M N T E S Q U I E U. 



G63 



cannot be regarded as a full and correct solution, it is 

 at least a splendid theory ; and the labour of twenty 

 ' years devoted to produce it, the enthusiasm required 

 for sustaining such an effort, were by no means mis- 

 applied. The abundance of curious, and generally 

 authentic, information, with wl.ich the work is sprin- 

 kled, renders it instructive even to a superficial reader; 

 while the vigorous and original ideas to be found in 

 every page of it, by an attentive one, never fail to de- 

 light and astonish where they convince, and to improve 

 even where the truth of them seems doubtful. The 

 brilliant hints, correct or otherwise, which the author 

 scatters round him with a liberal hind, have excited or 

 aMuted the speculations of others in almost every de- 

 partment of political economy ; and Montesquieu is 

 deservedly mentioned as a principal founder of that 

 important science. The merits of his work are farther 

 enhanced by his style, which, though emphatic and 

 perspicuous, rather than polished, abound* in elegant 

 sarcasm, in vivid and happy turns of expression, which 

 remind us of his countryman Montaigne. 



Among the defects of the Etprit de Lois, may be 

 numbered its want of method, partly apparent, partly 

 real. The transitions are universally abrupt; the 

 brevity sometimes degenerates into obscurity, and the 

 smartness into affectation. Though the author's tone 

 is always decided and positive, his statements and spe- 

 culations are occasionally uncertain or erroneous: hi 

 particular, the effects attributed to climate (some of 

 which may have been borrowed from Bodin's Mrthotlui 

 Hittorice,) are greatly exaggerated. But whatever 

 blemishes the work may have, it is entitled to the high 

 praise of steadily supporting the cause of justice and 

 humanity, without departing from the moderation and 

 reserve proper in combating established prejudices. 



The reputation which its author had already gained, 

 procured for the Esprit <ft IMU a sufficient degree of 

 attention j but the work, on its first appearance, was 

 very unfavourably received. Such as were unable or 

 unwilling to relish the deep philosophy of its matter, 

 attached themselves to the blemishes of its manner, and 

 affected to despise it. The Chancellor Dsguesseau ob- 

 served, that it should have been denominated De Fes- 

 frit tur lei loil; and the pun obtained a circulation 

 far above its merit. Voltaire also, being one day visit- 

 ed by the AbU- Oiivi t, whilst p. rus-ng the work, ex- ' 

 claimed, I'eitrz, l.'Abte, vmrz lire ./r/o/u/'n Grotitu*. 

 The general voice of F.u rope, indeed, soon put such cnii- 

 csfma to silence ; but it was only to excite others of a 

 graver and man dangerous nature. The Editor of the 

 Gazette Ecdesiasticjue, long deeply engaged in the Jany 

 seaist quarrels which agitated France tor many yean, 

 assailed the author of the / >//u/ ilct Lois, in two pam- 

 phlets,- with the charge of deism, and the weightier, 



criticism. His admirers would willingly forget, that 

 when a copy of this work, now ready for circulation, 

 fell into his hands, he carried it to the royal mistress, 

 Madame Pompadour, and allowed her to inform Du- 

 pin, that as the Esprit des Lois enjoyed her special fa. 

 vour, all objections to it must be instantly suppressed. 



Some excuse fcr this part of Montesquieu's conduct 

 may perhaps be found in the growing infirmity of his 

 health, which rendered him daily less capable of en- 

 during the vexation of such contests. In fact, the 

 chagrin already produced by them, the effects of study, 

 and the civilities of the great, who courted his society 

 with an eagerness which he felt would be fatal, had 

 gradually unaennined a constitution, at no time very 

 robust. In the beginning of February 1755, he was 

 seized with an inflammation of the lungs, which soon, 

 proved mortil. His last days were soothed by the 

 sympathy of all ranks of men : and, though loaded 

 with the most cruel pains, far from his family, and in- 

 sulted by the officious visits of Father Routh (an Irish 

 Jesuit, who afterwards forged a letter in his name), 

 the peace and equality of soul which had marked the 

 tenor of his life, did not forsake him at the close of it. 

 He expired on the 10th of February, aged 66' years 

 and a few days. 



The private character of Montesquieu appears to 

 have been such as the perusal of his works might lead 

 us to anticipate. Possessing that calm independence 

 which secured him respect, he possessed also that mild- 

 ness and benignity of character which displayed itself, 

 in a cheerful temper, and obtained him universal love. 

 He was distinguished by the readiness which he al. 

 ways manifested to use his influence with the govern, 

 ment, in behalf of persecuted men of letters : and strict 

 frugality frequently enabled him, without impairing 

 the property of his family, to mitigate the wants of the 

 indigent. 



A multitude of anecdotes attest the extent of his col- 

 loquial powers. The number of nations and celebrated 

 men whom he had seen, the vigour of his mind, its 

 boundless fertility in original and lively ideas, render- 

 ed his conversation at once instructive and fascinating. 

 It was curt, like his style, without bitterness or satire, 

 yet full of attic salt, to which his Gascon accent perhaps 

 added new charms. The frequent absence of mind, 

 for which he was remarkable, never occurred in a se 

 rious or interesting discussion : it was not affected ; 

 an 1 he constantly awoke from it by some brilliant Gaily 

 fitted to revive the conversation. Though living with 

 the great, and formed to delight the most polished cir 

 ne could yet derive information and pleasure from 

 the simplest objects, and felt ut all times happy to ex. 

 change the splendid bustle of Paris for books and re. 

 pose at La Brede. It must have been a striking specta. 



Montes- 

 quieu. 



though contradictory one, of following the doctrines of cle to see this teacher of philosophers, seated beneath 



Spinosa. The Defence which Montesquieu published, 

 admirable for its strain of polite irony, candour, and 

 pUcid contempt, was entirely triumphant. Indeed, 

 abilities of a much lower order than his, would have 

 softced to cover with ridicule the weak and purblind 

 adversary who discovered the source of the Eipril des 

 IM* in the Bull Unigenitut, and blamed his opponent 

 eglecting to examine the doctrines of grace and 

 original sin. It is to be winded, that Montesquieu had 

 employed means as legitimate to counteract Dujun 's 



an oak in his pleasure grounds, and in order to relax 

 his mind from the studies which he never carried to ex- 

 eat*, conversing gaily with a crowd of peasants in their 

 own patois, adopting their views, investigating their 

 genius, supremely happy if his influence could termi. 

 nate their disputes, or solace their troubles. His touch, 

 ing interview with the Marsetllese artisan ; his delight 

 on learning tliat this young man devoted every evening 

 to ply as a boatman for the ransom of a father captive 

 in Barbary ; his generous and delicate reword of such 



* This MKVBiM* u rtpsilej by M. Suard, who had it personally i~n.ni Olivet If Voltaire really uied the epithet in question, it mutt 

 iwx be contidend as sifusfliig the deliberate opinion which Sbat extraordinary person had formed of the Eiprit dci Laii ; to the author ot' 

 aicb, JlsHillislaiillaf tb*ir outiul UUUte, be pj s s jvut scd elegant tribute, in Uie diicoune read st hi* aJmjstitm into the Academy. 



