Page images
PDF
EPUB

an

The length of its keel was thirty-six feet, the extreme breadth of the vessel nine and a quarter; her name was to be the Britannia. "She was intended," says he, "as a protection to the royal person of Tamahama, and I believe few circumstances in his life ever afforded him more solid satisfaction." His satisfaction was far more solid than captain Va couver perceived. Ten years after wards, when Mr. Turnbull was at Owhyhee, he had upwards of twenty vessels of different sizes, from twenty-five to fifty tons, some of them copper bottomed. Then he was in want of naval stores; but that want no longer exists. One of his vessels is now seventy tons. He has a fortification round his house, mounted with ten guns, and a guard of about two hundred native soldiers, well disciplined in the use of firearms, who do regular duty, night and day. He has above two thousand stand of arms, and more than twelve thousand dollars, with other valuable articles in proportion, which he has collected in regular trade, and deposited in store houses. His people, seconding the projects of their king with equal zeal, frequently make voyages to the N. W. coast of America, in which they learn the art of navigation, and at the same time acquire property, of which they fully understand the value. Sandwich islanders are now to be found in most of the South Sea traders. There, also, they learn English, which will probably, ere long, be so blended with their language, as to form a new one. They confidently expect to open a direct trade with China, in vessels of their own construction, and navigated by their own people. These islands produce pearls, pearl oyster shell, and sandal wood, all articles of great value in the China

market.

Tamahama's views are not confined to commerce; this is not to be

can

expected, hardly, perhaps, considering the present state of Polynesia, to be wished. He must be a conqueror also, and the further he extend his conquests the more beneficial it will be, if he can only secure his dominion upon such a basis as that it shall not be overthrown by his death. Two Englishmen who were cast, by misfortune, upon his shores, are his chief counsellors. They are, by the account of all who have visited Owhyhee, men of good character. Here then is a place where missionaries might most usefully be employed, not in explaining creeds, preaching the mysterious points of faith, and teaching catechisms, but in opening schools under the immediate patronage of a king enlightened enough to perceive the advantages which his subjects would derive from such instruction. He, perhaps, is too thorough a

statesman to be very

susceptible of religion; for they whose hearts are set so intently upon worldly things have little room for hopes of Heaven and thoughts of a hereafter. But it may be possible to make him perceive that no religion is so useful for states as the Christian, which so well inculcates the duties of order and obedience. If, however, Tamahama believes too sincerely in his country's mythology, or fears the influence of the priests too much, for him to encourage the progress of a new faith, it cannot be doubted that he would willingly see his subjects instructed in the rudiments of civilization: they may be taught to write and read, and that done, the bible may be introduced among them. It will do its own work in time. Much might be said upon this part of so important and interesting a subject, but we shall have other opportunities in treating of the other protestant missions, and this has led us beyond our usual limits.

SPIRIT OF THE MAGAZINES.

FROM THE UNIVERSAL MAGAZINE.

LIFE OF FLORIAN.

JEAN-PIERRE CLARIS DE FLORIAN, was born in 1755, at the castle of Florian, in the Lower Cevennes, at some distance from Anduza and Saint Hypolite. Although these particulars were not known to us, it would be easy to supply them. In fact, we read them at the opening of his Pastoral of Estelle: "I wish to celebrate my native land-to describe those delightful climates where the green olive, the vermillioned mulberry, the gilded grape, grow up together beneath an azure skywhere, upon smiling hills, sprinkled with violets and daffodils, bound numerous flocks and herds: where a sprightly, yet a feeling people, laborious, but yet cheerful, escape from want, by toil, and from vice by cheerfulness." And a few lines lower; "On the borders of the Gardon, at the foot of the lofty mountains of Cevennes, between the town of Anduza, and the village of Massanne, lies a valley, where nature seems to have collected all her treasures.

[ocr errors]

The castle in which Florian was born, was built by his grandfather, a counsellor of the Chamber of Accounts at Montpellier, who ruined himself by building a superb mansion on a very small estate, and who, when he died, left two sons, and many debts. From the second son, Florian derived his birth. It appears that his grandfather had conceived a great affection for his grandson; and it afforded him real pleasure to see him grow up under his own eye. Sensible to this tenderness, and penetrated both with

respect and love, the young Florian joyfully accompanied him in his ru ral excursions, and procured to the old man a satisfaction, with which he was highly flattered-that of admiring his plantations. Hence arose that respect and veneration which Florian always evinced for old age, and that pleasing melancholy which he contracted a habit of, although he was naturally of a gay and lively disposition.

