CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 122, 1 June 1885, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

M, Villeval in Reply,"

(To the Editor.) Sir,-I hope I do not intrude by ___& you a httlo »pace in which to an.*., tit rather jejune paragraph " Mercutio'' k_ written in the " Herald " re my la«t .flat sim. This time I shall lay «_&)_» "Dictionary of Biography" with-g|U he seems to be so singularly well a«ra__nte3. but r« I belong to a polite nation, IdM refrain from appearing hat in .bid' ' to speak to such a lofty pereoir age as "Mercutio." * New'idiiim' done clwr "Mercutio," that whenever « great Frenchman dies you ate certain t_i.; M. Villeval will write his biography. Hi.,' mon bon ami (to quote " MercutioV on ' particular and pet Gallicism), laefcawrra*''' ness, for many celebrated _.renbhm.h_i.»i: died since I have been here, and yet; Victor f Hugo is the first of whom I have (tared to write a biographical sketch for an EngM '., newspaper. True, some three or four yean ago, I was asked by a* reporter of tie' "Herald " if I knew anything abou._da.i_. die L umas ; (or, as a woodcut portraitof ttutt" novelist was to appearin the' 'Weekly News,' • they wanted a short notice, and'conldnc. find any reference in their greatiy-mtd " Dictionary of Biography," Du_daß,bavi_g been dead for a long time. I then wbte a short article, and as it did not appear under my name, but was credited, perhaps, to "Mercutio," Ido not Relieve it-fan be io that he alludes in saying: -"When the sepulchral bell tolls, etc." As for the article on Gambetta, I shall- respectfully dfe^ - ■' Mercutio's" attention to the "feet that'; it was simply a resume of, a lecture j delivered boforo the French "Literary: . Society two years after "the great patriot's death. Of course, my iamtmmai: exercitation may appear to "Mercnlio" to sarour of egotistical imperluienci,wL alsoT as an unwarranted' poachiiig upon iibiographical preserves ; but a great many who havo enjoyed Victor Hugo's works fill admit that, on seeing suchapoor article aa the one published by the ".Herald,"it tfuy n»y duty, as a Frenchman, to bring to light in this part of the world the real character., '■; ietics and merits of ono of the greatestmenci this century, and to write the article which put "Mercutio" in such, an u_ai_iiable frame of mind. Why co ? tfemeledtmandt,:' Kow, as for the inaccuracy, I mentioned in . my article, I still maintain it, because,,My "Mercutio" said, "I know a great deal better" than he, at all events., What I , mean is this : -Victor Hugo,, af tor having tent his resignation to M. GriSvy, went to Paris, where I was at the'time;, not-to. Brussels, aa Btated iv the ."'Herald," It was only three months after ho went to Belgium, not to 6eek refuge, since le va not expelled from France. This, ia the inaccuracy. "Mercutio" ia rather unfortunate in his witticisms;: but.;* . Bishop Luck said on a memorable occasion, transeat (let that pass). In conclusion, since competition' annoys .jour excellency, I shall try, dear " MercuteUi not to assume again the ex cathedra airs, ot which you appear to enjoy the mbjjWiV and not to be ludicrous enough to make toe apotheoais of my countrymen, bo much so, that as Victor Hugo was the last.'gi*"; Frenchman, 1 shall not have to tun to account the misfortunes of'my country. Bonmir, " Mercutio."—l am j etc., AMiuViuwit