The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-12-23

) applicable 10 no political organization in
France, or even in England. How slow is
progress towards that state, now so generally
deemed the end Of all political association, -
the application of the opinions, the senti-
ments, the feelings, the demands Of the gene
raj people.
i was first in this chamber on the 18th Of
last January. The subject before the assem-
bly, was the address to the king 10 reply to his
opening speech The debates upon il con-
tinued nine days. They engaged the first
men of the chamber, among whom as orators
stood foremost Odllon Barrot, Guizot, Passy,
i Theirs, Duvergier dc Hauranne, and Berger.
The chief article in the address related to in
tervention in Spain. The question, you are
sent Cabinet,--the Cabinet Of the 9th Sep
TENDER. Its agitation in the Chamber was
tremendous indeed heard speak upon il
Pierre Antoine Berger.
The Chamber, as you know, is in form a
hemisphere The seats rise gradually, each
behind the other, as they radiate out from the
centre. At that centre, in somewhat elevat-
ed chair, sits President Dupin. Before him
is the tribune or pulpit, up to which each
member ascends, who would speak out or
read forth his speech like this idea Of the
tribune. 1t isolates the orator. 1t brings him
more conspicuously before the eyes Of the
House. 1t gives more parliamentary form
to his delivery. | object TO it, however, as
not isolating the orator enough. 1t still con-
ceals just half his form 1t gives him where
withal to lean his gaucherie and awkwardness
upon. Favorable this doubtless is, to the
careless and the unstudied. BY one who
knows that eloquence is greatly an art, among
whose elements are figure and position, as
well as face-expression and gesture, such pull
pit-screen cannot be desired. Nay, by such
it will be desired away II helps to destroy
the dramatic part Of his situation. Noportion
of the delivery Of Marc Antony's speech over
the body Of Caesar, was ever to me so unim-
pressive as that which precedes his descent
from the Roman pulpit. thought Mr.. Ber-
ryer, as he mounted into the tribune, wished
its elevated front away, that his compact and
muscular frame might stand full forth in the
open presence of the whole assembly.
Ere he commenced, Mr.. Berger looked
around him for moment amidst profoundest
silence. AT his left hand was the extreme
| gauche, on one Of whose front seats sat Odl-
lon Barrot, in folded arms, with LATTE and
Arago That portion of the Chamber repre-
scented the radicalism and the republicanism
of France. Between ITS opinions and has
doctrines rolled oceans broad and for ever un-
passable. AT its side was the party called
the centre ,gauche. Here was seated the brisk
and specialized statesman, Theirs. Around
that leader were beating fifty hearts, not one
of whose throbs were in political sympathy
with those Of the man at the tribune. Right
l. LII a. lor,
the two hundred and forty-two sustainers of
the present ministry, the redoubtable doctrl-
naires. On the three front seats were ranged,
with their portfolios before them, every mem
Der of the Cabinet Mr.. Guizot was Minister
of Public Instruction. Count Mole, Minister
Of Foreign Affairs, was there. Peril was
Minister of Public Justice. Duchatel had
the portfolio of the Finances. Gasparin was
Minister of the Interior, Martin of Commerce.
Bernard and Rosamel were there-the one
Minister of War and the other of the Marine.
Between this centre body and Mr.. Berger
were a very few sentiments in common.
Next to the centre, and, as it were, interdove-
tailed with it, sat the centre droit With the
opinions in those seats Berger was far from
being at war; They were ultra doctrinaires,
and they embraced, though with no cordial
hand, the opinions, the feelings, the hopes
and the fears Of the party on their left, the
extreme droit, the sombre and sullen party of
the Legitimatists, the few fond rememberers
of the dynasty of Charles x. Among them
sat Lamartine, and from their ranks had just
walked forth the orator. Their opinions he
was now about to develope. Around the
Chamber, in the galleries, in the royal and
| diplomatic boxes, were ambassadors, princes,
and Observation-Disclosures and many titled
danes, among whom was chiefly conspicuous,
the Princess Lieven, and elegant ladies, not
merely from all parts Of Europe, but Of the
world. They had here assembled only TO hear
the eloquence Of yonder man in the tribune.
Their eyes rested on a body of middling sta
ture, thoughly built, just forty-seven years of
age thirteen days before, and buttoncd tightly
| up to the chin in blue frock-coat. His face
was of determined sand massive make, sur
mounted by forehead, calm and rather ex-
pansive. That face and forehead were, two
hours hence, TO be charged with blood, and
flaming like firebrands. Mr.. Berger was
lawyer. He, moreover, conferred around him
the love and the hopes of the old Royalist
party. To him that party ever looked for
mouth defence and vindication. He had al
ways been the defender Of the La France and
the Quotidienne, so often in the last six years,
dragged into the culprits box at the Cour
d'Assizes He had written much in a sort
of laundering style; his voice had sounded
like thunder many time from the spot where
on he now stood and in this Chamber he was
representing the department Of Haute- Loire;
a department which, on that educational map
picturing the comparative intelligence eff va
rious sections of France, by various colors,
from the very dark to, the very bright, looks
black as Erebus.