1822.] 
mended with greater satisfaction, asit 
produced valuable sources of congra- 
tulation on the part of the opposition. 
Among the legislators, the statesmen, 
and members of that ministry, the 
speculative politician might select, as 
objects of consideration, the following : 
—M.deSerres,the versatility of whose 
talents; and extent of his, views on po- 
litical subjects,:-had been witnessed, in 
his long parliamentary»practice. © In 
the clearness and precision of logic, in 
the force. and.expression of eloquence, 
he: had, the , essentials of a, public 
speaker ;,and, with the volume of past 
experience before, his eyes, he may yet 
aspixe.to-ayhigher. celebrity than that 
from which he has:emerged. 
. In controlling his passions, M. Pas- 
quiet .bore .an -original and important 
part; in the points he wished to ascer- 
tain, he advanced, with a sort of ma- 
thematical exactness ; coolness, perse- 
| verance, and impartiality, seemed to 
have fitted him, for government. In 
subjects of enquiry and discussion, 
where sophistry was wanted to colour 
over reason, who was more accus- 
tomed, or better disposed and qualified, 
to give lessons? 
M. de Richlieu possessed an origi- 
nality of talent, such as tended to 
make him a useful member of any go- 
vernment. The pregnant sense which 
pervaded his character, had long re- 
commended him to the diplomatic 
community, and sovereigns had de- 
clared their high opinion of his merits 
and importance. 
M. le Roy’s. talents, as a financier, 
have gained him the confidence of all 
parties; his superior understanding 
and personal courage, with his known 
correctness in the management of bu- 
siness, obtained for him considerable 
celebrity, and the present ministers 
have endeavoured to retain him, but 
in vain. 
The intelligent and intrepid M. de 
Latour-Maubourg had so often signa- 
lized his skill and prowess, in arms, 
that his appearance among his col- 
leagues reflected lustre on the military 
trophies of his country. To whom, 
and to the others, may be added M. 
Simeon, distinguished by his gravity, 
inoffensive character, and simplicity of 
manners, no less than by his superior 
knowledge and capacity. 
In tracing the elements whereof the 
late ministerial cabinet party is com- 
posed, we recognize courtiers; the 
ministry, as under the ancient regimen, 
State of Parties and Opinions in France. 
195 
has been formed by the court, and not 
analogous to the management of the 
Chamber, as it ought to. be ; and, there 
is reason to think, will be. Indeed, 
Messrs. de Villele and Corbiéres, it 
will be ‘readily allowed, owe their 
promotion to their influence on the 
majority; but this cannot be affirmed of 
Messrs. de Montmorency, Bellune, 
Clermont-Tonnére, and Peyronnet; 
the court has made, them what. they 
are, and the Chamber receives them as 
untried friends. 
The Chamber of Deputies is now 
the heart and soul of the government, 
gradually increasing with an intensity 
of interest. None need be ata loss to 
conjecture that, in time, it will prove 
a tower of strength to the nation. The 
majority are on good terms with minis- 
ters, influencing and influenced by 
them. 
_ The law of the 29th of June, aug- 
menting the number of deputies, "has 
been favourable to the present minis- 
try. Country gentlemen engaged in 
agriculture, loyal, men of honour, 
devote themselves to the public with 
honourable zeal, though their presence 
must be required on their estates. 
They arrive in Paris, not to discuss 
politics ; but, after the dispatch of bu- 
siness, toretum home. They are sure 
of the minister’s good intention; the 
proposed laws are accepted. They 
hold M. de la Bourdonnage and M. de 
Vaublanc tedious, for lengthening 
discussions with their amendments. 
Ministers would find places for such 
men, were the men qualified for the 
places. As they are not eager to quit 
the villages wherein they are mayors, 
or the departments wherein they sit in 
the general council, all that can be 
done is to promise them the ribbon of 
the legion of honour, in their fifth year, 
if they attend regularly to the end of 
each session. Among these are re- 
spectable bourgeois, rich land-occu- 
piers, provincial merchants ; they fra- 
ternize with the gentlemen, but look 
singular in the saloons of the minister, 
for want of the bon ton. M. Corbiéres 
was selected out of their ranks; it is 
only the journals of his party that hold 
him up as an orator. 
This class of deputies compose the 
bulk of the ‘ Reunion Piet; though 
pliant, they would declare their inde- 
pendance abruptly, should M. Decazes 
or M. Pasquier become minister. At 
all events, they are objected to, as 
equivocal, by certain writers, and by 
some 
