CHAP. XVI. Missa est.

The extraordinary Necklace Trial,' an astonishment and scandal to the whole world. Prophetic Discourse by Count Arch-Quack Cagliostro: - Universal Empire of Scoundrelism: Truth wedded to Sham gives birth to Respectability. The old Christian whim, of some sacred covenant with an actual, living and ruling God. Scoundrel Worship and Philosophy: Deep significance of the Gallows. Hideous fate of Dame de Lamotte. Unfortunate foully-slandered Queen: Her eyes red with their first tears of pure bitterness. The Empire of Imposture in flames. This strange, many-tinted Business, like a little cloud from which wise men boded Earthquakes. (p. 72).

MIRABEAU.

The Life of an Original Man, the highest fact our world witnesses: Such a Man a problem, not only to others, but to himself. Woe to him who has no court of appeal against the world's judgment! (p. 85). — In such matter the world cannot be right, till after it has learnt the lesson the New Man brings. The world's wealth and creative strength consists solely in its Original Men, and what they do for it. Before we can have Morality and critical canons, we must have Heroes and their heroic performances. (87).— He were a sanguine seeker who should look to the French Revolution for creators or exemplars of morality. A greater work never done in the world's history by men so small. Effervescence, and heroic desperation: Mahomet Robespierre's scraggiest of prophetic discourses: Exaggerated commonplace, and triviality run rabid. A vain, cramped, atrabiliar Formula of a man, for nearly two years Autocrat of France. (89). — And yet the French Revolution did disclose three original men. Napoleon Bonaparte in a fair way of being rightly appreciated: His gospel, 'The tools to him that can handle them,' our ultimate Political Evangel. Trimmers, moderates, plausible persons; hateful to God, and to the Enemies of God. If Bonaparte were the armed Soldier of Democracy,' then was Danton the Efant Perdu, and unenlisted Titan of Democracy: An Earthborn, yet honestly born of Earth: Wild, all-daring Mirabeau of the Sansculottes:' What to him were whole shoals of immaculate Pharisees and Respectabilities? Let my name be blighted, then; so the Cause be glorious, and have victory!' Once cleared, why should not this name too have significance for men? (91). · Mirabeau, by far the best-gifted of this questionable trio: Of him too it is interesting to notice the progressive dawning, out of darkness into light. Difference between an Original Man and a parlismentary mill. Insufficiency of Mirabeau's Biographers. Dumont's Sourenirs sur Mirabeau, not without faithfulness and picturesque clearness; the great Mirabeau being a thing set in motion mainly by him! Lucas Montiguy's biographical work, a monstrous heap of shot-rubbish, containing and hiding much valuable matter. By one means and another some sketch of Mirabeau himself may be brought to light. (94). - His Father a crabbed,

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sulphurous, choleric old- Friend of Men. The Mirabeaus cast-out of Florence at the time Dante was a boy: A notable kindred; as the kindred and fathers of most notable men are. A family totally exempt from blockheads, but a little liable to blackguards. One of them vowed to chain two mountains together; and did it. They get firm footing in Marseilles as trading nobles: Talent for choosing wives. Uncouth courtiership at Versailles Eil-de-Boeuf. Jean Antoine, afterwards named Silverstock: Haughtier, juster, more choleric man need not be sought-for. Battle of Casano: The Mirabeau family narrowly escapes extinction. World-wide influence of the veriest trifles: Inscrutability of genetic history. (100). — In the whole kindred, no stranger figure than the Friend of Men,' Mirabeau's father: Strong, tough as an oak-root, and as gnarled and unwedgeable. Really a most notable, questionable, hateable, lovable old Marquis. A Pedant, but under most interesting new circumstances. Nobility in France based no longer on heroic nobleness of conduct and effort; but on sycophancy, formality, adroitness: How shall the proudest of the Mirabeaus fall prostrate before a Pompadour? Literary powers, characteristics and shortcomings: Not through the press is there any progress towards premiership. The world a mad imbroglio, which no Friend of Men can set right. Domestic rebellions and tribulations: Lawsuits between man and wife: Fifty-four Lettres de Cachet, for the use of a single Marquis. Blessed old Marquis, or else accursed; there is stuff in thee; and stuff is stuff, were it never so crabbed! His Brother, Bailli de Mirabeau, and their frank brotherly love. (108). — Gabriel Honoré Mirabeau, born 9th March 1749: A very Hercules; as if in this man-child Destiny had swept together all the wildnesses and strengths of his lineage. Mirabeau, Goethe, Burns: Could the well-born of the world be always rightly bred, and rightly welcomed, what a world it might be! Mirabeau's rough, vehement, genial childhood: His father's pedantic interference: No lion's-whelp or young Mirabeau will go like clockwork. What a task the poor paternal Marquis

