The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-03-03
Lecture by Mr.. John Bigelow-Interest-
ing "Reminiscences.

Lecture by Mr. John Bigelow-Tnterest
ing "reminiscences.
Mr.. John Bigelow, the predecesso
of General Dix as American Ministe
at Paris, and before that the Ameri
can Consul General in France, deliver
ed lecture, giving his own persona
"reminiscences of the great French
barrister, NJ. Bcrryer. The lecture
room of the Historical Society, corne,
Eleventh street and Second avonue
was well filed by one of the mos
Intelligent audiences ever assembled
to listen TO tho lecture Of any literary
man, and the applause Mr. Bigelow
received must compensate him 70,
many disappoiutments and many
draw wbacks he must have experienced
in his diplomatic career,
Mr.. Hamilton Fish, as president of
the society, called the asscmbiage to
order and introduced, with fcw we'll
pnt remarks, the lecturer Of the even
lug, Mr.. Bigelow, who had been the
former secretary of the society. Ap-
plause greeted the introduction, and
his discourse. He said that Berryer
! WAS q remarkable man end probably
the most remarkable forensic orator
since Mirabeau, and, perhaps, since
Cicero. From his youth up he was
imbued with the spirit Of feudalism; :;
yet such was his character that be
could comprehend the spirit of liberty
and of republicanism. The lecturer
then referred to the contemporaries Of
Berger, the greatest Of whom was
Guzot, who for some time after 1880
was the Prime Minister of France.
Further reference was made to the
Parliamentary triumphs of Berryer in
the Chambers, from l848 to 1851,
and to the great effort the deceased
made to have the then Prince Prcsi.
dent oustcd from his oflirc. The
movement was unsuccessful, but the
talent of the leader in the movement
was acknowledged by all. Alta ortiz
cal stage of the American war-in
lS63-the lecturer, being the Ameri-
can representative at Paris, made the
personal acquaintance Of the great
French lawyer. Messrs. Mason and
Slidell had made great exertions to
obtain tho recognition of the Confede.
rate States, and there were many
high and influential people in both
lGng ond Franco to eooond their
effort. NJ. Berryer was q member of
the French Chambers in 1856, when
General jackson made his stern de-
mand on the French Government, and
an old grudge still lodged in his bo-
som. But when the speaker visited
him, on the 18th of September, 1863,
and gave him full history Of the
conspiracy of the South, Nj. Berryer
stated that the proclamation of nou-
trality by France and England was
received by the people in utter igno-
rance of the true state of affairs in
America that the Mexican expcdi-
tion would bring to France neither
wealth nor glory, and that any distur-
bance Of the friendly relations be-
tween France and the United States
should be deeply mourned and de-
pored. Mr.. Bigelow then entered
into description of the character of
the hero of his lecture how his senti-
monts we're religious and dynastic;
that he opposed the Emperor as lead
ing the people no one knows whittier;
denounced the Anglo. French alliance,
and always expressed his feelings as
in favor of the United States in their
| efforts to put down rebellion. Refer
ence was made to the legal opinion
obtained from M. Berryer in regard
10 ha h,,s1lsnn &c ate -
France for the Confederate States and
! to the sentiments Of thia eminent ad-
vocate when, in 1865, peace was again
come to America. The lecturer, after
passing high eulogium on the char
acter of tho deceased French barris-
ter, gave some anecdotes showing the
| intense adherence Of M. Berryer to
tho Bourbon family, who, although he
had defended Ney and Louis Napo.
leon before the House of Peers, still
kept up constant correspondence
with the Count de Chambord, whom
! nc always addressed as Henry w.,
King and Majesty. A very telling
story of Count Bismarck was inter-
woven, the point of which was that
Bismarck considered Berger the
greatest and Best Frenohman living.
This great Frenchman never wrote his
speeches. They came FROM his lips
as complete as if they had been studi-
cd and comparison with Demos
themes, Burke, Palmorston and Web
ster was the most happy, though the
lecturer did not forget to mention
that vi. Berryer, to the last moments
Of his life, was faithful to the Roman
Catholic Church. Dying, Mr.. Berry.
er loft no rival to take his place.
nv. Y Herald.
! The Livingston Journal says that
!, ono cause Of the scarcity Of labor in