One of the causes which contributed to instil into Florian's heart that pleasing melancholy which constitutes the powerful charm of his writings, was his having, from his childhood, to bewail a tender mother whom he had never the happiness to know, and who was highly deserving of the regret which he experienced for her. The idea, that he never enjoyed the presence, the caresses, and the fostering cares of her who gave him birth, was to Florian, ever a source of painful recollection; it was almost foremost in his thoughts; and, in the course of time, the more he obtained success, the more did he regret his mother could not share his feelings. He well knew that no person would have been more sensible. His father, a worthy honest man, was more intent on the cultivation of his land than on his understanding. His mother, on the contrary, naturally intelligent, had always enjoyed the pleasure derived from letters. It was from her that Florian believed he inherited his literary talents. From the description given him, by those who had known, he had a portrait of

her painted, for which he always showed the most profound veneration.

After the death of his grandfather, young Florian was sent to a school at St. Hypolite. He learned but little there; but his natural genius and his witty sallies were soon remarked; and the favourable reports which his relations received of his happy dispositions, determined them to give him an education capable of assisting his talents.

His father's elder brother had married the niece of Voltaire. That great man was spoken to in behalf of young Florain, and was informed of the rising genius he displayed. Voltaire was anxious to see him. Florain was sent to him, and his first introduction into the world was at Ferney.

Voltaire was singularly amused with his gayety, his gentleness of manners, his lively repartees, and conceived a great friendship for him. This is evident from his letters to Floriannet, the friendly familiar name he gave him; indeed it was said, and even mentioned in some of the periodical works of the day, that he was his near relation; but he was no other way allied to him than as the nephew of the man who had married his niece.

From Ferney, Florian went to Paris, where they procured him several masters to cultivate and improve his rising talents. He passed some years there; and during that period made several journeys to Hornoy, a country seat of his aunt's, in Picardy. Destined from that time for the profession of arms, he thought it his duty to adopt the spirit of it: all his sports savoured of combats. The pe rusal of some old romances, on the subject of knight errantry, heated his imagination; and the prowess of the knights and deeds of chivalry became so much to his taste, that having then, for the first time, read Don Quixotte, which he afterwards translated, far from deriving plea

sure from the work, he was almost disgusted with it. He looked upon Michael Cervantes as an absurd, impertinent blockhead, for having dared to attack, with the arms of ridicule, heroes who were the objects of his admiration.

As his family was not rich, in the year 1768, he entered into the service of the Duke de Penthievre, as his page. His friends hoped, by this means, he would be enabled to finish his education, and, in the end, might obtain some honourable employment; but the education of pages was not the most excellent, and, without the resources which he had within him. self, would have availed him little.

The duke, who attended to his own household, and who possessed a sound judgment, soon distinguished him from among his companions. His frankness, his pleasantries, and jokes, always within the strictest bounds of decency, and his lively witticisms, frequently amused that virtuous personage, who, spite of his wealth, of his goodness, and benevolence, was, of all men in France, perhaps, one who was less happy.

It was during the period that young Florian was page (he was then about fifteen) that he composed the first lines which came from his pen. The occasion which gave rise to them, and the subject he chose out of preference, equally contributed to give an idea of his character, which, as I have already said, was a melange of mirth and melancholy.-The conversation one day at the duke's, was rather grave, and turned upon religious discourses and sermons. Florian suddenly engaged in it, and maintained, that a sermon was by no means difficult to compose; and added, that he thought he was capable of composing one if it was necessary. The prince took him at his word, and betted a wager of fifty louis that he would not succeed. The curate of St. Eustache, who was present, was to be the judge. Florian immediately set to

work and, in the course of a few days, produced the fruits of his labour.

The astonishment of the prince and the curate was extreme, to hear a youth recite a sermon upon death, which was worthy of being submitted to the publick eye. The first agreed that he had lost his wager, adding, that he experienced much real pleasure in having lost it: and immediately paid down the amount. The other, the curate, got possession of the sermon, took it away, and preached it at his parish church. When Florian had fulfilled the duties of a page, which only continued till a certain age, he was a long time doubtful what line of life he should adopt, and his relations partook of his uncertainty. Some advised him to solicit a place of gentleman of honour in the prince's household, as that place offered a certain and quiet life; others (and his father was of the number) wished that he should pursue the career of arms. As he had not entirely lost all his ideas of chivalry, he inclined strongly to that side. The "pomp and pageantry of war" appeared to him in a more seducing light than all the advantages of the sedentary life they wished him to adopt; and he remarked pleasantly enough, on the subject of the place of gentleman to the prince, which had been solicited for and offered to him, "I have been too long a footman, to become a valet de chambre."