had: His troubled notions about his own offspring. Young Mirabeau sent to boarding-school in disgrace: Gains the goodwill of all who come near him. Sent to the Army: The people of Saintes grew to like him amazingly: Quarrels with his Colonel: Archer's daughter, and the tongue of the Old Serpent: Lettre de Cachet and the Isle of Rhé. Happily there is fighting in Corsica, and young Mirabeau gets leave to join it. His good uncle pronounces him the best fellow on earth if well dealt with. Restored to his father's favour. Visits Paris, and gains golden opinions. His father's notable criticisms: In the name of all the gods what prodigy is this I have hatched? A Swallower of all Formulas: And has not France formulas enough to swallow, and make away with? (116). — Neither in the rural Man-of-business department is he found wanting. Demon of the Impossible. Letter to his Uncle. Unfortunate Marriage: A young Alexander, with a very poor outlook. Tries to make a fitting home for his young Wife. Jewdebts, and another Lettre de Cachet. In Manosque, too, a man can live and read, and write an Essay on Despotism. Fresh entanglements: His Wife's theoretic flirtations: His generous efforts to make the twisted straight. A

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sudden quarrel beyond the limits of the royal Letter: Grim confinement in the Castle of If, at the grim old Marquis's order. O thou poor Mirabeau, thou art getting really into war with Formulas, - terriblest of all wars! A stolen visit from his Brother, the Younger Mirabeau. The old Marquis's ear deaf as that of Destiny. Poor Mirabeau; and poor shallow-hearted Wife: The ill-assorted pair will never meet again. (129). — Mirabeau allowed to walk in Pontarlier on parole. Old President Monnier, aged seventy-five; and his lovely, sad-heroic young wife. Mirabeau feels their danger, and implores his own wife to come to him: She declines the invitation. Temptation, and jealous entanglements: An explosion: Sophie Monnier, sharply dealt with, avows and justifies her love for Mirabeau. Lettres de Cachet, and Convent-walls: They both fly. The tough old Marquis gives chase: They reach Holland, broken in character, though not yet in heart. Who might be the first and greatest sinner in this bad business? Dear brethren of Mankind, endeavour to clear your minds of Cant!' Mirabeau cited before the Parlement of Besançon, and beheaded in Paper Effigy. Garret-life in Holland: The wild man and beautiful sadheroic woman lived their romance of reality as well as might be expected. After eight months of hard toils and trembling joys begirt with terror, they are discovered and brought back. Mirabeau fast-locked in the Castle of Vincennes for forty-two months: His wretched Sophie in some milder Convent confinement: Their Correspondence. A last, untoward meeting: Poor Sophie's melancholy end. Mirabeau again at liberty, storms before the Besançon Parlement; and the Paper Effigy has its head stuck on again. The tough old Marquis summons his children about him, and frankly declares himself invalided: They must now strive to govern themselves! Mirabeau's Demosthenic fire and pathos: But he cannot get his wife's property. (139). Mirabeau's life for the next five years creeps troublous, obscure: The world's esteem, its codes and formulas, gone quite against him. In spite of the world, a living strong man, who will not tumble prostrate. His wandering, questionable mode of life: Incontinence, enormous, entirely indefensible: In audacity, in recklessness, not likely to be wanting. Mirabeau as a writer and speaker: Instead of tropes and declamatory fervid feeling, a totally unornamented force and massiveness, - conviction striving to convince: The primary character, sincerity and insight. Nicknames that are worth whole treatises. (150). - Convocation

of the States-General. Need we ask whether Mirabeau bestirs himself now? One strong dead-lift pull, thou Titan, and perhaps thou carriest it! How Mirabeau wrestled and strove, under such auspices: His flinging-up of the handful of dust. Voluntary guard of a hundred men: Explosions of rejoicing musketry: Chosen deputy for two places. For this Mirabeau, too, the career at last opens: Forty long stern years; and now, Hyperionlike, he has scaled the mountain-tops: What a scene, and new kingdom, lies before him! O Son of Adam! Son of Lucifer! the thing thou wantest is equilibrium, - rest or peace. (155). — Madame de Staël's account of Mirabeau in the procession of Deputies. Seen visibly to have saved, as with his own force, the existence of the Constituent Assembly: Alone of

all these Twelve-hundred, there is in him the faculty of a King. The brave old Marquis lived to see his son's victory; and rejoiced in it. Death, amid the mourning of a people. Imperfection of human characters; and difficulty of seeing them as they are and were. Mirabeau also was made by the Upper Powers; in their wisdom, not in our wisdom, was he so made, and so marred. (158).

PARLIAMENTARY HISTORY OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.

