Page:Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography Volume 1.pdf/1028

CHA Scotland," which appeared in 1830, and furnishes a clear and succinct account of the chief institutions of that country, as well as of its more prominent and peculiar laws and usages. In 1832 the celebrated Edinburgh Journal was established by the brothers, and was from the outset received with a degree of favour which far outstripped the most sanguine expectations. The circulation of this far-famed cheap periodical at one period reached ninety thousand copies; and though many formidable competitors have since started up, it still retains its rank, and is widely circulated, not only in Great Britain, but in the Colonies and the United States. In 1834 the Messrs. Chambers issued a series of popular, scientific, and historical treatises, entitled "Information for the People," of which the sale of each number has averaged thirty thousand copies. "The Cyclopædia of English Literature," in 3 vols.; the People's Editions of Standard English Works; "The Educational Course," designed as a complete set of text-books for public or private tuition; "The Miscellany of Useful and Entertaining Tracts;" "The Popular Library;" "The Juvenile Library;" and "The Papers for the People," followed in succession, and attained a wide circulation. All these works have been printed at their own establishment, which sends forth on an average ten millions of sheets annually. The Messrs. Chambers make no pretensions to having been the founders of that stupendous system of cheap literature with which their names are indelibly associated; but they may justly lay claim to the high honour of having given it a wholesome and beneficial direction, and of having contributed largely towards the substitution of entertaining and useful works for the coarse and degrading publications which were once extensively read by the working classes of this country. In addition to the works already mentioned, Mr. Robert Chambers is the author of a treatise on "Ancient Sea Margins," a "Life of Robert Burns," and "The Domestic Annals of Scotland," 2 vols., 8vo. "The Gazetteer of Scotland," 2 vols., 8vo, is a joint production of the two brothers; but the chief share of the work devolved on William, who has also published "Observations on America," the result of a tour through that country. Since his return from America, he has purchased an estate in the neighbourhood of Peebles, and has presented to his native town, at the cost of many thousand pounds, a reading and newsroom, and well-furnished library.  CHAMBRAY,, Marquis de, known as the historian of Napoleon's disastrous Russian expedition, born at Paris in 1783; died in 1850. In the Russian campaign he was captain in the imperial artillery, was left sick at Wilna, and became a prisoner. After 1815 he returned to Paris and entered the garde royale, but on account of his health was permitted to retire in 1829, with the title of major-general. In 1833 appeared the first edition of his "Histoire de l'Expedition de Russie;" a second and fuller edition was issued in 1835. He also published some tracts on military subjects.—J. B.  CHAMBRAY,, born at Mans in the early part of the seventeenth century; died in 1676. Chambray having been employed by the government to make selections of works of art in Italy, met Poussin, for whom he formed the most profound attachment and admiration, and whom he was the means of bringing to France. Chambray was also an author, and published a number of works on architecture and painting.—J. F. C.  CHAMBRE (in Scotch, or ),  or, a member of a Scotch family which established itself in France in the beginning of the fifteenth century. Nicole, who was captain of the Scotch guards of Charles VII., became one of the first favourites of that king, through whose liberality he acquired great riches. In 1448 he purchased the seigneurie de la Guerche, one of the residences of his royal master.  CHAMBURE,, a famous French soldier, born in 1789. Various anecdotes are told by French writers of his reckless courage. At the siege of Dantzig in 1813, the company which he commanded was named "the Infernal," and Chambure himself received from the besiegers the designation of "the Devil," on account of his daring. One of his exploits in 1813 has been made the subject of a celebrated picture by Horace Vernet. Chambure died of cholera at Paris in 1832.—J. T.  