The reputation which its author had already gained, procured for the Esprit de Lois a sufficient degree of attention ; but the work, on its first appearance, was very unfavourably received. Such as were unable or unwilling to relish the deep philosophy of its matter, attached themselves to the blemishes of its manner, and affected to despise it. The Chancellor Daguesseau ob served, that it should have been denominated De l'esprit stir les loin ; and the pun obtained a circulation far above its merit. Voltaire also, being one day visited by the Abbe Oliv et, whilst perusing the work, exclaimed, Venez, Abbe, venez, lire Arlequin Grotizzef. The ge neral voice of Europe, indeed, soon put such criticisms to silence ; but it was only to excite others of a graver and more dangerous nature. The Editor of the Gazette Ecclesiastique, long deeply engaged in the Jansenist quarrels which agitated France for many years, assailed the author of the Esprit des Lois, in two pamphlets, with the charge of deism, and the weightier, though contradictory one, of following the doctrines of Spinosa. The defence which Montesquieu published, admirable for its strain of polite irony, candour, and placid con tempt, was entirely triumphant. Indeed, abilities of a much lower order than his, would have sufficed to cover with ridicule the weak and purblind adversary, who dis covered the source of the Esprit des Lois in the Bull Unigenitus, and blamed his opponent for neglecting to examine the doctrines of grace and original sin. It is to be wished, that Montesquieu had employed means as legitimate to counteract Dupin's criticism. His ad mirers would willingly forget, that when a copy of this work, now ready for circulation, fell into his hands, he carried it to the royal mistress, Madame Pompadour, and allowed her to inform Dupin, that as the Esprit des Lois enjoyed her special favour, all objections to it must be instantly suppressed.
Some excuse for this part of Montesquieu's conduct may perhaps be found in the growing infirmity of his health, which rendered hint daily less capable of en during the vexation of such contests. In fact, the chagrin already produced by them, the effects of study, and the civilities of the great, who courted his society with an eagerness which he felt would be fatal, had gradually undermined a constitution, at no time very robust. In the beginning of February 1755, he was seized with an inflammation of the lungs, which soon proved mortal. Ilis last days were soothed by the sympathy of all ranks of men: and though loaded with the most cruel pains, far from his family, and insulted by the officious visits of Father Routh (au Irish Jesuit, arho afterwards forged a letter in his name), the peace and equality of soul which had marked the tenor of his life did not forsake him at the close of it. He expired on the 10th of February, aged 66 years and a few days.
The private character of Montesquieu appears to have been such as the perusal of his works might lead us to anticipate. Possessing that calm independence -which secured him respect, he possessed also that mild ness and benignity of character which displayed itself in a cheerful temper, and obtained him universal love.
lie was distinguished by the readiness which he always manifested to use his influence with the government, in behalf of persecuted men of letters : and strict fru gality frequently enabled him, without impairing the property of his family, to mitigate the wants of the in digent.
A multitude of anecdotes attest the extent of his col loquial powers. The number of nations and celebrated men whom he had seen, the vigour of his mind, its boundless fertility in original and lively ideas, rendered his conversation at once instructive and fascinating. It was curt, like his style, without bitterness or satire, yet full of attic salt, to which his Gascon accent perhaps added new charms. The frequent absence of mind, for which he was remarkable, never occurred in a serious or interesting discussion : it was not affected ; and he constantly awoke from it by some brilliant sally fitted to revive the conversation. Though living with the great, and formed to delight the most polished circles, Ire could yet derive information and pleasure from the simplest objects, and felt at all times happy to exchange the splendid bustle of Paris for books and repose at La Brede. It must have been a striking spectacle to see this teacher of philosophers, seated beneath an oak in his pleasure grounds, and in order to relax his mind from the studies which he never carried to excess, con versing gaily with a crowd of peasants in their own patois, adopting their views, investigating their genius, supremely happy if his influence could terminate their disputes, or solace their troubles. His touching inter with the Marscillese artisan ; his delight on learn ing that this young man devoted every evening to ply as a boatman for the ransom of a rather captive in Bar bary; his generous and delicate reward of such affec tionateness have been made the subject of a drama en titled Le Theufait Annonyme.
Montesquieu, in 1715, had married Demoiselle Jeanne de Lartigne, whose father, Pierre de Lartigne, was Lieutenant•Colonel in the regiment of Maulevrier. She bore hint two daughters and a son. The latter, Jean Baptiste do Secondat, less noted for his respectable talents, than for the abstraction of his manners, wrote several tracts on commerce and natural history. He frequently resided in London, where some of his works were published. Ile died at Bourdeaux in 1796, aged 80 years.
Besides the works abnve enumerated, Montesquieu is author of the Temple de Gnide, which quickly follow ed his Lettres Persanes. "rue Pensees erses,collect ed his manuscripts, was published in 1758 ; the Let tres in 1767. None of these production* are destitute of genius, but they cannot add much to the reputation of a man otherwise so distinguished. His works have all been translated into English. The best edition in the original language is thought to be that of Paris, 1796, 5 vols. 4to, or that of Bale, 1799, 3 vols. 8vo. (•. c.)