198 
other French names as the most emi- 
nent and important, and, what is most 
curious, the matter which he delivers 
may be considered as of more weight 
than eloquence itself; it is authority. 
General Sebastiani was one of the 
conquering heroes of Bonaparte, aud 
would have succeeded the new Alex- 
ander, would the destinies have allow- 
ed him a successor. In General Foy’s 
manner we remark a similar tendency 
to excite pleasing and elevated senti- 
ments. In the scale of argumentative 
excellence, who. has a. more undoubted 
claim to. publicity than M. de Girar- 
din? InM. Manuel, M.de Chauvelin, 
M. Bignon, we mect with characteris- 
tic\traits of those qualities, that cou- 
rage and those abilities, the possession 
of which cannot be dispensed with by 
such as are engaged in senatorial in- 
vestigations. 
In these, M. Benjamin Constant 
bears a most distinguished share; it 
may be asserted with truth, that both 
in his discourses and writings, it has 
been the noble employment of his un- 
derstanding to instruct France in con- 
stitutional principles. 
M. le Count de Thiard is now as 
strenuous a defender of liberty, when 
in danger, as he was formerly of royal- 
ty. ‘The discourse wherein be retract- 
ed the principles on which he had 
emigrated, has produced useful sug- 
gestions on the minds of many, and it 
certainly deserves a grateful respect. 
As a financier, which is one of the 
first, most important, most essential 
employments in political life, who has 
been more distinguished than M. La- 
fitte? In perilous times, men of all 
parties have had recourse to him; 
princes, governments, have deposited 
their treasures with him, and he never 
abused the confidence of the vanquish- 
ed, never crouched to the lofty lan- 
guage of the victors. Beside him sit 
four chiefs of the Perier family, one of 
the most ancient and considerable 
among the French commercial houses. 
Few men were found to defend li- 
berty, such as it was, in an abridged 
state, against Bonaparte and imperial 
despotism : if such there were, they are 
now on the benches of opposition, 
For defending the liberty of the press 
in the Tribune, Benjamin Constant 
was exiled; Camille Jordan voted 
against the consulship for life ; others 
might be mentioned, for different times 
and situations; but a concentrated 
view might be taken by asserting, in 
State of Parties and Opinions in France. 
[Oct. I, 
general, that the opponents of tyran~- 
ny, either in or out.of the Chamber, 
some few excepted, are now in the 
minority. M. Tronchon should not 
be omitted, as one of plain, good sense, 
but deserving notice even ina circle 
abounding with original characters. 
In justice to the Chamber of Peers, 
it may be necessary to say, that though 
its imperfections are obvious enough, 
it contains some excellent and useful 
characters. The Prince de Talley- 
rand, M. Decazes, the Duc de Brog- 
lie, the Duc de Choiseul, the Duc de 
la Rochefoucault, and other opposition 
peers, might be selected, so well 
known and eminent as to be of great 
public interest. 
Something has been: mentioned om 
the subject of the court, which, under 
theancient regimen, perfectly exhaust- 
ed every event of the times and history; 
it exists, but exhibits a general result 
very different as to personal and poli- 
tical interests. The majority of the 
peers are courtiers, and the Great 
Colleges have introduced courtiers, 
M. de Rochemore, &c. into the Elec- 
tive Chamber. As there are parties 
in the Chamber, there are coteries in 
the court. All the court is not of the 
right side, as is commonly thought. 
Should Messrs. de Cazes, de Polignac, 
de Fitzjames, &c. gain the confidence 
of the crown, their elevation would be 
superfluous and unwelcome, and their 
first appearance would be sure to call 
forth political adversaries. In the 
royal family we see no traces of that 
publicity which should be valued ade- 
quately in Britain. The Duke of Sus- 
sex is of the opposition, and the Duke 
of York is.an enemy to Catholic eman- 
cipation. Such a knowledge is want- 
ed in France, where some satisfaction 
may be afforded by the recollection 
of what occurred in 1819, when a 
prince excited much attention and 
curiosity, by showing himself as a 
party interested in the system then in 
vogue. 
Among writers of the first rank, 
those on the right side are nearly 
on a par with their opponents, and 
the names of Chateaubriand, Bertin, 
&e. may be placed against those of 
Benjamin Constant, Etienne, De 
Pradt, &e. 
As new traits in a new character, 
the nation at large exhibits its various 
classifications and commanding ob- 
jects. Taking a view of the whole 
combination, the mingled. mass of 
persons 
