MALEBRANCHE. 737 MAiFATTI. critical and historical lines, until Descartes's Tniite de Vhomine fell into his hands and gave him an impulse toward philosophy. He spent ten years in the study of the Cartesian system, and published the results in his famous Recherche de 1(1 icrite ( 1674 ; Eng. trans, by T. Ta_ylor, Lon- don, 1694). This work, written with perspicuity and elegance, had for its object the psychological investigation of the causes of the errors to which tile human mind is lia!,le, as well as of the nature of truth and the way of reaching it. He main- tains that we see all things in God; that all be- ings and thouglits e.xist in God; and that God is the cause of all changes taking place in bodies and souls, which are therefore merely passive therein. All apparent causation of object by object in the perceived world is only occasional causation. (See Occasio?;alism.) All physical and psychical changes follow an apparent causal order only because God uses the occurrence of a so-called cause as the occasion on which He calls into being a so-called eflfect. Only God can cause events to happen; it is an incommunicable divine attribute. His system is a kind of mystic ideal- ism. It was subjected to a thorough examination by Locke and Leibnitx. and opposed by Bossuet and especially by Antoine Arnauld, the Jansenist leader. The attacks made upon it led him to discuss the relations between philosophy and Cliurch doctrine in Conversations mctaphi/siqnes et chrcticiuws (1677). which was followed by a Traite de la nature et de la grace, while he dealt with his chief antagonist expressly in a series of Reponses de Malchranche a Arnauld. He died in Paris, Avhere his collected works were published in 1712, and again in 1837 and 1859-71. For his life, consult Andre. Vie du R. P. Malchranche (Paris, 1.SS6) ; and for his philosophy, Ollc-La- prune. La philosophic de Malchranche (ib., 1870- 72) ; Grimm, "Malebranches Erkenntnistheorie und deren Verh'riltnis zur Erkenntnistheorie des Descartes," in Zeitschrift fiir Philosophic und philosophische Kritik (Berlin, 1877); Blampi- gnon. Etude sur Malchranche d'apres des docu- ments niauuscrits (Paris, 1862). MALECKI, ma-let'ske, Antoni (1821—). A Polish poet and philologist, born near Po.sen. He studied in Berlin, and afterwards was instructor of philology at the universities of Cracow and Innsbruck. From 18.56 until 1873 he was pro- fessor of Polish language and literature at the L'niversity of Lemberg. In 1881 he became a member of the Austrian House of Peers. Through his scientific writings he became widely known in Poland, particularly after the publication of his two Polish grammars, Gramatyka jezyka polskie- ■110 (1863), and Graniatitka historyczno-porow- nawc::a (1879). His ability as a critic is shown in his study of the poet Slowacki, Juliusz Slo- wacki, jcqo iycie i dziela (1866-67). He also wrote List zelaznij (1854), a drama; Grochoicy icieniec (1855), a comedy; Jadwirga (I860), a tragedy ; and translated Sophoeles's Elektra and Antigone (1854). MALE FERN {Aspidium filix-mas). See Fern. Male; Lady Fern. MALEIC (ma-le'ik) ACID. See Fumaric AM) .Maleic Actus. MALEO, MALLEE-BIRD. The mound- bird (tj-v. ) of Celebes. MALESHERBES, mal'zarb', Chretien Guil- LAUME UE LAiioiGNON UE (1721-94). A distin- guished French statesman, born at Paris and educated at the Jesuits' College there. He be- came counselor to the Parlement of Paris in 1745, and succeeded his father as president of the Court of Aids in 1750. In this office, and as censor of the press, he was an outspoken cham- pion of the liberties of the people, against the monarchy. By him in great measure the publica- tion of the famous Encyclopcdie was made pos- sible. In 1771 his bold remonstrances against the abuses of law which Louis XV. was perpetrat- ing led to his banishment to one of his estates. Louis XVI., who esteemed him, recalled Malesher- bes in 1774. In 1775 he was appointed Minister of the Interior, his friend Turgot being at this time Minister of Finance, but in 1776 he re- signed. From this period to the Revolution he passed his time in travel or in the improvement of his estates, with the exception of one year (1787-88) when he was a Minister of State. Malesherbes took no part in the early movements of the Revolution, but in 1792 came forward and obtained permission from the Convention to con- duet the defense of Louis XVI. He helped his old master little, and caused his own ruin. Arrested' in December, 1793, he was found guilty of trea- son, and executed with several members of his family in April, 1794. Malesherbes was a mem- ber of the French Academy, an aide writer on political, legal, and financial questions, and one of the most virtuous and high-minded statesmen of the eighteenth century. MALET, ma'la', Claude FEANgois de (1754- 1812). A conspirator against Napoleon I. He was born June 28, 1754, at Dole, in the Depart- ment of Jura, and in 1770 joined the King's musketeers. On the outbreak of the Revolu- tion he joined the National Guard, and fought in 1792 on the Rhine. Subsequently he saw .service in Italy, attaining the rank of brig- adier-general in 1799. From the establishment of the Consulate he eanie to regard Napoleon's motives with suspicion, and by his open advocacy of republican institutions aroused the ill-will of Napoleon. In 1808 he was charged with con- spiracy and thrown into prison, where, in con- junction with other suspects, he busied himself with hatching plans for the overthrow of the Emperor. Napoleon's absence during the Rus- sian expedition seemed to offer the long-awaited opportunity. Malet escaped from prison during the night of October 22-23, 1812, and by spread- ing a report of Napoleon's death in Russia, suc- ceeded in gaining over two regiments of the Na- tional Guard. After liberating two of his com- rades in prison. Generals Guidal and Lahorie, he attempted to win over Hullin, commandant of Paris, but failed, and attempting force, was over- powered. The following day Malet. Lahorie, and Guidal were brought before a court-martial and condemned to death, and on October 29th they were executed. Consult Lafon. IJistoire de la conjuration de Malet (Paris, 1814). MAL'ET, LrcAR. An English novelist. See Hahri.son, Mary Saint Leger, MALFATTI, mal-fat'te, Giovanni Francesco Giuseppe (1731-1807), An Italian mnthemati- cian. born at Ala di Trento. His early educa- tion was begun at Trento. but at the age of twelve he was sent to Verona, where he entered a
