PERSONAL SKETCHES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT.

Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 19, 31 August 1848, Page 3

PERSONAL SKETCHES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT.

(From the Watchman.) The following Sketches are derived principally from a sort of French "Parliamentary Pocket-book," entitled Biographie des Deputes, and compiled by two "journalists." both of them ardent Hepubhcans. Other sources of information have been resorted to, to correct or complete the accounts:— M- Louis Blanc, one of the Secretaries, not having been a member of the Chamber, is not mentioned in the Biugraphie; He is be it known to us through his b stoncal writing*, especially his History of Ten years a work of singular literary ability, which has had an immeos? circulation rn the Continent, and has been translated into Eaglisb. He was an uncompromising foe to the fallen dynasty ; and one of the must curious portions of Ins book h that in which he elaborately discuses the death of tbe Duke de Conde, and alt but directly charges LouU Philippe with having instigated the murder of bis wealthy kinsman. Of tbe other |»o litical opinions and teudencies manifested in the Utst»ry of Ten Years, the most important arc iheauihor'a ho*tility to wu*t he consider* ib« social mid political Ufiurpalions ol t lie middle class, ln» antipathy foi th.»

principle of competition id trad*, and his zeal for the rights of the working man, which he would secure by co-operation, and by what among a certain class of French economists is designated the " organisation of labour." His economical principles are akin to those avowed by the more rational of our English Chartists. He is a young man of ardent temperament and unquestionable sincerity. His stature is so small that when he addressed a large assemblage of working men the other day, some of the most enthusiastic of his hearers hoisted him on their shoulders in order that his little figure might be visible to the admiring audience. M* Marie, Minister of Public Works, and one of the members for Paris, is a batonnier of the order of avo» cats. He is sixty years of age. After a long course of toil and privation, he rose iu 1830 to a place beside the Doping, Manguin* and Berryers, and has siuce been considered the leading counsel for political causes. His defence of one of the conspirators of the 4 Pont des Arts' was a masterpiece of cleverness. M. Carnot, Minister of Public Instruction (including the administration of religious affaire), was born in 1801, and is a son of the famous conventionalist of that name. He is a devoted partisan of democratic ideaß, and belonged fcpthe extreme Left. He vo'ed against the Pritchard Indemnity Bill, and for M. Remnat's project of Parliamentary reform. M. Marrast, one of the Secretaries, had a scat in the Chamber of Deputies. He ib the principal editor of the National, one of the ablest and by far the boldest of the journals opposed to the late monarchy, and eraarkable also for its virulent antipathy to England. His English apologists* however (for he has some) say that his animosity has been directed not so much against England itself, as against what be considered the truckling conduct of the French Government iu its dealings with this country. M, Marrast has been a resident in London, aud is married to an English lady. M. Gamier Pages, the Mayor of Paris, and deputy for Mans, was.bred to the bar. Though rather a tedious and solemn roan, without the learning of bis late brother, yet he is of upright and respectable character. Dupontde PEnre, the new President of the Council, was deputy for Evreux. At the elections of 1842, M. Dupont, indignant at seeing the deputies oi the Eure servilely voting in favour of the Guizot Ministry contested tour colleges of that department simultaneously j he was elected iu all four, and chose Evreux. He invariably voted against the administration which j has fallen with its protector, the King. He eatered on the 82nd year on the 27th February. In the year VIII. he was a member of the Council of Five Hundred ; in IS 11 he was President at the Court ot Rouen ; in 1813 he was President of the Corps Legutatif '; in 1815 he proposed the famous declaration, in which the rights of citizens were reserved ; in 1830 be was appointed Minister of Justice. His appointment derives itsj significance as being a personal protest against Marshal Bugeaud- When he addressed the multitude at the column of July, on Sunday week, ** Listen*' shouted Arago. " It is eighty years of a pure life that speaks to you"—a far better expression than the forty centuries looking down from the Pyramids on the French army. M. Araeo, Minister of Marine-, is one of tbe first savam in France, and pre-eminent for bis skill as a popular expounder of science. In this sense he may be said to be eloquent, but he is not an orator, though the "journalists'" assures