THE LATE M. LEDRU ROLLIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 668, 5 February 1875, Page 3

THE LATE M. LEDRU ROLLIN.

A recent cable telegram informs us of the death of M. Ledru-Rollin, the French statesman and writer. Of his career “Men of the Times ” supplies the following par ticulars : Alexandre Auguste Ledru Itollin, ex Minister of France, born in Paris, February 2, 1808, became an advocate in 1830, and was frequently engaged to defend men charged with offences against the Covernme't. Being a politician of vehement character and extreme opinions, he rendered himself conspicuous as an avowed representative of the Communist interest. Having married an Irish lady, M. LedruRollin paid a visit to Ireland during the summer of O’Connell’s “ monster meetings,” was present at the memorable assemblage at Tara, and on that occasion was hailed by the excited multitude as a delegate from the republicans of France to the Irish republic. Ho took a prominent part in the revolution of February, 1848, was nominated Minister of the Interior in the Provisional Government, and was third on the poll in the candidature for the presidency of the Republic. Having been implicated in a conspiracy to overthrow Louis Napoleon he was forced to seek safety in England, and published in 1850, La Decadence de I’Anyleterre, a work inspired by the bitterest animosities against the institutions and ideas of the country that had given him shelter. He has written other works on legal and political subjects, all characterised by extreme views, and has fraternised with the most notable of the proscribed men of the day, shell as Mazzini, Kossuth, 'and Huge. For more than twenty years he resided alternately in London and Brussels, subsisting on the wreck of his fortune and by the aid of his pen. In 1849 he was condemned by default to transportation for his share in the revolutionary movements of that year, and again in 1857 for being concerned with Mazzini and others in a plot against Napoleon 111, and his name was excepted fiom the general amnesties of 1803 and ISG9. In January, 1870, however, a decree was published granting him permission to return to France ; and, though he at first declined to take advantage of the amnesty, he made bis appearance in Paris on March 25, after an absence of more than twenty years.