitute it to a good end. But we must
all put a band to the labour; each must place a stone, and that, too,
with order, and without striking his neighbour.

.4 In this general movement of political rebuilding, 'the University
cannot remain idle; an important tub is reserved for her; she will
knew how to fulfil it. The members of the instructive body will not
lower their honourable profession—the meet worthy of being honoured,
as proclaimed yesterday by the high intellect of that Prince, placed by
choice at our head. It is to us that belong the right of potting public
instruction in harmony with the wants of the epoch. A new cm is pre.
paring. The liberty of public instruction, which we hail with all our
wishes, will unfold amongst us a generous anulatiee, which will main.
tain us at the head of intellectual inevament, and if. as formerly, the
University is no longer the Eldest Daughter of the Kings of Renee,
will be henceforth, what is still better, the Mother and the Nurse of the
I Kings of the French.
" Young pupils, we must not confine our lessons to the science of
words. Your education must et the same time be literary and political;
we shall often speak of that Charter, which has become a truth, since
it has for guarantee the word of an honest man. We shall preach to
you the love of order and submission to the laws, without which there
is no true liberty; we shall instruct you in your rights and your duties,
for you cannot be worthy to enjoy the one, if you do not ►now bow to
subject yourself to the other; in fine, when we shall study among the
monuments of antiquity, the noble days of Greek and Roman Repub.
lies, we shall often return our regards, and with pride upon our happy
country—Upon that admirable fonts of government, marvellous pro.
duce of modern civilisation, and we must acknowledge that it is in it
that resides the best of all republics, as was said by that veteran of
liberty, the citisen of the two worlds, the good, the just, the venerable
Lafayette.

" Young pupils, these words are severe and grave, but not mote so
then circumstancea—but your ears are capable of appreciating them.
Youth is a fruit which in our days, ripens very aeon. You ars going
to receive crowns, rewards of your present suecem—pledges of your
future. Persevere in your work that you may be worthy the prospect
which is preparing fa oar fins country, for that Franca, of which eel,
the name at this moment excites the endtusium and admiration of all
foreigners. As to our Princes, we shall not recommend you to love
them ; they are amongst us : judge them. But if you have always
found in them plain and good comrades, proclaim it boldly, sod let
your accismadons be an answer to me. Gentlemen, this Medway le
sincere ; youth does not flatter. How precious must it be for their mo-
ther, who every year comes to sit amidst yours, and who, notwith-
standing her crown as a Queen, does not renounce her right of eWasst-
ship amongst you."

The distribution of the prime followed huntedbusly.
Addles of the Duke of Bailie to dut Pupils of tie Whin of Po-
ch and Versailles s

"YOU 110 Pants.—The glories* reveled= which =Out been *4.1
oemplishod, disordered for a• instant the peace of yew dad= pi ,

gives a new splendour to the festival which terminate, and crowns them ,
in that festival is found united a civic and a family rt,tit al It t, ill
form in your lives one of those epochs of which the memory camot
effaced ; it will be an imperishable date, which must eves recal to trot.
the generous efforts of your fathers aid brothers, by warning you to
maintain by your wisdom, and to honour by your virtues, that liberty
which their courage has conquered for you. The reign which Ilt:1, t ow-
menees will be the reign of the laws. By the early habit of la:Jou:, by
persevering in weltdoing, by the love of order and learning, Frepsrr
yourselves for the noble prospect of your country; show yourselve,
worthy of gathering the benefits and increasing them, in sharing the glory,
and in propagating one day its pacific influence. The able masters wb3
preside at your studies, and who direct your young minds, w ll find
henceforth In ow laws, and in the respect due to the administratin
them, a better guarantee for their services. No office can be ',rv!
honourable than theirs, none will be more honoured. There are no righ
on which an attack would be so unjustifiable. A body who only ezi,.
by science and for science; the merit of that body consists in the spirit
of the law, and ought never to invoke in vain those principles of et,
nal justice, which contribute so powerfully to illumine and cause it to
prevail in the bosom of civil society.
" Raise to its highest point scientific learning, enlarge each day the
circle with select discernment ; watch the progress of classic instruction
tender to the labouring classes, and let that name be unto you a title qr.
honour—to the youth who claim by industry and commerce, the mom.
to enlighten upon the nature of their works, upon the semis of their sue.
ass, upon the prospect of their undertaking ; in short, spread by tap...t
means, ingenious, economical—spread upon the whole face of the couu.
I try the first elements of human knowledge ; such is the duty of a jt.sa
and free government, who lays the foundation of its power and its dora.
Lion, on the enlightened conviction of its citizens. dual is the aim, and
may it be in our power to my, the success of our effort:: !
" All, in effect, pupils and masters, young men and old men, people
and government, will I hope labour henceforth in concert, and turn in
profound study those laborious conquests of science over ignorance, ins
of truth over error, which impatient seal seems to burst from all parts.
It is there that the career is immense, and that by gond right, the =hi.
tious mind knows no limits. This ardour, so noble, up to this period
so pure, may it respect itself. We have shown to the world a gran]
and a new spectacle, let us continue it. Thanes to the progress °Cavi-
l's/Sion, thanks to the influence of light, Victory has shewn herself
humane sad even generous; let order and reason complete what hut
been commenced by the consent daimon. and pursued in the bosom of
order; let Science in her turn reap what Patriotism has sown; and let
her call by her noble attractions and by her infinite promises, youth to
our schools. Our schools will then again have well deserved of France,
and of that Prince truly her son, who has at heart to consecrate to her
all the power be has received from her."
No words more worthy, more circumspect, more sincere, were ever
uttered by a Minister. It was the language of probity and of honour,
worthy to be listened to by the Professors of the University, and which
the pupils they had brought up received with enthusiasm.