The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-09-18
SOME NEW hooks.
Erase. u.ser : n.s...y-soA. Law,

France Usaer shs Heseney-Joh. Law.
Mr.. JAMES BREcR PERKINS. tho author OF
France Under Richelieu and Mazarin." dis
susses another important era In French
history In France Under the Regency tHouRh-
ton. Ml11in 4 COL 1t should be distinctly UNI
dsrstood that for the facts and conclusions set
forth In this book the author does not depend
OH secondhand information. He has gone
straight to the original authorities. whether In
print or In manuscript, and has had access to
tho materials collected In the National Library
at Paris and In tho archives OF the Department
for Foreign Affairs. The Views which his in
vestigations have led him to take OF evonts
and persons arc fresh and Independent: in
deed. they ofton differ from those OF French
historians generally regarded as most trust
worthy. Prosecuted under such conditions.
Mr. Perkins, researches hays produced a
highly creditable addition TO his country's
contributions to historical literature.
Tho regency OF Philip OF Orleans covered
only eight years. but they wero tho birth years
OF tho movement which eliminated in the
French revolution. To bring out this fact
clearly IL tho controlling purpose OF this book.
Incidentally. tho reader is enable to form a
Just notion Of the character ofthe Regent him
self. and OF that of his protcst and Minister.
Cardinal Dubois. and tho financial system in
troduced By John Law is described in detail
and with remarkable lucidity. 1t is these
features Of the volume. together with q chap.
ter dealing with the morals OF tho regency. to
which We shall now refer. It will DO noticed
that both upon tho Regent and upon Dubois
the author pronounccs Il moro favorable iudg-
mcnt than that which passes current in tho
standard history. The same thing may be
said Of tho view taken OF Nine. DO Mnintcnon.
in what may DO regarded as tho preliminary
portion Of tho narrative.
When Louis XIV. died. on sept. l. 1Tl5. and
was succeeded by his great grandson. n child
only 5 yeurs old. tho regency would havo fallen
to his uncle. tho Duc d'Anjou. had not the lat
tor. on becoming King OF Spain. solemnly
rcnounceI by treaty all rights Of succession
relating to the French monarchy. Tho right.
therefore. to rule Franco as Regent during the
minority belonged to tho next prince Of the
blood. Philip. Duke OF Orleans. The latter was
Mt this timo 40 years Of age. His father. tho
younger brother Of Louis NV. had been n man
devoid OF capacity and destitute OF ambition.
His mother was n German princess by birth.
and she had always remained German ut
hoart. She had an acute mind. good morals.
bad manners. and u vulgar tongue. Her only
son. the future Regent. evidently got his intel
lect from his mother. ~ he no less obviously in
hcrited his vices from his father. In mental Wig
GRAND resources Philip OF Orleans was an extra
ordinary man. but he lacked the power OF con-
centrating his abilities upon II single purpose.
His mother said that lie had every talent eA.
cept that OF maxim: his talents OF use. lie was
a good musician. aud composed some pretty
operas. he painted we'll. he was a Jealous stu
dent OF chemistry. he was n competent officer
and a good speaker: there were few branches
Of learning with which he had not Mt least q
superficial acquaintance. His fondness for
chemistry excited suspicion In q community
which believed in the black arts. and caused
him to he accused. most u~njustly. of poisoning
the Duke and Duchess OF Burgundy. Orleans
was early. married to his cousin. one of the
illesitimate daughters OF Louis XIV. She had
little to make her attractive. and the marriage
WAS contracted merely to crafty the wishes
Of the King. Tho young Duke plunged into
dissipation OF every kind. and he had the
weakness, not uncommon with young mon. OF
wishin. to DO thought more wicked than he
was. My nephew il u braggadocio OF vice."
snid Louis XIV. He was bad enough without
my need OF Dragging: he drank too much: he
had numerous mistresses and many illegiti-
mate children: he was loud spoken IN his pro-
fessions Of infdelity. lie IS said to have
cherished IL hopeless admiration forthe Grand
Prior Of France. on the ground thnt tho latter
had never. In forty years. como to bed sober.
He felt for him. said st. Simon. the venerntion
that u Bishop has for a Father Of the Church.
1t WAS nevertheless true-and nowhere has
the distinction between the man OF pleasure
and tho mar OF business been brought out
more SHARPLY than In the present narrative
that the Regent Orleans never allowed the ir-
Irregularities OF his private life to interfere with
tho affairs OF State. He was surrounded by
coteiie OF rouGs and dissolute women. who
wero the companions OF his pleasures. but
they soon found that It was impossible to gain
political influence from such relations. The
Regent gave lavishly to his associates: many
n pretty face reaped a handsome profit from
the pardon Of some contractor or Spectator
upon whom the Government had lowed a great
fno: but Orleans was never so intoxicated
that he bnbbled secrets Of State to his boon
companions: ho was never 80 infatuated by q
beautiful woman that lie allowed hert to choose
his Ministers or dictate his policy. favorite
once ventured to transgress the rule and
sought to pry Into State secrets. Look in your
glass and SEQ II so pretty a face was made to
talk politics." was the only roply. France
during the regency witnessed no such shame
full period as tho rule OF Nine. de Pompadour.
1t was indeed with und eviating regularity that
tho Regents time wal Divided between his
duties and his pleasures. In tho morning no
gave audiences: in the afternoon he attended
the council and conferred with his Ministers.
or visited tho little King. BY s or @ the work
ct the day was done: those who took part in
tho Government were dismissed. and they
wcro succeeded by the rakes and debauches:
the doors were closed to serious affairs. After
that hour it was impossible to SEQ tho Regent
business. however pressing. During tho
eight years OF his administration every night
was devoted to unbroken ro"elry; even when
IN impaired health and enfceblel appetite de-
any power Of enjoyment he continued
tho sans mode OF life from force OF habit. It
Is not to DO inferred. however, that Or
was without u sense OF his rs-
to his young ward. Louis
XIV; Oh tho contrary. apasmodio efforts
wero made to remove objects OF scandal from
the immediate presence OF tho King. Recalling
tho sequel We may think that these efforts
were attended with little success. yet MS n mat
ter OF fact Louis XIV. led IN upright and virtu-
Gus lilo for SOM years uft8r his marriage.