None but those who have seen, as we have, the written proofs of it in the hands of M. Libri, abounding both in quantity and quality, can have an idea of the fear which prevails in France of giving testimony in favour of a person under the government ban. The noble-minded men who have faced the danger, Guizot, Paul Lacroix, Jubinal, Mérimée, Buloz (the editor of the Revue des Deux Mondes), Durand, St. Beuve (of the Institute), and others dangerous to name, are brilliant exceptions. We must add Colonel Pontécoulant, the well-known writer on celestial mechanics, who wished to publish (but, since the prosecution, the Revue, &c., did not venture to insert it) the declaration made to him by the librarian at Montpellier, that M. Libri had been in that library, alone, for hours, by day and by night, and that nothing had ever been missed: which declaration the librarian was afraid to make public. In the early days of this accusation, stress was laid upon M. Libri's possession of a work which had once belonged to the Chartreuse at Grenoble, but it soon became known, not only that the work had been sold to Dr. Commarmont of Lyons, but that Sommerard had cited it in print (or rather in copperplate) as being in his possession. Dr. Commarmont, being since in England, testified to Mr. Panizzi and Mr. Holmes, of the Museum, that he, as indeed was well known, had sold the work to M. Libri: but he declined to put it in writing; and the impression on the minds of the two gentlemen is that he dared not.

The immense number of charges and insinuations made defies enumeration: but the ignorance, or malice, or both, displayed in the main parts, renders it unnecessary. The experts appear to have known that when a great deal of mud is thrown, some of it has a chance of sticking.

Our space and our patience both begin to fail. But we think we have done enough to show that M. Libri had better quietly pursue his defence here, in England, than trust in French justice, even were it true, to use words already quoted, that it is only in political cases that the judges show scandalous partiality. He is respected by all who know him. Had he been such as he is said to be, would he not, in coming among the French, have flattered their national vanity, and blinded them to suspicion by securing popularity? Would he not have given up the dead writers of his own country to secure a living price upon their abstracted writings? Did so acute a man do nothing in science but raise up enemies, while he was, his accusers declare, selling thousands of pounds worth of public property, much of which had been stolen in Paris itself? We should find these questions difficult to answer, even though good grounds of suspicion existed. For the impression which the case will create, and is creating, against the literary and scientific character of France, we are sincerely sorry: we wish we could hope that a firm remonstrance, on the part of those who teach the public to read and to think, would at last abate this glaring scandal. Let them be assured that the verdict of literature throughout Europe will be, in the words of their own Daniels, De tels faits ne se discutent pas, ils s'exposent.

Since the above was sent to press, public attention has been turned to the new convention between the French government and our own, for the surrender of accused persons. There seems much reason to suppose that two clauses, at least, were directly aimed at the case of M. Libri. In discussing the bill for giving power to carry this convention into effect, the English instincts of the House of Lords, previously to the abandonment of the bill, had already dealt death to one of these clauses, and would probably have given a similar fate to the other: and this without any reference to the case of M. Libri.

FILIA DOLOROSA.*

PERHAPS, if we search history through, we shall not find amongst its pages a record of the life of any princess who underwent so many vicissitudes as the Duchess d'Angoulême. The daughter of a king, she was old enough to remember, and to lament the fate of, her illustrious father and mother, and her youthful aunt, hurried to the scaffold by a set of the most Heaven-defying wretches that ever outraged and astounded human nature. Menaced with the same fate, and while detained in the prison of "The Temple," she had to bewail the death of her young brother, too probably dismissed by poison to the other world, to be hereafter a witness against his murderers. Afterwards married to her cousin, she saw the rise, the meteor course, and the declension of Napoleon. Then came a gleam of sunshine, only to be too soon withdrawn. Napoleon's escape from Elba and landing in France compelled the royal family again to seek refuge in a foreign country. From thence she saw the final ruin of that mighty and portentous genius. Some years of comparative tranquillity succeeded, disturbed, however, by the murder of her brother-in-law, the Duc de Berri, and destroyed at length by the second French Revolution, Once more an exile, her anxious interest was once more directed towards France. She had now to watch the career of her cousin of Orleans, "the Napoleon of peace," the astute, sagacious, overreaching, and at last overreached Louis Philippe. She saw his downfal. The third revolution had arrived. Shall monarchy be restored?-a question that must have made the heart of the Duchess beat wildly. No. Behold a second republic. Whether her heart sank at that, or caught at a reviving hope, we know not. Had she livedhow many years more than two or three from this time shall we say?— what other change might she not have witnessed?

