casion, “bound myself to speak my mind; if the plan 1 propose is salutary, it is for the king to decide whether he will sacrifice the Chambers to France and the country to the Chambers." his people to be just; to the vacillation incident to this double view of the case and the consequent indecision of a naturally good heart, he ascribed his course-which abased royalty while On the celebrated 28th of July, accompanied by making sincere concessions: he believed, too, his friends, he traversed the scene of hostilities to that the monarch owed his downfall more to inthe Carousel-the quarters of Marshal Marmont, judicious friends than real enemies. The Gironand adjured him to put a stop to the carnage; dists, he considered, tried the fatal experiment of "military honor," said the commander of Paris, attempting to reconcile people and court, and "consists in obedience;" "civil honor," replied were too timid for the first and too advanced for the brave deputy, "consists in not slaughtering the last; he regarded the irresolution of Lafaycitizens to destroy the Constitution." At the fu- ette as the flaw in his excellent nature; Danton, neral of Manuel he arrested with his eloquence Robespierre and Marat he viewed as victims of the outbreak between the military and the peo- the fièvre revolutionnaire, and, therefore, not to ple. He was in the front rank of the defenders be judged in the same manner as men in a healthof the charter, the staunch advocate of the free-ful condition. Indeed, he declared that no one dom of the press; and when he saw the revolu- could safely predict his own conduct under the tion of July approaching, effectually and at great influence of great political excitement. "I personal risk, strove to make it as useful and have," he said, "made the sad experiment; it bloodless as the nature of things would permit. is best not to enter the vortex; if you do you are "My conscience," he said, "is without reproach. borne on blindfolded." He always insisted that I founded, it is true, a new dynasty, but I found the great results of the French Revolution could something in it legitimate. Posterity will judge have been attained by less terrible means. He me. I hope the loyalty of my intentions will recognized fully the reforms of Napoleon, and find me grace in the eyes of history. I never with the acumen of a political economist, watchdeceived any one. My principles never changed the growing prosperity of the nation; but, ed. I believed in 1830 that France could only none the less, lamented the decadence of freebe republican through monarchy. I was wrong, dom with the grief of a patriot; he recoiled from and I repent with all my heart." For half a the duplicity of the emperor and grieved at the century he defended the rights of the people, and subserviency of the Senate. What most surnever ceased to preach moderation, but "a prised Lafitte in Bonaparte, was his fortune; and moderation compatible with liberty and national he deemed his fatal error-the attempt to impose honor." on France a continental system, wholly incom In the war of opinion and the strife of party, patible with the age: in a word, he honored NaLafitte suffered the inevitable caprices of popu-poleon as a soldier and despised him as a ruler. lar favor; even his opponents, however, consid- The office of the press he seems to have thoroughly ered what they deemed his faults, to arise from appreciated, “j'ai toujours pensè,” he says, “que la the strength of his affections rather than the per-presse est dans un état, l'unique moyen de reternir version of his will: his official life ruined his private fortunes; and the bitterness of his disappointment at the apparent inefficacy of the revolution in which he had taken so prominent a part, may be inferred from the memorable fact, that he ascended the tribune, and with much solemnity, asked pardon of Heaven for having contributed to its success. He seems at last to have become thoroughly aware of the limits of his natural vocation, and expressed himself as content when free once more from the trammels of state, he began to retrieve his fortunes as a banker. le' pouvoir dans les bornes de la moderation et de l'empêcher de se livrer a l'abitraire." Although when elected to the Chamber of Deputies, Lafitte immediately took his place on the benches of the opposition, and subsequently attained the presidency of the cabinet, and in 1817 was the only name deposited in the urns of twenty sections of the electoral college, by supporting the reduction of the rents and the creation of the three per cents, he alienated many of his party. Indeed, such was his political eclecticism, that a democratic writer says he lost his popularity by his monarchical affections"-alluding to his personal attachments The views of Lafitte, however, on all subjects to members of the royal family; and a monarwhich he investigated, were remarkable for sound chist attributes it to his democratic attachments reason and moderation. He was no fanatic