TzE ACTORS x1T THR SCENE.

 NO. "

EDWARD, BARON BIeNoN.
career HS prlVate SOIOIefS ana after haVlng gained the good will of General Huet, whose secretary he became, he rose at length to con- siderable importance in diplomacy. It is wor- thy of remark, that large proportion of the great men who have figured in the tragi-cOm- edy of French affairs, have risen from the lowest grade of service.

 In the course of events he became secreta- " of legation at the Cisalpine and Helvetic republics, and at the court of Berlin. He was next plenipotentisry at the court of the Hector of Hesse Cassel.

 In 1907 he was made intendant of Prussia, and other duties were committed to his care at Baden, Warsaw and Wilma. 1915, upon the budding ofthe violet, the return of Ma poIeon from Elba, he was made director of correspondence for foreign affairs, and cho- sen member to the chamber of deputies He signed the equalization of the Sd July, 1915, on behalf off the provisional government. with the generals of the allied army. The biographcr of BignOn describes him as per son of small stature, but a Hercules in mind, a polished man in society. an admirer of the la dies. and an improvisatore, yet vigorous champion of liberty, firm friend of the peo- pie, and a man of eloquence.

 Among his principal acts in the chamber of deputies, of which for many years he has been the ornament, are his demand for the departure of all the aled armies, the recall of the exiled Bonapartists, and his denunciation of the Ministers for wasting the public money. As well as General Gerard, he has eulogised from the Tribune more than once "the inn mortal Captain whose fsme must go down with that of Alexander and Of Cesar" On one occasion, before the whole chamber, he told the celebrated Vilele that his conduct was infamous.

 Bignon is the author of two celebrated works. One on the system adopted by the Directory towards the Cisalpine republics the other comparative exposition of the moral, political and financial state of France, and of the principal European powers. This is rated very high by those who are accqaint- cd with the subject.

 It will be- evident to our readers that the leading men in the provincial government have been warm friends of Napoleon, and if the time has come. which General FOy in 1922 predicted would come, that the echo of praise would yet be heard in the hall once decorated with the trophies, we cannot re- frain from anticipating the re- establishment of the Napoleon dynasty, in the person of the young Duke of Reichstadt. This would have the effect to put down the Bourbons forever, and while all the necessary restrictions could

 

 charter and the pledged faith of the Austrian government; on the other hand the enthusi- asm of the nation would find field for its exercise in the remembrance of the glOries of the Napoleon name. The adulation which is yet secretly bestowed upon the character of this extraordinary man, by those who re- member only his victories and his renown, would soon brlng it's offerings with renewed zeal to the shrine of the departed great. Ihe faults of Napoleon hare by no one been more se rerely criticised than by hin,se!f and in spite of the efforts of Scott and LOckhart, to impress history with English prejudices. We may see with change of circumstances, some more honest writers, who will dare do justice to those actions which must ever form a theme for romance and subject ofreHcction for phi Iosophy.

 We forgot to mention that the |" Expose Comparatit'' was published by Bignon in 1sl4.-Atbany Gag.

 ...a. m NO.VI.

 MoNs. GuIzoT-of the department of Ed- ucati0n. .

 Education was confessedly neglected in France, prior to the time of the revolu- ton. The great men who have shone in the ages of Henry 4tlI, Louis 14th, 18th and 10th, were more indebted to their nat ural genius for their superiority than their early education.

 The French university was first fairly organized under Louis 14th, and since that period has been constantly under the care of the government for the time being. 1t consists of Six Colleges and general of- flee for the direction of the whole. Besides these, there are an immense number of schools called primary, central and special schools, in great measure supported by government, where young lads of talent may receive elementary instruction gratui- tously.

 As late as 1922, the French ministers, finding that the people were getting to be too enlightened, directed that all lectures on Ethics, public law, and political econo- nay, should either be delivered in Latin or be discontinued

 And the Abbe Frassinous, who had charge of the department of education du- ring that year, recommended in his official capacity, that the common people should not be allowed to learn either to read or to write! Ifthere was no other cause for a revolution than this, we should justify the French people in changing their battle cry of mon joie St. Denis, for, the more ap- palling one ofdOwn with the tyrant! Ma poleon boasted of having made education SO cheap tn France that a peasant might be educated, fine would, gratuitously. and

 A m.