Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-01-17
Armand Carlel.

"Armand Carrel" says M Littre, "was sub
lieutenant and journalist; in that narrow circle was
included the life OF man who, dying IN the flower OF
youth, leaves name known TO all France, and la
mented even by his political enemies. His celebrity
came not from the favor OF governments, nor from
those elevated functions which give easy Opportu
nifty of acquiring dist action, or at least, notoney-
Implicated IN the conspacles against the Restoration,
an officer In the service of the Spanish Constitution,
taken prisoner in CATALONIA and condemned TO death;
bold III the opposition before the July Revolution, slll
boder after II he always LETT 10 his own resour-
ces, never to pass for more than his intrinsic
worth no borrowed lustre was ever shed on him
he had station but that which he created for him.
self. Fortune, the inexplcable chance which dlsrl
bues cannon balls in battle, and which has SO large
dominion in public affairs, did little or nothing for
HIM; ne had no star no run OF luck; and no
one was less the product Of favorable clrcum-
stances; he sought them not and they came not
Force OF character in difficult times, admirable talents
as writer al all times nobleness of soul towards
friends and enemles these were what sustained him,
and gave him in all quarters and in all times not only
an elevated place in the esteem of men, but an ascen
dancy over them"
Ii is beginning TO be felt that journalism is
modern Europe what political oratory was TO Athens
and Rome, and that TO become what 1t ought, 1t
should be welded by the same sort of men: Carrel
seized the sceptre OF journalism, and with that as
with the truncheon OF general in Chief rallied the
scattered hosts round him, and ruled amidst innume
rabe difficulties and reverses that fierce democra-
~,
pied upon and irrtated as it has been could have rem
dered at once gentle aud formidable.
Carrel was of middle height slightly made, aid very
graceful. Like all persons of really fine faculties he
carried those faculties with him into the smallest
things; and did not disdain TO excel being qualified
TO do 30, in those things which great only little
men, Even in the details Of personal equipments his
taste was watched fer and followed by the amateurs
of such matters, He fond of all bodily exercises,
and had says M. Nisard, un peu de teus les guoits
riff, more or less Of all strong and natural nclina
tons might be expected from his large and vgor-
Gus human nature, the foundation of strength of WILL
and which, combined with intellect and with goodness
constitutes greatness. He was human being COM
pete at all points, not fraction or frustrum Of one.
1.-THE distnctlvefeatHre of his character" says NJ.
Nsard "was his anbounded generosity In whatever
we understand that word, the vagueness of
which is its beauty; whether it means the impulse Of
a man who devotes himself, or merely pecunary lib
sray the life of Carel gives occasion for applying
in all its meanings.
"All the actions of his public life are marked
with the former kind of generosity. His errors
generally acts Of generosity l-calcuated As for Pc
cuniary generosity, had il more, or a better
sort Carrel could neither refuse, give little do
not diminish the merit of his generosity, by saying
that there was in il a certain improvidence which
was but his confidence in the future He drew upon
the future to meet the demands Of his llberaty. Ex-
posed by his position TO incessant applications, he Of
ten had recourse 10 the purses of his friends re-
Ieve sufferngs, perhaps not of the most authentic
kind and ran into debt 10 give aims"
There stories told of him like those told Of Gold
smith, or any other person ofthoughtess generosity.
M. Nsard tells Of his pawning his watch to relieve
person not IN extreme necessity and OF his taking the
cloth off his horse on winter evening" 10 throw il
over poor man whom he saw in the street shiverng
with cold As often the with persons of strong
impulses, he was Of careless character when not
under excitement and his inattenton sometimes eau
sed inconvenience to himself and made him give UNI
intentional offence TO Others But on occasions which
called into action his strong will, he had the eye Of
eagle: "he seized with glance, as on field Of bat
tie, the whole terrain on which he was placed and
astenished above all by the sureness of the instinct
with which he OWNED the significance Of small things
Small things" continues NJ. Littre, care those
which the vulgar dc not perceive; but when such
things have produced serious effects pause quite dis
concerted, before the irrevocabe event which nigh,
so easily have been prevented" Carrel was never
reduced to say "wh'd have thought it," "Every
body" says M. Littre, thinks Of great ihings supe
rior minds alone take proper account Of small ones
= Westminster Reriep.