1880.] ^* (Robinson. 



Cordially received as I always was by every member of this little 

 household, I soon discovered in the gentle, affectionate and unpretending 

 mother of the Chevaliers, a lady of remarkable mind and energy, Avhose 

 ambition it was to make every sacrifice, and to do everything in her power 

 to forward the honorable aspirations of her sons, and especially of Mr. 

 Michel Chevalier the eldest. 



I had a few months later, on the occasion of his dangerous accident at 

 London, a proof of the devotion of his young sister Pauline. Mr. Cheva- 

 lier and myself occupied at the time of its occurrence a common parlor 

 with adjoining chambers at Long's Hotel. How the news of the accident 

 reached Paris so soon, I have never known. Electric telegraphs had not 

 been introduced to any extent, and the only roads which then existed be- 

 tween Paris and London were the French paved turnpikes and English 

 McAdamized roads ; but on the third or fourth night after its occurrence 

 [a shorter time than a reply to my letter to the family announcing it could 

 have been received by me], I was awakened at 4 a. m. by a loud knocking 

 at the door of my chamber, which proved to be from Mile Pauline and 

 her brother Auguste, who on hearing of the accident, rushed to London as 

 fast as the Malle-poste in France and post-horses in England could carry 

 them, to nurse their brother Michel ; and who, after hearing my account 

 of it, went at once to the French Embassy, and remained there constantly 

 with him, until he could be removed without hazard,- to Paris. 



One can scarcely imagine surroundings more favorable to high develop- 

 ment in an elevated and affectionate nature, than were those of Mr. Che- 

 valier in his modest Paris apartment, of which I have given a glimpse only, 

 in the above paragraphs. 



Before closing this obituary notice, I should say a few words of Mr. 

 Chevalier in private life. I have never known more beautiful family rela- 

 tions than those which existed in his household. But the extract from the 

 letter of Madame Leroy Beaulieu given in this, brief as it is, tells what 

 these were, better than anything which I could say on the subject. Few 

 persons, I think, knew or understood Mr. Chevalier better than myself, 

 and I can truly say that his nature was a most kindly and affectionate one 

 to everybody ; but no one could surpass him in his willingness, however 

 occupied, to aid and assist young men desiring his counsel and advice in 

 the opening of their careers. On this subject, I recollect hearing his ex- 

 cellent mother-in-law, Madame Fournier, complain of his good-heartedness 

 in being willing, notwithstanding his unremitting labors, to give his time 

 and advice, as well as pecuniary aid, to any one asking his assistance or 

 counsel ; and through life he enjoyed the reputation of unusual benevo- 

 lence. In the language of Mr. Paul Leroy Beaulieu, from whom I have 

 several times quoted in this notice, he looked usually at the best side both 

 in men and things. He believed in Providence, in the definitive triumph 

 of the good and true. His mind thus anchored, manifested increased re- 

 sources under exigencies, and he found himself preserved under the most 

 diflicult circumstances from all discouragement. 



