The
Vol. IV.
No. 7.
Green
BOSTON.
Bag
July, 1892.
MONTESQUIEU. Bv Alfonso H. di Farini. AMIDST the grand galaxy of splendid geniuses who illustrated the eigh teenth century, stands pre-eminent Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu. Born at the chateau of La Brede, near Bordeaux, on the 18th of January, 1689, his early talents bespoke for him a great and, learned career. His father destined him for the magistracy, and indeed, the earlier years of his life were spent in that capacity. Upon the death of his paternal uncle, who was president a mortier of the Parliament of Bordeaux, he left his fortune and his office to M. de Montesquieu. During his brief incumbency in this office he was the author of many acts which merited both the recognition and applause of his countrymen. In 1716 he was admitted a member of the then infant Academy of Bordeaux, and lent his efforts to diverting that society from the study of the polite arts, which can seldom be cultivated to advantage outside the capiital, to the more useful study of the natural sciences. But the functions of the magistracy soon proved too limited and confining to the broad genius of Montesquieu, which longed to deploy itself in the wider realm of letters. Thus in 1721, when he was but thirty-two years of age, he published his first and one of his most celebrated works, entitled "Lettres Persannes," or " Persian Letters." In these he absents himself in mind from his country to return in the character of a Persian noble travelling in the Occident for the purpose of studying the customs, man ners, and laws of its peoples. These letters 39
are full of sprightliness and energy, often teeming with lively wit, and still oftener with biting satire, especially when he attacks some of the old social idols of western Europe in general, and of France in par ticular. His severe strictures upon many practices of the Christian Church caused him at first to refuse to acknowledge him self the author of the " Lettres Persannes," though afterward, when he became a can didate for the seat in the French Academy made vacant by the death of M. de Sacy, and the identity of their authorship was dis covered, he confessed to Cardinal Fleury, the then prime minister, that they contained nothing he was ashamed of. He was ac cordingly received into the Academy on Jan. 24, 1728, — the more deserving of that high honor, since he had lately quitted a lucrative employment that he might follow the bent of his genius and devote himself entirely to letters. A few months after this event, for the further improvement of his knowledge, he set out on his travels accompanied by his intimate friend Lord Waldegrave, ambassa dor from England to the Court of Vienna. It was in the latter place that he met and conversed with the celebrated Prince Eugene, who, after having humbled the Gallic and Ottoman pride, lived here in time of peace without pomp, a lover and promoter of let ters. After having visited the fertile valleys of Hungary and acquainted himself thor oughly with that brave and generous people, he directed his steps to Italy. At Venice he met, in his decline, the famous Law
