EERIER, CASIMIR, a celebrated French statesman, was h. at Grenoble, in the depart ment of Isere, France, Oct. 21, 1777. His father had enriched himself by mercantile and industrial pursuits, into which be initiated his two elder sons; but Casimir was still studying at the college of the oratory at Lyon when the revolution broke out. He imme diately went to Paris, and there associated himself with his father and elder brother, Antoine-Scipion, in their endeavors to found a banking company. It is sufficient to notice here that the banking company was firmly established, and became the bank of France. Casimir was drafted into the army in 1798, and served in an engineering corps till 1801, when he returned to Paris, and resumed the position of coadjutor to his brother. The house of Perier prospered greatly under the empire; the peace which fol lowed the events of 1815 aidsd the development of their plans, and gave a wider scope to their enterprises; and the mblic regarded with special favor men such as these two brothers, who devoted their abilities and fortunes to foster the growth of public, as well as their own, prosperity. In 1817 Perier published three tracts, in which he condemned the financial policy of the ministry. These papers made a lively impression on the pub lic, and led to-the return of the author to the chamber of deputies by the electors of Paris. Perier, in his political principles, was essentially a constitutionalist, equally far removed from absolutism onthe one hand, and extreme democracy on the other. The elections of 1824, conducted under government influence, resulted in the ousting of the greater portion of the constitutionalists. Perim-, however, and a few others of the chiefs of the party retained their seats; but their opposition to the ministerial measures, though constant and unwearying. was quite ineffective; it, however, raised them greatly hi pub lic opinion, and secured their re-election, in 1827. In this year Perier had the honor of being elected as representative by both the departments of the Seine and Aube. Ile defended the loyal and sagacious administration of M. de Martignac, whose representa•
lions to the king, Charles X., seemed to have the effect of reconciling the royal party to government in conformity with the charter; but the subsequent rule of the prince de Polignac reduced iltis hopeful state of affairs to its former critical condition. The revo lution (of July, 1830), which Perier, from his experience of that of 1789, had made every endeavor to prevent, now followed, and it only remained for him to render it as blood less as possible. In this he was successful, through his great influence with the people of Paris. Oil Acg. 3 he was erected president of the chamber of deputies. but resigned this office on the 11th of the same month to become a member of the ministry. When Latfitte became president of the council (Nov. 2), Perier, fearing that the tendencies of the ministry were too revolutionary, resigned office, and resumed the presidency of the chamber of deputies. On Mar. 13, 1831, he succeeded Laffitte as minister, and gave his whole attention to the repression of revolution, the maintenance of order at home and of peace abroad, originating the political system known as the justemilieu (q.v.). His for eign policy was very successful; he greatly contributed to the maintenance of Belgian independence, the suppression of the Miguelite insurrection in Portugal, the counterbal ancing of Austrian influence in Italy, and, in general, to the spread and progress of con-! stitutiobal liberty both at home and abroad; but the rapid growth of extreme liberalism in France, partly owing to previous encouragement unwittingly afforded by himself, was a source of great annoyance to him. On the outbreak of cholera in Paris, Mar., 1832, Yeller made the most extraordinary exertions for the enforcement of the necessary sana tory measures; he was attacked by the disease, and his system being already exhausted by over-exertion, he died May 16, 1832. No public man in France was ever so generally and sincerely lamented, and a monument to his memory was erected by pub lic subscription in the cemetery of Pere-la-Chaise.