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"fick; to prevent the encroachments of the people upon one another, which often are difficult to un"ravel; to difcover in an infinite multitude all thofe "who can fo eafily conceal their pernicious arts in it; "to purge the community of, or not tolerate, them farther than as they may be useful to it, by em"ployments which none but themfelves would under"take, or could difcharge fo well, to keep neceffary abufes within the exact bounds of the occafions for "them,through which they are always ready to break, to confine them the obfcurity to which they ought to be condemned; and not to draw them out of it, by too notorious and remarkable punishments; to be ignorant of fuch things as had better be unknown than punished; and to punish but feldom, and with good effect; to penetrate, by invifible methods, into the "moft concealed conduct of families; and to keep those secrets which were not trusted, fo long as there may be no occafion to make use of them; to be every "where without being feen; in a word, to put in "motion or restrain at pleasure an infinite and tu"multuous multitude; and to be continually the ac❝tive and almost unknown foul of this great body; "these are, in general, the functions of this magif

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trate in the city of Paris. One would imagine, "that a fingle perfon were not equal to all this, from "the number of things he is to take cognizance of; "the views and defigns he muft purfue; the applica"tion that must be used; and the variety of conduct "and characters he muft affume. But the public "voice will declare, whether M. D'Argenfon is equal to thefe feveral functions."

'Tis obvious, that fuch models, fo beautiful and perfect in their kind, being proposed to youth, either for reading, or for fubjects of compofition, are very well adapted to raife their genius, and enlarge the inventive. faculty, especially when explained and illuftrated by an able mafter; which was one reafon that induced

me to make choice of thefe examples in the demonftrative kind, being moft fufceptible of embellishments.

After they have read a confiderable number of these paffages felected from good authors, it will be proper to make them observe the difference of stiles and characters, and even the faults, if any occur, both in ftile and language.

I have hitherto cited but four authors; not but there are feveral others, out of which I might extract the like examples; but it was proper to limit myself to a certain number, and thofe above fell in my way: they are all extraordinary; but then they are all different, there being no resemblance between any of them, each forming a peculiar character that distinguishes them ; and perhaps they may not be without fome faults.

What is moft diftinguishable in M. Flechier, is a purity of diction, elegance of ftile, rich and florid expreffions, beautiful thoughts, a prudent vivacity of imagination, and what is confequential of it, a wonderful art in painting objects, and making them, as it were, fenfible and obvious.

But then, I think a kind of monotony and uniformity run through all his writings; he has every where almost the fame turns, the fame figures, the fame method. The antithefis engroffes almost all his thoughts, and often enervates, out of design to adorn them. When that figure is fparingly ufed, and properly applied, it has a beautiful effect. Thus it happily concludes the magnificent elogium of Lewis XIV. fpoke by M. Flechier. P By authority, always a King; by tenderness, always a father. When it turns on a play of words, it is not fo valuable; a Happy he, who did not go in pursuit of riches! More happy he, who refused them, when they went to bim! This figure may even become tedious, though it be ever fo juft, if it be too often repeated.

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Who does not know, he was admired

PM. le Tellier's funeral oration. 9 M. de Lamoignon's funeral oration.

Mad. de Montaufier's funeral

oration.

in an age when others are not known? How great was her wisdom, at a time when others have hardly the ufe of reafon! And how able was fhe to give advice, when others are fcarce capable of receiving it!

He

M. Boffuet writes in a quite different manner. did not amuse himself with the fuperficial ornaments of oratory; and even fometimes neglected the too flavish rules of the purity of diction, and aims at the grand, the fublime, and pathetic. It is true indeed, he is lefs uniform and equal, which is the characteristic of the fublime ftile: but on the other hand, he raises, ravishes, and transports. The ftrongest and most lively figures are common, and, as it were, natural

to him.

"O admirable mother, wife, and queen! and worthy of better fortune, were the fortunes of this "world of any value! But- you must fubmit to your fate.

