France and a member of the privy council. Once more he lost his titles, when Buonaparte returned in 1815; but on the second return of Louis XVIII, he recovered them. At that time he presided over the electoral college of Seine and Oise, and was elected secretary of the 5th Bureau of the Chamber of Peers on the 12th of October.

M. de Choiseul was by royal ordonnance of 21st March, 1816, confirmed in his ancient title of member of the French Academy; and on the 25th of August, he read, in his character as member of the Academy of Inscriptions, at a public meeting of the Institute, a Dissertation upon Homer, equally remarkable for elegance of style and for depth of research. M. de Choiseul is also a member of the Academy of Fine Arts. The first volume of his " Voyage Pittoresque de la Grace," appeared in 1780, in folio; and he has since

published part of the second volume, Some copies of the preliminary discourse were printed separately in 18mo, in 1783. The class of his. tory, and of ancient literature of the Institute, in its report of the 20th February, 1808, which states the progress of history and of literature since 1789, mentions in terms of the highest praise the important services which M. de Choiseul has rendered to the geography and history of Ancient Greece. It is to be lamented, that M. de Choiseul has lost part of the materials necessary to the completion of his work. The French government has ordered to be restored to him, the greatest part of the objects of art which he obtained while in Greece, and he has them placed in a beautiful garden near the ChampsElysees.

The Count de Choiseul-Gouffier espoused for his second wife, in 1816, Madame Helen de Beaufremont.

This nobleman is cousin-german to the Count de Choiseul-Gouffier. He commanded the regiment of royal dragoons in 1791, when Louis XVI. took the resolution of getting rid of the tyranny of the revolutionary party by removing himself from the capital. M. de Choiseul was directed to protect his majesty in his journey to Varennes with his regiment. By some unfortunate misunderstanding, however, he arrived at his post too late. He was, notwithstanding, put under arrest by order of the National Assembly, along with Count Charles de Damas, and imprisoned, first at Verdup, then at Pileau, whence he was pot allowed to stir until the amnesty

which was proclaimed after the king had accepted the constitution.

He shared all the dangers of his majesty, and remained with him until he was removed to the Temple, Having then left France, he raised a regiment of hussars for the English service, and had the misfortune again to fall into the hands of the republicans, in his passage from Germany to England. By the exertions of the English court, he once more obtained his freedom, but some time after wards, having been wrecked upon the coast of Picardy, he was imprisoned, along with several other emigrants, at Calais.

These gentlemen were summoned

before amilitary commission, and their defence was made by M. Morgan, who insisted that they should be treated according to the law of nations in regard to persons shipwrecked. The proceedings were suspended and resumed at different times, and many discussions on the subject took place in the Legislative Assembly. It is remarkable that Briot exerted himself in their favour in 1799. When Buonaparte became First Consul, he or dered M. de Choiseul and his companions in misfortune to be taken to the frontiers of Holland. Not long afterwards M. de Choiseul returned to France, where he lived in retirement and without molestation, until the fall of the imperial government. He was created a peer on the 4th of June, 1814, and made a lieutenant-general on the 22d of the same month. When Buonaparte returned to Paris in March, 1815, he attended the king to Ghent, and upon his return was chosen by his majesty to preside over the electoral college of the department of the Vosges. On the 12th of October, 1815, he was named secre, tary of the Chamber.

When the will of Marie-Antoinette was presented to the peers on the 28th February, 1816, M. de Choiseul mounted the tribune, and said, in a voice expressive of much emotion

"You have now had communicated to you the sentiments which animated the breast of a queen, whose character exhibited a perfect union of feminine gentleness, and of the most sublime courage, of a woman who was worthy to be the wife of the most just and of the most virtuous of kings. Having been honoured with her friendship, I might say with her confidence, having never separated from her until she arrived at the door of the Temple, when she bade me a solemn farewell, I can trace in the writing which has been laid before us better perhaps than others, those noble sentiments which she never failed to manifest; that unparalleled clemency, that minute and religious remembrance of services received, that entire forgetfulness of injuries,-in a word, all those rare qualities which confounded her calumniators and loaded her executioners with despair. It is with a mingled feeling of joy and pride that I have seen presented to the admiration of France the memoir of her last thoughts, so serene, so dignified, so worthy of herself. Let every one close his lips in sad and respectful silence, when he reflects upon the melancholy end of her who was the model of mothers, of wives, and of queens."

