BOULAY DE LA MEURTHE, dc In inert', ANTOINE, Count (1761-1840). A French statesman, born at Chaumousey in the Vosges, the son of a peasant. He espoused the cause of the Revolution, but held moderate views, and in the Council of Five Hundred opposed both Jacobinism and the despotism of the Directory. Under the Empire he took an important part in the preparation of the Code Civil, and after wards labored with zeal in the administration of the national domains. Napoleon created him Count in 1813. After the Second Restoration he was banished to Nancy, whence the Russians car ried him off into Germany. He was kept under surveillance at Halberstadt, and then at Frank fort until 1819, when he returned to France and lived in retirement at Paris. His Essai sun les causes qui en 1649 (1711C7Il'rent en Auglcterre l'etablissoncat de la r6publique (1799) had a wide circulation, and considerably influenced the French mind in favor of the coup d'C•tat of the 18th Brumaire. Of his other numerous political writings the most important is Tableau politigne des Hynes de Charles II. et de Jacques II.
(1888). ID conjunction with others lie wrote Roan-franc ct scs erreurs volontaires el itcrol ontaircs (1830), valuable regarding the history of Napoleon.
His son, HENRI BOULAY DE LA NEURTHE ( 1797 1858), born in Paris, took an active part in the Revolution of 1830, hut became an opponent of the Government of Louis Philippe. He devoted great attention to questions of social economy, eout.l'ibmtiug much to promote the establishment of houses of refuge (sables d'asile), the extension of elementary education, and many improvements in the condition of the laboring classes. In the National Assembly of 1848, he associated him self with the moderate Republicans, and in Jan uary, 1849, was elected vice-president of the Republic. Nevertheless, he tacitly acquiesced in the coup d'i.tat, of December, 1851, and became a member of the new Senate.