Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 17.djvu/521

* SAINT-PIERRE. •469 SAINT-PRXVAT. eruption of Jlont Pelee. (For a description of tlie voliaiio and the nature of the eruption, see Pelkk, Mont.) As only a few of the inhal)itants had taken warning from the activity of the vol- cano on the preeediny days, practically the entire population of the city perished, the nuniher of victims, including those in the surrminding dis- tricts, being estimated at 30.000. Only two per- sons actually in the city at the time of the erup- tion escaped death, one being a prisoner in the city jail. SAINT-PIERRE, Jacques Henki Beknar- uix DE (1737-1S14). A French novelist, essayist, and engineer, born at Havre, and educated at Caen. He made a voyage to Martinique, became an engineer, entered the army, was dismissed for insubordination, and for some years led a wander- ing life, appearing at Malta, Saint Petersb.irg, Warsaw, Dresden, and Berlin. In 1705 he went to Paris and essa.yed literary work, but in 17G8 he obtained a Government post in He de I'rance, where he remained till 1771. On his return he associated much with Rousseau, on whom he modeled his character and his style. For the rest of his life he remained in France, publishing Voyage a Vile de France (1773), Etiidex de la nature (1783-88). Paul et Virgiuie (1787), and La chaumiere indienne (1790). His Harmmiies de la nature appeared posthumously. In 1792 he became superintendent of the Botanical Gar- den of Paris. He was professor of morals at the Normal School in 1794 and became a member of the Institute in 1795. Saint-Pierre's signifi- cance lies solel.v in the realm of imagina- tion and sentiment, which is often childlike, sometimes childish. Paul et Virginie came at the right moment. Cloyed with wit, the Parisian literary generation of that time sought refuge in feeling. Saint-Pierre entered into the heritage of the novelist Rousseau, receiving and transmitting more of his romantic sentiment and sympathy with nature than any other. Paul et Virginie attempts to realize Rousseau's 'state of nature' in a tropical Arcadia, and the deatli of the heroine comes just in time to save the id,yll of innocent childhood from the sickly senti- mentality on whose verge it often hangs trem- bling. Stylistically, Saint-Pierre's influence has been very great. He was the first in France to treat landscape, with intent, as the background of life. Saint-Pierre's Works and Correspon- dence were edited with a Life by Aim^ Martin, who married his widow (Paris, 1818-20). Con- sult: Lescure, Bernnrdin de i^a.int-Pierre (ib., 1891) ; Maury, Etude sur fa vie et les ocurres de Bernardin de Saint-Pierre (ib., 1892) ; and AriMe Barine, Bernardin de Saint-Pierre (ib., 1891, Eng. trans., Chicago, 1893). SAINT-PIERRE, Jacques Legardeur de (1698-1755). A French soldier and explorer, born in Normandy in 1698. He entered the French service as an ensign of marines, and was shortly afterwards sent to Canada. In 1750 he was sent to explore the Northwest and to search for a route to the Pacific. He ascended the Sas- katchewan River to a place he called 'Rock ]Moun- tain.' and there built Fort La Jonquifre. Soon after his return he was ordered to the Ohio Valley region, and in 1754 was commander of Fort Le Bcpuf on French Creek. In the following .year Saint-Pierre commanded the Indian allies in Dieskau's expedition into New York, and was killed in the battle of Lake George. An account of his e.plorations in the West, entitled .lounial sain- mairc du voyage de Jacques Legardeur de Saint- Pierre, charge de la difcourcrtc rfc la Mcr du rOuent, is preserved in the British Museum, and was published in the collection of John (Jil- mary Shea (New Vork, 1802). Consult also Parkman, .1 llalf-Century of Conflict (Boston, 1892; later ed. 1S97). SAINT-PIERRE AND MIQUELON, 6'- kc-hJ.N'. A French colony. 47 niilo oil' the south- ern coast of Newfoundland, consisting of the three islands of Saint-Pierre, Ileau.x-Chiens, and Mi<iuelon, with a total area of 93 s(iuare miles (Map: Newfoundland, D 6). They are rocky and barren, but are of great importance as the centre of the French cod-fisheries. In 1901 the industrj- engaged over 3000 persons, and the exports of fish and fish products amounted in the same year to over .$2,000,000. The imjiorts near- ly equaled the exports. Saint-Pierre, the capi- tal, has cable connection with Kurope anil America, and regular steam comnuinication with Boston and Halifax. The colon.v is administered by a Governor and is rejjresented by a Deput,v in the French Chamber. Population, in 1897, 0352, including over 700 British subjects. The islands were ceded to Great Britain by France together with Newfoundland in 1713. but were recovered at the conquest of Canada, and after changing hands several times finally returned to France in 1816. SAINT-POL-DE-LEON, sax'pfil'dc-lft'oN'. A town in the Department of Finist&re, France, half a mile from its port, Renqioul, on the Eng- lish Channel, and ISV^ miles l),v rail northwest of Morlaix. It is noted for a Romanesque-tiolhic cathedral dating from the twelfth century, with two granite spires ISO feet high, and for the fourteenth-century Chapelle de Notre Dame de Creizker, with a fine central tower and spire 252 feet higli, and other interesting features. The town was an episcopal see from tlie sixth eentur.v until the suppression of the bishopric in 1790. Population, in 1901, 7846. SAINT-PORCHAIRE, por'shar'. Pottery of. A famous ware first ex:tmincd and n^corded aliout 1830, and entitled •Faience Henri Deux,' be- cause of the occurrence in its ornamentation of the letter 'H' and crescents which were sup- posed to be the badge of Diane de Poitiers. Only about fifty-three pieces are known to exist, of which one or two are in Russia and the re- mainder are about evenly divided between France and England. The South Kensington Museum and the Louvre Museum, as also the Mus^ de Cluny in Paris, contain each several perfectlv representative specimens. The peculiarity of the pottery is that its decorations are almost entirel.v b,v incrustation, pieces of dark red or dark brown clay inlaid in the yellowish white of the body. The shapes have been cut out by little dies strongly re- 'sembling bookbinders' stamjw. and after the incrustation has been made, the whole has been brought to a smooth surface and covered with a thin transparent glaze. Enamels are used with great modcratinn. SAINT-PRIVAT, pre'v:'i'. B.^TTLE OF. A name often given to the battle of Gravelotte (q.v.).