tion of sober reason. We particularly hold out this consideration to such as being gifted with a ready flow of language and idea, rely upon these specious endowments. If their ambition, too impatient to wait for the slow maturity of expanding faculties, glows with renovated ardour at contemplating the career of Dr. Kirwan, if with loftier projects and livelier hopes they are eager for the same course, let them pause in this foretaste of their glory, and acknowledge from his example, that the impetuosity which overbears the hearer is not irresistible in the perusal, and that ultimate success must ever depend upon actual desert.

ART. XI.-Histoire de France, pendant le Dix-huitième Siècle, Charles Lacretelle. 6 vols. 8vo. Paris. London, De Boffe.

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IT is evidently the object of the work before us, to trace the causes which produced the French Revolution, from the latter years of the reign of Lewis XIV. to the dreadful moment of its explosion; and it is curious to observe how the vices and blanders of succeeding governments contributed to raise that tremendous storm, which burst over the head of an unfortunate prince, whose chief defect was weakness of character. Such an investigation inust have been at all times an object of interesting research, but it now affords a subject of triumph. The volcano is exhausted; and we may approach the crater in perfect security.

M. Lacretelle commences his history with a lively picture of the court of Versailles, when the vainest and most voluptuous of monarchs had abandoned those pleasures, which he could no longer enjoy, for the gloomy discussions of controversial theology. An antiquated prude, the widow of a buffoon, by consummate art, had supplanted, in the affections of a worn-out debauchee, the most lovely and accomplished of women, and had subjugated her admirer to such a degree, as to obtain a legal title to his bed. Possessing talents, which were calculated only for the superintendance of a convent, she aspired to govern a mighty empire, and exercised her authority in caballing with the Jesuit Le Tellier for the ruin of the virtuous and enlightened Fenelon, the honour and ornament of religion.

Eager as the people must have been to be delivered from a sovereign odious to them by the weight of taxation, by a series of humiliating defeats,* and by a systematic disregard of the dictates

The Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene had instructed the world that France was vulnerable in spite of her fortifications; and even in the quarter where

humanity in all his transactions,-yet they had little to hope from the character of the Dauphin, who had been so long accustomed to implicit obedience, as scarcely to retain any will of his own. The Duke of Burgundy, on the contrary, was deservedly dear to the nation. Bitter therefore was their disappointment, when that amiable youth was suddenly snatched away in the prime of life, by a pulmonary complaint, which popular prejudice attributed to poison, administered by the Duke of Orleans. The atrocity of the deed appeared to augment in a tenfold degree, when directed against a prince who had defended him from the horrible charge of having hastened the death of the Dauphin, when the King was inclined to believe the report, and Madame de Maintenon forbore to contradict it, because she beheld in the Duke of Orleans a dangerous rival to her favourite pupil the Duke of Maine. The affliction of Lewis at the danger which threatened the life of his grandson, and the fortitude displayed by that excellent young man, are well described.

'Le Dauphin vint ensuite se mêler aux seigneurs qui attendaient le roi. Nul n'osait le consoler, tous gardaient un morne silence, il se tenait debout au milieu d'eux. Son air avait quelque chose d'égaré; son visage était couvert de marques rougeâtres. Il répondait au salut douloureux de ceux dont il connoissait le plus d'attachment, par des regards qui percaient l'ame. Il entra au milieu d'eux au lever du roi. Quel nouveau coup pour l'auguste vieillard, que la vue de son petit-fils qui portait sur tois les traits l'empreinte de la mort! Louis s'avance vers lui, il le serre dans ses bras avec tendresse; il l'observe, il détaille tous les funestes symptômes, qu'avaient déjà remarqués les courtisans.-Retirez vous, mon fils, lui disait-il, pendant qu'un médecin tâtait le pouls au prince, et regardait le roi avec des yeux effraiés, au nom de Dieu, retirez vous; veillez sur vous-même ; j'attends tout du courage de mon fils. Que le ciel vous donne de la force; il en faut, mon fils, dans ces temps malheureux.-i. 22.

