LA_ BEDOLLIER'E, ESIILE GIGAULT DE, b. France 1814. While pursuing his primary legal studies he published a satirical poem entitled Eloge du Gourernement, fot which the government prosecuted him. The young poet defended himself before the court with wit and tact, and was acquitted. Deciding to live by his pen he set to serious work, and composed an essay on the life of Lafayette. It attacked the party of concilia 'lion which Lafayette represented. The young men of that time (the early years of the reign of Louis Philippe) were addicted to wit at the expense of all opinions not thoroughly partisan on one side or the other; and young Bedo!Here's work was applauded by the radical republicans. He then launched into political journalism as editor of the Coin de feu, and contributed to a meat number of journals and reviews. He became imbued with the doctrines of St. Simon, and his associations led him to more philosophical views. In 1849 he became and has remained one of the editors of the Sieele, in which his work was little relished by the clerical party and proportionally popular with other readers.
His literary fecundity is extraordinary. Essays, editorials on the passing political situa tions, poems, romances, and translations in various languages, follow each other in quick succession. Among the great number of his works may be mentioned Soirees d'lliver, 1838; Beautes des Victoires at des COliquetes de Francais a 1792 a 1815, 1839; Lcs Indus trials, 1845; Histoire de la Garde Nationale, 1848; and Nouvelle _Moral en Action, which has been commended by the Catholic episcopacy and used in some of their seminaries. His translations embrace some of the novels of Fenimore Cooper, Walter Scott, Capt. Marryat, Mayne Reid, and Dickens. His latest important work is entitled HMV'S at Vie privee des Francais, in three large volumes. But it is for his tact, variety, and incisive style as editor of the Sieele that Bedollii;re is best known. He seems iu his declining years to be amcng the French what OliverWendell Holmes is to the Americans—loved, admired, and respected, for a genius both sunny and solid.