in thus justifying the inference of his biographer politics and understood the character of his na--that he was "too much a man of heart to be tion. Louis XVI., he thought, aimed at a moral a statesman." In the sphere of his individual impossibility in attempting to retain all his pre-ambition, however-in his financial opinions and rogatives, without which the eclat of his office career, as well as in the tone of his character, would be lost, while he knew the complaints of Lafitte was remarkably consistent;-sagacious, upright, benevolent and patriotic. He completely responsible office had passed away, he gladly rerefuted the base charge suggested by partisan signed. His resemblance to Lafitte was increased animosity-of having sold his vote to the minis- by a natural urbanity, vigor of action, broad views, ter; and whatever popular favor he may have rigid justice, strict method, and also by the evenlost as the member of a faction, he amply re- tual loss of his own fortune and the establishgained as a man. This is evident from the uni- ment of an excellent system of finance. He versal sympathy awakened by his loss of fortune founded the Bank of America, the first instituand the confidence and gratitude with the people tion of the kind in this country-upon principles rallied to his call when he established his famous the utility of which time has fully proved. In Caisse d'escompte, now the memorial of his use- patriotic zeal and in the respect of his illustrious ful and honorable career. By means of this in- cotemporaries, he also offers a parallel to the restitution, the poorest artizan has a safe and prof-nowned French banker; he was the friend of itable investment for his earnings. In 1837, hav- Washington and justly regarded as "the soul of ing thus settled his affairs and re-established his the financial concerns" of the nation. No credit, he thus addressed the shareholders: "It one," it has been said, "parted more freely with is not without emotion that I find myself restored his money for public or private purposes of a to these labors and about to crown with an un- meritorious nature." When Hamilton became dertaking worthy of my best efforts, a career in Secretary of the Treasury, no statistics of the which I have perhaps done some good. I for- country had appeared, her resources were only get many past mishaps and all the bitterness of surmised, and after holding the office for five political life, which promised nothing to my am- years, he left it at an unprecedented height of bition, and the burden of which I only accepted from devotion to my country. The future had compensation in reserve for me; and the 2nd of October, 1837-the day on which I resume my business, consoles me for the 19th of January, 1831,-the day on which I left it." Thus opening a credit to the humbler branches of industry, Lafitte rescued many a victim from the extortions of the usurer. reputation. By these two acute and zealous patriots the foundation of American prosperity was laid: and the identity of their opinions with those of Lafitte is remarkable. "The whole business of finance," they thought, "was comprised in two short but comprehensive sentences. It is to raise the public revenue by such modes as may be most easy and most equal to the people, and to expend it in the most frugal, fair and honest manner." The financial services of Lafitte in France vividly recall those of Robert Morris in America. The personal tastes of the opulent banker were At the commencement of our Revolution he was characterized by the same moderate tone. He more extensively engaged in commerce than any loved elegance, and surrounded himself with all of his fellow citizens, and was one of the first those brilliant resources that wealth so abundantPhiladelphians irretrievably to commit himself in ly supplies in the French metropolis; but they behalf of the colonies at a great pecuniary sac- did not enervate or bewilder his mind; he conrifice, thus inspiring the same unbounded confi- tiuued his daily toil with unremitted zeal; castdence in his patriotism which his integrity and ing aside, however, with the greatest facility the wisdom had long before gained for him as a man severe concentration of the financier, to mingle, of business. He was on every committee of with the abandon of the joyous south, at his own ways and means appointed by the legislature of splendid fêtes, with the brave, the wise and the his native State, and from the outbreak of hos- lovely. Even his literary predilections were tilities, devoted all the force of his talents, the characteristic: he ignored the romantic and loved influence of his name,-his credit and fortune to the classic writers of his country, while the bonhis country; and these seldom failed in the hour hommie and patriotism of Beranger made him a of need. When his official resources were inade- favorite guest at his reunious, and he knew Moquate, he pledged his individual credit. Like lière by heart. His first discourse