New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-17
ANTOINE PIERRE BERRYER.
"REMINISCENCES OF THE GREAT FRENCH elAih''
MAN BY Lx-MINIsTER BIGELoW'

. THO Hon John BigelOw, late United states
.,'.,.. .. r,.oco read last evening, before special
meeting OF the New-York Historical society AZ 'no ~
brary ON second-ave., paper containing 0oIno N,
,scoD.oso f NJ Berger" which was listened TO WIN
pcb interest Below will DO found an accurate report
,h,s valuable discourse. especially Of those passages ~
hIob Mr. Bigelow revealed the fact, which Is nO' ~
widely known as 1t should be- that during the !'e
there was scarcely in all Europe more talthiul
the Union than NJ. Berger. ,,,orr q,
Tho death of Berger marks an epoen nv his ideas and
achievements rather to past genvT sny honorable dis
present he surrendered at ed have ed the measure
,no op5paTv ambition lie was the greatest o1 hn 1Tos
orators since rty Years the nndsputed head Of the
French bar; from his youth W o"ce He was one Of
sa im",ortols of the French Academy lie was
Sstin9aished representative OF the soeass Ss threw
~ T,otect,ng mantle OF his sympatheto gen ,b more
,nener OF tie Corps Legslaf no one spoo We was tie
nOS was 9s%Ia the last champion %
Feudaism In France outside the S's saietv ""'
was universal favOrte IN Frenen G os The most
As the life Of such man. though nug N NOT be without
thoroughly French Of naSS GS So his death
he 10 any civilized people matter OF lhanereHHce
tee VIII h Gu1 cSnntrymcn who alone among modern
nations seem duly to estimate the Yalue W 'n0
tbo famo of their Industrious dead. that
propose 10 myself the humber task OF tracing NV M
IA best worth remembering OF an mteIco0 cot long
Bcrryer neither very long nor very ntS mat SoSd he
more generally known on TINS Of the United
states during the late crisis when our need Oh G %
friends at the least IA nn ecned to deserve some
tribnte of respect from this Society. - ar, c,rnor
Nv srnualitance with him commenced IN Inc SUMMER
of fiat wear nd shortly after his election to that pou IA
which, by virtue Of his age ana ms Iaun n seat
usi ana nf the opncston The relations Of
the United States with Europe had et TINS .e
their most critical stage The then recent arrest OF
and slidei had furnished our enemies with wnat sey
chose 70 regard preteXt for an
ward the aSSq SsS and four Formidable
steamers building for tne 1T
seemed ms IN The governments OF Western EUROPE We[e
only waiting for the completion Of nesS SS nracea
extend the cause revolutionary operations hsanst so
United states from England 20 ns could could
not he hyerted appeared TO depend, under
NV the opnosop The great body Of the French people
never sympathzed with the Rebels ana w9nid never eve,
rectly co1ntenanced the spread or perpena,on VI h
The danger was at least seemed 70 pe thaI te
TeSpe %STI mischief had been accomplished Tho
opposition cOud If dsposed make those iSSaGs ~ rond
6e tempted to aid the Rebels TO take at least three very
perous responsibilities before IRA Of Af
'aS IL aiding traitors to oyerturn established
.oxepnment of which no complaint could be made ex
cent that IL was to the extension OF slavery
fird OF aiding in the overthrow OF the ohy 'n0iousn
ly Republican Government In the world. d, r,oro,
On either of these issues, Government IN France
would 70 eSSs Il important
FORE TO know early as possible now t1e how
@ Who Re Berryer preendedt have any sy m
pshcs with eoSa 1s % nation whos
fEendship 1t seemed to me to be the obvious p0hey
b"nt his course because it was known that MI Thier
had never forgiven for the somew hat imperative man
had been summoned by Gen. Jackson to pay al
Indemnity for old spohaons upon our commerce ana o.
nIty he seemed not impossible shat he might also nave
nursed grudge against US which he would be disposed
sTb Vas The situation when learned through com
mont our affairs and would pleased to have spend
day with him at his country place, AngeTYlne Ia
Rviere whittier he had already repaired Tor ms PROBES
%bs Cba,sau Of Augervc lies about forty miles south
Etempes II was prncely property and once belonged
to an old JacObte precious attribute in Borryers eye;
apd though very little money appeared TO be lad ou
upon 1t attery It had certain feudal charm which age
nath t the chateau led across and through
grassy court on on either sae 70
aud conducted through the chateau TO the rear
found the old gentleman then rs sitting WIN ai eGep
IL was the 10th Of september.with his hand inL z
PeR TsneraSe trees their owner only venerable
ming his letters the porterTes OF brilliant Movers We
en1ed One Of those Seductive pictures Of comor
and refinement which have never seen In ther perie'
finishing charm to the picture by giving it NE ne wa
dressed in ayevet single-breastsd era
thoes Ills head was covered by white felt hat with
aSsy On Cns ds ot the Be
well formed, compact but not corpuent His face Wit
by pair Of large dark eyes Which Challenged the r
sct and attention q any one upon whom they hgste,
opened my lips that the primary object OF my Journe
After partaEins Of some refreshments he led the wa
70 his study where orr conversation soon fell upon tn
spective countries went over the subject with him
briefly could developing the Issues that were acct
Se SOy Of II hs Of R
procured evidence to build war steamers in France to
conversation 1 showed him The Imperial procIams
ton Of neutrality Of Eai9n IN those hose Gays ssu
Tine and saf that f. in the face Of snch Proclamation
leave port it would be because the Emperor had deter
mined to abandon the attitude Of neutrality he aid
the Emperor aganst us-that the Judges would all benz
TO his will and then he launched out into most elo
Of the French people, condition, lsaid he. and ID
MINIMIZING to such an intelligent race They we're KEPT
he added IN the densest Ignorance Of what did not
of getting at the intentions Of their rulers OF resisting
them; the journals told in advance what thel
press was 90 Vigorously sed that what Was the table table
talk OF every other country was State secret in France
ana even the Courts OF Justice becoming the pan
agents Of the Imperial policy
deplored the Mexican expedition which, he said he
could not comprehend neither could e comprehend the
Emperors passion Tor expeditions to the ends Of the
without giving her wealth or glory. he seemed sur
prised and iBcredulOus when told him that had nfor-
nation winch led me TO believe that the Archduke Maxi
milan would accept the crown OF Mexico and asked n
his uncle OF Belgium would approve Of such arrange
inent gave my reasons for thinking that any olec-
tons King Leopold might have entertained had been
overcome lie said lie had known the Arohduke person
ally, that he was Esprit pa9ue, and doubt infu-
eneed through or the nnrmes of his character
yield TO this temptation; but" he asked with some We
hemence what the good OF all this France 2" "she
may collect the 100000 francs that owing to her c
Eens In Mexico" answered with affected gravity.
Yes said he with grim smile, 10 ill the pockets OF
oe horny and bis encourage" His expression then be-
coming serious he said that he feared this Mexican
enterprise was destined TO embro France with the Uni