The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-11-10
Corkran's Sketches OF the Member Of the
French Assembly.

A GLIMPSE OF BERAsaER.-"TheP Pre-.
sdent announced that he had received let.
ter from the citizen Beranger, which he had
no doubt would afflict them. He resigned
his seat on the ground that neither his med.
itations nor his studies had fitted him for
the part Of representative. The Assembly
refused to accept the poets resignation,
which, however, even such a mark of
esteem could not induce him to withdraw.
Some thought that the privileged old man
had been coquetting yet, to those who have
watched him, his resolution was evidently
sincere. Bersnger was not 10 his place in
such crowd; as he said himself, he was
never at home except when chatting with
few friends. There was something exceed
ingly winning in the aspect Of Beranger.-
He dresses in plain homely fashion,
His head was a fine bald one. His eyes
(and it was PITY were hidden by large
green goggles, from under which peeped
glowing, funny little nose, that well became
a smiling, gracious mouth, beaming with
kindliness and pleasant humor. Why
should mouth, overfowing with melliflu.
Gus good things, turn, after half century
of song, to political haranguing? 1t would
not do, and Beranger felt it would not do;
and he wisely took himself to his own little
snug temple, identified with fancies, and
dreams, and visitings from creatures very
shy and reserved in their favors. Yet how
the old man was sought after and listened
To, and how restlessly he would turn on his
seat, and quit it, to seek Lamennais, or
some other old friend, with whom to whis.
per in corner, until at length he slipped
away and would not return"
DE Toc0UEvILLE.-"M. de Tocqueville |
must have been very young man when be |
produced that work on Democracy in Amer
ca, which raised him at once to eminence
Is politician and philosopher. He looks
young man still; and as he sits buried in
bought, the eye Of the spectator cannot fail
o settle upon him with inquiry. A Soci.
Hist member, NJ. Matthew, raised directly
he question Of droit ar trarail; and, in
eplying to him, M. de TocqueviIle entered
It once on the question of Socialism. The
mind Of this gentleman is of an eminently
effective character. 1t repels no fact; il
passes by no circumstance as unworthy OF
There is rather the contrary
endency to admit nothing to be ephemeral,
Letting, local, or accidental. Each fact is
egarded as in itself q phenomenon; a wit.
less Of state Of things the meaning oil
which is to be sought or prophetic of some.
hing coming, for which man ought to be
prepared. NJ. dc Tocqueville's
manner at the tribune is not affected. Il is
hat Of an essayist who reads and who com.
nents, rather than that Of an orator who
aptivates, fires, moves, convinces, and sub.
ues. Yet the prestige acquired by works
o thoughtful and profound, by young
nan in an age 80 ilippaDt and changing,
ecures for M. de Tocqueville the most
arrest and sustained attention from any au-
fence, no matter how composed, which
ontains persons capable of respecting the
laims Of true philosopher"
VIcToR HUGo.--"M. Victor Hugo is a
orn actor. His writings have the ford
arnish Of an acted style. The high gifts
18th which he has been endowed by Provi.
snce have been perverted into sleight-of. /
md dealing with language. Where he 4
light have SCARED be has stopped to pick up I
u discoveries, and make the queerest con. 3
ass. His mind has become kaleido-
ops, and his tcr'gus can only uttsr pusdls I