his death established his glory. The merits of this great man would have remained concealed had not misfortune displayed them to the world. A noble Venetian lost his life in endeavouring to save his rights in the fall of an old palace. The frankness of M. de Malesherbes relieved me from all constraint. He afforded me some instruction. By this we were first rendered intimate. We spoke of botany and geography, which were his favourite subjects for conversation. It was whilst conversing with him that I conceived the idea of making a journey in North America, to discover the sea seen by Hearne, and subsequently by Mackenzie.* of We discussed politics also. The generous sentiments which gave rise to our first disturbances promoted the independence my character; the natural dislike which I entertained to the Court added strength to this inclination. I was on the side of M. de Malesherbes and Madame de Rosambo against M. de Rosambo and my brother, to whom we gave the nickname of "the irritable Chateaubriand." The Revolution would have gained a supporter in me had it not been commenced by crimes. I saw the first head carried on a pike, and shrank back. Murder can never appear, in my eyes, either an object of admiration or a proof of liberty. I know nothing more base, more despicable, more cowardly or more mean than a Terrorist. Have I not met, in France, with all that race of Brutuses in the service of Cæsar and his policy? The levellers, regenerators, and executioners were transformed into valets, spies, sycophants, and, still more wonderful! into dukes, counts and barons! What a moderate age! Finally, it was his liking for my sister that increased my attachment for this noble old man. Notwithstanding the timidity of the Countess Lucile, she was prevailed upon, with the aid of a little Champagne, to take a part in a little piece on the occasion of M. de Malesherbes' birthday she appeared so amiable that she quite turned the head of the good and great man. : * Navigated recently by Captains Parry and Franklin. NOTE DE GENEVE.-1841. He exerted himself, even more than my brother, to procure her transference from Argentière to Remiremont, for which a strict proof of sixteen quarterings was required. Philosopher as he was, M. de Malesherbes held the privileges of birth in high regard. We must consider this picture of men and of society, at the time of my entrance into the world, as applying to a period of about two years from the dissolution of the first Assembly of Notables, on the 25th of May, 1787, to the opening of the States-General, on the 5th of May, 1789. During these two years, my sisters and I neither dwelt constantly in Paris, nor, when there, in the same part of it. I must now retrace my steps and take my readers back to Brittany. I was still devoted to my fancies: if the woods failed me, past times instead of distant places afforded me another kind of solitude. In the old parts of Paris, under the arches of Saint Germain-des-Près, in the cloisters of the convents, in the vaults of St. Denis, in the Sainte Chapelle, in Notre Dame, in the narrow streets of the city, at the obscure gates of Heloïse, I still saw my enchantress; but she, under the gothic arches and among the tombs, had assumed a something death-like. She was pale, and regarded me with watery eyes. She was the mere shade or phantom of that dream which I had loved. END OF VOL. I. LONDON: Printed by Schulze and Co., 13, Poland Street. CONTENTS OF PART II. FIRST POLITICAL MOVEMENTS IN BRITTANY-BRIEF VIEW OF THE KING'S REVENUE IN BRITTANY-PARTICULAR INCOME OF THE PRO- THE STATES OF BRITTANY IN 1789-INSURRECTION-SAINT RIVEUL, THE YEAR 1789-JOURNEY FROM BRITTANY TO PARIS-COMMOTION ON THE ROAD-ASPECT OF PARIS-DISMISSAL OF M. NECKER- RECAL OF M. NECKER-SITTING OF THE 4TH OF AUGUST, 1789- -THE WHAT I DID IN THE MIDST OF THIS CONFUSION-MY SOLITARY DAYS -MADEMOISELLE MONET-I ARRANGE THE PLAN OF MY JOURNEY TO AMERICA, WITH THE HELP OF M. DE MALESHERBES-BONA- PARTE AND MYSELF OBSCURE SUB-LIEUTENANTS-THE MARQUIS AN IROQUOIS-THE SACHEM OF THE ONONDAGAS-VELLY AND THE FRANKS-CEREMONIES OF HOSPITALITY-ANCIENT GREEKS INDIAN FAMILY-A NIGHT IN THE FOREST-DEPARTURE OF THE FAMILY-INDIANS OF NIAGARA-CAPTAIN GORDON-JERUSALEM 272 TWELVE DAYS IN A HUT-CHANGE OF MANNERS AMONG THE INDIANS -BIRTH AND DEATH-MONTAIGNE-SONG OF THE SNAKE-SING- ING OF A LITTLE INDIAN GIRL-THE ORIGINAL OF MILA REFLECTIONS-OLD CANADA-INDIAN POPULATION -DEMORALISA- TION-TRUE CIVILISATION PROMOTED BY RELIGION; FALSE CIVI- LISATION BY TRADE-BACKWOODSMEN-FACTORIES-HUNTING— THE ACCOUNT ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN AMERICA-THE LAKES OF FIRST POLITICAL MOVEMENTS IN BRITTANY-BRIEF VIEW OF THE HISTORY OF THE MONARCHY. My political education was begun by my residence, at different times, in Brittany during the years 1787 and 1788. The States of this province furnished the model of the States-General; and the particular troubles which broke out in the two provinces of Brittany and Dauphiny were the forerunners of those of the nation at large. The change which had been devoloping itself for two hundred years was then reaching its limits. France having passed from a feudal monarchy to the monarchy of the States-General, from the monarchy of the States-General to that of the Parliaments, and from the monarchy of the Parliaments to absolute monarchy, was rapidly tending to a representative system by means of a contest of the magistracy with the royal power. The Meaupeou Parliament, the institution of provincial assemblies, with the right of individuals voting, the first and second assemblies of Notables, the cour plenière, the formation of large bailiwicks, the admission of Protestants to the full enjoyment of civil rights, the partial abolition of the torture and statute-labour, and an equal partition of the burthens of taxation, were successive |