the belligerent powers. 
1810.] Afemours of the Life and Writings of M. de St. Croix. 245 
strike the critics, I spared no pains to 
introduce into the language, without 
tetraying an ailectation ef coining new 
words, many terms that were necessary 
for the description of naval evolutions, 
but which hitherto had appeared only in 
the journals of seamen. I made 
every effort to render myself not only 
clear, but even easily intelligible, to those 
who knew little or nothing of: naval 
affairs. But what cost me the most 
trouble was, to reconcile the different 
(and always contradictory) accounts ‘of 
M. Mallet du 
Pan, in his newspaper, reproached me 
with having uniformly represented the 
engagements in a light too favourable to 
the French, and with being deficient in 
justice to the English. This censure is 
not absolutely without foundation; but 
though [ thought it right to use some de- 
licacy toward my countrymen, in order 
to prevent them from drawing none but 
discouraging conclusions from the facts 
that I related, I at least expressed my- 
self in such a manner that persons of 
penetration might-collect the truth from 
my statements. Exclusively of this how- 
ever, the criticism of M. Mallet du Pan 
is erroneous in more than one respect ; 
but after drawing up an answer to it, I 
suppressed this, from a fear of giving 
pain to that worthy man.—There hag net 
been sufficient attention paid to the 
boldness with which I spoke of several 
events that were still recent, and had 
been hitherto described only in the style 
of a gazctte. The first volume concludes 
with some remarks on the navigation- 
act; and the second, with others on the 
‘peace of 1763: the latter taken froma 
preceding publication of mine on that 
subject, but with alterations and addi- 
tions. I venture to think that neither 
are contemptible, This second edition 
however met but little success, That it 
had errors, I am aware: the celebrated 
Andrea Doria, for example, is mentioned 
as having been present at the battle of 
Lepanio, whereas in fact it was his 
nephew, the former having died before 
that memorable action; I have also 
made some mistakes concerning king 
John of England, and messieurs Ker- 
saint; having supposed these latter ta 
have been drowned with their father, 
though they were still living :-—but these 
were not the causes of the indifference I 
speak of; for the public overlook much 
greater faults, without condemning: a 
whole work for them. Its true source 
~ 
was as follows: on the first appearance | 
of the original edition, some unprincipled 
booksellers, struck with its ttle, pub- 
lished several piracies and imitations of 
it, of which they printed a great number, 
so that the shops were full of them; and 
hence the unfavourable opinion which 
the public formed of these wretched im- 
positions, operated to the disadvantage 
of my second edition. Besides this, 
peace had been made with England 
three years before, and the nation 
thought no more of naval affairs.” This 
whole passage is stamped with the cha- 
racteristic simplicity, frankness, and 
candour, of St. Croix. The readerseems. 
to hear this learned man opening, his 
heart to a friend, and speaking of him- 
self with the same freedom and unre- 
servedness as if he spoke of a stranger. 
“ On the Ancient Federative Govern- 
ments, and on the Legislation of Crete” 
Paris, 1798, one volume octavo. This 
work consists of two memoirs which the 
author had read before the academy of 
belles-lettres, a short time previous to 
the suppression of that society. The 
purpose of the first, and most important 
of them, is, to prove that Greece never 
had any federative constitution till the 
period of the Achzan league; the other 
treated of the origin of the Cretans, their 
legislation, and the relation which the 
institutions of Sparta bore to those of 
Crete: both these discussions were ac- 
companied with illustrations, in which 
the author handles several points of cri- 
ticism and history with his usual skill 
and erudition, When this fine work ap- 
peared, France was hardly beginning to 
fee} a little intermission from the rage of 
contending factions, and the arts and 
sciences could not even yet venture to 
anticipate more favourable days. “In 
such circumstances,” says St, Croix, 
“ why do I hazard a new publication? I¢ 
is because, amidst the most unprosperous 
omens, we stHl continue attached to the 
habitual objects of our affections, and 
hope does not forsake even the man who 
tries to shut his heart against it. Nor 
can I, without ingratitude, quit the ser- 
vice of literature, to witteh I am indebted 
for a salutary consolation in: these days 
of bitterness and grief.” 
_ Some thought they perceived, in this 
last work of St. Croix, marks of a dis 
position unfavourable to the existing go- 
vernment, or at least to what was then 
honoured with that appellation. It is 
not so,” said the author, in reply to in- 
; sinuations 
it 
| 
‘ 
