although during this interval he is said to have produced some of his best songs. Embittered by disappointment, and almost hope. less of success, he resolved to collect all the poems he had written, sad send them to Lucien Bonaparte, the brother of the First Consal, who was known to be a liberal patron of literature. "In 103," says he," without resources, tired of fallacious hopes, versig without aim and without encouragement, I conceived the ades-and how many similar ideas have remained without results! I conceived the idea of enclosing all my crude poems to M. Lanen Bonaparte, already celebrated for his great oratorical talents, and for his love of literature and the arts. My letter accompanying them was worthy of a young ultra-republican brain. How well I remember it! It bore impress of pride wounded by the necessity of having recourse to a protector. Poor, unknown, so often disprinted, I could scarcely count upon the success of a step which one seconded." Nor was he, on this occasion, doomed to further appointment. The Prince, favourably impressed towards the yeng poet, not only by the specimens he had forwarded of his talents, but by the manly tone of the letter by which they were companied, relieved him almost immediately from his suspense. He answered his application in the kindest and most encouraging

; and, having sent for him to his house, advised him as to his future course, and promised to afford him more substantial stance. Before he had an opportunity of carrying out his benelent intentions, the Prince became himself an exile. On his arrival at Rome, however, he transmitted to Béranger an order to eive and apply the salary coming to him as member of the Instatate. It was not until thirty years afterwards that the poet as enabled to acknowledge to the world his obligations to his benefar, by publicly inscribing to him any of his works. The aid thas afforded him was most seasonable, and helped to verify in his case the proverb, that money makes money." He was now able to find employment for his pen. For two years, 1805-6, he assisted in editing Landon's "Annals of the Musee Royale;" and in 1809 he managed to obtain the post of copying-clerk in the office of the Secretary of the University, with a salary of 1200 francs.

He

ow in comparatively independent circumstances. His genius had, moreover, begun to attract notice in high places. Napole's laughter on reading, for the first time, Béranger's "Roi Fretot a good-humoured satire on his own pretensions), is said to have been exuberant, and there was undoubted fame for the poet in that hearty cachinnation; for who would not laugh with an Emperor In 1813 Béranger was elected a member of the Society of the Caveau, then the resort of the most distinguished literary men of the time; and encouraged by the cordial reception his songs met with from its frequenters, he resolved to devote himself edusively to that class of composition: and towards the latter part of the year 1815, when the first collective edition of his songs made its appearance, he had begun to be widely known to the French public. "Le Requête des Chiens de Qualité," and "Le

Censeur," were by this time on the lips of all Paris. The lastnamed song had well-nigh brought him into trouble; but Bonaparte had made his escape from Elba, and, among other changes, our poet was actually offered a post in the bureau of the Imperial Censeur. The absurdity was too transparent. The proposal was received by Béranger and his jovial friends of the Caveau with shouts of laughter, and he continued to retain his humble clerkship in the office of the Secretary of the University. His second series of songs, published in 1821, cost him his place (no great loss), and three months' imprisonment in the St. Pélagie. His third series (1828) subjected him to nine months' imprisonment in La Force, and a fine of 10,000 francs; for the feeble puppets of the Government of the Drapeau Blanc hated to be told the truth as bitterly as Napoleon himself. The fine was, however, soon paid by the poet's admirers, and the prison in which he was confined became the rendezvous of the most distinguished men of the time. From behind his prison-bars Béranger kept up so deadly a fire upon the Government, that he contributed more effectually to destroy it than all the hard blows of the heroes of the "Three Days." After having assisted so importantly in winning the battle, however, he refused pertinaciously his share of the spoil. His friends, who were now occupying the high places, would have loaded him with titles and honours, but he declined all payment for his services; and to avoid being mixed up with the ever-variable politics of the capital, he retired first to Passy, next to Fontainebleau, and finally to Tours, where he completed what he calls his "Mémoires chantantes," by the publication of his fourth collection of songs. In this retirement his chief amusements were the cultivation of dahlias and playing at bowls. After several changes of residence the poet returned to Passy, which he did not quit until summoned by the Revolution of 1848 to Paris. Elected to the Assemblée Constituante, he took his seat at once, in order to mark his sense of the honour which had been conferred upon him; but he could not be persuaded to continue his attendance at its sittings. "Why should I sing there?" he said; "there is more talk than enough already." He pleaded age, and the claims of the Muse, as his grounds of exemption. In France he is the "poet of all circles and the idol of his own." He now resides altogether in Paris, enjoying a ripe old age, free from the cares of politics and the vexations of party strife; a true poet, and, like many true poets, a keen satirist But his weapon of offence has seldom "carried a heart-stain away on its blade;" and it may with justice be averred, that no literary man of our time, or of any country, has ever been so universally beloved "Some of my songs" (he remarks, in the preface to the last pub lished series), "poor things! have been treated as impious by MM. the Attorneys-general, Solicitors-general, and their deputies-very religious functionaries in court. I can only say here, what has been said elsewhere a hundred times, that when, as in these days, Reli gion is made a political tool, she is in danger of losing her sacred character. The most tolerant become intolerant of her; believers

