Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-06-18
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
Portrait of Fsnelon, from st. simon's Me-
no,rs of the Court of Louis XIV.

fame and history, with which this voluminous
work abounds, none is more attractive in all its
forms than that of Fenelon. Man, in state of
society. by which we understand being 'artih-
cial to a certain extent, and under despotic, a
religious, and refined reign, like that of Louis
XIV. artificial 10 point Of extreme nicely, GER
tainly never so nearly approached the model Of
perfection as in the instance Of this great man.
In the circumstances of his rise, in his fall, in
his manners, in the tolerance of his spirit and
the wonderful mode in which he combined the
6Desse of courter with the simplicity of a
Christian. qualities are exhibited which require
to be separately and infinitely studied by one
who would make himself master Of this great
character. Saint Simon, as the bosom friend Of
the Dukes of Beauvilliers and Chevrense, fast
and faithful friends Of Fenelon, to whom he ow-
ed his rise, and who, as long as he lived, re-
NAMED his faithful and devoted inmates and dis
ciples, had many and ample opportunities of
knowing him well. His portrait, and the anec-
dotes respecting him, are certainly striking por.
tons in work which is SO rich in court and
state human nature, tina: we do not know where
to turn without lighting upon either picture or
lesson. We shall not do wrong in endeavoring
to do Justice to the character of Fenelon by
Saint Simon in translation, however dfcultlt
may be to transfer the force and consciousness OF
the author to another language.
"This prelate was tall spare man. of good
figure, pale, the nose large, the eyes full OF fire
and most expressive of sense and talent. lhave
never seen anything like his countenance, and
having once seen it, it was impossible to forget
il. Ii was full Of contrarleties. There were
gravity and gallantry, seriousness anu galety: 1t
was as appropriate to the man Of learning as the
bshop, to the bishop as to the mani above all. there
sbone forth in it. as in all the rest of his person. an
air of perfect grace, decOrum, delcacy, mind, and,
more than ANYTHING. nobleness. 1t required an ef-
fort to take YOUR eyes from him. All his portraits
are striking, without, however, catching the exact
harmony which reigned in the original. or the va
rous delicate shades of character collected in his
face. His manners correspondent with his APP
nearance: his ease communicated itself to others;
there were moreover an air and good taste that
are only acquired by mixing with the best society,
and the great world, which diffused themselves
oyer all his conversations; along with which ma
tural eIoauence. gentle yet.fowery, an insInuat-
inc poiteness, at the same time noble and dis
An elocution, neat. easy and agreeable,
eyery thing appeared as 1t fell from him, clear
and perspicuous; even matters which, IN other
hands. would have been thought embarrassed and
Obscure. He seemed never to wish to appear
w;ser man than the one he was cOnverslng with;
be mt himself within the reach OF his auditor,
without letting him perceive it, so that the effect
was like. enchantment and nobody could leave
him. andnot try TO return to hIm.It was hls>rare
talents-and he had it to Professionalism all
his life bound his friends to him, in spite Of his
DISGRACE and which in their dispersion brought
then, together to talk Of him. to regret him, to
visb for HIM, to attach themselves closer and
closer to him, as the Jews sigh and wait for the
comm. of the Messiah.
II was in the character Of species OF prophet
that he had acquired that power over his follow,
ers. which though exercised in all sweetness and
sentences, vet could bear no resistance. II he
had returned to court, or entered the COUNCIL,
which was his grand aim, he would not long nave
suffered his CONDUCTORS to remain as companions.
Once at anchor, once without need Ut the aid OF
others. il would have been soon dangerous not
merely 10 resist him, but not TO maintain con-
slant condition of suppleness and admiration to-
wards him. g.
/" In the retirement of his diocese he lived
with the humble and industrious plety OF pas.
tor and with tie magnifcence and confidence OF
man who felt no pain at renouncIng what others
,nioht suppose him to regret, He had the art OF
keeping the world at its PROPER distance. No
man ever had the passion of pleasing more than
he: it extended to the servant as well as To tNe mas.
ter; never did man carry it further. or with
more constant, regular and continued apPiica-
ton, and undoubtedly that man never lived who
succeeded more eminentl.y. Cambria ~ place
Of great resort and passage: nothing could equal
the politeness, the discernment, the charming
and agreeable manner, with which he received
III FIRST he was summed; he courted no one;
gradually, and almost nsensibiy, the charm OF
His MANNER attracted small body Of friends; I'm.
der favor of this little crowd. several o. those
who,n fear had kept away. were glad to come
and sow seeds. to be reaped in other times From
one to another the fashion caught, and every Do
DIV went. When the Duke Of Burgundy began
to show himself, the prelates court was still iur-
Their increased, and really became an effective
one when the duke became Dauphn Inc
number of persons whom he had welcomed, the
quantity Of those who had lodged with him IN
passus through, the care he had taken OF the SICK
! r a. wo,nded. who on various occasions had