The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-17
MEMOIRS Of NOREAO
Now Forgotten, But a Busy
Man in His Time.
MIXED IN GREAT EVENTS
His Description of the Death
of Louis XIV.
MIXED IN GREAT EVENTS

Paris. Nov. 3O.-The name Of Jacob Nj
colas Moreau is quite unknown, though
he was historiographer of France, Lib
rarian to queen Marie Antionette, and first
councillor of Monsieur afterwards Louis
XVIII), and his secretaire des command
ments One of his compatriots, NJ. Camille
| IIermelin, has just published the souve-
Mrs of Moreau, or rather begun their
publication, as the first volumn, which has
appeared, extends only from III to 17I4
and Moreau died as late as 1903. Moreau
as appears form these dates had for forty
years in the greatest events, though he
remained always behind the scenes. Few
people have written more in their life
time than ne, though he never attained
literary fame. The catalogue of his works,
prepared by himself, occupies as many as
ten pages of the preface written by NJ.
Hermelin. We find in it many essays
which belong to the domain of political
| economy; many memoirs written at the
request Of the Daulphin, the father OF
Louis XVI; a memoir written before the
convocation Of the States-General, in
which he presented a summary of all
the sessions of the States-General at var
ious periods Of the French monarchy.
This last memoir was in time greatly de-
veloped. and became an Exposition and
Defence of our Monarchical French Con-
stftution.'
Our time will pay more attention TO the
volume of Souvenirs as we prefer inedit-
ed details about persons and families to
general considerations.
During the last malady of King Louis
d'Avray, tired Of business and resolved
to ask for my retirement. 1 began making
an exact and sincere history of all the
events in which I had been able to have
some part, since I had been called, by
my writings themselves. to the posts where
[ could render the services which the
Government expected from me. gave to
this work the title of Mes Souvenirs
and I much desire that it be printed af-
ter me-"
He says afterwards that he gave his
manuscript to be read by the ministers
who shared in the government:
NJ. de Maurepas was the last to read it;
but before him princes, and princesses,
and in general all who composed the
court, wished to read it and guaranteed
its truth to me.
The last person to whom 1 could not
give it to read was our unfortunate Queen.
Alasi in this work itself will be too well
shown the motives which the Choiseul
party had for conceallng from her the
knowledge Of all then attempted in order
to save her.
Moreau was born December 20. 1717,at
st. Florentine, a small town of Burgundy,
the eldest of six children. His father sent
him, at the age of fifteen to the college
of Beauvais in Paris. The father was
poor; and when he left college, Moreau
was glad enough to get a little money
by writing for Colombat, publisher of
the almanaos Of the time (many of these
almanacs are now much priced by bib
Hophiles on account Of their illustrations).
Moreau was fortunate in being received
into the family Of the famous Chancellor
d'Aguesseau. and treated with the great
est kindness by him and his children. The
d'AguesSeaus were related to the Chas-
tellux family, to two young members Of
which Moreau became a companion and
at the same time a sort OF tutor. He
pursued the while his law studies. One
Of his pupils, the Chevalier afterwards
Marquis of Chastellux, stayed two years
in America, during the War OF Indepen-
dence, and was fonored with the friend
ship of Washington. He was a great
Liberal; MOreau says Of him: 'TThe poor
Chevaler died in 17SS, at the time when
he was beginning to abandon his revolu-
tionary and philosophical preiudices. He
had always been the dupe of his heart.
and liked in good faith tho philosophers
| before becoming an enthusiastic follower
Of their sustems." These few lines suf-
fciently show that Moreau was not
partisan of the philosophical school He
had been brought up in a Jansenist sur
rounding; in Paris, he was thrown among
the members Of the Parchment, who were
great Jensenists These he abandoned by
| degrees, but he never Joined the philoso-
pliers, whom he attacked in his writings,
| less on religious tha on political grounds.
He considered their doctrines destructive
! Of monarchical government.
He found a powerful protector in the per-
son of Marshal de Noailles, who was born
| in 1755 the real Minister Of Foreign Affairs.
under the name of NJ. Rouille. Moreau
mad written a small pamphlet, in which
| he attacked, with the weapon Of ridicule
| the double fanaticism which at that time
/ divided France. the Jesuits on one side
and the Jensenites on. the other. The Mar
( shall read tie pamphlet and said. That
/ Is the man We want" He wished to see
Moreau. who was conducted to him by
I Madame de Chasterux.
Il Went to him." records Moreau. with
/ joy. From that day there was formed
/ between this old and respectable Minister
/ and myself. then only thirty-three years
! Of age. a confidential relation which was
never interrupted. From that time TO his
! DEATH there never passed a week without
my seeing him three times. He made me
work at q number OF researches and me
moirs which procured me many new ac-
/ quaintances. can say that, from 1865 10
| the time Of mis- retirement from the couu-
/ Gil. I was acquainted with all the great
! questions in which he took part"