66

"She faw with aftonishment, when her hour was come, that God was going to take the King her "fon, as it were by the hand, to conduct him to his "throne. She fubmitted more than ever to that fo66 vereign hand, which from the highest heavens holds "the reins of all empires; and defpifing the thrones “that may be ufurped, fhe fixed all her affection on "that kingdom, where there is no fear of rivals *, "and where competitors view one another without "jealousy."

He draws the portrait of Cromwel, as follows. "A man arofe of an incredible depth of understanding, a refined hypocrite as well as able politician, capable of undertaking and concealing all things; equally active and indefatigable in peace and war, "who never left any thing to fortune which he could "force from her by counfel or forecaft; but at the "fame time fo vigilant and ready, that he never

f The Queen of England's fu- quo non timent babere confortes.

neral oration.

Plus amant illud regnum, in

S. Aultin.

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"loft

"loft any opportunity fhe put in his way. In a word, one of thofe reftlefs and audacious fpirits, that feem born to alter the courfe of the world."

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In another place, he defcribes the manner in which the princess Henrietta Anne of England was almoft miraculously delivered out of the hands of the rebels.

"In spite of the ftorms of the ocean, and the « more violent commotions of the earth, God taking "her on his wings, as the eagle does her young ones, "carries her into that kingdom; places her in the "bofom of the Queen her mother, or rather in the bofom of the Catholic Church.

"w What fhall I fay more? Hear all in one word; Daughter, Wife, Mother, Miftrefs, Queen; fuch as our wishes would have form'd her, but what is t more than all, a Chriftian Queen; fhe performed <c every duty without prefumption; and was not only "humble amidft all her greatnefs, but amidst the "whole circle of virtues.

"Sword of the Lord, what a blow haft thou now ftruck! the whole earth is aftonished at it.

He fometimes employs antithefes, but they are fublime in his orations. "Notwithstanding the ill "fuccefs of his arms, (meaning King Charles I.) and "though his enemies were able to conquer him, yet "they were not able to force him to base fubmiffions; "and as he never refufed any thing that was reason"able while a conqueror, fo he always rejected what" ever was weak and unjuft, while a prifoner."

M. Mafcaron has fomething of the character of the two authors above-mentioned, but does not refemble them in every respect. He is at the fame time very elegant and great; but, in my opinion, lefs florid than the one, and lefs fublime than the other. Art does not appear with so much oftentation in him

The dutchefs of Orleans's fu- Terefa of Auftria. neral oration. * The Queen of England's fu Funeral oration of Maria neral oration.

as in the former, which is a great art; and perhaps his genius was not fo fruitful and daring as that of the latter.

"y Heathen Rome would have raised ftatues to bim under the Cæfars; and Chriftian Rome finds him worthy of admiration under the Pontiffs of the "religion of Chrift Jefus.

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"M. Turenne, when conqueror of the enemies of the ftate, never created fo univerfal and fenfible a joy to France, as M. Turenne conquered by truth, “and subjected to the yoke of the faith.

Angels of the highest order in the hierarchy; fpirits appointed by Providence to guard this great foul, tell us, how vaft was the joy of the church "of heaven at the converfion of this Prince; and "with what rejoicings the first perfumes of the

prayers of this new catholic were received; when you wafted them to the foot of the altar of the "Lamb reigning in glory, from the foot of the altar "of the Lamb facrificed.

“ No man was ever better qualified to exhibit great " and noble objects to the world; but no man ever "folicited lefs the applaufes of the fpectators.

"But though there was nothing harth in his beha "viour on thefe occafions; yet fuch was his modefty, "that his countenance difcovered he thought himfelf "unworthy of praise.

"In his difcourfe, he was as free from the pomp "of modefty, as from that of pride.

"What cannot a great mafter effect, when he is to form a fublime genius? No fooner had M. Turenne given his firft counfels, but he found there was no occafion for more; being prevented by the “clear understanding, penetration, the happy and “ fage impetuofity of this great Monarch's z courage. "In like manner as we fee the thunder (formed al"most in an inftant within a cloud) lighten, break "out, ftrike and bear down every thing; fo the first

Y M. Turenne's funeral oration.

z Lewis XIV.