New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-12-26

in turn was DESTROYS Of seeing him IN ono OF It's
srm-ch,ira Many Of its members went go fsr as
70 prop. Sc the waviDg Of the usual pfeninares 70
IN. u,berh;p in favor Of BersDger. The poet po.
itely declined what BIO at the same time recognized
as q great honor, and put stop to SOFT Of neg9-
tsi. that was begun in this matter. The wno'e
circuu stances Of the sllar-whi are quite 200
j,pg 10 be treated Of in this letser-are equally
crsditable to the poet and the Academicians. Sui
fee il 70 cay in ger ers that the man motive for bis
declining seat in the Academy was the same as
that which induced him to protest against the eec.
ton to the National Assembly in loio, and aiterward
TO resign bis seat in that Assembly. TWAS not mere
selfish love Of penonal independence, but scruPu-
on,lv CONSCIENTIOUS dlstrust Of his fitness for the
Mace. Among the distinguishing characteristics Of
The man, were bis careful study aud recognition OF
his own powers, and JEALOUS but digniied sefre-
sIect.
illustrations OF -
prRANGFR As A PRACTICAL PHIL OSOPHEP.
Nomsn could be more truly modest and unaffected
than he. He always put his endurance Of this
worlds trials and his calm, large views oi tnings
the account of bis bumos GOT to bis pm bsophy Dur
ipp considerable portion Of his life he enjoyed de-
gree of poverty that endured by another, might have
soured the milk Of human kindness. lie smiled at
il. or even found advantage in it. After
lr3O he WAS thrown into the midst OF the
"wealthiest society; my iDdigebce did not EN-
"barrass me, for it gave me NO pain to say, L Sm
DOOR This phrase, which too many persons are
afraid to utter almost takes the place OF fortune,
for it permits you to be economical in all ways"
Berspper eeono mztd on himself his Eberalltes TO
Others were large in themselves and, cons ierlDg his
MEANS princely Speaking Of his imprisonment:
have said before, the life Of pflsoo, IN quiet
corner this clustered regular life with its long
evenings, is not without its charms for me- IL Is
not at all suited to youth, but was over forty when
" i tried It. At that age, was sometimes tanP1ed
I" tie ask myself if was not horn Tor convent, bu!
emo: moral freedom is wanting there. and that
4" could not do without"
Just before OF Of the trials came on for volume
of sopgs published in the reign Of Charles ", which
he kDew must result in condemnation 10 prlsoD Nc
say. be went down to the sea-cnast to lay asupPy
of free air." HIS great friends, LATTE among theln
urged him to avoid this condemnation, which ne
might have DONE had not his high sense OF duty as
bearer Of testimony" against the political evils OF
that day been as delicate as 1t was imperative
Latte reminded him that with bis feeble health he
might die in prison, and that his tomb, instead OF
beng grand affair Like thatO General FOy, might
uot be equal even TO that Of his friend Manuel -
"sti.l ore modest one, he replied, "would suit me
"s,il better; never AIRED about being we'll lodged.
What he says Of his religious belief Is remarkable.
His faith ia one God is perfect; minor dogmas no
Was una Die 10 accept. ~ Uccu hlioiVi suho
"Nr it is misfortune not 10 be able completely to
"bow NY head under any yoke. -. endeavored to
turn TO Catht cism, cOnsecrated to 1t my poeac
"essays freQueuted the churches at the hours of
".oltude, and gave NY self to the reading of aretic
"beoks ether than the Gospel which, despite my
"settlt belief has Away been philosophical work.
"spd the INC # consOlDg of all. Alas these endeav.
"ors we've vain have often said that reason was
"oDly fit 10 drown US v hen we fell into the water
g. The f 0Gsh creature she refused 10 let
"me believe in what received the belief OF Turenne
"CcIneille, Bossuet."
Beranger has kept me so long that can only
recommend by title another biographical work OF
ain ost equal interest 1t is little volume by Ma
dame &c Suryle, made up in large part OF letters
written to her by her brother HOnore Balzac. 1t
lie not biography Of the great novelist, the Fleldiog
aid Thackeray Of French society, but quite the
NEST valuable contribution toward ole that mas yet
besn published. 1t shows Balzac to US as strong in
kindly affection as what We already knew of him
thCwet HIM TO be in " and intelligence. Madame
de Survile says: Il can only pubnsb such parts of
"his vOluminOus correspondence refer to himself
cor 10 bis ", ks and lhOw hin 10 the character of
",on or of brother" Quite apart from the partial
qualification Of our curiosity as to the sentiments
anc habits OF the man Balzac, those pages Of the
beck written by MadaH."de Survile herself have a
ady ike, sise y air abou. them, as charming as it is
rare in literature.
Charles Blanc's critical survey of the Art Treas
ures Of Manchester, and Maxine du Camps book
on the saon Of 1851 of interest to lovers of art
Sourtnirs dun Musician by the late AdOlph Adam,
preceded by by photographed notes. the public and
private life of Royer COiard Jean CalaS ct sa FamiQe
an historical essay supported by numerous dOcu-
menis, by the Rev. Athanase COquerel Historic des
Revolutions dhaiie, on Gmlfs ct GhiJelias, by j.
FeTraIi, are among the mertOriOus works of recent
date. The following title is probably the only read.
able portion Of an evo. of 726 pages, lately pub
lisbed; give the sub. title in translation. Uni
"tfide, on la Femme Messie A universal poem in
twelve cantos and sixty acts, with choruses (each
"caie, II an of letters, etc. Preceded by prologue
"ard followed by sD epiogue, by Madame Gasne
"(EIse Moreau de Rus), woman Of letters etc.
"(To all the people of the WORLDLY ls5GleJ7l85S."
Doubtless one Of those poems 80 be read when
Homer 10 forgotten"