as deputy made Lafitte he was exposed to misrepresentation, and a great impression both on account of its style like him triumphed over calumny. All the re- and ideas. It is curious that the sensation, if quisite means for Washington's expedition against we may so call it, of wealth, is so independent Cornwallis were furnished by him; and his own of its possession. Lafitte declared that he never notes to the amount of four hundred thousand felt himself rich except when his appointments, dollars thus fearlessly given, were all finally paid. under Perregaux, reached the sum of three thouWhile invested, as he long was, with the entire sand francs;-an indirect but striking proof of his provision, control and expenditure of the public consciousness of the relations to society incident finances, the history of his difficulties and expe- to fortune. His credulous faith in the integrity dients would fill a volume. When the imminent of others presents a striking contrast to his sagadanger that originally induced him to accept this cious insight as regards affairs. When the Duke of Orleans said to him, “What shall I do for you were all forgotten in tearful and affectionate when I am king?" his reply was—“Make me memories, when on the night of the 26th of May, your fool that 1 may tell you the truth;" yet he 1843, it was announced, in Paris, that Lafitte entertained such implicit confidence in the prom-was no more. He died as he had lived amid ises of the royal candidate, that he received his noble and generous thoughts, affectionate minisembrace upon his accession, with fraternal trust. tries, calm resolutions and holy sentiments. The Calm, serene, industrious as a financier, gener- immense procession that followed to Père la ous and honest as a mau, gay and kindly as a Chaise and the sad group of brilliant statesmen, companion, after forty years of riches and honor authors, and military officers, of poor and grateful Lafitte found himself poor and unpopular, and recipients of his bounty, of loyal citizens and inperhaps no portion of his career is more sugges-timate friends, that saw his remains deposited in tive of energy of character and elasticity of temper, than the last epoch wherein he retrieved both his fortune and his glory. The power of money, thus illustrated, as a means of political and social influence, is not less obvious in ordinary experience. Recall the scene of morbid excitement and its infinite probable consequences, which a single midnight hour of fers at Frascati's," the hard-eyed lender and the pale lendee," visible on the Exchange;-the serene unity of life achieved by the philosopher satisfied with the freedom from care incident to a mere competency when attended by intellectual resources;-the "weary hours" of the millionaire ;-the exalted aspect of human nature in the person of the man of fortune, whose means are rendered absolutely subservient to taste and philanthropy ;-the comfort of households upheld by honest industry;—the sublime results of genius when exempted from want and the baffled spirit of the persecuted debtor; the absorption of time, intellect and feeling in sordid pursuits; let the imagination follow to their ultimate issues the various incidental fruits of these several conditions upon the individual and society, and we have a glimpse of the vast agencies involved in the use and abuse of money. From the Bureaux du Monte de Pieté to the halls of a National Bank, from the luxurious saloon to the squalid hovel, from the dashing spendthrift to the wretched miser-through all the diagnoses of usury and beneficence, we can trace the fluctuations of human passions and the assertion of human character in their most vital development. Accordingly it is impossible to over estimate the value of wisdom, integrity and kindness in pecuniary affairs a high example in this regard is of boundless practical worth; and there is no social interest so universal and significant as that which relates to the acquisition, distribution and maintenance of wealth: the morals and science of finance, rightly understood, embrace the principles of all ethics. The "unfortunate compliances" which marred the unity of his political life;-the indifference that settles on the public mind in regard to a fallen minister; the bitterness of partizan hostility and the capricious alienation of popular favor the tomb prepared for them between those of Foy and Marnel, evidenced the ultimate appreciation of his character, which became more eloquently manifest in the tributes which Arago and the leading public men of the day spontaneously offered to his memory. LOVE SONG. BY WILLIAM P. MULCHINOCK. I would pass each summer day, Or a blissful dream would prove, II. Fair my home is, beauteous maiden, Sees no earthly want but thee; Searching after fruits and flow'rs, Sigh of zephyr, song of bird, Sweetly mingled, aye are heard; These my young heart cannot prize, For one love look from those eyes; A LIBRARY. |brary-by which we mean a dɛravpos, a