The New York herald., 1879-02-05
THE NEW PREMIER OF FRANCE.

William Henry waddington who has accepted the
responsibility of organizing the first parliamentary
Cabinet under President Grevy. is assuredly Of
the most remarkable men not only OF France but OF
the world Scarcely less distinguished classical
archeologst than as statesman. and possessing =
thorough practical knowledge Of the Turkish En-
pre and other regions of the Lcvant. his accession
to the chief post Of responsibility In the French gov
crnnent is a sure omen of an enlightened and Wig
foreign policy. which will restore France to
the position she lost by the disastrous schemes Of
the imperial regime.
William Henry waddinson has the advantage Of
being almost equally An Englishman and a French
man. He was entitled to chose either nationality,
but the of events has brilliantly justified that
instinct which led him to designate himself from tho
land of his BIRTH rather than from that Of his edu
cation and ancestry. He was the son Of wealthy
English cotton spinner. and is descended from q
hotel keeper ut brighton. who aided the fight of
Charles III. to Franco. and rewarded by pension
which was paid to his descendants down to the pres
cnt century. His mother Miss Chisholm.
whose brother would have inherited the vast estate of
the Chisholm family. but for curious and intricate
train OF circumstances. Mr.. Waddington. ST.. q
first cousin of Miss Frances waddington. who
married Baron Bunsen. He established large cotton
spinning works at ST. Olner became naturaizod as
ErcucE CltlZcn anu tOok up MS Itsiucutc ~
The new Premier was born at Paris in 1926. lie re-
ceiyed his university education at Cambridge where
he was highly distinguished for his classical attain
ments and displayed n special fondness for numis-
n,atics and Grccian archaeology. Choosing at his
majority the French nationality he devoted his cis-
urs for some years to the study Of classical nscr-
tions and became active member of the Society
of Antiauarics. After of travels in England
and Germany he proceeded to the East in 1850 de-
voted himself TO the geography Of Asia Minor, and
his return published travels in Asia Minor from
Numsmatc Point OF View" us52). which were
crowned" by the Academy of Inscriptions and
Bellies Let.res Ono OF his .Numisinatic and philo-
logical Miscclanies s6l) settled important con-
troversy--thAt relating to tho date of the mar
tyrdom OF Polycarp. at Smyrna. second
Journey, in 1862. included Greece, and was cx-
tended to the almost unknown deserts Of
Northern Syria. and yielded rich result in nscrip-
tions Of tho unyartes and the Nabathcans. In 1854
NJ waddington published his magnificent work.
.rhc Edict OF Diocletian." comprchending many un-
published inscriptions which established the fact
that the Roman Empire attained its maximum power
under that Emperor. Other results OF his journey
were embodied in the Archaeological Journey in
Greece and Asia Minor Qs64-sl. which lac published
along with Philippe Lebas. In 1865 NJ waddng.on
presented himself to the electors Of tho Fourth cir
transcription of the Aisnc candidate for the Corps
Legislatif liberal PLATFORM but still moro radi-
cal candidate successful Ia 1870 he APP
pointed member of the Grand Committee of De-
Capitalization. presided by Odillon Darrot. but
before he had time to make his mark therein tho
Franco German war terminated the enterprise
Elected Deputy for the Aisne February &. 1871.
NJ waddngton first took his seat in the Right Centre.
but the rapid progress of events brought him to
the support of conservative republic and from the
close of 1s7l he quilted tho group Of tho constu-
tonal monarchists for the Left Centre where he
frank support TO the policy of President Theirs.
He served on several important committees. and was
the proposer of tho important law for the reoganza-
ton Of the Councils General august. ls1l. lie was