The lamented Authoress of this work died before she could be gratified by seeing its publication, but she has left us that for which we ought to be grateful, and which does equal honour to her heart and her abilities. It is nothing to say that we find here a more minute and painfully interesting description of the sufferings and indignities so sublimely submitted to by the royal family while confined in the Temple, than is to be found in any former publication; or that the account of the several pseudo-dauphins, whose pretensions remind us so strongly of our Lambert Simnel and Perkyn Warbeck, and the "false Demetrius" of Russia, adds greatly to the attraction of the work. Its real merit and value are to be found in the beautiful exposition it makes of the character of the heroine, the duchess. Purified in the furnace of sorrow and of suffering, we see her, exalted by these, in all the grace and dignity of her life and conversation; we admire the modest magnanimity of her thoughts, we respect and love the beneficence of her acts. We know of very few books indeed which, written by a lady, and relating the saint-like life of a most illustrious lady, could be so likely to captivate the women of England, not because the subject of it is an honour to the sex, but because she furnishes such an instance of virtue, piety, and goodness under the most terrible trials and afflictions, as make her an example which, once seen and studied, must ever be religiously remembered.

⚫ Filia Dolorosa: Memoir of the Duchess d'Angoulême. By the late Mrs.

Romer.

CORONATION OF THE EMPEROR OF HAYTI.

Port-au-Prince, Monday, April 19, 1852.

The coronation of Faustin I. took place yesterday. This is an event which, of course, has been looked forward to with great interest by multitudes. For several weeks past very extensive preparations for it have been visible in all directions. The military force at the Capital had been greatly augmented. The principal nobility of the empire had assembled. The city was full of people. It is supposed that there were from fifteen to twenty thousand strangers at Portau-Prince. An immense tent, capable of holding probably ten thousand persons, had been built upon the Champ de Mars, the decorations of which were not completed as late as Saturday night, the 17th instant. This tent was constructed and ornamented with much taste. The roof of the nave was a curvature, in the form of an arch, the rafters of which were ornamented with rich double hangings, and the sides at the base of the curvature hung with wreaths of tri-coloured (the national colours) tapestry, richly fringed, with a splendid national flag at each post. This was entered from the west by a plank walk, about three rods wide, extending from the point where the imperial carriages and those of the nobility were to stop, and where also was a round tent of considerable magnitude, bearing on the top of the centre-pole a very large silk flag. This tent appeared to serve as a sort of ante-chamber for the imperial family, as also for the courtiers and ladies of honour. This walk, as also the entire nave and the extensive apartments assigned to the senators, representatives, consuls, and commercial gentlemen, together with the musicians' gallery, were all carpeted with blue broadcloth, such as the government uses for military coats. There was still an immense

space to be occupied by a portion of the Imperial guards and the populace, who only had the green grass of the Champ de Mars to stand upon. At a considerable distance from the tent were immense bodies of military formed in a hollow square, and thus protecting the whole scene on every side. The eastern half of the nave was elevated about five feet from the ground, and arranged in the form of a Catholic chapel, with a richly ornamented altar at the east end; a prie-Dieu (or desk for their Majesties to kneel and pray upon), all covered with gold, except the cushion, stood upon the north side not far from the altar; and upon the south side, still further from the altar, an elevation designed to represent the imperial throne, and which their Majesties were to occupy during a certain portion of the ceremony. The seats placed upon this elevation for the use of their Majesties were two goldplated arm-chairs, with high backs splendidly ornamented at the top, all in gold work. The chair of the Emperor was a little more elevated than that of the Empress, and was covered with an elevated canopy, ornamented with the imperial eagle and stars, all in gold work. The chair of the Princesse Impériale, as also those of the Emperor's brothers, were of an ordinary kind, and were placed lower than those of their Majesties. Behind the prie-Dieu were also two chairs of the ordinary form, but thoroughly plated with gold and cushioned with rich purple.

A circumstance somewhat amusing happened to me the day before the coronation. I was taking a walk in the early part of the day, and took the fancy to go and see the imperial tent. I entered the plankwalk, where I met a friend, with whom I approached the entrance of the nave, when a military officer told me that it was too late to go in, as the workmen had commenced their labour. But after a few moments he said to me, "Go in." I bowed and stepped in. My friend told me afterwards that he overheard this officer say to his comrades, that he had done well to let me go in, for very likely I might be one of the family! He was probably from the mountains and rather green, and judged that, because I was a foreigner, I was very likely a prince and therefore of necessity connected with the imperial family!

sent.

