The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-07-18
THE DISTRESSED LEXICOG-
RAPHER.

nau just put tne nnlsnlng stroke 10 his dlctlOn-
airy. He had arrived at the point of time SO
happy for an authorize had just corrected
the last proof sheet, and sent it TO his publish
er. Sweet was his sleep with brilliant dreams
of future fame The next day the book that
would give him name and wealth was to see
the light. He awoke to find his bed surround
ed by gensdarms.
Gentlemen, you have certainly made some
mistake l am Monsieur Boiste, grammarian
to the Emperor
The very man, answered the laconic gren-
adler. 1t is all right; here is the order for
the arrest of Boiste, grammarianr
The argument was conclusive there was
no appeal; go with them he must; and soon
the vehicle stopped before the Fort of Vim
%cenncs.
Once arrived at the prison, poor Boiste had
some hope that the obstinate silence hitherto
maintained would cease. He humbly suppl
Gated TO be told the cause of his rrest,protest-
ing his innocence and devoted allegiance.
The official, through some little feeling of re-
spect for an old man, deigned to open the or
der for arrest; and after reading it, coolly an
swered, TO secure the public safety
Poor Boiste was then sent off to 4 room, the
iron bars of its windows securing to him three
months leisure to torture his brain in the en-
dcavor to discover how he, who had spent his
whole life arranging words under their differ
ent heads, from A to Il, could have compronr
ised the public safety. He said to himself,
with all the tranquility OF an untroubled rom
science, 1T annot be for my book that | am
arrested, since it has been examined three
times over, corrected, and considerably dimin-
ished, by both the heads and the subordinates
in the Office of the imperial censorship.
Boiste did not content himself with lament
atoms, he made strong appeals by memorials
addressed to all the influential persons of his
acquaintance, always concluding with this
most logical conclusion, Il have done nothing;
but only tell me what l have done, that l may
justify myself
But unhappily not one of his letters was an
swered. AT length one appeal from the I'M
lucky prisoner fell into the hands of Fontancs,
the head of the university, who knew and es-
teemed the poor grammarian and fully per-
suadcd of the innocence of a man whose whole
life had been devoted TO his dictionary, he
fastened to mention him 10 the Emperor, who,
happening to be in a favorable mood that day,
smiled at the artless cpistle, and viewing the
matter in the same light with Fontanes, sent
for the Duke of Otranto. FoIche was as IT,
rorant as they were of the ground of arrest,
anu ndo uuiAC oul piloCN hC Hdt liOOoOiH
| signed the order without readingit it, and he in
his turn summoned the project. The project
could give no explanation, and sent for his
deputy, who, after two days of research, at last
found the fatal document. 1t was taken to the
Tuileries, and there it was found that it was
made out upon the denunciation of the censor,
who had actually charged Boiste with having
spoken of Bonaparte as a spoliator. 'How?
when ?-where?' This the denunciation
did not mention. The censor was ordered TO
make his appearance; but he was about a
hundred leagues off, on a tour of inspection,
exercising his vigilant superintendence of The
provincial press.
Let Boistc himself be examined was Ma
poleon's next order; for besides that l believe
him incapable of sch an act, It really would
not be common sense in a dictionary
The next day Boistc was once more permit
ted to see the sun, and was carried 10 the cab
met of the Duke of Otranto, where Fontanes
was already in attendance.
Sir said Fouchc, you are accused of a Ii
bel against the august prince who reigns over
this mighty empire
"a libel. /, my lord ? Surely YOU cannot
believe it? A libel comes from HbeLlus, a lit
tie book. Ask that gentleman, sir, at the head
OF our university. l know too well the mean
ing, the force of words, to-
Nevertheless added Fontanes, showing
him the information, but keeping his finger
over the signature-'read this
Boiste cast his eye rapidly along the pa
per.
'Wellr cried Fouchc, seeing the quiet coun-
tcnance unchanged.
is that all 2 said Boiste.
tAlll and is it not quite enough? Ihope,
for your sake. it is 4 mistake
Not at all it is the truth
'The truth p
'Unquestionably it was all to do honor to
our Emperor
so do honor to him.
Yes; to show that he was asgreat alinguist
as he is a hero
Come SIR said Fouchc impaticntly; it is
quite time to put an end to such foolery. This
is no testing matter
God forbid that / should make a Jest Of it;
l would not take such a liberty in your excel
lency's presence
BE good enough to give some explanation
then
Nothing more easy and taking a copy of
his dictionary, which lay on the table, he op-
ened it at the word 'spoliator,' and pointed to
two words in the following order :-'Spoliator,
Bonapdrte.' .
The two f~unctionaries Indignantly exclaimed
And what could have tempted you to such
an audacious libel?
4 was but giving his majesty the credit due
him. / put his name after the word "spo1lia-
tor" as the authority for the word he, when
General Bonaparte, having been the first to
make use of the expression in the tribune. 1t
is a coinage of his own, and not known IN the
French language till he used it!
Fouche and Fontanes turned upon each
other a bewildcred look. Boiste was set at
liberty but it cost him the expense OF the
sheets that replaced the seditious page through
the whole edition.-And Boiste thought HIM
self happy to get of so cheaply, now that he
began to perceive that his tribute to the En-
%peror's coinage was considered so equivocal a
northumberland Journal.
eYr The Boston Journal corrects an error
which has been circulated concerning the age
rNo. T,vIor He was born in the wear IL