Chateaubriand, who hated all that could replace him and smiled at all that could make him regretted, had had the kindness to tell him sometimes, by Mme. Récamier’s fireside, “that he hoped he would be his successor;” which prompted M. de Noailles to dash off a big book in two volumes about Mme. de Maintenon, at the commencement of which, on the first page of the preface, I was stopped by a lordly breach of grammar.
This was the state of things when I concluded to go to the Academy.
The session which was announced to begin at two o’clock, as usual, opened, as usual, at a quarter past three. And at half past three--
At half past three the candidacy of Monsieur the Duke do Noailles, *replacing* Chateaubriand, was irresistibly acclaimed.
Decidedly, I ought to have gone to the Assembly.
I was warming myself, for it is very cold, and the ground is covered with snow, which is not good for the apricot trees. M. Guizot, leaning against the mantelpiece, was saying to me:
“As a member of the dramatic prize committee, I read yesterday, in a single day, mind you, no fewer than six plays!”
“That,” I responded, “was to punish you for not having seen one acted in eighteen years.”
At this moment M. Thiers came up and the two men exchanged greetings. This is how they did it:
M. Guizot presided. At the roll call, when M. Pasquier’s name was reached he said: “Monsieur the Chancellor--” When he got to that of M. Dupin, President of the National Assembly, he called: “Monsieur Dupin.”
First ballot. Alfred de Musset 5 votes. M. Nisard 23 ”
To-day, September 12, the Academy worked at the dictionary. A propos of the word “increase,” this example, taken from the works of Mme. de Staël, was proposed:
“Poverty increases ignorance, and ignorance poverty.”
Three objections were immediately raised:
BESIDES misdeeds, robberies, the division of spoils after an ambuscade, and the twilight exploitation of the barriers of Paris, footpads, burglars, and gaol-birds generally have another industry: they have ideal loves.
The trade in negro slaves moves us, and with good reason; we examine this social sore, and we do well. But let us also learn to lay bare another ulcer, which is more painful, perhaps: the traffic in white women.