COURIER, PAUL LOUIS, was born in 1774. His father was s substantial farmer, who gave him a good education. Courier math considerable progress both in classical and mathematical studies. H' served in the French army in the campaign of Rome in 1798-99. Is his letters written from that country to several friends, and especially in one dated Rome, January 8, 1799, published long after in hi 'Correspondance Imidite; lie gives a frightful account of the spolia Cons, plunder, and cruelties committed by the invaders in tha unfortunate country. Courier's love of the arts and literature, whist never forsook him during his military career, made him capeciall; indignant at the rapacity with which precious sculptures, paintings nd manuscripts were torn from public and private collections, and asetily and often ignorantly or carelessly huddled together and lacked up for Paris, by which several valuable objects were injured or est. He also describes the misery of the people of Rome, many of shoal were absolutely starving, while the generals, commissioners, and .they agents of the French Directory were revelling in luxury. On his eturn to France after the first peace, Courier published several trans aliens from the Greek, such as Isocrates,' Eulogy of Helena,' Xeuo ihon's treatise on the Command of Cavalry and on Equitation,' and .emarks upon Schweighmuser's edition of 'Athenmus: He also began translation of Herodotus.
In 1806 he again served in Italy with the army that invaded the cingdom of Naples. He went into Calabria as far as Reggio, and vituessed the desultory but cruel warfare carried on in those regions.
His letters from Naples, Calabria, and Puglia, 1306-7, give some minable information concerning those times and events. Courier served with the rank of chef d'escadron in the Austrian campaign of 1809. After the battle of Wagram he gave in his resignation, which vas readily accepted ; for his inquisitive turn of mind and inde pendent temper made him looked upon as a troublesome person by the more thoroughgoing officers of Napoleon. On reaching Florence, he discovered in the Laurentian library an unedited manuscript of Longue, of which he meant to avail himself for a translation of that author. Happening to upset an inkstand on the manuscript, by which
accident a page was blotted, the librarian accused him of having done it purposely. Courier defended himself; but some persons in power at the court of the Princess Eliza, Napoleon's sister, took part against him, and he was ordered out of Tuscany. Courier wrote a humorous account of the whole transaction in a letter addressed to Mr. Ray nouard, in which he did not spare his accusers. His translation of Longue was published in 1813, and was well received by the learned.
Retiring to his farm at Veretz, in the department of Indre-et-Loire, Courier heard with no regret the fall of Napoleon, and expressed him self satisfied with the charter given by Louis XV1II., if conscientiously fulfilled. He however began soon to find fresh matter for his satirical vein. His `Livret,' or 'Memorandum-book,' and his letters, give a curious picture of provincial politics and of the state of society in the interior of France after the restoration. His letters, several of which were published at the time in the Censeur have been compared for their power and humour to Pascal's celebrated Provinciales.' When, in 1821, a subscription was opened all over France to purchase the estate of Chambord for the infant Duke of Bordeaux, be wrote Simple Discours aux Membrea de la Commune de Veretz,' for which he was tried, and condemned to one month's imprisonment. He pub lished an account of his trial, under the title of 'Proces de Paul Louis Courier, vigneron.' Courier was now looked upon as one of the most formidable antagonists of the Bourbonist party. He was however by temper caustic and satirical rather than factious. At the beginning of 1825 he was found murdered near his house at Veretz, but no clue was discovered to the perpetrators of the crime. Some attributed it to political, others, perhaps with more reason, to private enmity. His works were collected and published iu 4 vole. 8vo, Brus sels, 1823. The fourth volume contain!' his unedited letters. They are valuable as sketches of actual life and manners, and as materials for contemporary history.