The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-18
FRENCH LITERATURE.
Death Busy Among the
Writers.
Observation-Disclosures
What the Partisan Publishers
Are Doing.
AMERICAN BIOGRAPHIES.
Abraham Lincoln Viewed Through
French SpectacleS.
A LIFE OF GENERAL LEE.
"PAncen Orient"--.Vitets Life Of COmte
Decentralization.
A LIFE OF GENERAL LEE.
"pAneicn 0rent"--. Vitet's Life Of COmte
Duchatel-. Fiction.
SYNONYMS "ACROSS THE CONTINENT"

PARIS March 80, 1876
Since my last letter was despatched death has
been busy among French luttratetrs. Within
few days no less than three have passed away. ali
remarkable Ia their pective lines and all in the
ulness or age. or the three the best known and
the most likely to regretted in the United States
70 Edgar Quinet, who died at Versailles on Satur-
lay last OF an attack OF apopexy. He was born at
Bourg (Ain) on the 17tn OF February, 1se3 and
had, consequently, just competed his seventy
second year. 1t is unnecessary or me to trace the
history or his long and laborious career As soon
Ls his death was announced By the cable the
dustrious compilers or obituaries, at your side,
Aad. no doubt, immediate recourse TO vapereau.
IN whose carefully complied pages all the in
;idents OF his busy and eventiul life are minutely
recorded. In NJ. Qulnet's death the French
democracy and the extreme Gauche ustain
severe loss. Though he TOOK but little
Or no part IN the debates In The National Assem-
bly, he was nevertheless or the consulting
chiefs OF the party aud 1t Is probable that to his
influence, along with that OF NJ. Gambetta, was
due the policy OF prudence and sei-restraint which
has OF late marked Its course, ana waicn has had
for its result the formal recognition OF the Repub-
lie Although at periods OF MS life he ais
tnguished himself by the violence OF his radicallsm
and his intense hatred or the priesthood he mad
frequent returns to moderation and good sense,
and in the latter portion OF his career he no
doubt repented OF much that be had said ana
written and would gladly have MADE amends for 1t
II itvere In his power. He was man ei the
strictest recttude ana incest sense OF honor. ana
therefore 1t would be Unfair TO assume mat the
occasional extravaganza OF his views was due to
any tnlng but errors OF judgment or the influence
or mis- political associations When great truth
manifested itself 10 his mind he was never de-
TERED from enumeration by fear or dspleas-
ing those win whom he acted Let me cite as
evidence or the moral courage OF the man the pie
ture drawn by him or tue death OF Louis XVI, IN
the work entitled "Revolution,n and from which
will content myself with quoting the concluding
tines which ind ready to my hand In one OF the
journals OF this morning.
81 forgive my enemies.' AL the drums OF San.
terre could not stlne these words MOI prevent
them reaching the ears or posterity. Louis XVI
alone spoke OF forgiveness from the height OF that
Ica6old 10 which others were TO bring sentiments
Or vengeance and despair. BY that fact he still
Ieems 10 reign over those who are about TO Follow
aim TO death. full OF their earthly hatreds and pas.
sions. He alone seems freed FROM them; he alone
In possession OF heaven, while the others are quar-
reiiinE with each other almost under the knife.
"rhe human conscience will always be uneasy In
she presence OF Charles l. or Louis XVI Accord
Ina to the new right of revolutions, they would be
condemned a. guilty OF Leserevolution. But they
were allowed to grow IN the sentiment or another
pubic right, under which they were lrrepressible
and infalliole. 1t was the only legality OF which
they had any consciousness. In involving them in
common culpabiity they were stricken by q law
10 which they were strangers Therefore, even
though they might have been the gulltiest OF men.
there remains an eternal dIsquietude In the soul
Diposterity, which judges last resort the legit-
lmacy OF the scanold.n
Although the style or this extract is labored and
dinncult ts purpose is clear and worthy OF all
praise. Qulnet was q much better man than his
enemies represented him to oe. Had he lived In
another country and In different times, it IL not
improbable that he would have Deen one OF the
most conservative OF men.
AMKDEE AcHARD.
Amedee Achard. whose death at the age OF
nxty-eight would seem but the exhaustion OF the
natural term allotted to n man OF studtous aud
laborious habits. died, strange as it may appear
from the effects OF the wound which be received
twenty-five years ago In his duel with Fioren tino
the celebrated critic. IL Will be remembered that
the person anties In which the latter INDUCED pro-
voked reprisas the part OF the Societe des Gems
de Lettres. which so annoyed Fiorentlno that ne
resolved 10 challenge them separately. and he
accordingly commenced In tie alphsbetlc order
by calling out Achard. The author or "Belle-
courage, accepted the challenge and the
parties fought with swords. Acnard received
thrust In the chest which nearly perforated one
OF mis- lungs, and he lay for weeks between life aud
death. Florentino ned to London and he was so
convinced OF the certainty OF his opponents death
that he began making preparations to remain In
England and actually entered into written ar
rangements with q translator and publisher TO
bring out series OF novels in English. lie ex-
pressed to me at the time the deepest regret FOR
the misfortune ofhIs opponent, OF whicn he had
been the unhappy cause, and there Is every reason
TO believe from the way In which ne spoke oil him
that mis- death would nave rendered him mlser-
aole man. Luckily Achard recovered nut the
wound left behind It delicacy OF the lungs which
three or four times subsequently, nearly proved
fatal 10 him and which finally Killed him after an
interval OF nearly quarter OF q century. The
deceased novelist was one or the most prolific
writer's oil his time and his WORKS are held In high
esteem. There can be no greater evidence oil their
popularity nan the TACT stated In one OF the Paris
journals that the number oil newspapers in
which his romances had appeared exceeded
Q thousand. N. Achard was a Protestant
and at the services over nb remains
In the Protestant church 10 the Rue dc Provence
there was an immense gathering OF people OF all
classes and persuaslons. DESTROYS to pay tribute
81 respect TO the memory oil their iavorie author.
" Acnard mad only JosS completed and puDllsned
ais new novel, "La Cape ct pEpee," when he was
Attacked oy MS last illness. shall take occasion
10 speak OF It lurtner on In this letter lie leaves
unfinished, IL IL said, couple OF romancos and
several dramatic pieces II IL 10 be hoped that MS
literary executors Win ind them sufficiently ad-
vanccd to gave them promptly to tue puohc.
AoRIcoLE PERDIGUIER.
The third writer. to whose deata have MADE
hhusIon, - "A. AgrcJle Perdiguer, VINO owed a
Bsod deal Of his reputation 20 the irequent men.
lion made " MIN Ia Eugene sues WORKS He vas