LONDON, SATURDAY, JUNE 20 1863. In the first instance M. Hugo took up his resi- dence in Jersey ; but he caused some offence (No. 14.)—BRO. VICTOR HUGO AT HOME. there by the severeness of his strictures on the meeting of Queen Victoria and the Emperor Twenty years ago, when our second decade was not very far advanced, we first heard the name of Napoleon III. at Gherburg, which resulted in his Victor Hugo, and we remember Avell our boyish removal to the sister island of Guernsey. puns upon his name, which found expression in As an illustration of the fact that greatness is, after all, onl comparative Ave may mention that " you come" and " you go." It was in 1848 that y , , our father, during a visit to Paris, met this dis- as we entered the harbour at Guernsey, Ave asked tinguished Frenchman, dining once or twice at his the reigning ruler of the quarter-deck of the residence. On the return home of our parent, we steamer if he could tell us which was Victor heard much of M. Victor Hugo—of his courtesy, Hugo's house. His reply was, " Don' t know him, his princely entertainments, aud the nobility of his sir—never heard his name." This reminded me of the anecdote related b Mr. M principles. At that time M. Hugo was un- y Roebuck, .P., of doubtedly—not even excepting M", de Lamartine a Hampshire labourer who had never heard of the —the greatest man in France. Idolised by the Duke of Wellington. In Guernsey Ave met Avith some nation as a leader, and honoured by everybody as peculiar opinions an author, his power was almost unbounded, and with regard to M. Hugo. One old gentleman it is something to be able to add that his influence informed me " that if everybody had their rights, Avas exercised on behalf of universal peace and for Victor Hugo would be King of France." Another the good of the people. The collapse of the worthy had reason to believe that the great poet Republic is a story which is familiar to all ; but it had committed murder and was an exile to avoid is due to M. Victor Hugo to say that the ter- execution ! Considering that there are actually Englishmen who mination of that epoch Avas brought about through openly pronounce "hanging too no act of his own. He was neither identified with good " for Mr. Gladstone, it is not unlikely that the vagaries of the gifted, but erratic Lamartine, there are in France some who would say the same and others of the same class, who brought the of Bro. Hugo, even though he has studied " murder ^Republican Government into contempt, nor, on as one of the fine arts," according to De Quincey. the other hand, Avas he an adherent of the The residence of M. Hugo has become famous Napoleons. throughout the world. Hauteville, or literally Hi At the coup d' etat M. Hugo left France, rather gher-tovm-house, is approached through sundry than submit to the Empire, and he has ever since narrow, dark, and disagreeable streets, and is in maintained the most determined hostility to its front appearance exceedingly gloomy. The Napoleon III., addressing him still as " M. Louis first thought we had on viewing it Avas, that Mark Bonaparte." We confess that Ave do not sym- Tapley, who never could be jolly except under the pathise with this fruitless opposition to a state of most unfavourable circumstances, would have been hi hl deli things which, on the whole, has proved highly g y ghted with it as affording a glorious beneficial to France ; but we can scarcely Avonder opportunity for the exercise of his peculiar forte. at M. Hugo's attitude, and he certainly deserves The interior of the house is filled with curiosities credit for relinquishing the honours which would of art and workmanship, valuable no doubt in themselves, but scarcel await his submission to the reigning dynasty, in y conducive to English ideas order to maintain his principles pure and undefiled. of comfort. From the back of the house the It is not generally known that Victor Hugo belongs prospect is magnificent and calculated to imbue to the French nobility, having been created a even ordinary minds with great thoughts and viscount by Louis Phillippe ; but, like the late noble purposes. If the resources of nature were Lord Brougham, Avho Avished himself a commoner needed to assist the genius of M , Hugo, here they again, and never Avould sign his name other than are in perfection. The room iu which the poet plain " Henry Brougham," M. Hugo believes has Avritten so many of his works is situated at that the top of the house Avhere, as