storehouse, of all the wisdom that past generations have committed to the custody of type-a Library" sweetly Such of our readers as did us the honor to disposed and judiciously furnished," as Dibdin read the hurried notes of Southern Travel, which hath it, we may find the proper treatment, the real we published for their delectation in the Messen- methodus medendi for every malady of the spirit? ger for the month of April last, may possibly Are the faculties listless and dull? Where shall recollect that we therein promised, at some fu- better whetstone be found than the Institutes of ture time, to devote a certain space in our mag- Calvin? Do we need mere relaxation from care azine to an account of the very remarkable li- or provocative to mirth? Surely Cervantes and brary which we saw in the possession of Alex- Le Sage have not written in vain. Hath loss ander A. Smets, Esq., of Savannah. More than of fortune distressed us? There be the sages of once have "we taken our pen in hand" to re- twenty centuries to administer comfort. Or does deem that promise; but "circumstances over the death of the dearly loved come to the heart which we had no control" reluctantly constrain- with a pang which rejects the poor consolation ed us to defer the pleasant labor. Indeed, if we of human wit, and craves for something higher are not mistaken, the promise was linked with and more satisfying? The "Book of Books" another of not less interesting a character-to addresses itself to the bereaved with an eloafford our readers some little notion of the valu-quence of assuagement that the author of Caxable collection of autographs belonging to that tons, with real feeling, forbears to attempt demost estimable and delightful of antiquarians, scribing, and to which we ourselves would refer Mr. I. K. Tefft, who resides in the same hospi- with the deepest possible reverence. An ingetable and refined city. We propose, at this time, nious writer has, indeed, mentioned the Bible in to fulfil our engagements, ouly so far as the books quaint and musical verse, as suited to all the disare concerned, designing to recur to the manu- orders of the soul and the first cravings of the scripts at no distant day, when our limits and lei- body. sure shall permit us to do entire justice to their interest and value. If thou art Merie, here are Aires: If Thirsty, Nectar, Heavenly Wine.* But as our object is to introduce the reader into the well-furnished apartments of Mr. Smets' library, rather than to indulge in any remarks of our own on the subject of bibliography, we will not detain him any longer by the button upon the threshold. We shall not soon forget the enjoyment we derived from a few hours spent among Mr. Smets' treasures, nor the kindly glow of satisfaction which lighted up the countenance of the benevolent proprietor in showing them. And here, if the reader could excuse the digression, we might mention that of all men, those who are affected with Bibliomania are in general the best disposed to be complaisant to strangers, and then proceed to inquire into the philosophy of so curious a fact. But it suffices to say that Mr. Smets, to us at least, appeared an exception to the class. And as we have not vanity enough to suppose The first emotion upon entering, and casting that his courtesy proceeded from any discovery the eye around upon the magnificent display of in us of peculiar qualifications to justly appreci- the ample shelves, is that of surprise that the ate his choice and valuable collection, we must visiter has not before heard of so extensive and attribute the civil treatment we received to the luxurious a collection. In our country, where so native kindliness of his disposition alone. few enjoy the means of accumulating valuable Bulwer, in that genial and inimitable story of books, and where even those so rarely have a the affections, which hands down to us the do- taste for bibliothecal treasures, it is of the rarest mestic history of Pisistratus Caxton, has put into occurrence that we may meet with a good and the mouth of Austin the father, a most charming well-selected library. But here, the visiter will essay ou reading as a materia medica, seemingly be apt to say, is surely the most sumptuous, if based upon the old idea contained in the motto not the largest or most recherché library in the of the Alexandrine Library, representing books as country, and yet how few have ever heard of it? "The Medicine of the Soul." The quiet scholar We confess that not the least inducement that of the novelist most agreeably expands the no-leads us to play the guide to the rooms of Mr. tion into a happy pharmaceutical and practical Smets, is to make more widely known the riches treatise, which may be read with profit by all they coutain, as but an act of justice to the inwho labor under mental ailments. And is it not true that within the charmed precincts of a Li * Diary of Lady Willoughby. telligeuce, good taste and liberality which have brought together such interesting materials.