New-York tribune., 1868-07-31
FRANCE.

DEATH or MISREPRESENTATION BOOKSELLING
'''~ '' NAPoLEONvILLE, July IT, 1865.
There died last Saturday the dean of the French
Academy. and indeed of French authors John POns
William Vennet He was born in l777; in his boy
hood presided over a club of young reyolutonists IN
his natye town of BezieTs lieutenant of marines
under the Republic, he was taken prisoner by the
English and passed eighth months in the hulks at
Plymouth be refused TO vote for the fe-cOnsulate
and the Empire but was decorated by the hand OF
the Emperor at the battle OF LutZen, ana again
taken prisoner at that Of Leipsic; he was active
partisan Of the BOurbOns at the First Restoration,
barely escaped being sent TO cayenne,
actually signed, during the Hundred Days;
he was put OH the staff Of the Corps Royal at the
ond return of the Bourbons. He now entered on
his politcO-lterary career with the Epistes so fam
Ous iii their time In which bis natural vein OF satire
and independence Of spirit gradually turned trOm the
laudatiOn of Car Alexander, IN 1875 70 attacks on
despOtism and its jesuitica and other agents. The
Epstle TO the ChlfOnieTs on the Crimes OF the
Press IN 1877, bold and biting criticism lost him
long HE, great popularity He now entered fully
INTO political life in the ranks of the liberal OppOsl
ton sat on the Left in the last Chamber OF Deputies
uh,er Charies a. was Que OF the mLst 70 pro-
claim Louis Philippe at the Hotel dc Vile, became
hgh conservative sat on the right IN the new cham
peE, wheie III one OF his vehement attacks on the
'eroidioRdirts. he uttered the famous exclamation
Il desire quiet in the State for mine depends il,
and where the author of the epistIe to the ChOnieIs
violently opposed liberty Of the press. and demanded
the most rigorous and Illuminating execution Of the
law upon Ih6 Tribune, journal in which he had
been attacked: he was now at the acme Of his nh
popularity, and said himself that, what with his
speeches poetry and brisling hair and green frOck
coat NJ furnished the subject for 500 squibs and
eP,gams per annum; be made peer ia
io4N which only made him mark for the
hltb aimed at him by the heavy and light
armed troops of all the opposition camps
political and literary he was elected AGademcian in
ioSi ana remained. consistent an this respect, what
ne hsH been, the jealous witty energetic leader of
.h ppIaeslclss IN the great var between them and
, ieoihnentlelstsi but he an honorable combat
a, anu - even SAID 20 have secured by his casting
W. ., l' on ~ among the ImmOrtAs of the greater
sO M V,ei' MI victor Hugo. His literary productions
~ P. Po "u @ 'else are vOluminOus. but serve now for
Ino nOst Pai ohiS 70 complete Qeutiernens Libraries
nls dlhDlbon' ike that OF inost FrenennIe en of
tettSibt was lOf success on the staye hut II
seemed Othefwise To the gods Of the g,Iie,y t,d 10
men m pit and boxes With characteriti t,'aIitv
and independence. however, he kent on ., 49,, H.
tragedies, Of which he bad seen in a., a, t'i;
~ 1888 He informs the world Of the erstDs ~
this manuscript treasure 10 the preface 10 H. E ~
ctadf poem, commenced forty years before yaI,Sni
he augmented by six CantOs and pubiisb.d ,i,,
year. After ls4s Niennet dropped ont of noi,tia,I
LIE but with dimInutOn Of his literary actiyi,,'
nor Oi that native meTdnal yiyacity and Vtaitv ~
temper and intellect which he STYLES bie z IN,
eIhaUstble On iDcuJale UCre.' ia his latte,
Tune be occasionally roeted before the Academy
Rabies ~ polished verso thai SpaTkied with the old
SaIIric spirit his ODyeJsatiOn wag a. animated ~