A JOURNEY ROUND MY ROOM.
A J O U R N E Y
ROUND MY ROOM
BY XAVIER DE MAISTRE
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH WITH A NOTICE
OF THE AUTHOR’S LIFE
By H. A.
LONDON
LONGMANS, GREEN, READER, AND DYER.
1871
H. O. HOUGHTON AND CO., PRINTERS, RIVERSIDE PRESS,
CAMBRIDGE.
{i}
TO
S. A.
H. A.
PREFACE.
THE author of the “Voyage autour de ma Chambre” was the younger brotherof Count Joseph de Maistre, a well-known writer upon political andphilosophical subjects. Chambéry was the place of their birth, but theirfamily was of French origin. Both brothers were officers in theSardinian army; and when Savoy was conquered by the French, Xavier deMaistre sought an asylum in Saint Petersburg, where his brother residedin the capacity of envoy from the court of Sardinia. Xavier entered theRussian army, distinguished himself in the war{iv} against Persia, andattained the rank of major-general.
Our interest in the “Voyage” is heightened by our knowledge that it wasactually written during De Maistre’s forty-two days’ arrest at Turin,referred to in the third chapter. He sent the manuscript, which heregarded as a mere playful effort of his imagination, for his brother’sperusal. Joseph was pleased with the book; and Xavier, who had an almostfilial affection for his brother, was soon afterwards agreeablysurprised by receiving, in place of his manuscript, the “Voyage” inprint.
This success encouraged him to begin a sequel to the “Voyage.” Joseph,however, disapproved of this new attempt. The “Expédition Nocturne” was,notwithstanding, finished, and was published some years later.{v}
Xavier de Maistre’s next production (1811) was “Le Lépreux de la Citéd’Aoste,” a very touching and gracefully written narrative. It occupiesbut a few pages; and, as it is to be found in almost every goodanthology of French literature, is perhaps the best known of ourauthor’s works.
His other books are “Les Prisonniers du Caucase” (1815) and “La JeuneSibérienne,” both of them charming works, containing faithful picturesof domestic scenes with which we are little familiar through othersources.
From his childhood Xavier de Maistre was devoted to painting. Hedeservedly gained considerable reputation as a painter of miniatureportraits and landscapes.
Nor did he neglect science while devo{vi}ting himself to art andliterature. He applied himself so successfully to the study of chemistrythat he was able to com