Rochefort

Henri Eochefort has esoaped frotn Kew Caledonia, the puñal settlément to which he was exiled by the Freuch Government for his political offenses. He and Paschal Grousset, together with two other convicta, somehow succeeded in getting out to sea in a small open boat. After three days' exposure they were seen and picked up by a British sailing vessel which took them to an Australian port. Eochefort intends to come to the United States by the way of California, and after visiting our Eepublic to go via England to Brussels, where he will be safe from Prench demand, and where he will be near enough to France to fling the lurid light of his rekindled Lanterne within her borders. No man in our time has been a more potent influence in French politics or a moro dreaded adversary to Imperialists and Monarchists than this same Henri Eochefort. Of noble birth, he is the most ultra of Demócrata. He is a rebel against the present politioal, religious and social systems that rule the world. Our own Eepublic is not radical enough for this most radical of radicáis. Buthe will be able to speak for himself as to his own theories, for it is said that he intends to give his ideas on the proper method of governing the world. He is the most determined of iconoclasts, the most indomitable of agitators, the most enthusiastic of revolutionists. His name is a synonym of revolt and protest against the ideas that rule the world, and his shade is a phantom of terror not only to the Imperialists bufc to the more moderate of his own party. His life has been full of vicissitudes, full of disorder, full of ill-directed power. Ho is the most caustic of critics. Naturally enough so late as January, 1870, his paper, La Lanterne, was seized by order of the French Government. - The Legislativo Chambers ordered its prosecution. On the 22d of January, Eochefort, Grousset and another were sentenced to six months' imprionment, with fines. Eochefort was confined in the prison of Sainte-Pelagio. On the proclamation of the .French Eepublic, in September, 1870, he was released by the people and conveyed in triumph to the Louvre. He was placed at the head of a Department of State, but resigned his office at an early day. Subsequently he joined the Commune, and during the brief period of its triumph, edited the paper Mot d'Ordre. On the 19th of May, 1871, he was arrested while endeavoring to escape from Paris and taken to Versailles. He was tried by court-martial September 20 and 21, 1871, and sentenced to imprisonment for life in a fortress. His health failing him, he was, after many applications had been made in his behalf, deported to New Caledonia, in company with Grousset and several hundred ordinary felons, It was reported at one time since his exile, and quite generally believed, that Eochefort was dead. But though his health is feeble, he has not done with life. Who knows what new and strange fortunes may yet await him in his now career ? Nothing is impossible to such a man as Eochefort in such a country as Franoe. - Ooiden Age.