who believe anything but what she teaches, will sometimes attack ber, by way of reprisal, in her very sanctuary. And I who, having been one of these believers, have never gone thus far, have but laughed at her strange Catholic livery. Is this impiety? Many of my songs are but the inspirations of my secret feelings, or the taprices of a vagabond humour. These are my favourite children, and that is all the good I have to say of them to the public." ¡Beranger has been compared, not inaptly, to our own Burns. The sings of both are the histories of their hearts. Some have likened Béranger to Moore; but, if less polished, he is far more vigorous and smeere. In some points their characters, and those of their 1 respective writings, are the antipodes of each other. There is a heartiness alike in the satire and praise of the French poet that does not exist in the writings of his contemporary. Moore's lyrics captivate the fancy, but those of Béranger lay firm hold upon the beart Béranger is said to have been engaged for several years past on a "Dictionnaire Historique;" where, under the name of each ptical or literary notability, young or old, he intends to class his I souvenirs, and such judgment as he has formed or borrowed from

petent authority. "Who knows (says he) that it may not be through this work of my old age that my name may survive me? It would be amusing if posterity should say, 'The judicious, the grave Beranger! And why not?" A superb edition of his works, beautifully illustrated, was published in two volumes, 8vo. Paris, 1847.

BERGHAUS, HENRY, a distinguished German Geographer, born at Cleves in 1797. He served as a volunteer in the French army during the campaign of 1815, and at the end of the war obtained an office of topographical engineer at Berlin, and was engaged in the trigonometrical survey of the kingdom. In 1824 he received the appointment of Professor of Applied Mathematics at the School of Civil Engineering at Berlin, which he has since held Berghaus is the author of many valuable maps and geographical publications.

BERIOT, CHARLES-AUGUSTE DE, an eminent Violinist, was born at Louvain, in Belgium, in 1802, where he studied music until 1921, when he went to Paris, in order to enjoy the instruction of Viotti, Baillot, and other celebrated masters. He soon ventured to present himself before the public as a candidate for their favour, making his first appearance before a Parisian audience at the same time with Paginini. He met with considerable success, and on his return to his native country the King of the Netherlands bestowed on him a pension of 2000 francs, of which he was deprived after the Revolution of 1830. In March, 1836, he was married to the celebrated Madame Malibran, who died suddenly in September following at Manchester, England, whither she had repaired to attend a musical festival. In his subsequent tour through Germany, he was received in all the capitals with the most unqualified applause; and in 1842 he succeeded Baillot at the Con

servatoire of Paris. As a composer, Beriot does not rank very high.

BERLIOZ, HECTOR, Musical Composer, was born in 1803, at La Côte St. André, in France. He commenced the study of medicine at the desire of his father, but he had been seized with a passion for music, and abandoned his studies at the end of a year. Being discarded by his father, he was obliged to obtain a livelihood by singing in the chorus at the Théâtre de Nouveautés; and in the meantime he pursued his musical studies under Reicha and Lesueur at the Conservatoire. In 1830 he made a journey to Italy, where he spent two years. After his return to Paris he devoted much of his time to composition, and has produced many symphonies and operas, about the merits of which there has been much difference of opinion. Some have thought them extravagant and incoherent medleys, while Listz was of opinion that they possessed high merit, and Paginini testified his sense of the composer's genius by presenting him with an order on his banker for 20,000 francs; and it is now generally allowed, that in some branches of his art, espe cially in the production of grand orchestral combinations and effects, he has no superior among living musicians. Berlioz is engaged during the present season (1855) as one of the conductors of the New Philharmonic Society's Concerts.