* Antiquity appears to have begun As we have obscurely hinted, the library of Mr. Smets does not rest its claims to the visiter's This papyrus is about 20 inches long and 10 notice upon the large number of volumes it con- inches broad, and besides its many hieroglyphical tains-of which there are, perhaps, eight thou-characters, contains six pictorial designs, embrasand-but upon the choice selection of the au- cing a great variety of figures in the Egyptian thors and the great rarity of the editions. It is style of drawing. It was once sold for £150 composed principally of English works in all sterling. branches of learning and the fine arts, embracing The next manuscript in chronological order is the earlier and later poets-the more celebrated one executed in the 9th century. It is a copy of novelists, the best historians and biographers, in the "Moralia in Job," written in the 6th century, a word every author that can be called standard. by Gregory the 1st, surnamed, from his characTo these may be added specimens of the most ter, the Great," and canonized for his piety, ancient typography, and of the illuminated man-" a Saint." It is a large folio, written in Latin, uscripts of the middle ages, such as would tempt on vellum, in double columns, with clear and the most pious man in the world, if he were only easily deciphered letters. The covers are very a bibliomaniac, into an utter disregard of the thick and worm eaten. with brass clasps, backs, tenth, if not of the eighth, commandment. When and conical side studs, in the old monastic style we say farther that all the volumes are bound in of binding. On the fly leaf, in a different hand, a mauner the most elegant known to the trade, is a prayer for the rest of the soul of Charleand are arranged in rich cases of mahogany, some idea may be formed of the appearance of the library. But let us look at some of these treasures. And first in order, as claiming priority of age, we will glance at a few of the most remarkable of the MSS. mague. Only think of it, good reader! One thousand years have passed away since these characters were traced; the worthy old Pope—for it is recorded of him that he was clear in his great office-has centuries ago mouldered into common dust with the meanest of his subjects; oblivion The oldest manuscript in the library is one has well nigh settled on the times in which he written on papyrus, which is three thousand flourished; yet he still speaks to us through the years old. The evidences of this great antiquity efforts of the pen, in the language of piety and are abundant enough to satisfy the obstinately truth. Wonderful, indeed, is this triumph of incredulous, and set them to speculating on the mind over matter, but as an instance of the presmarvellous preservation of a few unimportant ervation of writing, seems scarcely worth mencharacters on a perishable fabric, while obelisks tioning after the papyrus. Compared with that have mouldered and pyramids have decayed. it is an affair of yesterday. How many empires, indeed, have risen, flour- The work is not exegetical in its character, ished and declined, since this curious autograph but rather a carrying out, and illustrating of, the was written! Had the writer been a communi- sentiments of the book of Job, by moral effucative fellow, and had we a Champollion at our sions of the Pope himself. elbow to decipher his hieroglyphics, what valuaThe next oldest manuscript is the beautible information might he not have transmitted ful one of "Le Romant de la Rose." And to us! It would not, perhaps, be uninteresting now what a literary field is spread out before to know who he was. His contemporaries, too, us! We are carried back to the days of the might have filled an acceptable paragraph, though Trouveres and Troubadours, to the romantic he was too antiquated to tell us of what we chivalry and Provencal poetry of the 13th censhould like most to know. We might address tury, when eyes of beauty ruled in courts of love, him as Horace Smith apostrophized the Mummy aud the chansons of minstrels rang in Baronial in Belzoni's exhibitionhall and Lordly castle. I need not ask thee if that hand, when armed, Ere Romulus and Remus had been suckled: * We take occasion to acknowledge here that in much of what follows, concerning the very rare works of Mr. Smets, we have availed ourselves freely of some learned and well-written articles from the pen of the Rev. Wm. Bacon Stevens, published ten years since in the "Mag nolia." The manuscript is a large quarto, double columned, with the initial letters of each liues rubricated, and set out at a little distance from the stanza. the top letter of each column being ornameuted with curious heads, arabesques and devices. It is written on vellum in gothic French characters, and illuminated with ninety-two pictures embracing a variety of figures, designed to elucidate the text. The history of this work is exceedingly rich in literary interest, being prob |