The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-26

system that I have never understood. nor any
one else. as l think. from the days OF Abraham
down. But Law was a man OF system, and so
profound that one did not understand 1t.
though he was by nature clear. with II fluent
elocution. which had. however. II go"d deal "
English in its French. He resided several
years in Venice on very small means. and died
there n Catholic. having lived honestly. soberly
and modestly. though poorly. receiving piously
the sacraments OF the Church"
One Of tho interesting facts brought out In
these memoirs 10 the desire entertained Ivy the
Regent Orleans at ono time to recall the HUI
e%uenots. who had fled from France after the
revocation ofthe Edict Of Nantes. What Saint
Simon has to saw upon this subject will lie
found on pages 1913 OF the fourth volume.
We reproduce a part OF It: The Huguenots.
Of whom many had remained in France. or had
returned here. most OF them under feigncd alb
jurations. rrofted by a period the RcGcncvl
which might pass for one of liberty. in COMPARE
son to that OF the late King. They assembled
clandestinely at first and in small numbers:
then they took courage from the scant
notice taken OF them. and soon they
had large assemblies in Poitou. Saint
onge. Guyenne. and Languedoc. They even
marched about Guyenne. where one Of their
preachers made vehement exhortations in the
Open country. lntSe men were NOT dT0lpu anu
soon dispersed. hut close to the place where
they had Assembled two carts laden with guns.
bayonets aud pistols were found. There were.
also. little nocturnal assemblages ia Paris. ir
the Faubourg Saint Antoine" 1t seems that
the Regent spoke to Saint-Simon of this mat
ter, and. in connection with IL, about the con-
traaictious and difficulties with which the
edicts and declarations OF Louis XIV. concern
ing the HuRuenots were full. The author Of
these memoirs tells us that he was often
a witness OF these contradictions at the
Council OF Regency. partly in suits re-
ferred to it.. because there was no one bur Louis
NV. himself who could interpret his own
meaning: partly in reports of consultations
between the various tribunals aud the Chan
cellor. which the latter brought before the
Council. From complaining Of these en-
harrassmcnts the Regent came to speak OF the
cruelty with which the late King Ind treated
The Huguenots; the harm done by the revoca-
ton OF the Edict OF Nantes the immense in
Jury the state had suffered. and would suffer
still In its depopulation. in the hatred which
this treatment had awakened among all the
Professionals Of Europe. After much solid argu-
ment that was perfectly true. the Regent began
to make reflections upon the ruined state In
which the King had left France. and then about
the gain OF the people, the arts. finances and
that might be made in n mo-
ment by the recall OF tie Huguenots to
the country; finally. he proposed to move
that measure. | do not wish to accuse any
one OF having suggested this thought TO the
Regent. because ! never knew from him the
quarter whence it came; but, in the extreme
desire he had never ceased to indulge to ally
himself closely with Holland. and, above all.
with England. ever since he had been ros-
sessed by Soailles. Canillac and the Abbc
Dubois. suspicion is not very difficult. He
hoped by this recall to flatter the maritime
powers. give them tho greatest possible mark
Of esteem. friendship and condescension. and
to mask all this by the hope OF reviving. en-
riching and restoring tho kingdom In n mo.
ment."
Saint. Simon opposed the project for the fol-
lowing reasons: Il represented to him the
disorders and civil wars which the Huguenots
had caused in France from the reign OF Henri
II. to that Of Louis NIL. what ruin and blood
shed | remin led him that. under their shadow.
the league had been formed which had so
nearly torn the crown from the head Of Henri
Nv. and all that this had cost our Kings and
the State against both Huguenots and
leaguers: each Of them supported. as they were.
everything. while they ,despised US and profted
by orr internal troubles: so. that. actually.
e nsHas aS; ave. t"' e;s Sto y o II , each Ru% 3or h Tho
self. ! begged the Regent to reflect that
ne beat W Jsmn noT ic rs s,,"yiv wIic 1h Be- he,eft Of a
nnre with what | had now represented that il
was from this quiet and peaceful position that
he ought TO reason in the matter. or rather be
convinced that 1t needed no reasoning. at n
Witch Ii " Tie late E3msF had af" haa the .c sSHn g st snd
strength To reject when. exhausted in supplies,
money. resources and almost in troops, his
c ciInn," tau Ha' d sns1e qea 2 Hlke9 en aMa on d tnn sns d
IF [to M him GnI tn r",urn n Tf the HHgpenots as one
put no limits to their conqueStS or end a war
thr King had no longer the means 70 sustain"
HpGuenots. and this .suggestion seems
cruel experience of the Huguenots under Loui.
MIL. and again under Louis XIV. it was not
TO- he EXPECTED that they would return to France
only he the same as those which they had pre-
viously demanded and which amounted to the
esthhiishment OF, an i"tn''"&' i! imperio, II
advantages he expected to gain by this return
with the Disadvantages and manifold dangers
TT W.; would vitatiyaccnmpany it ! assured
which h" believed would accrue to theik ingInu
were men, wealth, and IN inimicni to
thekingdom. and that the pleasure and satisfac-
ton the, maritime and other Protestant powers
would show in the, event wouli be solely at the
incomparable, and irrerarable bIundcr which
tate and conduct of France. both within and
without our borders. To these and many other
strong reasons the Regent had nothing to on
pose that could balance them in any way. The
conversation lasted n long time. but, after thai
DAY there was no further question Of recalling
tenn esta hIished by the late King. oxrept where
the contradictions and effective i'm possibilities
n the letter Of these divers ordinances made
their execution impossible"
One Of the amusing features OF these me-