DEMOUSTIEII, CHARLES ALBERT, a French writer, born at Villere-Cotterete, March 11, 1760. He was connected on his father's /ride with the family of Racine. Ho was educated at the college of Lisieux; and for some titne followed the profession of advocate, but quitted it for literature. The work which chiefly brought him into notice was Lettrea is Emilie stir In Mythologie.' These letters are written in a pleasing style, and attained that popularity which is usually awarded to works on learned subjects, when written in an amusing manner. Indeed it appears to have gained more than its just weed of applause, and the consequence was, that when this had subsided, a re-action took place, and the work was censured with too much severity. Hie other works are chiefly theatrical ; of these 'Le Coociliateur,' a comedy in verse, was one of the best and most sue eeseful ; there is not much humour in it, and scarcely any delineation of character, but the plot is excellently constructed, the incidents are striking and uncommon, and the author has acquitted himself well of the difficult task of expressing moral sentiments, without being mawkish. An anecdote is told of Demoustier which proves his
excessive good humour. A young man being present at the repre sentation of one of the author's comedies, felt by no means satisfied, and requested the gentleman beside him to lend him a hollow key (whistling with a key being the French mode of expressing disappro bation) ; the gentleman complied with his request, and was no other than Decnoustier himself. Ilia collected works have been published in 5 vole. Svo and 12mo. He died at the place of his birth on the 2nd of March 1801.