340 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[2°d S. VI. 147., Oct. 23. '58. 



The above is the beginning of a satire for the sequel of 

 ■which the reader, if he likes, may consult the Elzevirian 

 edition of the Histoire Amourcise des Gaules. Favoured 

 by everybodj' on account of his talents, his courage, and 

 his -wit, Bussj'-Rabutin managed to quarrel -nith all his 

 protectors, one after the other. The publication of the 

 Histoire Amoureuse was not calculated, of course, to mend 

 his affairs, and Louis XIV. never forgave him the allu- 

 sions that book contained to the fair but frail ornaments 

 of the Marly festivities. Let us add, however, that 

 Bussy, although caustic in his remarks, and particularly 

 fond of abuse, never stoops to calumny; he generally 

 ■ ;\> ells upon the disagreeable side of the personages he 

 :;r,r{ duces, but he would scorn to add a single touch for 

 the sake, even, of satisfying his spite or his jealousy. 



The memoirs of Bussy-Rabutin are thickly strewn 

 •with particulars relating to the History of England as 

 •well as to that of France. Crofts, the Gordon familj-, Sir 

 Kenelm Digby, Charles II. himself, are introduced to the 

 reader; for we must remember thai at the time when 

 Bussy wrote, the entente cordiah existed between the 

 courts of Versailles and Saint James to a greater extent 

 than it has ever done since, and many of the persons 

 ■whom ■we have been acquainted with tbi-ough the amusing 

 narrative of the Chevalier de Grammont have also found 

 their place in the note-book of Madame de Sevign^'s 

 cousin. 



After admiring in funeral discourses or set paneg3Tics 

 the noble deeds or Christian virtues of popular heroes, it 

 is well to turn to the chronique scandcdeuse, and to see 

 •what those same heroes have for their valets de chambre, 

 their mistresses, and their friends. Singular commen- 

 taries are thus suggested on the sincerity of literature, 

 and we learn painfully to appreciate the true meaning of 

 what the world calls moral greatness, perfection, virtue ! 

 Thus in a note of the Histoire Amoureuse d»s Gaules, we 

 tind it flatly asserted that, "pourle mariage de laregente 

 avec le Cardinal JIazarin, on ue voit pas qu'il soit plus 

 possible d'en douter, et rien n'est plus facile h. excuser et 

 a comprendi^e." The same annotator, meeting in his way 

 the name of Tureune, does not lose the opportunity of 

 fitting in at the foot of the page another startling biogra- 

 phical scrap : " Tureune a aime' beaucoup et longteraps 

 les fenimes. C'est ce que ne disent ni I'Abb^ Baguenet, 

 ni Ramsay, ni les diverses histoires de Tureune approu- 

 vees par les arcbevcques de Tours et de Rouen." No, nor 

 yet the edif^nng oraisons funebres of Fle'chier and of jlas- 

 caron, in which the gallant general is described as a 

 perfect model. 



Admirable as a writer, interesting as an historian of 

 fashionable society in France during the seventeenth cen- 

 tury-, Bussy-Rabutin, by his private character, sinks at 

 once in our estimation. He is utterly destitute of moral 

 dignity. After having offended the king, and made ene- 

 mies of all those whose good graces it ivas his special in- 

 terest to secure, he seeks to atone for his folly by the 

 most abject entreaties, and by petitions which betray both 

 his 'weakness and his cowardice. Like Ovid, whom he 

 resembled in many respects, he does not know how to 

 bear manfully a disgrace which, after all, he had richly 

 deserved. To quote M. Lalanne : " on est p^niblemeut 

 affecte h, la lecture de ces requetes en vers et en prose, de 

 ces placets oil, conirae le dit si bien Voltaire, 'il proteste 

 en vain h Louis XIV. une teudresse que ni le Roi ni per- 

 sonne ne croyaient sincere.' " 



When the whole correspondence of Bussy is published 

 it will form a most valuable addition to the historical 

 literature of France : two volumes alone ha've as yet ap- 

 peared. The Memoir.s, complete alreadj-, may be perused 

 as a text of which the letters form the running commen- 

 tary. They are divided into chapters, containing gene- 

 rally each the events of one year, and headed by copious 



summaries ; an excellent index, and an appendix of piece 

 justijicativcs. complete the worlc The following notes 

 may help the reader to find out the most striking pas- 

 sages : — 



Vol. i. pp. xxxvi. 468. Chap. i. (1618—1634), from the 

 birth of Bussj' to his campaign in Lorraine. Chaps, xii. 

 and xiii. (1648, 1649), the attempt of Bussy to carry off 

 Bladame de Miramion. In consequence of "that attempt 

 the lady renounced the world, and founded a religious 

 community to ■which the name of Miratnionnes was given. 

