1921 REVIEWS OF BOOKS 599 unless one were writing a military history, no better guide to their signifi- cance could be found. Taken as a whole this volume is a most valuable help to the student of the eighteenth century for the clear way in which it brings out the influence of Belgian history, hitherto not enough realized, on the general history of the century. One also finds occasional gems of political theory hidden away in the narrative, of which, to conclude, I shall only quote one example. Speaking of the politics of that curious little independent bishopric of Liege, the professor writes : Les petites nations ne s'interessent, en general, qu'a leur politique interieure. Mettant leur orgueil non dans l'esprit de conquete et de domination, mais dans l'esprit civique, elles supportent facilement des mesa ventures que de grands Etats considereraient comme des humiliations intolerables. Elles sentent confusement que la violation du droit n'est une honte que pour le violateur. This perhaps was hardly written sine studio during the German occupation ; but it is profoundly true of many manifestations of power even in these peaceful days. Basil Williams. Le Cardinal de Boisgelin (1732-1804). Par l'Abbe E. Lavaquery. Tome i, Vn Prelat d' Ancien Regime. Tome ii, La Revolution, VExil, Le Con- cordat. (Paris : Plon-Nourrit, 1920.) This is a detailed, accurate, and interesting biography of one of the lesser- known bishops of the ancien regime. It is characteristic of the history of the period that JJoisgelin — owing to his very moderation — never gets much more than a few words from any historian. M. de la Gorce indeed has given a considerable space to Boisgelin's attitude on the question of the oath of the clergy, but Boisgelin is not the kind of man to find favour with M. de la Gorce. This biography, therefore, fills a gap in French ecclesiastical history. Vol. i deals with the life of Boisgelin before the Kevolution ; vol. ii is an account of Boisgelin's part in the consti- tuent Assembly, his exile, and his return to administer the diocese of Tours under the Concordat. The author has been able to use a great deal of hitherto unpublished material, and though at times he gives so much detail that it is difficult to follow the main thread of the story, some of the letters and diaries are — especially the extracts from the diary of the Abbe de Veri — of great interest. It is, incidentally, very much to be hoped that M. Lavaquery will be able to carry out his plan of publishing this diary. The account of Boisgelin's nine years of exile in London is too short rather than too long — though the author has, naturally, had to plan his book in accordance with his materials. One would, however, much like to hear Boisgelin's comments (if any survive) on the English society in which he mixed. M. Lavaquery in no way idealizes Boisgelin, neither does he moralize over the astounding changes of fortune of an aristocrat who lived the ordinary life of a nobly-born French bishop of the ancien regime, saw his comfortable and elegant world disappear into chaos, and finally, under a new dynasty and after ten years of exile, became a cardinal and ruled over the diocese of St. Martin. But it is possible for a reader who
