know of no one to whom he can be more fitly compared in this respect than George Sand； whose correspondence is large； and at the same time full of sincerity。 His role and his nature correspond。 If he is writing to a young man who unbosoms himself to him in sceptical anxiety； to a young woman who asks him to decide delicate questions of conduct for her； his letter takes the form of a short moral essay； of a father…confessor's advice。 Has he perchance attended the theatre （a rare thing for him） to witness one of Ponsart's comedies； or a drama of Charles Edmond's； he feels bound to give an account of his impressions to the friend to whom he is indebted for this pleasure； and his letter becomes a literary and philosophical criticism； full of sense； and like no other。 His familiarity is suited to his correspondent； he affects no rudeness。 The terms of civility or affection which he employs towards his correspondents are sober； measured； appropriate to each； and honest in their simplicity and cordiality。 When he speaks of morals and the family； he seems at times like the patriarchs of the Bible。 His command of language is complete； and he never fails to avail himself of it。 Now and then a coarse word； a few personalities； too bitter and quite unjust or injurious； will have to be suppressed in printing； time； however； as it passes away； permits many things and renders them inoffensive。 Am I right in saying that Proudhon's correspondence； always substantial； will one day be the most accessible and attractive portion of his works？〃
Almost the whole of Proudhon's real biography is included in his correspondence。 Up to 1837； the date of the first letter which we have been able to collect； his life； narrated by Sainte Beuve； from whom we make numerous extracts； may be summed up in a few pages。
Pierre Joseph Proudhon was born on the 15th of January； 1809； in a suburb of Besancon； called Mouillere。 His father and mother were employed in the great brewery belonging to M。 Renaud。 His father； though a cousin of the jurist Proudhon； the celebrated professor in the faculty of Dijon； was a journeyman brewer。 His mother； a genuine peasant； was a common servant。 She was an orderly person of great good sense； and； as they who knew her say； a superior woman of HEROIC character；to use the expression of the venerable M。 Weiss； the librarian at Besancon。 She it was especially that Proudhon resembled： she and his grandfather Tournesi； the soldier peasant of whom his mother told him； and whose courageous deeds he has described in his work on 〃Justice。〃 Proudhon； who always felt a great veneration for his mother Catharine； gave her name to the elder of his daughters。 In 1814； when Besancon was blockaded； Mouillere； which stood in front of the walls of the town； was destroyed in the defence of the place； and Proudhon's father established a cooper's shop in a suburb of Battant； called Vignerons。 Very honest； but simple…minded and short…sighted； this cooper； the father of five children； of whom Pierre Joseph was the eldest； passed his life in poverty。 At eight years of age； Proudhon either made himself useful in the house； or tended the cattle out of doors。 No one should fail to read that beautiful and precious page of his work on 〃Justice；〃 in which he describes the rural sports which he enjoyed when a neatherd。 At the age of twelve； he was a cellar… boy in an inn。 This； however； did not prevent him from studying。
His mother was greatly aided by M。 Renaud； the former owner of the brewery； who had at that time retired from business； and was engaged in the education of his children。
Proudhon entered school as a day…scholar in the sixth class。 He was necessarily irregular in his attendance； domestic cares and restraints sometimes kept him from his classes。 He succeeded nevertheless in his studies； he showed great perseverance。 His family were so poor that they could not afford to furnish him with books； he was obliged to borrow them from his comrades； and copy the text of his lessons。 He has himself told us that he was obliged to leave his wooden shoes outside the door； that he might not disturb the classes with his noise； and that； having no hat； he went to school bareheaded。 One day； towards the close of his studies； on returning from the distribution of the prizes； loaded with crowns； he found nothing to eat in the house。
〃In his eagerness for labor and his thirst for knowledge； Proudhon；〃 says Sainte Beuve； 〃was not content with the instruction of his teachers。 From his twelfth to his fourteenth year； he was a constant frequenter of the town library。 One curiosity led to another； and he called for book after book； sometimes eight or ten at one sitting。 The learned librarian； the friend and almost the brother of Charles Nodier； M。 Weiss； approached him one day； and said； smiling； ‘But； my little friend； what do you wish to do with all these books？' The child raised his head； eyed his questioner； and replied： ‘What's that to you？' And the good M。 Weiss remembers it to this day。〃
Forced to earn his living； Proudhon could not continue his studies。 He entered a printing…office in Besancon as a proof… reader。 Becoming； soon after； a compositor； he made a tour of France in this capacity。 At Toulon； where he found himself without money and without work； he had a scene with the mayor； which he describes in his work on 〃Justice。〃
Sainte Beuve says that； after his tour of France； his service book being filled with good certificates； Proudhon was promoted to the position of foreman。 But he does not tell us； for the reason that he had no knowledge of a letter written by Fallot； of which we never heard until six months since； that the printer at that time contemplated quitting his trade in order to become a teacher。
Towards 1829； Fallot； who was a little older than Proudhon； and who； after having obtained the Suard pension in 1832； died in his twenty…ninth year； while filling the position of assistant librarian at the Institute； was charged； Protestant though he was； with the revisal of a 〃Life of the Saints；〃 which was published at Besancon。 The book was in Latin； and Fallot added some notes which also were in Latin。
〃But；〃 says Sainte Beuve； 〃it happened that some errors escaped his attention； which Proudhon； then proof…reader in the printing office； did not fail to point out to him。 Surprised at finding so good a Latin scholar in a workshop； he desired to make his acquaintance； and soon there sprung up between them a most earnest and intimate friendship： a friendship of the intellect and of the heart。〃
Addressed to a printer between twenty…two and twenty… three years of age； and predicting in formal terms his future fame； Fallot's letter seems to us so interesting that we do not hesitate to reproduce it entire。
〃PARIS； December 5； 1831。
〃MY DEAR PROUDHON；YOU have a right to be surprised at； and even dissatisfied with； my long delay in replying to your kind letter； I will tell you the cause of it。 It became necessary to forward an account of your ideas to M。 J。 de Gray； to hear his objections； to reply to them； and to await his definitive response； which reached me but a short time ago； for M。 J。 is a sort of financial king； who takes no pains to be punctual in dealing with poor devils like ourselves。 I； too； am careless in matters of business； I sometimes push my negligence even to disorder； and the metaphysical musings which continually occupy my mind； added to the amusements of Paris； render me the most incapable man in the world for conducting a negotiation with despatch。
〃I have M。 Jobard's decision； here it is： In his judgment； you are too learned and clever for his children； he fears that you could not accommodate your mind and character to the childish notions common to their age and station。 In short； he is what the world calls a good father； that is； he wants to spoil his children； and； in order to do this easily； he thinks fit to retain his present instructor； who is not very learned； but who takes part in their games and joyous sports with wonderful facility； who points out the letters of the alphabet to the little girl； who takes the little boys to mass； and who； no less obliging than the worthy Abbe P。 of our acquaintance； would readily dance for Madame's amusement。 Such a profession would not suit you； you who have a free； proud； and manly soul： you are refused； let us dismiss the matter from our minds。 Perhaps another time my solicitude will be less unfortunate。 I can only ask your pardon for having thought of thus disposing of you almost without consulting you。 I find my excuse in the motives which guided me； I had in view your well…being and advancement in the ways of this world。
〃I see in your letter； my comrade； through its brilliant witticisms and beneath the frank and artless gayety with which you have sprinkled it； a tinge of sadness and despondency which pains me。 You are unhappy； my friend： your present situation does not suit you； you cannot remain in it； it was not made for you； it is beneath you； you ought； by all means； to leave it； before its injurious influence begins to affect your faculties； and before you become settl