us he enjoys a briliant reputation in that respect. He possesses, however, & fine person, a luminous eye and manly manner, with a voice to proclaim the Republic to the stars. He was born in 1786, and is perpetual secretary cf the Acadomy of Sciences, member of the office of longitudes, and one of the most illustrious scientific men of tbe age. The Republican prints say be is moderate in expressing his opinions, though hold'ng extreme views. The Morning Chronicle, however, says that even in tbe scientific world tbe great mathematician is known by the violence of 'his temper and the harsbnesß of hU chaiacter; his politics are of the most ardent republicanism. It adds that he cannot string three words together in public, (a gross exaggaration,) although he has long been called by his flatterers " the Consul Ele t of the Republic." General Bideau, Minister of War, Is now only in his forty-fourih year. As aide-de-camp to General Ferrier, Gerard, and Scbramar, be made the campaigns of Belgium in 1831-2, and for the list twelve i.r fourteen years has been among the most active ai 1 distinguished of the young African Generals. He snl General Laraorciere have fought their way to the ranks they now hold by long and gallant service in Algiers, and they have respectively filled the ranks of lieutenant-governors to the provinces of Constantino and Oran. The administration of Bideau has, from the nature of the country, been chiefly remarkable for military Government; that of Lamoriciere for military enterprise; tbe former passes for the abler man of the two, the latter for the more daring. M. Cremieux, Minister of Justice, is a Jew and deputy for Cbinon ; he is now in his 74th year, and was, before 1830, the foremost advocate of the bar ot Nismes. He accompanied Sir Moses Monteiore on the mission to arrest the persecution against the Jews,, which followed the murder of Father Thomas in Damascus He is a man of wealth and substance, and immediately after 1830 purchased of Odilon Bar* rot the place of Conseiller ii la Cour de Catsation. For the last ten years, be has been one of the most popular and generously employed of the Parisian advocates. He demanded, on the discussion of the game law, (originated in the Peers,) the suppression ot tbe article which exempts tbe Crown lands from tbe severe provisions of that enactment; but although successful in the Deputies, the Upper Chamber restored tbe obnoxious clause. He is the friend whom Mr. Cobden called as an authority for peace between the two nations. M. de Lamartine, Minister for Foreign Affairs, is the poet-historian of the Girond'ws. He is deputy ior Macon and more than thirty years ago served his apprenticeship as a diplomatist, and was named Minister Plenipotentiary by Charles X. in 1828 and 1830. Lamartiue, now in his fifty»eigth year, is a gentleman of birth and fortune. He is everywhere a poet even at the tribune. Like most poets howtver, be is rather fickle and inconstant, vain and imprudent. For a length of time be occupied a very undecided position in the Chamber, but he eventually ranged himself on the side of the Opposition. From th.it period M. de Laraartine took a decided part in iavour ot progressive reform, and ridiculed the Guizot Cabinet as the Ministry of "limitations." He voted against the Pritchard indemnity, and was apprized by the Opposition as i an invaluable acquisition. He wrote and spoke strongly I against the conduct of Government iu the Adair ot "the Spanish marriage* flic following is UU own rather | misty expression of hit, policy :—" The organic and , progressive constitution of the entire democracy, the 1 expars ve principle of mutual charity and socLl fraterniy, orguusvdttnd applied to the satisfaction of the general luerest."' The events of last week have exhibited him in a new light, and proved him to be re*Jly a gnu man. M. Lfdru RoUin, Minister of tho interior, is deputy for Mans. His speech to the electors subjected kiiu

! to a persecution on the part of the Government, and 1 the trial of the esse produced a great sensation. M. Rollin represents the ultra Radical interest, and has often attacked not only M. Guhot, hut also the policy of such men as Thiers and Odillon Barrot. He sat on the extreme Left, and has defended, at the tribune, with vigour and talent, the opinions advocated by La Reforme newspaper. He is an avocat by profession, with not too much practice. He gained some public notoriety in England by his Quizotic visit of propagan* dism to Ireland, when he offered to the late Daniel O'Connell to procure for him an armed force, composed of Frenchmen, to aid the Irish people in securing the repeal of the union by an appeal to the sword. He is also a contributor to the columns of the National. He is forty seven yea's of age. lho Times styles him a pedantic demagogue. He, too, has risen immensely in reputation siuce he assumed his present most arduous office.