This nobleman is the son of the Duc de Choiseul-Praslin, who was sent as deputy to the National Assembly of 1789, and ranged himself on the side of the Revolution. Following his father's example, he never emigrated, but separated himself from the cause

of the noblesse, and was one of the first to submit himself to Buonaparte, after that general assumed the direction of affairs.

Having been appointed one of his chamberlains in 1805, and, in 1811, president of the electoral college of

Seine and Marne, M. de Praslin presented himself to him on the 24th of February following, and said "The chief desire of the electors has been to testify their admiration and gratitude to the beneficent genius, who watches over the interests of that vast empire which he has created. What joy has not swelled the hearts of your subjects in learning the birth of a son to the greatest and most illustrious of monarchs! Already a long and prosperous futurity is secured to their grandchildren. They will have for their sovereign a prince perfectly instructed in the most difficult of all arts, the art of governing, by the profound genius which presides over our destinies," &c.

In the month of January 1813, when Buonaparte was redoubling his exertions to repair the disasters of the Russian expedition, M. de ChoiseulPraslin was anxious to give him new proofs of his attachment, and accordingly made him an offer, in the name of his department, of a certain number of cavalry, armed and equipped.

Being named chevalier of the Legion of Honour on the 6th of January, 1814, and on the 8th of the same month being appointed to the command of the 1st legion of the national guard of Paris, the Duke of ChoiseulPraslin seemed to be fired with a double zeal in his master's cause, and on the 31st of March, when Buonaparte was nearly dethroned, and when the royalists were parading the Place de Louis XV. with the white cockade, and with shouts of "Vive le Roi! Vive les Bourbons!" he was heard to say to them, "You are only a few individuals. These are not the general sentiments ***. Throw away your cockades;, you would be better employed in going to the barriers and attending to the wounded. We have a government established, and we certainly ought to remain loyal to it." Notwithstanding, however, these high

sounding words, as soon as he saw that Buonaparte's reign was over, he found it convenient to go to the other party. On the 6th of April he gave in his adherence to all the acts of the senate which declared the fall of Buonaparte, and recalled the family of Bourbon to the throne. Moreover, such was his anxiety to show his zeal in the royal cause, which nobody expected from him, that he was one of the first to propose a subscription for erecting the statue of Henry IV. on the Pont Neuf; and on the 18th of April he caused placards to be pasted upon all the walls of Paris, in which he eulogised the character of Henry, and exhorted those who were willing to cherish the recollections of happy times that were past, and of a prince who had done so much for his country, to unite and restore the statue of Henry to its ancient place.

Being admitted to the presence of Monsieur, at the head of a deputation from the department of Seine and Marne, he addressed a speech to his Royal Highness, which contained the following expressions. "France sighed for the return of her legitimate sovereign, the descendant of those kings to whom she was indebted for so many ages of prosperity and glory. The presence of your royal highness has given a new life to every heart."

He was made a peer of France on the 4th of June following. When Buonaparte returned from the island of Elba, M. de Praslin did not hesi tate again to place himself under his banners. He obtained the command of the 1st legion of the n..tional guard, which he had formerly possessed, but in which, by the king's appointment, he had been succeeded by the Duke of Choiseul-Stainville, and was one of the peers created by the usurper.By the ordonnance of 24th July, 1815, M. de Choiseul-Praslin was dismissed from the Chamber of Peers.

Was born at the Castle of Vitrolles, in Provence, in the month of August of the year 1774, and is descended of an ancient family. He emigrated with his parents at the commencement of the Revolution, entered the corps of the Chevaliers de la Couronne at the time of its formation, and served during the campaigns of 1792, 1793, and 1794. He afterwards attached himself to the Chasseurs of Bussy. Having returned to his native country, after the fall of the Directory, he set himself to retrieve his fortune. For this purpose, he retired with his family to the estate of Vitrolles, devoted him self to agricultural pursuits, and encouraged, by every method in his power, establishments which might prove useful to a country so poor and 80 remote. He filled the offices of mayor and member of the general council of his department, and others to which the confidence of his fellow citizens called him.

