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 AUBERT AUBURN 99 Paris, May 13, 1871. His father, a print- seller at Paris, in prosperous circumstances, allowed him to devote much attention to the study of music, merely as an amusement or an elegant accomplishment. After a brief expe- rience in mercantile life in London, he returned to Paris, and devoted himself to music, giving forth a number of little compositions, vocal and instrumental, including a new arrangement of the opera Julie. After a course of study with Cherubini, he produced in 1813 the opera of Sejour militaire, which failed ; and its recep- tion so discouraged him that for several years he abandoned the art. The death of his father, however, compelled him seriously to devote himself to it as a means of support, and in 1819 he produced at the op6ra comique Le testament et let billets-doux, an opera in one act, which was likewise unsuccessful. Next he wrote La bergere chdtelaine, which was produced in the same theatre in the early part of the year 1820, and completely turned the tables in his favor. From this time forward he produced a great number of works, almost all of which were well received, while some are among the most successful operas now represented on the stage. An imitator of Rossini at the outset, he gradually acquired greater inde- pendence of style, and in La muette de Por- tiei (also known as Masanlello) he formed a Btyle of his own. In addition to the works mentioned, Le chenal de bronze, Fra Diavolo, Le domino noir, Les diamanU de la couronne, L 'elixir tfamour, Le dieu et la bayadere, Gtts- tave, La sirene, and Haydee are among his most popular operas. Many of them have been translated into English and German, and almost all into Italian, and their melodies are familiar wherever music is known. Marco Spada was produced when he was 71 years of age ; La Circassienne when he was 79 ; La fiancee du roi de Garbe when he was 82 ; and his last work, Le premier jour de bonheur, at the age of 86. The successful production of this opera in February, 1868, was made the occa- sion of enthusiastic demonstrations of the old maestro's popularity. He wrote a march for the opening of the world's exhibition in Lon- don in 1862. He was elected to the French institute in 1829, became a chevalier of the le- gion of honor in 1825 and grand officer in 1861, and succeeded Cherubini as director of the conservatory in 1842. The characteristics of Auber's music are sprightliness and grace, with clearness and simplicity in dramatic effect. AlBKRT, Constance. See ABBANTES. AUBERVILLIERS, a village of France, in the department of the Seine, 1 m. N. of the en- ceinte of Paris ; pop. in 1806, 9,240. E. of it is a fort of the same name, built in 1842. The village church formerly possessed a pic- ture of the Virgin which was believed to be miraculous, and on that account was called Notre Dame des Vertus. AUBIGNE, J. II. Merle d'. See MERLE o'Au- BIOXE. ore Agrippa d', a French Prot- estant soldier and historian, born at St. Maury, Feb. 8, 1550, died in Geneva, April 29, 1630. Even as a child his attachment to his religion attracted the attention of the Roman Catholics, and his refusal to abjure it caused him to be sentenced to death before he was 13 years of age. Aided by a friend, the boy escaped, and was present at the siege of Orleans. This end- ed, he went to pursue his studies at Geneva ; but in 1567 he joined the Huguenot army under the prince of Conde, and served nearly two years with such bravery and ability as to se- cure the marked favor of the young Henry of Navarre, the future Henry IV. of France, whose service he subsequently entered, remain- ing with him through the war, and living at court after the peace. But he quarrelled with the king, his blunt candor and rude sarcasm constantly giving offence, and several times left or was compelled to leave Henry's service, though the king trusted him, and at one time bestowed offices of some honor upon him. He produced during his residence at court Circe, a tragedy, abounding in sarcasm directed against the king and various members of the royal family. After the king's death he pub- lished his first three volumes of the history of his time (from 1556 to 1601). The third vol- ume was seized and burned by order of parlia- ment, and he fled to Geneva, thus escaping the sentence of death that was soon pronounced against him. While under this condemnation, he offered his hand to a Genevese lady of the name of Burlamaqui, who did not hesitate to accept him as husband after he had revealed his dangerous position with his wonted candor. By a former marriage he had one son, Con- stantine, who became the father of the cele- brated Madame de Mamtenon. D'Aubigne' was buried in the church of St. Ren6 at Ge- neva. Besides those already mentioned, he wrote many less noteworthy works. Al I!I >, a town of France, in the department of Aveyron, 16m. N. E. of Villefranche ; pop. in 1866, 8,863. It is the centre of a rich coal region, which has of late been yielding about 5,000,000 quintals of coal annually. The neigh- boring village of Le Gua has five furnaces for the smelting of iron. AUBLET, Jean Baptist* Chrlstophe Fnsec, a French botanist, born at Salon, in Provence, in 1720, died in Paris in 1778. He is cele- brated for his botanical labors in Mauritius and in French Guiana. His herbarium was purchased by Sir Joseph Banks, and is now in the possession of the British museum. AUBURN, a city and the county seat of Cayuga county, N. Y., 174 m. by rail W. of Albany, and 2 m. N. of Owasco lake, the outlet of which intersects the town ; pop. in 1860, 10,986 ; in 1870, 17,225. It stands on high, uneven ground, and is handsomely built, with wide streets planted with shade trees. It has 16 churches, of which 3 are Methodist, 4 Presbyterian, 3 Roman Catholic, 2 Episcopal, 2 Baptist, 1 Dis-