A more impressive scene of domestic affliction can hardly be conceived than that which clouded the end of a reign so frequently eulogised by the historians of France as the proudest era of national prosperity, though agriculture languished for want of hands, and commerce stagnated for want of capital. It is impossible to deny that, at one period of his government, Lewis appeared surrounded with glory; but for those splendid achievements by which he acquired the appellation of GREAT, he was far more indebted to extraneous causes, over which he had little controul, than to

those boasted bulwarks were thickest. And had it not been for the intrigues of Harley and St. John, and the inconstancy of the queen, (we purposely employ the mildest language when speaking of a female and a sovereign,) there can be little doubt that another campaign would have enabled the allies to dictate peace in the splendid apartments of the Louvre.

military talent or judicious discrimination. The ministers, generals, and authors, who contributed to exalt his reputation, were formed at an earlier period; their genius partook of the vigour of an age when the mind was less enervated by luxury and less fettered by despotism: and with these illustrious models of valour and taste, all the splendour which attended them disappeared. The treaty of Utrecht, which might have irrecoverably crippled the resources of France, was attended with little humiliation. Though compelled to descend from that lofty eminence from which he oppressed or insulted all the nations of Europe, Lewis's fall had not been precipitate. Less powerful than formerly, be had still the consolation to think that there existed no potentate in the Christian republic more powerful than himself. But while saved from the precipice into which he was sinking, it is difficult to conceive a more miserable being than the haughty founder of Versailles. The untimely loss of those who, according to the common course of nature, should have propped and consoled his declining years, left a dreadful solitude around him. All his schemes of ambition were frustrated; from external objects he could derive no consolation, and all within was gloomy and cheerless.

The following passage is too descriptive of fallen greatness to be omitted.

Une dévotion trop universelle à la cour pour n'être pas suspecte d'hypocrisie; un faste consacré par habitude mais qui n'était plus animé par les plaisirs, ni par la gloire, et que la détresse des finances rendait pénible au monarque, insupportable à ses sujets; des craintes pressantes pour l'avenir, des projets vagues et incohérens, des controverses assez semblables à celles qui agitaient misérablement l'empire Grec; voilà tout ce qui restait du grand règne; mais Louis restait, et continuait d'imposer aux ames, qu'il avoit autrefois enivrées de ses triomphes. La tristesse se laissait voir partout, mais ne s'exprimait que par de faibles plaintes. On sentait que le temps des grandes choses était passé, mais on conservait de la vénération pour celui qui les avait long-temps dirigé. . . . . . La nation ne voyait rien qui lui promit du bonheur, mais chacun se proposait de ne point manquer les occasions de gaieté, qui pourraient s'offrir sous un nouveau règne.-i. 87.

If pleasure were the leading object of their wishes, they had an opportunity of gratifying them to the fullest extent during the licentious administration of the Duke of Orleans, the gayest and most profligate of mortals. No sooner had Lewis closed his eyes, than the gloomy austerities of a Carthusian convent made way for the triumph of dissoluteness. Vice no longer deigned to wear a mask when it became a recommendation to favour. All the graces of conversation suddenly disappeared, and were replaced by the voluptuous descriptions of libertinism, or the revolting intrepidity of

atheism. Such was the ardour of the courtiers in pursuit of pleasure, or such their eagerness to flatter the regent, that many persons of distinction who, during the late reign, had vied with each other in demonstrations of piety, now affected to take the lead in dissipation, and even boasted of vices to which from age and constitution they were little inclined.

The regent's suppers may fairly be termed academies for the corruption of the rising generation. With delight be beheld the hour arrive, when delivered from the toils of government and the ennui of a court, he could indulge, amid the society of his intimate friends, in every sensual excess. Nocé, D'Effiat, Brancas, La Fare, Broglie, et beaucoup d'autres faisaient assaut de dissolution pour justifier cette odieuse et absurde dénomination de roués, inventée par leur maître.' In these abominable orgies not only morality and decency were ostentatiously banished, but even religion was insulted with blasphemous mockery, as if licentiousness were a proof of good taste, and impiety the criterion of wit. The Dutchess of Berri, his favourite daughter, who was universally suspected of having poisoned her husband, and whose gallantries had rendered her conspicuous in a country where no ties were respected except those of inclination, frequently presided at these scandalous scenes,* in company with some of her father's numerous mistresses, a selection of prostitutes from the different theatres, the whole cohort of roués, together with a few men of inferior rank, whom the Duke of Orleans admired for their wit or courted for their profligacy.

