Excerpt from The Influence of Beranger: And His Lyric Poems, Upon the Bourbon Dynasty in France; A Paper Read Before the Liverpool Philomathic Society, January 5th, 1881

IF we wish to take a proper view of a newly-constructed edifice, we should take down the scaffolding and retire at some distance; then we perceive the architect's design, the proportions of the building, and can take in to a greater extent the idea which the artist endeavoured to produce upon the spectator. Many a structure loses its effect when it is criticised whilst with the grime and dust which is inseparable from the touch of the contemporary workers. So with Beranger. It was difficult during his lifetime fully to appreciate his endeavours, or to define his actual position in the history of his country. Death has, however, indivi dualised his character, and made his life and workings stand out in bold relief. Nay, it is necessary to go back some generations to elicit why a Beranger could occupy so lofty a pedestal, and what were the events that led up to the great power he possessed in developing the better political feelings of his fellow-countrymen.

In comparing the leaders of the English and French peoples, we may at once concede the more wise and truly patriotic feeling of the English patrician families to those of France, whilst the former, as a rule, looked upon their vast patrimonies and family influence as a means to effect the better government of the nation, with the latter it was always the reverse. The nobles looked upon themselves as a separate caste, privileged to idleness and to use the population as more tools to enrich themselves and to gratify their owndesires. At best, the plebeian was treated as an owner of horses does his beasts. They might be well fed, well groomed, and well stabled, but only that they might the better work for their owner. As for any thought of equality, the idea to them seemed preposterous in this world; and even in the other world, of which the clergy claimed especial charge, it was problematical whether la grande noblesse had not already engaged reserved seats.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.