BERRYER, M., a French Legitimist, Politician, and Advocate, began his career at the bar, where he achieved the most signal success. He has ever been a distinguished member of the Legitimist party. At the Restoration he exerted himself most energetically to moderate the rule of the Bourbons, and was one of the defenders of Marshal Ney. Neither the Monarchy of July nor the Republic saw the least wavering in his opinions. He is one of the councillors and agents of the Comte de Chambord, the Legitimist pretender to the throne of France. In February, 1855, he was elected a member of the French Academy. The speech which on this occasion he delivered, according to the custom of Academicians at their reception, contained some allusions to the degradation of the Lower Empire, and was on that account ob noxious to the Government of Napoleon III., which ordered its suppression. In less than twenty-four hours, however, the interdict was removed. Berryer prayed the secretary of the Emperor to use his influence, and obtain that he might be excused from presenting himself at the Tuileries, according to custom, pleading his political position. The request was granted by the Emperor with equal ease and dignity.

BIARD, FRANCOIS-AUGUSTE, a popular and prolific French genre Painter, was born at Lyons, June 27, 1800, and studied in the Academy of Fine Arts of his native place. He then visited Spain, Greece, Syria, and Egypt; taking a great number of sketches, which he completed after his return, and which rapidly found their

way into public collections and private residences. He obtained great reputation in the exhibition of paintings at Paris, in 1833, by his picture of the Arabian overtaken by the Simoom in the Desert," Amaquificent and truly poetical conception. This was soon folred by the "Odalisque of Smyrna." Biard was more successful, however, in the delineation of comic and burlesque groupings; which, with a singular power of observation, he always caught frota life, preserving all their character. Pictures of this descripnon son made him the favourite of the laughter-loving Parisians. Among these pieces are, "The Sequel of a Masquerade;" "A Skirmish of Masquers with the Police;" "The Family Concert," a fine satire upon wonderful children and family geniuses. The element of contrast, which Biard has so fully at his command in his comic scenes, is the great characteristic of his genius. His power, however, extends to the delineation of the ghastly and horrible; instance

Slave-Market on the Gold Coast of Africa." Having roamed through the tropical regions, he was also impelled to visit Greenland and Spitzbergen. This journey he made in 1839, accompanied by his wife; and in six months he collected an incredible treasure of sketches and studies of nature in these regions. His most celebrated picture of this period is the "Combat with Polar Bears." In his historical pieces Biard has been less successful, his ruling inclination leading him constantly to the grotesque.

BILLAULT, M., Minister of the Interior in the Government of Napeleon III. (appointed 23d of June, 1854). This gentleman, formerly an Advocate at Nantes, entered the French Chamber under the Monarchy of July, and at first followed M. Thiers; afterwards, sided by M. Dufaure, he undertook a progressive opposition, which led him to be regarded at the palace as a person who must be donchated in some way. The means chosen consisted of an offer of the law business of the Duke d'Aumale, the most wealthy prince of the family. This connexion was accepted, to the great scandal of the political friends of the hon. member. He then consulted, pleaded, and pursued pleasure (freely enough, it was said), but none the less kept up a rash and severe warfare against the system under which Guizot and his master fell. He aspired to a place in the Government when the Revolution of February 1848 occurred, then unhesitatingly rallied to the new Government, declaring from the first days of March that "in his opinion we must definitively endow our country with a democratic government, at once strong and tranquil; and to this all his efforts would tend." He was at one time a champion of Socialism; but when Los-Napoleon seized the dictatorship of France, M. Billault became his President of the Corps Législatif, enjoying a large salary and a handsome hôtel as his reward. The celebrated "Timon" (M. de Cormenin) has thus passed judgment on M. Billault:Billault is the most remarkable of all the incipient orators, and if he was more precise in his addresses he would be, as another Phocion, the axe to the speeches of M. Guizot, the second De

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