INTRODUCTION XIX

very différent from those which Courier sent to his correspondents — *il les a refaites et corrigées à loisir' (Sainte-Beuve). Some of them were probably never sent to anyone. The most famous of ail, the immortal * Nous venons de faire un empereur. . .' (May 1804, p. 8), is addressed to an imaginary correspondent. The letter of Sept. 12, 1806 (p. 30), with its allusions to the French reverse at Sainte-Euphémie (July 4, 1 806), is altogether altered from the original, the latter containing certain complimentary allusions to the English which would hâve been unpopular with the public of Courier the pamphleteer. The original is hère included (p. 35) for the first time among the Lettres, It was discovered by M. Gaschet and published by him in the Revue bleue^ March 1 7, i 906.^ Thèse are only examples which could be largely added to. Courier was never satisfied with his work, and was always giving it what he calls ' quelques touches imperceptibles.' 2 The final revision for publication of the Lettres was the task on which he was probably engaged at the time of his assassination.

In 1 8 1 4 Courier married the eighteen-year-old daughter of his friend Clavier, a leamed Hellenist and Academician. Henceforth he divided his time between Paris and Touraine, where he acquired a new estate, La Chavonnière, and commenced to lead the bizarre double life of a Hellenistic peasant, oscillating between studies in Greek and the exploitation of his woods, now associating with the savants of the capital, now squabbling with his peasant neighbours in the country. He was an uncomfortable husband and a bad neighbour. He was involved in seyeral lawsuits, and, according to his own accoimt, never obtained justice — * Chaque fois qu'on le volait

^ On the whole subject of the final form of the Lettres see Gaschet, ' De l'authenticité des lettres de Paul-Louis Courier,' in the Revue d^ Histoire littéraire de la France, April-June, 19 12.

I* 'J'ai heureusement donné quelques touches imperceptibles à ma Lettre à Renouard, qui, sans y rien changer, raniment quelques endroits, mettent des liaisons qui manquaient' (to Mme Courier, Nov. 1821). *

ici, c'était lui qui payait l'amende ' (see p. 151). The fact is that he had what is called a * besting ' character. His brilliant little mémoires on his adventures in litigation appear conclusive against his adversaries, but the évidence and the jury were always prosaically conclusive against Courier.

He does not appear to hâve held any strong political views, except that the hatred of discipline which he displayed as an officer was merely an aspect of a rooted objection to ail authority. An indifferentist in politics and religion alike, it was really accident that transformed him into a bitter pamphleteer against Church and State. To the personal sensé of discomfort due to bad health, a bilious tempérament, an unwise marriage, and uncongenial surroundings, was added the annoyance of the Royalist reaction in Touraine, the so-called White Terror. Hence the Pétition aux deux chambres^ the first of his political pamphlets (18 16). The events which led to the composition and publication of this brochure are sufficiently explained by its author (see pp. 89-98). In some ways it is perhaps his best effort in political satire. Artifîcial as it is in tone,^ and with certain odd dissonances where the Hellenist betrays himself behind the peasant, it yet seems to hâve in it the ring of honest indignation excited by petty tyranny. Like ail successful pamphlets, it is an ex parte présentation of a case. But the suppressio veri and suggestio falsi are the indispensable weapons of the pamphleteer,! and no one ever handled them with more dexterity and grâce than Courier.

The immédiate success of his coup éP essai did not at once transform him into a determined assailant of the Government. He even approached the Minister Decazes on the subject of his grievances against the Mayor of Véretz, and seemed on the point of obtaining satisfaction, when his Lettre à Messieurs de P Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres (see pp. 99-1 1 5) put him hopelessly wrong with the authorities, lost him the

^ ' Pour les besoins de sa' cause, il se travestit, lui fin lettré et riche propriétaire, en campagnard naïf, ignorant des affaires publiques' (Gaschet. La vie et la mort tragique de Paul- Louir Courier, p. 151).