he grasps his pen, " The rank is but the guinea stamp, he may look around and drink in the inspiration The man 's the gowd for a' that," which God has revealed in His Avorks. and consequently he never assumes his title. Victor Hugo is a smaller man than Ave expected. and, iu appearance, would not make a bad repre- all nations, and have served as examples for many sentative of an English country gentlemen if he noble works of charity elseAvhere. Avere divested of the sugar-loaf wide-a-wake hat During our visit to Guernsey M. Hugo's " Her- which is particularly dear to the hearts of French- mania" Avas played at the theatre in the presence men and Americans. What struck us most in his of the author, and we much regret that our health manner, Avas the aspect of calm streng th Avhich it did not admit of our Avitnessing a scene which Avore. It seemed as if a king among men was may one day suggest a fine subject for the exer- content to set aside his majesty, Avhile serenely cise of the painter's genius. conscious of his regal power. But the most It is to be regretted that M. Hugo has not striking feature of M. Hugo is the glance Avhich learnt to speak English. The explanation of this flashes ever and anon from his " eyes of liquid strange fact is, Ave are informed, that he is afraid fire," and we can Avell understand IAOAV his attitude to corrupt his knoAvledge of the French language, in the French Chamber when agitated with indig- of Avhich heis undoubtedly the most perfect Master nation, must have been at once gran d and over- in the world. Yet Ave cannot help feeling that Avhelming. Hus-o Avould have been dearer to the hearts of Was it not in Charlotte Bronte's " Shirley " Englishmen, if during his long residence under that the theory was broached as to the ennobling the British CroAvn he had thought it worth his power of man's attachment to animals ? Certainly Avhile to study our language. It is however right Ave have ourselves noticed that those Avho are kind to add that M. Hugo's son, Charles Victor, is an to dogs and other dumb friends, are generally dis- excellent English scholar, and has translated tinguished by some good qualities though they Shakespeare most felicitously. may not possess all the virtues. M. Hugo We were indebted to Mr. De Putran, an inti- possesses a beautiful Italian greyhound, between mate friend of M. Hugo's, for an introduction to Avhich and its master there is a strong mutual the post, Avho on being reminded of our father's affection. It is a charming sight to see the great visit to him in Paris, gave us a very friendly greet- author and his dog together on the little haven at ing and spoke of the late Mr. Oobden and others, Hauteville House. who at that time were also his guests. We were curious to ascertain Avhat the Guern- On every New Year's Day M. Hugo distributes special sey people thought of Mr. Hugo's " Toilers of gifts to his " dear children," and is accus- the Sea," seeing that the scene of the tale Avas tomed to deliver an address to the visitors who laid in the island. That book Ave found to be attend on the occasion. This peaceable and bene- volent manifesto furnishes a striking naturally the best known of all M. Hugo's Avorks, contrast to but we heard no two opinions as to the absolute some of the Avarlike and meaning speeches de- livered by his great rival at the Tuilleries on impossibility of the story. On the principle that New Year's Day. Many persons of distinction are the highest attainment of enius is to make the present at M. Hugo's feast of January anniver- impossibility appear real, M. Hugo may be said saries to have succeeded best in the " Toilers ot the , and this year Mrs. Lynn Liuton, the popular authoress Sea," but Ave confess that Ave much prefer " Les , was among the visitors, and subse- Miserables." quently Avrote to the Guernsey Star a letter refer- ring to the subject. There we met a good Catholic The kindness of M. Hugo to the fellow-com- priest Avho kindly explained to us many matters patriots who are driven to Guernsey for refuge is of interest concerning M. Hugo, to Avkom. Ave had very remarkable, and is in our judgment the not then been introduced, and Ave venture to say noblest feature in his character. Many are those, that Protestanism would be not less popular if Avho Aveak, enfeebled , and in poverty, have sought some of its clergymen were to learn a little polite- his counsel and assistance, and never have they ness from some of their Romish brethren.