The French Revolution, the grand event of these modern ages. (p. 163). - Innumerable Histories, and attempts to picture it. Thiers's History, with its superficial air of order and candour, inwardly waste, inorganic, incorrect. Mignet's, although utterly prosaic, a much more honestly-written book: His jingling dance of algebraical x's, and Kalmuck rotary-calabash. Only some three publications, hitherto, really worth reading on the matter. (164). - The Histoire Parlementaire, a valuable and faithful collection of facts and documents. Account of old Foulon's miserable end. Camille Desmoulins, a light harmless creature, born to write verses; but whom Destiny directed to overthrow Bastilles. The French Palais Royal, and the Roman Forum; White and black cockades: Insurrection of Women. (169). The Jacobins' Club, in its early days of rosepink and moral-sublime: In some few months- The September Massacre: Like some Ezekiel Vision become real, does Scene after Scene disclose itself. The French Revolution, an attempt to realise Christianity,' and put it fairly into action in our world: For the love of Heaven, Messieurs, humez vos formules,' and look! (177).

SIR WALTER SCOTT.

Instine tive tendency in men to look at any man who has become distinguished. (p. 185). — Sir Walter Scott's unparalleled popularity. Mr. Lockhart's Life, in Seven Volumes: Essentials of a real Biography. Necessity for paying literary men by the quantity they do not write: Not what stands above ground, but what lies unseen under it, determines the value. Fenimore Cooper, and what lay in him to have done. When the Devil may fairly be considered conquered. Mr. Lockhart's work an honest, careful compilation: Foolishly blamed for being too communicative. Delicate, decent, empty English Biography; bless its mealy mouth! (188). - No extent of popularity can make a man great: The stupidity of men, especially congregated in masses, extreme: Lope de Vega; Cervantes; Kotzebue. The real ungarnished Walter Scott, reduced to his own natural dimensions: Other stuff to the making of great men than can be detected here. His highest gift, a love of picturesque, vigorous and graceful things. The great Mystery of Existence had no greatness for him: His conquests were for his own behoof mainly, over common market-labour. The test

of every great, divine man, that he have fire in him to burn-up somewhat of the sins of the world: Paltry, self-conscious, hollow imitations. A great man ever possessed with an idea. Napoleon, not the superfinest of great men, had an idea to start with: His idea, The tools to him that can handle them,' the one true central idea to which everything practical is tending. Small vestige of any such fire, latent or luminous, in the innerman of Scott. Yet was he a right brave and strong man, according to his kind: One of the healthiest of men. A healthy soul, the blessedest thing this earth receives of Heaven. Walter Scott and William Cobbett, the two healthiest men of their day: A cheerful sight, let the greatness be what it will. Scott, very much the old fighting Borderer, in the new vesture of the nineteenth century. Who knows how much slumbers in many men? (196). Till towards the age of thirty, Scott's life has nothing in it decisively pointing towards distinction of any kind. His infancy and boyhood: How Destiny was steadily preparing him for his work. Presbyterian Scotland: Brave old Knox, one of the truest of the true! A true Thought will take many forms, in the Voices and the Work of a hardy, endeavouring, considering Nation. The good in the Scotch national character, and the not-so-good. (204). Scott's early days pleasant to read of: A little fragment of early Autobiography. His 'Liddesdale Raids: ' Questionable doings; whisky mounting beyond its level. A stout effectual man of thirty, full of broad sagacity and good-humour. The uttered part of a man's life bears but a small unknown proportion to the unuttered, unconscious part: The greatest, by nature also the quietest. Fichte's consolation in this belief, amid the infinite chattering and twittering of commonplace become ambitious. Scott the temporary comforter of an age, at once destitute of faith and terrified at scepticism: In his Romances the Past stood before us, not as dead tradition, but as palpable presence: His brilliant, unprecedented success. (207). For a Sermon on Health, Scott should be the text: Money will buy money's worth; but fame,' what is it? How strange a Nemesis lurks in the felicities of men! What sadder book than that Life of Byron, by Moore? Poor Byron! who really had much substance in him. Scott's commercial enterprises: Somewhat too little of a fantast, this Vates of ours! Scott and Shakspeare. If no skyborn messenger, heaven looking through his eyes; neither is he a canting chimera, but a substantial terrestrial man. (214). - Considering the wretched vamping-up of old tatters then in vogue, Scott's excellence may be called superior and supreme. Goethe's Götz von Berlichingen, the remote spring whence this river of Metrical Romance arose: Influence of Götz and Werter. Curious, how all Europe is but like a set of parishes; participant of the selfsame influences, from the Crusades and earlier! Half-regretful lookings into the Past gave place to Ernulphus' cursings of the Present. Scott among the first to perceive the day of Metrical Chivalry-Romance was declining: Let it shake-off its rhyme-fetters, then, and try a wider sweep. The Waverley Novels: A certain anonymous mystery kept up, rather piquant to the public. Scott's Letters, never without interest, yet seldom or never very interesting. A dinner with the