New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-01-11
TtoW Ult UltS.UW NIVi11II
a Visit 70 Rernnccr.

From the Glasgow Cuzsn
A Visit to BeranScr.
ACCOUNT it no small hoaor 10 have enjoyed a
tete.alete OF an hours length, with The first OF
the French lyrical p7ets-- even Beranger himself,
who has been well named the Burns of France,
and of whom his country is as proud as is Scot
land of her own immortal bard The hope of see
ing this celebrated writet formed no small item IN
nv list Of anticipated pleasures on leaving home.
and amply was that hope fulflled for not only
was kindly welcomed by BcraDger, and pressed
10 repeat ny visit, but my tfansations of his songs
and poems received the poets marked approba.
zion, expressed in letter which he was so good
as to address to me on the gubject few days at
forwards. Little did l expect, as amused an
occasional idle hour in translating LIE Viol0n
priss" Lie Veux Sergent,' Les EIoiies qnI
fiient," and others of Berongcrs poems, that
should one day meet tbs good old man from
whose warm heart and clear head they had ema
mated; and little would have grudged my jour
ney, had my interview with the author Of these
pieces been Its only recompeuse.
After being eight or ten days in Paris, wsote
Il rote to Beranger, stating that had ATTEMPTED
the translation Of part of his work into English,
and would feel honored by having al interview
accorded nae when It Nigh: answer his CONVEX
ience TO grant it. The return of post brought ne
polite reply, appointing the following Monday at
ten o'clock for the meeting, and regrettlng That
he could not allow me to choose my own time,
as he was obliged very soon 10 go into the coun-
Try. When Monday came, got into On omobns
alter breakfast, and enjoyed pleasant ride 10
Passy, village on the river side, within three
four m,ies of Paris, and where Bcranger has Tor
some time resided. 1t wanted u quarter 20 ton
when / arrived, 50 had sufficient time 10 Chino
the hill on which Passy stands, and to enquire for
Rue Viueuse, No. 2l,-the residence of the poet.
A country youth showed me The house, which IS
neat little mansion of two stories, having sort
of bronze door, and the Venitian blind looking
outside window shutter every where to be met with
in France. 1t was altogether such q dwelling us
i had imagined a man OF Beranser's simple taete
likely TO inhabt, and felt degree of reverence
ss knocked at the gate. My summons was an
swered by an elderly servant maid, who, on my
desiring to see Beranger, told inc to follow her
up stairs, which did, catching glimpse, as
crossed the lobby, OF we'll arranged flower. gar
den behind the house. On reaching the top of
the uppsrmost stair, she opened door, and said
politely, En,rez, monsieur, sill vous plat" when
I at once found myself in the presence of tie
French bard. lie rose to receive me on my en-
trance with the politeness natural TO his natlun,
and at the same time with degree OF pleasant
ocularity we'll calculated 10 put stranger Ut ius
ease, and begged me to be seated on the easy
chair which he had Just left. When wished 10
take another seat, Beranger intercepted me,
placed his hands on my shoulder, and pressed
me back into his own, replying laughingly to the
acknowledgment OF the honor he had douc me
in granting me the interview" All, my dear SIR,
: don't speak of it-there's little enough honor IN
being received by poor fellow ofan old bachelor
like me--sit down then ! beg of you" This
was Of course said in French, III which language
all our conversation was conducted as he scsrce-
" understands word of English. He then drew
his scat close in front of mine, with so good
natursd look, that felt under no more cen
strnnt than i'll had known him Tor years. Should
this meet the aye of any one who has enjoyed the
privilege of intercourse with Boranger, he viii
recognize the poets unaffected kindness in this
little scene. Beranger's "studjo" presented to
the eye RS little of the pomp and circumstance"
of literature, 10 which souls of interior calibre
are apt to please themselves, as may well be
imagined. An attic room with g bow-wudow--
bed with plain blue check curtains at the oae
end OF the apartment--a small table having 4
mahogany desk on it al the others couple Of
chairs-at most half-a-dozen of volumes
"voila tout" behold ali" The first sorg-
writer Of France needed no artificial circum-
stance to give interest to his name or TO his resi-.
dence. AS nc himself says of his great emperor
an the "Souvenirs du peuple," well translated IN
Chambers JoarRa! some years ago)-
They vii toll OF all his glory around the hearth for many
Beranger is little man, should say FIVE feet
iTeinches ini hight, atoat sixty, five years OF age,
of firm make, and apparently robust and healthy,
He has all intellectual forehead, regular ana
rather handsome features, and clear black eye.
The principal expression OF his face IS, / think.
that of kindness and shrewdness and at once
se. him down as Il man of large and noble heart,
as became poet, He Wore gray dressing
gown aud a black silk cap; and the window Of
his roon was darkened little, So l suppose his
sight is no. very stropg. The picturts we have
of Ssranger are, without exception, bqd; the
only good likeness which could meet with
being little s,ucco cast, copy Of which
brought home with me, and which | saal te
happy to show to any sdmirer o. the original.
But to return 10 our interview. Beranger ex-
pressed his regret that he could not talk much
With ms about the English poets, fteM his beng
uaacquainied win tho !an2usge and so lew OF
them being translated in'o freach. He SAID /.
was remarkable that, after ms own character as
an author had been established for many years,
his count.ymsn std persisted IN considering HIM
less as a poet than q. /" chansonnier," "a writer
of songs J and that 1t was in Scotland ms clam
TO the title of poet first recognized, IN an ar
ticle in the Edinburgh Review. | tod hun thai
he was considered, by those who knew his VIII
tings in my native land, the Burns of France 10
which he replied, that prouder econium could