During the year 1813, he foresaw the fall of Buonaparte, and therefore repaired to Paris, in hope, through his numerous connexions, of being service able to the royal cause, the success of which was regarded by him as the only remedy for the evils of his country. But great difficulties stood in the way of his exertions. Buonaparte being irritated by the numerous defeats which he had suffered, was, on that account, the more to be dreaded; and it required no moderate share of zeal and resolution to attack what was called his omnipa tence. In these circumstances, M. de Vitrolles, following the bent of his own character, conceived one of the most daring projects of which his tory affords an example,

The Congress was assembled at Chatillon. Thither the baron repaired quite alone, towards the end of the month of February 1814, and without any injunctions, without any direction, save that which he received from an enlightened patriotism, he succeeded in retarding the negociations, already considerably advanced, and which must have proved detrimental to the house of Bourbon. Being afterwards invited to head-quar ters at Troyes, he repaired thither, and afterwards to Bar-sur-Seine and to Bar-sur-Aube, and had daily conferences with Prince Metternich, and the other ministers of the four powers. He was frequently admitted to discuss with them the necessity and the means of giving the war with Buonaparte such a termination as might secure the safety of France. The Emperor of Russia expressed a strong desire to see him, and received him with those tokens of regard which are due from an enlightened monarch to one who exhibits enthusiastical attachment to his king and country. The baron attempted to prove to the emperor, that the restoration of the house of Bourbon would be of infinite advantage to France; that it was the only method by which that country and the allies could be saved from the evils of a most calamitous war, and by which assurance of future repose could be obtained; in fine, that this was the only way in which France and Europe could be united by durable tics.

He succeeded in having the negociations broken off, and in persuading the allied powers to issue a formal declaration, refusing to treat any longer with Buonaparte, and putting the provinces already occupied under

the administration of Monsieur, the king's brother. He afterwards advised, that the army should march directly to Paris, by which means the war would become political rather than offensive; and was permitted to carry to his Royal Highness Monsieur the favourable accounts of the manner in which they were proceeding. That prince was then at Nanci, and was far from indulging the hopes which the news brought by M. de Vitrolles communicated. He received the baron in the most gracious manner, and immediately empowered him to continue to treat with the allies, and to watch the interests of the royal cause in France.

M. de Vitrolles having left Nanci, in company with several foreigners of distinction, was attacked in his way to head-quarters by some corps which were in advance of the army; and after vainly attempting to resist a much superior force, was made prisoner. At the time when this occurrence took place, Buonaparte had abandoned the defence of the capital, and was at Saint-Dizier.

The Baron de Vitrolles was in a situation sufficiently perilous, and doubted not that his destruction was near. He contrived, however, to destroy the papers which were on his person; and after having been conducted for several days in the midst of some unfortunate prisoners attached to the rear of the retreating army, and having endured fatigue and privations of all kinds, he escaped with most unexpected good fortune, and arrived at Paris shortly after the entrance of the allied troops. The Emperor of Russia immediately sent for him, and the first words which he uttered on seeing him were these,"Well! Monsieur de Vitrolles, think you the results of our last conversation have been important?"

After having thus exhibited, in the

VOL. IX. PART II.

most trying circumstances, ample proof of his zeal and of his capacity, and having acquired a high place in the public esteem, he received the honourable distinction of being ap pointed to go in quest of Monsieur, and he re-entered Paris at the side of that prince. The latter immediately appointed him interim secretary of state; and on the arrival of the king, M. de Vitrolles was not only favoured with the most flattering assurance3 of the royal esteem, but was confirmed in the important office which the brother of the king had thus assigned to him.

He alone countersigned the declaration of Saint-Ouen, and all the first acts of the royal government, until the month of March 1815. At that epoch, he insisted with much eagerness before the council and his majesty, that, if it should be found impracticable to defend Paris, the king should retire to the southern provinces, which remained loyal. The advice of the baron was not followed; but when his majesty quitted the capital, he dispatched M. de Vitrolles to the south, expecting that, by his talent and resolution, he might put a check to the too rapid successes of Napoleon. After spending a few minutes with Madame at Bourdeaux, he repaired to Toulouse, intending to organize a centre for the royal government there. The want of time, and. the progress of rebellion, prevented the wise measures which were adopted by him from being successful in their issue; but the baron being resolved not to abandon the honourable and perilous post which he occupied, and being, moreover, influenced by the opinion of Madame, who thought that the preservation of Toulouse would afford to the Duke of Angou leme the means of a secure retreat, would, on no account, make his ecape from the fury of his enemies.

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