About Progressive People.

Leo Hartmann , the Russian nihilist, sailed for Europe from New York on the 6th inst.

Geribaldi, who is now a constant sufferer from illness, is looking for a warm place wherein to spend the winter, Capri being too bleak.

Carlo Cafiero, one of the most active Italian revolutionists, has been thrown into prison at Lugano, in company with several fellow agitators. The arrest took place at midnight, and for no assigned cause.

The president of the French republic has issued a decree authorizing the city of Guise to establish a national subscription for a monument to the memory of Camille Desmoulins, the first prominent instigator of the French Revolution, born at Guise, March 2, 1760.

On accusations preferred by B. Malon and supported by Lissagaray, the historian of the Commune of Paris, before a large meeting of the radicals of the French capital, Charles Lullier was expelled recently from the radical party for having betrayed the Commune in 1871.

Michael Morphy, who, some months  after imprisonment for participation in a Socialist demonstration, was expelled from France, lately returned, and started a newspaper , styled "La Republique Sociale," in which he signed himself, "Redacteur en Chef Delegue, Michael Morphy, expulse de France." He was arrested while leaving M. Rochefort's house, and will be prosecuted for returning without permission.

Mrs. Besant delivered a lecture on "The Rights of Constituencies," in Bishop Auckland, England, lately. On the lecturer's appearance she was greeted with howls and hisses.  Some of the more noisy were with great difficulty expelled by the police, but the disturbance was renewed, chairs and tables being broken, and about a dozen persons more or less seriously injured. The room was ultimately cleared, and Mrs. Besant delivered her lecture.

Rarely has any literary undertaking been pursued  with such perseverance and industry as were bestowed by Littre upon his great dictionary of the French language. He is said to have worked upon it every night for years until 3 o'clock in the morning. The printing began in 1859, six years before the work was completed, and lasted until 1872, with two interruptions occasioned by the outbreak of the war between France and Germany and by the Commune in Paris, the one lasting about seven months and the other two. The printing was resumed before the reign of the Commune was over, and the proof-sheets were allowed to pass through the German lines from Paris to Versaille, where Littre was staying, and back. Littre was a member of the chamber of deputies, and is described as working placidly at his proof-sheets in his seat in the chamber amid the most violent and exciting scenes and debates. During the war with Germany he deemed it prudent to make a hasty retreat from the country house where he lived, upon the approach of the hostile army. During his absence the German troops entered the house, but upon his return he found that nothing had been taken away, and that his fine library was uninjured.

Victor Hugo lately went through a pretty scene at an asylum in Paris for the orphan children of actors. It was established by members of the profession, and is still poor; and the founders, therefore, appealed for help to the poet, whose fondness for children has earned for him the title of "Grandpere de la France." The poet responded to the call, and paid what may be called an official visit to the institution. He was received by the little inmates with acclamations of joy. One of them, a charming girl of eight years, presented him with a handsome bouquet, and said: "Maitre, you have come to visit children, you the Grandpere who loves the children so deeply, and who sings their praises so divinely, and these children belong to that artistic family of which you are the most glorious and striking profession. Permit us to tell you how profoundly grateful we feel, and to offer you this bouquet, the flowers of which say - 'Forget us not; we shall never forget this memorable day when the poet of genius designs to come and see little children.' " M. Victory Hugo, who, in the presence of children, is tenderness itself, literally wept as he took the little orphans up in his arms and kissed them. He promised to do all he could do for the orphanage.