He, therefore, chose the service, and entered into what was then called the corps of royal artillery. He went to Bapaume, where the military college was. He applied himself to the study of mathematicks, and succeeded, as he possessed an aptness at every branch of learning. But the science of calculation was by no means analogous with the turn of his mind; he soon discovered it had no attractions for him. Born with a lively, brilliant imagination, Florian conceived that the science of calculation served but to restrain its

flights; and he, conséquently forgot it almost as soon as he had learned it.

The academy at Bapaume, where Florian then was, was composed of young men, who, almost all, possess ed considerable talents, but, with whom, reason was a very rare guest. We should suppose that they were occupied with their different studies, since many clever persons have come from it; but we may pretty well judge what must be the life of a great number of young men, hurried away by the impetuosity of youth, and yielding to all the extravagancies of their fancies. Nothing could keep them in restraint; one quarrel gave rise to another, and these daily disputes always ended in duels. Florian was wounded several times. At length, the want of discipline in the pupils became so great, that they were obliged to suppress the establishment. Who could have ever supposed that from such a school should come the author of Estelle and Galatea?

canon

Much about this time Florian obtained a troop of cavalry in the regiment of Penthievre, then in garrison at Maubeuge. Soon after his arrival in that city, he became so violently enamoured with a ess, as amiable as she was virtuous, that he absolutely wished to marry her. His friends and relations wished to dissuade him from a match which was no way suitable to his years or his fortune, and they at last succeeded.

His family, from whom he had but little to expect, resolved to attach him to a man of power and interest, by procuring for him, notwithstanding his opposition, the place which he had before refused. But Florian wished to serve, and the prince did not wish any gentleman to be employed about his person who was attached to the service. Anxious, however, to fix the wavering resolution of a man whose society he loved, he even began to smooth the difficulties which might interfere

with the inclinations of Florian. It was agreed, then, that he should retire upon half pay; that his rank should still continue; and that he should be wholly at liberty to remain in his new situation. He settled, therefore at Paris. And this sedentary life, which he had so great a dread of, contributed not a little to his launching into the career of let

ters.

It was then, in fact, that in order to remove the ennui which sometimes seized him, and of which he said himself he was too susceptible, he began to write. The fondness which he always had for the Spanish language, revived. He applied him self to the study of it, and formed the plan of translating into French, every Spanish work which might appear to please the general taste of the people. After a long hesitation, divided in his opinions on several authors, he made choice of Cer. vantes; and, finding his Galatea possessed of much interest, spite of its imperfections, he resolved to set about it. The happy alterations which he made in that poem; the entire scenes he has added to it: the rustick fete; the story of the doves; the farewell to Elicio's dog; the last canto entirely, which he thought necessary to finish the poem which Cervantes never finished; the elegant and de. licate stanzas, which he has scatter. ed through the work; all contribu. ted to the success of Galatea, which determined Florian to give himself up entirely to this species of composition, the pastoral romance, so long fallen into absolute discredit.

[ocr errors]

works; they are in the hands of almost every person. The custom he had contracted of studying and wri ting, had become in him a real want: he never passed a day without this kind of labour, and he frequently toiled from morning till night.

"Try to write fables," said the duke de Penthievre one day to him. Florian followed his advice. He wrote fables. Many years passed away before he published any of them, and only gave them to the world three or four years before his death. This collection, the most perfect which has appeared since La Fontaine, is, of all Florian's works, that which posterity will admire the most. At the head of this work he had his portrait engraved.

Few authors were admitted at so early an age, into the French Academy. He was only thirty three the day he was appointed a member. But he did not look upon this place as a place of idleness, or as a privilege for doing nothing. His new title, far from diminishing, increased his love of toil; and, if a premature death had not stopped him in his career, he had planned what was sufficient to have kept him employed for many years.

[ocr errors]

Amongst his projects, was that of writing the lives of eminent and illustrious characters of modern history, and comparing them with each other, after the manner of Plutarch. He waited, he said, to undertake these different works till the fire of his imagination should be cooled. "That," said he, "shall be the employment of my latter years."

He published Estelle, and obtainThe affection which he had coned fresh success, the glory of which, ceived for Spain, and the Spanish was exclusively his own. Estelle, in people, was not exclusive; there was fact, was solely his own invention, another people who shared it; one and pleased as much as Galatea. would not easily guess who it was There are those who even prefer it the Jews. He had a perfect knowledge to the latter. But the greatest numof their history, and frequently ap ber regard Estelle and Galatea, as plied it most happily. He had always two sisters equally amiable, and be- a strong desire to compose a Jewish tween whom it is difficult to make a work; and he wrote one in four choice. books, which form a neat, small voIt is needless to speak of his other lume, about the size of his Galatea:

« PreviousContinue »