LA HARPE, FREDERIC CESAR DE, b. Switzerland; having imbibed strong republican principles in his youth, was dissatisfied with the political condition of his country, and even contemplated emigrating to America to aid the cause of the revolt ing colonies. He was dissuaded from this intention through an appointment as tutor in the family of a Russian nobleman, and ids success in this position having reached the knowledge of the empress Catharine IL, she appointed him to the charge of Alexander and Constantine, the two sons of the czarowitz. In addition to this honor, La Harpe received the appointment of col. in the Russian army. His tendency to republican theories having induced him to support the French revolution by his writings, and as he sought to effect a reorganization of the Swiss confederacy into the form of a republic,• Catharine dismissed him from his position, but provided that he should receive a life pension on account of his previous services. He now threw himself with ardor into the
prosecution of his plans for the regeneration of Switzerland—plans which, through the intervention of France, lie was enabled to carry to an apparently successful conclusion. The presence of French armies at Bern enforced the establishment of the republic of 1798, and La Harpe became a powerful and active member of the new government. But this condition of affairs was short-lived. Napoleon restored temporarily the old cantonal system, and La Harpe was forced to retire to France, where he continued to reside until after the congress of Vienna and the establishment of the independence of Switzerland, when he made his home at Lansanua. The latter part of his life was devoted to the promulgation of his liberal political theories.