FLEURY, CLAUDE, ABBE, was born at Paris in 1640, and died in 1723, aged eighty-three pare. All the contemporary writers coincide in the opinion that Fleury possessed all the virtues and qualities requisite to constitute a scholar, en honest man, and a Christian. Having completed in a brilliant manner his studies at the college of Clermont at Paris, he embraced in 1658 the profession of his father, who was a distinguished advocate, and he practised at the bar for nine years. To his legal occupations ho united the study of literature and history, but tho religious turn of his mind having induced him to enter the church, he thenceforward entirely devoted himself to the study of divinity, the Holy Scriptures, canon law, and the Fathers. In 1674 he was appointed tutor to the princes Conti, whom Louis XIV. educated with his son the Dauphin. After that the king intrusted him with the education of his natural son the Prince of Vermandois. Upon the death of the young prince, Louis con ferred on Floury the abbey of Loc-Dieu, in the diocese of Rhodes:, and five years later (1689) he was created sub-preceptor of the king's grandsons the Dukes of Bourgogne, Anjou (afterwards Philip V., king of Spain), and Berri. Fleury thus became the associate of Fenelon. In 1696 he succeeded Labruyere as member of the French Academy, and when the education of the three above-mentioned princes was completed (1707), the king bestowed on him the priory of .Argenteuil, in the diocese of Paris. This grant was very acceptable to Fleury, as It afforded him a comfortable retirement for the prosecution of his studies, without depriving him of those resources which are found only in a capital. Being however a strict observer of the canon law, which was the particular subject of his study, and which prohibits a plurality of ecclesiastical benefices, he resigned the abbey of Loc i Dieu. In his retirement at Argeuteuil, notwithstanding he was now sixty-six years old, he conceived the plan of his grand work the Ecelesiletical History,' and began the execution of it After the death of Louis XIV. (1716), the Regent Due d'Orleane nominated
Fleury confessor to the young king Louis XV., a post which he held till 1722, when he resigned it on account of his great age, being then in his eighty-third year. He died a few months afterwards.
Fleury commenced his literary career with the Histoire du Droit Francois,' 1674. He afterwards published successively 'Institution an Droit Ecelesiastique," Catechisme Historique,' translated into Latin by the author himself, a work which has become classical, and is con stantly reprinted ; 'Les Mceurs des Israelites,' of which an English translation was made by Dr. Adam Clarke. Les Mceurs des Chretiena,' also translated into English. These two last works are considered, for elegance and precision of style, as among the beat in the French language. He also wrote Trait6 du Choix et de la Mdthode den Etudes.' But the most valuable of Fleury's works, and that which has established his reputation as a first-rate writer, is the Histcire Ecel6siastique.' It comprehends a apace of fourteen centuries, beginning with the establishment of Christianity, and terminating at the opening of the council of Constance. It was objected to the author that he related too many miracles, but he excused himself on the ground that such was the belief of the church to which he belonged. Fleury was engaged on the 20th volume of his History at the time of his death. It was continued till the year 1693 by Fobre, of the Oratoire, in 16 vols. in 4to. Fleury's 'Ecclesiastical History' is translated into English. The university library of Cambray contains a manuscript of a Hiatory of France,' which Fleury drew up for the use of the French princes while ho was engaged with their education, but it has never been printed. We must not omit to mention, that, notwithstanding his grave occupations, Fleury had leisure to compose a treatise on the duties of masters and servants. This little work, which has been much esteemed, is translated into English.