New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-05-01

stances were as happy as his organization in ref
erence to this profession He profted both by the
experience and the vast clientage Of his father,
and Nature endowed him most richly with all the
qualities which could secure success OF noble
form and face. and with voice pure and power.
fol as ever came from the lips Of man-with an
organization most imprisoned and yet perfectly
under his control penetrating every case to the
bottom at glance with a rare ability Of under
standing, and employing all the figures ever put
together in commercial transactions and with a
warmth and vigor in his augmentation well nigh
irresistible, how could he fail 10 triumph His
first efforts at the bar were crowned with the most
brilliant success that man could hope or ask for
and, as if perfect success could become more per
feet he rose from month to month in the estima
ton of the world and in his influence over the
Courts
Berger was married, contrary to all the notions
of France, when he was more than twenty-one
years old--but Msdemoiselle Gauther was young
and beautiful, and he loved her to distraction He
is probably not the worse man for this early mar.
rage.
Berger made his debut in the world about the
last days Of the Empire, and at that period it is
certain that he was most enthusiastic Napo-
leonist-and it could not well be otherwise when,
as he has himself said, he commenced his career
10 the midst Of the noise of arms, and he was
awakened in the world by the shouts of the glory
of the Empire At the time of the first Restora-
ton, however, he embraced the royal cause to
which he has ever since chung with the most ad-
mirable consistency.
The Hundred Days passed in confusion and blood
but though they shook the convictions and the al
legiance Of many, they left NJ. Berger as they
found him-a Royaist; but when the Government
took up its cold booded and brutal policy with
respect TO the officers who had turned TO the side
of Napoleon b erryer-who could not understand
that the business Of a King was to lift the
wounded from the field Of battle in order to carry
them to the scaffold devoted himself to the de-
fence of Ney Debee and Cambronne, and the lat
ter he had the satisfaction of saving while he won
for himself most glorious triumph.
Before the final overthrow of the Bourbons he
had occasion many times to contend with the ten
denotes of the Sovereign and the policy of the
Ministry, who often felt that the influence OF the
young advocate was more powerful than they could
wish to encounter. Ii is certainly much TO NJ
Berryers credit that he resisted with all his might
the efforts which, after the accession Of Villsle,
began to be made against the freedom Of the press
Vilele wished to attach him to his Ministry, and
offered him the post Of ProcureUr Gtneroi, but
Berger saw farther than Villele, and he refused
place which could bring him nothing but doubtful
honors dminution Of his revenues and the dan
ger Of losing every thing Still, however, he took
sufficient interest in politics to njure his fortune.
About the time Of the formation of the Polignac
ministry Berger bought the estate of Angervie.
and the purchase weighed heavily upon his purse.
At this time he had attained the requisite age for
Deputy, and Polignac pressed him with solcita
tions TO enter the Chamber 1t was struggle be-
tween interest on the hand and honor and incli
nation on the other. The latter finally prevailed.
He sacrificed his lucrative business at the Pdidts
de Justice for the uncertain reputation OF the Pdas
de Bourbon, and was elected Deputy by large
majority by the college of Prey (Hapte Loire to
replace De Labourdonnaye, who had been raised
to the peerage. His first speech in the Chamber
was made March 9, 1880 1t will be seen, there
fore that his political advent at a most event
/ full period.
! He was at once at the head of the Ministerial
party and he might have retained his position and
reached the Ministry itself had he not been too hon
est to agree with all the tyrannical views of NJ
Pognac Meantime, the Revolution OF July came
and his homes of preferment fell with the King.
/ say his hopes fell with the King. Had he,
however done as many Legtimists did-when he
saw that there was more hope for Charles IL
had he thrown himself into the support OF the new
DYNASTY as better than Republic or an anarchy
or even had he gone back to his profession
advocate at the Palais de Justice he might have
been the gamer, certainly, as respects fortune
but he chose another part less lucrative but more
I honorable because more according to his conyIc-
lions He threw himself into the position OF per
nanent opposition in the Chamber of Deputies and
the Government still know and fear the power Of
NJ. Berger
While he remained a devoted Legitimist and
sought every occasion for blow at the Dynasty Of
July. he still was too wise openly TO assail the
rights of that Dynasty He found it much more
effective to urge its duties, and by this course he
often drove the Ministry into the greatest Difficult
. ties He was Roy alist, but he always took the
! initiative in those measures which were for the
| benefit of the people. He strongly contended for
/ Jury trial in case of charges against the Press
| for the reduction of the Stamp Rights-the exten-
sion of Municipal Law-the enlargement OF the
Rights of Electors and the abolition ofthe Censor
ship of the Press. Such a course made him equally
popular with the Royalists and the Republicans
of the Opposition and he became the great leader
of all parties whose common object was to oppose
the Government of Louis Philippe
Berger was doing all that man could DO to Sc
cure third Restoration when the Duchess de Der
nv. more impatient than prudent raised the stand
ard of civil war in La Vendee. She wrote 10 the
Legtimists Of Paris to inform them of her arrival
and purposes and at the close of the letter gave
long note in figures of which she forgot to give the
key. 1t mattered little: Berger, with the IN
stinct OF decipherer, read it at once and as III
stantly he saw that the attempt was hopeless A
meeting was held, and it decided that Ber
ryer on the pretence of business at Vannes, should
undertake to reach the Princess and dissuade her
from her purposes. He reached Nantes on the @ad