 Chap. xvii. (1653), a capital portrait of Marshal Turenne. 

 Chap, xviii. (1654), a portrait of the Prince de Conti. 



Vol. ii. p. 483. Histoire Amoureuse des Gaules. This 

 curious work is printed as an appendix (pp. 307 — 447.). 

 It contains (p. 386.) a portrait of the Prince de Cond€, 

 which it ma}' be interesting to compare with Bossuet's 

 funeral oration ; but its chief merit is the accuracy with 

 which Bussy-Rabutin describes the demi-monde such as 

 it existed two centuries ago. 



To conclude, M. Lalanue's well-known reputation in 

 the field of historical research will derive additional lustre 

 from his recent editorial labours. Gusta\T5 Masson. 



Harrow-on-the-Hill. 



BOOKS AND ODD VOLUMES 



WANTED TO rCRCIIASB. 



Particulars of Price, kc, of the following Books to be sent direct to 

 the gentlemen by whom they are required, and whose names and ad- 

 dresses arc given for that purpose. 



Nelson (RoBEnTt, Fasts A>'D Festivals. 12mo. (E. Curll). 1715, 

 Nelso.n (Kobekt), ■Works OF. 2 Vols. 12mo. CE. Curll). 1724. 



Wanted by WilKam J. Thorns. Esg. 10. St. George's Square, Belgrave 

 Road, S.W. 



Beaufort's Ecci.es]Asticai. SIap of Irblatoi. 



Wanted by J. 2i. Oarslin, Esq., 21. Upper Merrion Street, Dublin. 



Irish Anca.soLOcicAL Society's Pdblications. 1841 to 1862. 



Celtic Society's Poblications. 1^17tol953C 



Irish Argr.solooical and Celtic Society's Publicatioxs. 1854 tO 



1857. 

 OsslANic Society's Publications. •Vols. I. and H. 

 History OP Ireland. By Lascellcs. 



"Wanted by Everard Home Coleman, Esq., 6. Adelaide Place, 

 London Bridge, London. 



The Sermons (mentioned in Watt's Bibh'otheca Britannica), by Robert 

 Wake, M.A., or any other of his writings, either in print or MS., ex- 

 cept his " Rationale upon some Texts of Scripture," 1701. 



Wanted by Henri/ T. Wake, Plaistow, Esses. 



ftaiitti to €0rreiip0ntffntiS. 



R. F. S. The Tin Trumpet is attributed to Horace and James 

 .Smith, authors o/Rejected Addresses. See " N. & Q." 1st S, xii. 19. 



BowDON. The aUusion in tJie Life of Sir Charles Napier, ii. 125.. fe to 

 the Arabian Nights' Enteitainments, " The slaves of the latnp,'' and 

 " the slaves of the ring," in the '^ Story of Aladdin, or the Wonderful 

 Lamp; " and "tlie Soc's egg" in the "Second Voyage qfSindbad the 



Sailor." 



W. W. Ear notices of Henry Smith, the celebrated Puritan divine 

 temp. Eliiabelh ami Jai7ies I., see '• N. & Q." 1st S. iii. 222. ; Ti. 129. 231. ; 

 vii. -223. 



Jieplics to other corres})ondcnts in ottr next. 



Errata. — 2nd S. vi. p. 291. col. i. 1.20. /or " ancient masters " read 

 " ancient marbles." 2nd S. vi. p. 268. col. i. 1. 14. for " H. Lascellcs " 

 read " Daniel Lascslles." 



"Notes and Qderies" is published at noon on Friday, and is also 



issued in Monthly Parts. The subscription for Stamped Copies for 



t ^ix Months forwarded direct from the Fnblishcrs ^including the Half- 



! yearly Index") is \\s. id., which may he paid by Post Office Order in 



favour of Messrs. Bell and Daldy, 186. Fleet Street, E,C.; to whom 



I all Communications for the Editor shoidd be addressed. 



