Montesquieu. tations of Plato in his " Republica," or Aris totle in his " Politica," to sustain his philosophical conclusions; again we see him travelling with Du Halde to Tartary or to China to carry a rejected principle or bring back a comparison; again he invokes the civilizations of the Antilles, of Mexico, or of Peru. He argues with Justinian, he reasons with Theodosius, he quotes Cicero and Caesar, revels in Baumanoir, and refutes Dubos. The great triumphs and stupendous calamities of history are all familiar to him, and they, too, have their spirit as well as their laws. He is the witness of the up heavals of nations, the transmigrations and settlement of peoples; and to these, as well, his mighty genius gives laws and determines becoming bounds. The nice questions of commerce, together with the subtle intri cacies of finance, are in the " Spirit of Laws" all happily resolved. Everything of moment which the philosophers have said, he quotes and embellishes with his own deep lucubra tions, so that his illustrious work becomes a grand panorama of the law, unique in its style, plenary in the information it conveys, — peren nial source at which the student may drink, would he know the spirit which animates peoples and the laws which govern them. The great philosopher-jurist thus lived to execute the plan and merit the title which his early ambition coveted, — title the highest and noblest that human being can possess, that of legislator of the nations. The publi cation of the first edition of the " Spirit of Laws " filled the world of letters with the glory of Montesquieu; philosophers did him homage; statesmen courted him; France
■
307
exalted him; the King of Sardinia, one of the most learned sovereigns of his time, con fessed that the " Spirit of Laws " had taught him how to govern; Voltaire said that the human race had lost its titles, but that the genius of Montesquieu had rediscovered and restored them; and the English people, who had wished to claim him as their own, sent their most celebrated artist to strike a medal of him. Thus, after having lived the life of a phi losopher and man of the world, he died, as people were wont to die in the seventeenth century, a good Christian, universally and sincerely regretted. When the priest who administered to him the last sacraments of Holy Church, suggested to him, " Sir, you of course know how great God is," he answered, "Yes; and I am aware, too, how little men are! " — beautiful words, which at once be speak the greatness of his soul and the sim plicity of his faith. His death took place on the 10th of February, 1755. Lord Chester field said of him : — "His virtues did honor to human nature; his writings, justice. A friend to mankind, he asserted their undoubted and inalienable rights and liber ties, even in his own country, whose prejudice in matters of religion and government he had long lamented, and endeavored (not without some success) to remove. He well knew, and justly admired, the happy constitution of England, where fixed and known laws restrain monarchy from tyranny, and liberty from licentiousness. His works will illustrate his name, and survive him as long as right reason, moral obligation, and the true spirit of laws shall be understood, respected, and maintained."
