The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-06-19
NJ. DE LAMARTINE.

The name OF Lamartlne, patriot and philan-
thropist, poet and orator, is familiar to the
People of this country; and the noble part
he acted in the French Revolution of 1913
won him high place in its affections, which
he has never forfeited. Unfortunately, the
Revolution involved him in pecunisry embar-
easements, and these have been aggravated
since then by causes beyond his control. His
landed property lies in the wine producing
region of France, but the failure of the vine
for five successive years having deprived his
tenants of their chief support, and imposed
upon him, to a great extent, the burden of
maintaining them, he finds himself, now in
his sixty-ffth year, encountered with debt,
and driven to extraordinary exertions to save
himself from impoverishment. AS one of the
means of extricating himself, he proposes to
issue Monthly, entitled " Familiar Course
of Universal Literature" to continue two years,
and to embrace, we suppose, at once the His
tory and Philosophy of the Literature of the
Past and Present.
This affords an occasion to the People Of the
United States to show their appreciation of this
eminent man, in a way most agreeable to his
feelings, and beneficial to themselves. Mr.. j.
B. Desplace, formerly one of the editors of the
Courier de pEurope, of London, and disin-
terested friend of Lamartine, visits this country
for the purpose of bringing the subject to the
attention of our countrymeu. 1t is with him
purely a labor of love. He has already been
warmly welcomed by our leading literary men,
and is now in Washington, for the purpose, we
presume, of soliciting the kind Offices of the
many distinguished men here.
The following card from Mr.. Desplace will
more clearly explain his mission:
"Lamartine having spent his whole life in
doing good to others, and in enlightening man.
kind by his labors is now, in his old age reduced
to state bordering on poverty. Although sixty
five, he rises regularly at four in the morning,
and works to an advanced hour in the day, for
the benefit Of his creditors. The results of these
labors will be embraced in a new monthly peri
odical, which he has Just started, entitled "a
Familiar Course of Universal Literature" This
publication will extend over two years, and will
embody the thoughts and reflections of this illus
trious mantle very essence of his intellectual
life.
81 have come to the United States, to make
y american
ton on his behalf and to get for this publication
as many subscribers as possible. Ihave to add,
that as far as have had an opportunity of iude-
ing, from my brief intercourse with your coun-
trymen, there is no reason to appIehend that
the anticipations with which have undertaken
this mission will be disappointed. have every
where been received with the greatest kindness,
and the most cordial disposition has been man.
ifested to further its objects. The importance
of these TO M. de Lamartine will be most forci-
bly, explained by brief extract from his letter
| TO Mr.. Bancroft: -
| !" Il introduce to yon one of my best friends,
Mr.. j. b. Desplace, who, out of pure love for
me, goes to America exclusively for the purpose
of forwarding my interests. His success is, with
| me, matter of life or DEATH
"a committee is in course of formation to
assist in promoting the purpose of my visit
| Messrs. Bancroft, Washington Irving, w, C,
Bryant, C. King, President Of Columbia College,
Lieutenant General Scott, and Messrs. Richard
B. Kimball, and Dudley Bean, have kindly con-
scented to act on it. Messrs. Prescott, Longfel-
low, FELTON,, and other eminent gentlemen in
| New York and elsewhere, for whom have let.
tiers, or who are likely to cooperate, will be ap-
| piled to for the same object When a proper
| appeal to the American nation shall be drawn
| up by the committee, shall go to Washington
| to have it signed by such Representatives and
Senators of the different States as will favor me
with their names, so as to make of this subscrip-
| ton national instead of q local affair. There
are many friends of Lsmsrtine in the United
States, who may, perhaps, be glad to know where
l am located. To them, 1 have to state, that
for the present have taken up my headq uarters
in New York, at the New York Hotel.
begging you to accept my best thanks for
the readiness which you have shown to forward
the object of my mission, remain, sir your
| obedient servant, j.. b. DEsprAcr