Ce morceau. Of his mother's own composition

P. 59, 1. 10. François Auguste de Chateaubriand (i 768-1848) was at this time recognised, beyond dispute, as the living chief of French literature.

1. 19. Ennemi. Chateaubriand was a Royalist, though not an extrême reactionary.

1. 26. René, Chactas (the latter the more euphonious French form of 'Choctaw'), two heroes of Chateaubriand's most celebrated Works, the first appearing chiefly in the book of the same name, the second in Atala and Les Natchez. René, a despairing hero, having some resemblances to Goethe's Werther, exercised both directly, and through the Byronic heroes whom he inspired, an enormous influence in the first three décades of the présent century. Chactas is a noble and amiable savage.

P. 60, 1. 7. Il n'ira pas plus loin. Chateaubriand did do nothîng more, of importance: for his unequal, but in part admirable Mémoires d^ Outre-tombe, though not pubiished, were almost whoUy written.

P. 61, 1. I. Marécages. Quinet's own country was, as has been said above, marshy : but the phrase is probably metaphorical, ' this provincial stagnation.'

P. 62, 1. 4. Benjamin Constant (i 767-1830), a writer of great merit, and a prominent, though not very consistent politician, was at this time an Opposition leader in the Chamber of Deputies. He also busied himself a good deal at this time with the history and philosophy of religion, Quinet's favourite subject.

1. 9. Georg Friedrich Creuzer (1771-1858), au exceedingly leamed

writer on mythology. His Symholik n?id Mythologie der alten Volker is one of the classics of the subject.

1, 13. L'Institut. The French Institute, or union of Académies.

1. 22. Cité humaine, 'human community, ' ' society of the whole world.'

1. 25. Nous sommes tellement dans le faux. ' We are in so false a condition ; ' * are so far from simple truth.'

1. 28. Jules Michelet (i 798-1874), the famous historian and brilliant writer, had been introduced by Cousin to Quinet. The two young men struck up a friendship which was only ended by Quinet's death.