ra) of cardinal Dubois. “May 30. 
much, as to abate somewhat of thatvidolatrous vene- 
ration for men in power, which has but too long 
been cherifhed in Europe. 
The following fketch of the life of cardinal Dubois 
is translated from a splendid work now publithing 
in Paris, under the title of ‘les illustres modernes ;’ 
and the head is copied from the same work. 
‘This prince of the church was not indebted to his 
birth for his high station. He was the son of a poor 
apothecary of Brive-la-Gaillarde. Many people, says 
the abbé de S. Pierre, were astonifhed at the great- 
nefs and the quicknefs ef his fortune. But they did 
not reflect that he had a great talent for knowing the 
weak side of men, and great facility in adapting his 
conduct accordingly. They did not reflect that he 
. slept little, that he scarce ever read, that he neither 
loved the table nor conversation ; and consequently 
that he had four times as much time as any body 
else. They did not think that neither friendfhip, 
gratitude, nor probity, stood in the. way of his pro- 
jects, as ofa just man. They did not consider that an 
ambitious person, whose fortune depends on a single 
man, whom he surrounds with spies, to gain his end 
quickly ; while he is offended at nothing, but suffers 
every thing with patience ; while he wilhes strongly, 
and especially when he can, to destroy in the mind 
of his master, by calumnies, all those who can ap- 
proach him. 
‘ His first secret was to persuade the regent that 
there was neither probity among men, nor vir- 
tne among women ; and that, in the ministry, men 