A salute at sunset, and fire-works in the evening, announced the approaching festival. All was bustle and preparation. The consuls and other classes specially invited, were requested to be present at six o'clock in the morning. As early as two o'clock the military forces were in movement, and there was little chance for sleeping more. I arrived on the ground at six o'clock and found already a large body of people preThe apartment assigned to the commercial men and to untitled strangers was so full that I feared to enter, on account of the extreme heat. I therefore passed round to the other side of the tent and placed myself near the balustrade in the pit, which was as yet but little occupied. This, however, was a step which I had occasion bitterly to regret afterwards. After standing about an hour, the guards entered and the crowd pressed in upon me so closely that I was in a very serious condition-hardly room to stand, and perhaps a greater difficulty to

leave.

After about another hour the clergy entered, with all the pomp and show of their gaudy system. I hoped, for the sake of my legs and back, that I should not be kept standing much longer; but, alas! another hour passed before the arrival of the Emperor. The Empress, with a tiara upon her head, appeared first, under a very highly ornamented canopy. Her dress was of cream-coloured satin, richly ornamented with gold lace, fringe, and other trappings to correspond. The Emperor appeared with the crown upon his head, as if he would show the clergy of Rome that he was not dependent upon them for the privilege of wearing it.

But to return. About 9 o'clock the Emperor appeared. Cries loud and long of "Vive l'Empereur !" and the excitement consequent upon seeing a crown for the first time in my life, made me forget for a short time my fatigue. He walked also under a canopy. He carried the sceptre in his right hand, which was so long that when standing upon the floor the eagle that surrounded the top was higher than his head. In his left hand, also, he carried another sceptre of nearly the same length, but having no eagle upon it. As I am but a simple republican, I suppose I shall not be held responsible for not knowing intuitively the meaning of all these monarchical insignia. I must say that he looked very well, and I am quite sure that a crown sits as well over his chubby and cheerful face, as it would over the long, moustached and dastardly visage that the painters give to Louis Napoleon. The Emperor's dress, or rather (to forget for a moment the crown) that portion of it which covered the lower part of his humanity, was embroidered pumps, apparently of white satin, ornamented with golden stars; a tunic of light-coloured satin, richly adorned with gold lace, tinselled fringe,

&c., and reaching, fringe and all, nearly to his feet; a purple mantle, richly set with golden stars, and surmounted with an ermine cape of great beauty.

Thus attired, the Emperor and Empress mounted the steps to the chapel, and advancing to the altar, placed their crowns upon their prieDieu, except that the Empress kept the wreath, said to be studded with diamonds, upon her head, after which they seated themselves at their prie-Dieu. The services were now fully commenced. These I need not describe, as they were such as are common in Catholic churches on similar occasions. And for myself, not being able any longer to see their Majesties, seated at their prie-Dieu, on account of the great number of courtiers that thronged the chapel, I began to think very seriously again of my fatigue, and concluded that I must seek some way of changing my position. Finally, at about 10 o'clock, having already stood four hours constantly, I worked my way through the crowd, and succeeded to get outside of the tent. I now made my way to the other side, and after some effort, succeeded in reaching the merchants' quarters. Here for some time I was labouring in fruitless attempts to see their Majesties, when, at near 11 o'clock, I obtained a seat upon a balustrade, where I obtained a view of their Majesties' beads, they being still seated at their prie-Dieu. The service seemed excessively long, and multitudes were desirous of seeing it come to a close, when, to our great relief, at 11 o'clock, they rose from their seats, proceeded to the altar, where the Emperor received his crown from the hands of the Vicar-General, and placed it upon his own head, as also the tiara of the Empress, which he placed upon her head. The Emperor did not seem entirely at his ease with the crown upon his head. It seemed rather heavy, and he occasionally raised his hand to steady it. They were now conducted in state to the throne, where, after being properly seated, the Empress at the right of his Majesty and the Princess still lower, the Imperial mantle spread over the back of the Emperor's chair, the sceptres in his hands, he now received extraordinary cheers, loud and long, of " Vive l'Empereur!" Thus the preliminaries and the great act itself, of the coronation, have been somewhat minutely described. I need not describe in detail the ceremonies which succeeded; their rising up and sitting down, the obeisance of the courtiers, of the masses, the meaning of which was probably poorly understood even by those who chanted them, nor of several other et ceteras of less importance, which filled up the time until 12 o'clock, when their Majesties retired.

There were also very many other things, which may be considered as matter of course in such ceremonies, of which I have made no mention, such as the frequent discharge of cannon, the martial music from hundreds of fifes, drums, cymbals, horns and trumpets, brass bands, singing of the choir, as also the music from great numbers of violins accompanied with bass, &c. The Imperial family now entered the Imperial carriage, drawn by eight light-coloured horses, and scattering money among the crowd, they made their way to the Imperial

Palace.

Brilliant fireworks, with other demonstrations of great joy, occupied the masses during the evening. We understand there is to be a cessation of business for eight days, accompanied with extraordinary demonstrations of public joy.