Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-01-03
A FISHERMAN.

-
Chateanbriand.-'l'he name Of this veteran
defender of the Bourbons, whose opinions are re-
spected from their uniform consistency, and
whose principles are admired because of his ul,-
finching devotion to the cause he early espoused,
is once again brought before tbs public He has
published a new pamphlet in favor OF the discard.
ed Bourbons, OF rather an appeal in behalf of
the dauphin-H Henry Vas his adherents style
him. This publication is criticised in late let
ter Of 20. P. Q.'s": who in bringing it forward,
gives lively, well-written sketch of the life of
place in the history of tue literature and poll
tics of France, that the subjoined extract from
the letter referred to will be read with interest:
The witcheles of poetry and romance are ever
attractive, even when combined with erroneous
principles, and dangerous dOgmas! A man of
talent will always be listened to, though he should
initiate your modern Irving, or the uncertain ora
cles of ancient Delphos! Sincerity will always
command respect, and cOnstancy secure esteem,
even though the object of love, should be unwor-
thy! Need add, that when in one man aud one
work are combined these attractions, neither the
one nor the other can fail OF exciting sympathy,
or Of securing the most religious attention?
You will admit the justice, nay, even the force
of these observations, when you shall have read
with me for an hour the last production Of the
pen of Chateaubriand--reading as we will do,
without partiality, and speaking Of it, as we will
speak, without fear and without reserve.
Chateaubriandis no ordinary man. he is ge-
Mus, and therefore he is entitled to his vagaries
he is a poet, and therefore he has a right to his
aberratiOns he is a moralist, and therefore he
has the privilege of reasoning from abstract prin-
ciples aud abstract ideas! he is Romanist at the
veryb of his soul, and therefore we must not
be surprised at finding him the apologist of the
Jesuits and the friend of the Pope he is States
man and DpIomatist, and therefore he is not
unfrequently Machiavelian both in his thoughts
aud his writings But above all things, he is a
thorough Frenchman, and you know that means
light hearted, gay and sportIve: This IS is Cha
teaubriand! May say, without vanity. that if
you do not recognise HIN, it is not my fault; and
that if you do not find something in him to love
or admire. 1t must be your own.
But "Veritas nihil veretur nisi abscondi;' and
even Chateubrand, who possesses no ordinary por-
ton of self love, not to say vanity, will not find
himself offended il, as believe it will, his eye
should glance over the following observations
He is now sixty-two years of aye, and he has
been before the public the greater portion of his
life. His earliest years were spent in the deserts
of America, on the banks Of the Missouri, and
of the OHIO, and in the year 1892. on learning
that the French Monarchy was in danger. he re-
turned to his native country, joined the Royalist
party, received wound at the siege of Thion-
Vile, and retired to England! There he publish
ed, in 1897, an Historical, Moral, add Political
Essay on Ancient and Modern Revolutions, con-
sidered in their Report with the French Revolu-
| ton. This work attracted towards him the eyes
Of Europe, and though then only twenty sht
| years old, he was Immediately classed among the
the first public writers Of the age.
After the 18th Brumaire, Nj. de Cbateaubri-
and returned to France and devoted himself to
morals and literature, The Genius of Chris
tianity" then made Its appearance; and perhaps
no work during the last half century has met
with more succesechl and universal reception.
The Martyrs" poem in blank verse, and his
celebrated Is Journey from Paris to jerusalem ~
attracted the attention Of Napoleon, and great
number Of the articles in the Mercury. of which
he was one of the Editors from 1900 to 1907, Sc
cured to him the protection Of the Consul and the
Emperor. But Napoleon, who desired to found a
sort Of legitimate dynasty, looked to Chateaubri-
and for support. The author of The Genius
of Christianity" in his conscience, believed that
the descendants of Louis XVI. must one day or
other reascend the Throne Of France as matter
of morals, as well as of right, and that in fact re-
igion was herself engaged to secure their return !
Accordingly. after the murder of the Duke d.
Enghen. he resigned the post which he had held
Of Minister Plen'potentiary in the Valais, which,
in 1902. was constituted an independent Repub-
lie, in 1910, was annexed to France, and which,
in 1915, was restored to Switzerland, and made
an additional Canton. From the time Of bis re-
sisnation Of the post Of Ambassador, he refused
to listen to the offers Of the Emperor, and waited
for that restoration which he felt convinced must
sooner or later arrive. At lsagth came the resto.