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[ Translated from the Journal of Genera . ] Piebre-Etienne-Louis Dumont was born at Geneva in July , 1759 . Soon after his birth , his father died . His mother was left in humble circumstances , with five young children , but she bore her lot with great firmness . Discerning the early promise of her son Stephen , she placed him at the Grammar-school ; and he soon shewed so much capacity and eagerness for learning , that while he was a mere school-boy he contributed towards
the maintenance of his brothers and sisters by giving lessons . Having completed his classical studies , he entered the theological class in the academy at Geneva , with the intention of becoming a minister . He was admitted to preach at the age of twenty-two ; and commanded , thus early , the admiration of his hearers . So great was the force of his persuasive eloquence , that he attracted crowds from all quarters . But the disturbances which broke out in Geneva , in the year 1782 , contributed to give a new
direction to a life which was begun in peaceful uniformity . M . Dumont , who was a warm partisan of liberty , and earnestly desired the introduction of liberal institutions into the government of his country , united himself with the leaders of the representative party , and loudly pronounced his opinions against the negative party . Their opposition was vain , and the enemies of freedom triumphed—its friends were dispersed , and , among others , M . Dumont , afflicted at the turn which affairs had taken , and at the
principles which prevailed , repaired to St . Petersburgh , where he rejoined his mother and sisters . Immediately after his arrival , he was appointed pastor of the Reformed Church in that capital , and the talents which he displayed in this eminent situation , greatly advanced the reputation he had already acquired at Geneva . After remaining a year and half in Russia , M . Dumont was induced , by personal considerations , and by the persuasion of the late Marquis of Lansdown , to remove to London , and to undertake the education of his
Lordship ' s sons . His abode in England was most happy . Lord Lansdowa was aware of his transcendant merit , and reposed entire confidence in him . He made him his friend , and though he charged him with the direction of his sons' education , he gave him the assistance of a tutor under him . At the end of the year 1789 , the circumstances of his native country
being changed for the better , M . Dumont indulged his desire of seeing it again . Me made some stay at Paris , where he was present at the first scenes of the great political drama which then opened . He was too much of an enthusiast for liberty to witness with indifference the struggles of the French nation . At that moment there was no reason to fear the excesses
which afterwards obscured the noblest of causes . M . Dumont did not hesitate to unite himself with the most influential men of the time ; he became the friend and fellow-labourer of Mirabeau , who eagerly employed him in writing for the Courier de Provence , and introduced him to the most distinguished members of the National Assembly , One of "me articles written by M . Dumont , for this journal , is a very remarkable one , on the Municipal and Departmental Organization of France , in which were started almost all the grand ideas which have since been developed in the French Senate upon this important subject . Many of Mirabeau ' s happiest inspirations were caught from his ( ienevese friencl , who was an assiduous attendant upon
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MEMOIR OF M . DUMONT .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1829, page 827, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2579/page/11/
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