The violent controversies between the Jesuits and Jansenists upon subjects too abstruse for human comprehension, had produced an effect upon the public mind unfavourable to religion itself; but it was reserved for the impiety of this dissolute prince to strip the highest ecclesiastical dignities of every thing digaified and imposing. A person of mean extraction, remarkable only for his vices, had been employed in correcting the regent's tasks, and by a servile complaisance for all his inclinations had acquired an ascendancy over his pupil, which he abused for the purpose of currupting his morals, debasing his character, and ultimately rendering his administration an object of universal indignation. Soon after his patron's accession to power, Dubois, for whom no Occupation was too infamous, no employment too servile, was admitted into the council of state. His figure is described as mean and contemptible, and the vices of his mind were so legibly imprinted upon his disgusting countenance, that it was impossible

This princess has been frequently compared to Lucretia Borgia, the daughter of Pope Alexander VI., and the parallel unfortunately holds good in every respect.

for hypocrisy to conceal them. He had, however, made what, in the meridian of a Parisian court, was considered as a proficiency in literature, for he had acquired a sufficient knowledge of Latin to translate Horace and Ovid with tolerable facility. But as it was late in life before he directed his attention to political studies, his acquirements as a statesman were still more superficial. The derangement of the finances, occasioned by the ambition and prodigality of the late king, had reduced the regent to the necessity of recurring to various expedients in order to avoid the discredit of a general bankruptcy. A system of palliatives agreed but ill with the boldness of his political views; for whenever he consulted his own understanding, or allowed himself time to attend to public affairs, he contemplated them with the eye of a statesman, though too apt to be dazzled by brilliant theories. An ardent temper induced him to listen to the chimeras of Law, whose extravagant plans, the wildest that presumption or knavery ever conceived, were welcomed as the oracles of a divinity.

Law was endowed with every quality best calculated to captivate a lively people. A natural eloquence enabled him to announce his ideas with clearness and vivacity. Amid the profoundest calculations he introduced speculations of the boldest character, which, though founded upon principles no less visionary than extravagant, were announced with a confidence which satisfied his hearers that they were the result of practical wisdom. A commanding figure and elegant manners conduced to increase the delusion, so that he was courted by people of the highest distinction with as much servility, as if every thing which he touched had been commuted to gold.

The infatuation of the Parisians is admirably painted in the following passage:

On trouvait beaucoup trop lente la fabrication du papier, quoique le nombre des ouvriers, et des commis, qui en étoient occupés, eut été doublés, et quadruplés. Les habitans des provinces regardaient d'un œil d'envie la fortune qui paraissait sourire aux Parisiens. Ils afïluaient dans la capitale, qui ne vit à aucune autre époque un aussi grand concours, un mouvement aussi rapide, un luxe aussi extravagant. Tout emploi du génie, du bon sens, était suspendu. On assiégeait les portes de la banque pour y porter son of. On se faisait une peur chimérique de n'être point admis, et l'on était soulagé, lorsqu'un commis, avec un sourire perfide avait dit, Ne craignez rien, messieurs, on prendra tout votre argent. Les ames jusqu'alors les plus tranquilles éprouvaient les transports forcenés des joueurs. Toute distinction de naissance était effacée. Les nobles n'avaient plus d'orgueil, ils étaient tout à l'avarice. Ils dînaient chez des laquais enrichis de la veille, et portés à juger de leur esprit d'après leur bonheur, ils cherchaient à surprendre leur secret; ils réussirent bientôt à les surpasser. C'étaient des hommes puissans à la