The learned Huetius,* who published Demonstratio Evangelica, a book full of eloquence and erudition, wrote also six books of Commentaries of the things concerning himself, which are certainly worth any man's perusing. They give that account of his several works, some of which are very valuable; his friendship and correspondence with men of learning in the several parts of Europe, and of such particulars concerning them, as cannot but yield great pleasure to those that have any tincture of curiosity; though, at the same time, it must be owned his treatment of the great Bochart, (who is by Mr. Peter Bayle in his Historical and Critical Dictionary, said to have been one of the most learned men in the world, to whom he owns himself to

and that, whether we respect our common profession of Christianity, quæ nil nisi justum suadet et lene; or the quality of this people, apt to mutiny, by reason of long liberty, and not having learnt to be imperiously commanded, in which argument the clergy, above all men, ought not to have read their first lesson." --See" Letters from the Synod of Dort, to Sir Dudley Carleton, by Mr. John Hales." (1765,) pp. 76, 130, 135, 145.-ED.

"Peter Daniel Huet, bishop of Avranches in France, was born at Caen, 1630. He died 1721, in his 91st year. Olivet, in his Eloge Historique, says, that for two or three hours before his death, he recovered all the vigour of his genius and memory." Gen. Biog. Dict. vii. 266-273. See Biog. Gallica, (1752) ii. 234-248.

Dr. Aikin, a few years since, published in 2 vols. 8vo. a Life of Huet.-ED.

"Pet. Dan. Huetii Episcopi Abrincensis, Commentarius de rebus ad eum pertinentibus. Amstelod, 12mo. 1718."-ED.

have been under singular obligations,) does not discover either that generosity or gratitude that might have reasonably been expected, from a scholar and a gentleman, or even from one of common ingenuity.*

Among a great many others whom that writer takes notice of, he mentions a contemporary whom he calls Roger Rabutin Bussius,† who wrote a Commentary concerning his own affairs; in which all that he seemed to aim at was to publish his own praises, and raise himself above the rest of mankind as thinking it much below him to stand upon

"While he was employed upon his Origenis Commentaria, published in 1668, Bochart desiring one day a sight of his MS. for the sake of consulting some passages about the Eucharist, discovered an hiatus, which seemed to determine the sense in favour of the Papists, and reproached Huet with being the contriver of it.

"Huet, at first, thought that it was a defect in the original MS., but upon consulting another very ancient MS., he found that he had omitted some words in the hurry of transcribing, as he says, and that the mistake was his own. Bochart, still supposing that this was a pious fraud in Huet, alarmed the Protestants every where, as if Origen's Commentaria were going to be very unfairly published; and by that means dissolved the friendship which had long subsisted between Huet and himself." Gen. Biog. Dict. vii. 268. Ed.

+ Huet, lib. v.-C.

"Memoires. 1693. Pour quelques faits vrais et interressans on y trouve cent particularités dont on ne se soucie pas."

A more favourable character is given of his "Discours à ses enfans, sur le bon usage des adversités, et sur les divers evenemens de sa vie, 1694." Nouv. Dict. Hist. viii. 6-8. See Biog. Gallica, ii. 32-47.--ED.

a level with his neighbours. In which he observes, (and I cannot see how any other could reasonably be expected) he missed of his aim. All will readily agree that this was perfectly ridiculous; and yet it has been too much the way of the gentlemen of the French nation, who abound in written memoirs above the inhabitants of any other country. It has been very commonly observed concerning them, that they have herein been strangely apt to over-do, and run too far. By many of their performances of this kind, one would be apt to think that there was not a country in Europe that produced men of so much eminence, courage and capacity, as theirs. Whereas, in reality, they, in these respects, as far as I can discern, are much the same with those who live in other climates, and have their imperfections, weaknesses and defects, in common with the rest of mankind.

Looking into the Memoirs of Bassompierre,* we meet with much such a picture, as a man that was very full of himself, and well skilled in painting, would be apt to draw of his own countenance. Every good feature that appeared, or was taken for such, is placed in the best light that could be; and his several blemishes, if it could be allowed there

* Marshal of France, who appears to have been highly accomplished as a linguist. "Il parloit toutes les langues de l'Europe aussi facilement que celle de son pays." The period of his Memoirs extends from 1598 to 1631. Nouv. Dict. Hist.

i. 494, 495.-Ed.

were any such, are touched so exceeding well, that they look just like the patches the ladies stick upon their faces, with a design to set off their beauty.* When gentlemen of this temper sit themselves down in their closets to write their own lives or memoirs,† they, with all the ease in the world, are able to make just what they please of themselves. They do not find the least difficulty in making such actions as were really trivial pass for heroical; or in giving such a turn to what was dropped freely in conversation, and so setting it off with art and rhetoric, as to make it contribute considerably to their embellishment. This makes it not so easy to depend on their accounts, for fear lest, with a little history, there should be a great deal of romance intermixed.

Even the Duke of Rohan himself, as much a

There is a record "1650, June 7," that " a Bill was ordered to be read against the vice of painting, wearing black patches, &c. but no mention is made of it in the journal of that day, nor in Scobel's Acts." Parl. Hist. (1763) xix. 263. See Spectator, No. 81.-ED.

+ The closet in which the Memoires were written, was an apartment in the Bastille. The writer, for some offence against Richelieu, "qui avoit se plaindre de sa langue caustique, et qui craignoit tous ceux qui pouvoient l'obscurcir," endured an imprisonment of twelve years, closed only with the life of the Cardinal.

"Après la sortie de la Bastille, la duchesse d'Aiguillon, niece du Cardinal de Richelieu, lui offrit cinq cens mille livres pour en disposer comme il lui plairoit. 'Madame,' lui dit Bassompierre, en la remerciant, votre oncle m'a trop de mal, pour recevoir de vous tant de bien."" Nouv. Dict. Hist. i. 495.--ED.

hero* as he was in the last age, does not, in this respect, appear to have been wholly free from guile. For, though one of our English writers that is no way contemptible, says that "his honour and veracity even his very enemies never called in question," yet his having a Bible carried pompously before him when he entered into any city, and his alighting continually from his horse at the churchdoor, wherever he came, and falling to his prayers, upon both his knees, before he spoke of business to any body, which were things that had a peculiar aspect, did not much recommend him to the most wise and considerate. And, whosoever is at the pains carefully to run over what he has left behind him in writing, will, without much difficulty, be able to observe that the jealousy of the Duke of Bouillon, and resentment of the loss of the government of Poictou, were the springs that acted him in those parts of his life, in which the patriot and the Protestant seemed to shine the brightest.

But there is hardly any one can be mentioned that has gone beyond all bounds more remarkably than the poor wretched Marshal Montluc, who has also left Commentaries behind him, or an history of

* See Voltaire's Panegyric.--Nouv. Dict. Hist. viii. 160.-ED.

+ Dr. Welwood's "Memoirs for the last Hundred Years preceding 1688," p. 87.-C.

Who died in 1577, aged 77.-Nouv. Dict. Hist. vi. 324326.-ED.