‘of his irreparable losses. 
~ 
St. Croix himself, and repaired to the 
capital to join him. The ruftians, on 
seeing themselves deprived of their vic- 
tim, exercised their vengeance on the 
property of the amiable man whose per- 
son was out of their reach: his estate was * 
confiscated, his house given toa club, 
his library plundered, and his papers 
burnt. Still however St. Croix might 
have been accounted comparatively 
happy, if he had had nothing dearer tore- 
gret: but he was soon afterward bereft of 
“beth his sons; and now every object 
around. him seemed only to remind him 
after an 
interval of three years, when the, deep 
wounds which he had thus received were 
beginning to heal, his daughter also was 
‘snatched from him; and this tore them 
‘all open again. 
Yet amidst these afflic- 
tions, being supported by the calm sun- 
shine of the soul; and forgiving the 
earthly authors of his misfortunes, 
because he contemplated the events of 
life from a higher point of view; he never 
ceased to seek the conselation which ne 
so much needed, in religion, in study, and 
in the company of some friends whom his 
genius, united withso muchsimplicity and 
goodness of-heart, had inviolably attach- 
ed to him. Accordingly, when attacked 
by a disorder which for several monthis 
appeared not to endanger his life 
bat to threaten him with a painful old 
age, he saw these friends constantly 
around his bed, thinking themselves 
happy when they could. make him for a 
moment forget his sufferings, or engage 
him in conversation respecting labours 
which he proposed to resume. But this 
hope proved deceitful; St. Croix died on 
the 12th of March, 1809: and the only 
consolation left to his friends, is that of 
knowing that his death has excited a 
general sympathy in their regret and 
affliction for his loss, among those who 
are capable of justiy estimating talents 
and virtues. ‘say 
The number and variety of subjects 
‘discussed by St. Croix, will at once shew 
the extent of his acquirements. ‘The 
propriety of his judgment is evinced on 
all occasions in his choice of topics for 
his researches, in the happiness with 
which he applied the stores of his erudi- 
tion, in the connections which he estab- 
‘Jished or painted out between ancient 
and modern history, his critical exact- 
ness in, balancing different testimonies, 
and the lessons which he deduces from 
the past. His genius often displays 
itself in sublime reflections, or sallies of 
942 Memoirs of the Life and Writings of M. de St. Crotr. {April 1; 
the imagination, tending constantly to 
the promotion of virtue or the censure 
of vice. Indeed every one of his pages 
bears marks of the goodness of his heart. 
and the nobleness of his sentiments. 
The following are short sketches of 
some of his principal productions: 
“ Critical Examination of the Ancient 
Historians of Alexander the Great,” 
published at Paris in 1775, in- one 
volume quarto. This. piece, to which 
the academy of inscriptions and belles- 
lettres adjudged a prize in the year 1772, 
first shewed the learned world how rmauch | 
they had to expect from the talents of 
St. Croix. The celebrated author of 
the Bibliotheca Critica merely pro- 
nounced the opinion of all enlightened 
judges, in saying that it hekd owt to our . 
J oS 3 z > 
admiration, a delicate judgment, expe- 
rienced criticism, préfoand knowledge 
of geography and chronology, and an 
eloquence springing from generous sen- 
timents and an elevated soul. The au- 
thor himself was alone dissatisfied with 
it: he writes as follows, at the time when 
he was preparing the second edition for 
the press: ‘This is the least imperfect 
of my published works: it was the re- 
sultof five years’ labour; and had greater 
success than I expected, especially 
among foreigners. Yet what retrenche 
ments, additions, alterations, and cor- 
rections, I shall be obliged to make in 
the new edition that I am preparing! In 
its. present condition, I consider it only 
as a sketch which may be improved into 
a good work.” When this second edi- 
tion appeared, in 1804, the author’s pre- 
fatory observations, in which he declares 
his own opinion concerning the tract in 
its former state, and explains what he 
had now done to render it, more de- 
serving of the public applause, contain 
the following touches of an eloquence 
flowing from the heart: “ Divine Pro= 
vidence having rescued me from the 
steel of assassins, and the other dangers 
of the revolution, by means of the cou- 
rage and attachment of the person who 
is dearest to me, on whom the happiness — 
of my life depends, and who mitigates all 
its bitterness, I have endeavoured: to 
efface from my mind all painful recol- 
lections, in applying wholly and with — 
ardour to my first labours.” He con- 
fesses that this is rather a fresh work 
than a new edition; and in adopting this — 
Statemeut we may say, without fear of 
contradiction, that this fresh work does 
honour to the nation and age to which 
it belongs; that it offers a mode} which 
will | 