CHAMFORT,, born in Auvergne in 1741, After receiving a good education, he became clerk to a lawyer. It was in 1764 that his first work appeared, "La Jeune Indienne." He had previously contributed essays to the Revue Encyclopedique. There was something in his first romance which, besides the graces of composition, chimed in with the feelings of the day; and it was certain to evoke the plaudits of numerous readers, those especially to whom the gross excesses of a corrupt civilization seemed to invest with seriousness the paradoxical opinions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau in favour of savage life. In 1766 Chamfort produced his "Mustapha and Zeangir," a dramatic piece which greatly increased his popularity. The court proffered him royal patronage, which he at first rather declined. He was fond of the society of intellectual women, and preferred the conversation of old Madame Helvetius, enjoyed in the little village of Autueil, to the pleasures found in the saloons of the capital. Having accepted an offer from the Princess Elizabeth, the unfortunate sister of an unfortunate king, to become her reader, for her amusement he wrote his commentaries on La Fontaine, and other writers of fables—a form of composition to which he appeared much attached. Although he disliked the Revolution, yet it was his singular fortune to originate that famous title to a pamphlet of which the credit has devolved on the Abbé Sièyes—"What is the Tiers Etat? Nothing. What ought it to be? All." The reforms contemplated by Chamfort were far, indeed, from the excesses which he characterized by one of his own comprehensive sayings—"Be my brother, or I kill thee." Having been appointed conservator of the national library by the minister Roland, Chamfort was, on the fall of that statesman, arrested on suspicion, but soon liberated. So keenly did he suffer during his short imprisonment, that to escape a second incarceration, he attempted suicide by inflicting several wounds on himself with a razor. He lived on for a month, and would probably have recovered had he not been unskilfully treated. His influence on others was so great, that Mirabeau called his head an electrifying one. The man who could inspire natures so opposite as those of Sièyes and Mirabeau, must have been of no ordinary stamp. He died on the 13th April, 1794.—J. F. C.  CHAMIER,, a learned French protestant divine, born about 1570, and killed by a cannon ball at the seige of Montauban (where he was professor) in 1621. Chamier distinguished himself by his opposition to the anti-protestant intrigues of the court, and is said to have had a chief share in framing the edict of Nantes. His vast erudition was shown in his Catholica Panstratia, a work written against Bellarmine, and published at Geneva under the care of Turretin in 1626. Chamier was remarkably corpulent, and his love of good cheer once brought upon him the anger of the synod of Privas.—R. M., A.  * CHAMIER,, a novelist of some note, born in 1796. He served for many years in the British navy. His best tales are "Ben Brace" and "The Arethusa." He was an eyewitness of the French revolution of 1848, and has published a review of it. His tales of the sea are modelled on those of Marryatt. <section end="1028H" /> <section begin="1028I" />CHAMILLARD,, a French statesman, born in 1651. He was appointed by Louis XIV. controller-general of the finances in 1699, and minister of war in 1701. Chamillard was not a politician, or a soldier, or a financier, and he allowed himself to be guided in the discharge of his onerous duties by his subordinates. He sacrificed the interests of France in order to preserve the favour of the king, and allowed himself to become the mere tool of the court. Under his administration the finances fell into extreme disorder; the ablest generals were displaced, and their places filled by incapables, and the country was brought to the brink of ruin by a succession of mortifying defeats and disasters. The general dissatisfaction of the people at length compelled Chamillard to resign office in 1708-9. He died in 1721, leaving behind him the reputation of a very bad minister, but an honourable man in private life.—J. T. <section end="1028I" /> <section begin="1028Jnop" />CHAMILLY,, Count de, a French marshal, born of a good family at Chamilly in Burgundy in 1636. He entered the army at an early age, and soon acquired distinction by his remarkable courage. In 1664 he accompanied Marshal Schomberg into Portugal, and took a conspicuous part in the battle of Villa Viciosa. He served subsequently with distinction in Candy, Italy, and Holland, and in 1675 covered himself with honour by his gallant defence of Grave, which he held out for ninety-three days against the prince of Orange, who lost in the siege 16,000 men. Chamilly was created a lieutenant-general in 1678, and received a marshal's baton in 1703. He died in 1715. It was to this nobleman that Marianna Alcaforada (see that name) addressed her celebrated Lettres Portugaises.—J. T. <section end="1028Jnop" />