618 
feigneur. His goods were confifcated, and 
his heirs banithed. 
In addition to the penalties, already al- 
luded to, there were feveral others then in 
ule, fuch as fufpenfion, the lex talionis, 
the quefion, amputation at the writ, &c. 
After along article on executions the 
author concludes as fellows : 
‘¢ Here terminate my refearches rela- 
tive to the legiflation of the ancient inba- 
bitants of Dauphiny, and I truft that they 
will contribute to demoniirate the prin- 
ciples laid down by me, viz., that we 
ought to felicitate ourle!ves on account of 
living in an age during which we poflefs a 
better fyitem of government, more know- 
ledge, more riches, and more enjoyments 
of every kind, without having more vices, 
at leat in proportion to our enjoyments. 
In fhort it does not appear, in whatever 
point of view we are to confider thofe 
times, that they ought to be regretted, 
notwithftanding mankind are eager to Ce- 
Jebrate the wifdom of a period of which 
the ignorance and diltrefs are equally con- 
fpicuous.” am 
BIOGRAPHY. 
«© Notice Bivgraphique fur M. Salivet, 
Profefleur a? Académie de Legiflation,”’ 
&c.—Bicgraphical Notice relative to M, 
Salivet, Profeffor at the Academy of Le- 
giflation, by CHaRLEs DumMonr. 
The noile attendant on renown, we are 
here told, is not always the moft certain 
proof of real merit ; on the contrary, re- 
puration is more often the refult of in- 
trigue than the recompence of talents. 
The man who has no other aim in hs la- 
bours-than to be ufeful te his couniry, 
may remain for ever in obscurity ; but 
public gratitude owes to iuch an indiyida- 
al the fincereit tribute of applaufe ; and he 
who, in confequence of a virtuous denial 
of felf-love and perfonal intereft, has eri. 
ficed his time, his talents, and his life, to 
the ood of leciety, claims an honourable 
lace in the eficem of his fellow-citiz-ns. 
‘¢ Thefe refle&ions (continues the eu- 
thor, ) are naturally produced by the recol- 
le&iion of thofe qualities which difinguifh 
M. Louis-George-Iiaac Salivet, who died- 
May 24, 1805. He was born at Paris on 
the gth of December, 1737, and having 
diftinguifhed, bimfelf by the extraordinary 
progrefs'exhibited during the courte of his 
ftudies, he obtained the cap of a doctor of 
laws. Received foon after as a member 
of the parliament of the fame city, te ex- 
ercifed the duties of his plece until the 
year 1790. Courage and difintereftednefs 
arg the qualities more particularly develop- 
7 
« Retrofped? of French Literature.—Biography. 
ed-ia the courfe of his profeffional avoea- 
tions 3; but he was no lefs remarkable on ' 
account of that precifion of ideas, that 
rectitude of judgment, that clearnefs of 
expreflion, and that elegance of delivery, 
which, without producing thofe impetuous 
effecis ufuaily attributed to grand orato- 
rical movements, captivates the attention 
ef the auditors, and carries conviétion 
home to their bofoms.” - 
At the commencement of the Revolu- 
tion M. Salivet was nominated publie ac- 
culer to the ath provifiona) criminal tri- 
bunal, and appears to have always con- 
duGed bimfelt like an incorruptible ma- - 
giltrate. 
*¢ Firm in the purfuit of delinquencies, 
he never fer a fingle intent forgot, that if 
the tribunals are inftituted for the punith- 
ment of culprits, there is a duty apper- 
taining to them alfe, of a milder and more 
farisfa&tory kindj—that of abfolving the 
innocent. Scaring above thofe paffions 
which have fince accafioned fo many mis- 
fortunes, he never permitted himfelf to be 
governed by any but honourable impulfes. 
How much is it te be regretted that juftice 
-has not always poflefled fuch pure and 
fuch incerruptible organs! We fhould 
not then have to complain cf fo many judi- 
cial murders, and our annals would not 
prefent fo many doloreus fcenes by the 
fide of fo many illufirious aéttons, fo many 
‘ublime emotions, which will for ever fig- 
nalize an epoch memorable alike on ac- 
count of the errors and the prodigies of a 
great people.” 
The trial of the ex-minifler Montmorin 
prefented an occafion to M. Salivet to ex- 
hibit ali his courage ; and notwithftanding 
the dangers which at that period accom- 
panied the defence of a man whofe func- _ 
tions had. prejudiced the world again 
him, yet he did not hefitate to undertake 
it. . During a precefs that continued 
feventy.two hours he never once left 
the perilous poft which had been affigned 
to him; and, amidit the clamours of a 
multitude who had been mifled and pre- 
judiced, he did not ceafe for a moment to 
utier.the language of reafon and of per- 
fualion. His fuccefs far exceeded his ex- 
pectations, 
After the diffolution of the provifional 
criminal tribunals he was nominated juge 
de paix (jaftice of the peace,).of the fec- 
tion of Beaurepaire, and in this new fitua- 
tion we are told he afforded ‘frequent 
profs of his difintereftednefs. Weare ala 
{ured thet he not only heard every com- 
piaiat, and inquired into every particular 
3 circumfance 
14 —— - 
