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time and attention； and even involve the sacrifice of his blood。 Placed
between two extreme parties； ever on the point of getting to blows； he
showed himself in practice what he is in his book； the friend of a middle
and temperate policy。 Tolerant by character and on principle； he
belonged； like all the great minds of the sixteenth century； to that
political sect which sought to improve； without destroying； institutions；
and we may say of him； what he himself said of La Boetie； 〃that he had
that maxim indelibly impressed on his mind； to obey and submit himself
religiously to the laws under which he was born。 Affectionately attached
to the repose of his country； an enemy to changes and innovations； he
would have preferred to employ what means he had towards their
discouragement and suppression； than in promoting their success。〃 Such
was the platform of his administration。
He applied himself； in an especial manner； to the maintenance of peace
between the two religious factions which at that time divided the town of
Bordeaux； and at the end of his two first years of office； his grateful
fellow…citizens conferred on him （in 1583） the mayoralty for two years
more； a distinction which had been enjoyed； as he tells us； only twice
before。 On the expiration of his official career； after four years'
duration； he could say fairly enough of himself that he left behind him
neither hatred nor cause of offence。
In the midst of the cares of government； Montaigne found time to revise
and enlarge his Essays； which； since their appearance in 1580； were
continually receiving augmentation in the form of additional chapters or
papers。 Two more editions were printed in 1582 and 1587； and during this
time the author； while making alterations in the original text； had
composed part of the Third Book。 He went to Paris to make arrangements
for the publication of his enlarged labours； and a fourth impression in
1588 was the result。 He remained in the capital some time on this
occasion； and it was now that he met for the first time Mademoiselle de
Gournay。 Gifted with an active and inquiring spirit； and； above all；
possessing a sound and healthy tone of mind； Mademoiselle de Gournay had
been carried from her childhood with that tide which set in with
sixteenth century towards controversy； learning； and knowledge。 She
learnt Latin without a master； and when； the age of eighteen； she
accidentally became possessor of a copy of the Essays； she was
transported with delight and admiration。
She quitted the chateau of Gournay； to come and see him。 We cannot do
better； in connection with this journey of sympathy； than to repeat the
words of Pasquier： 〃That young lady； allied to several great and noble
families of Paris； proposed to herself no other marriage than with her
honour； enriched with the knowledge gained from good books； and； beyond
all others； from the essays of M。 de Montaigne； who making in the year
1588 a lengthened stay in the town of Paris； she went there for the
purpose of forming his personal acquaintance； and her mother； Madame de
Gournay； and herself took him back with them to their chateau； where； at
two or three different times； he spent three months altogether； most
welcome of visitors。〃 It was from this moment that Mademoiselle de
Gournay dated her adoption as Montaigne's daughter； a circumstance which
has tended to confer immortality upon her in a far greater measure than
her own literary productions。
Montaigne； on leaving Paris； stayed a short time at Blois； to attend the
meeting of the States…General。 We do not know what part he took in that
assembly： but it is known that he was commissioned； about this period； to
negotiate between Henry of Navarre （afterwards Henry IV。） and the Duke of
Guise。 His political life is almost a blank； but De Thou assures us that
Montaigne enjoyed the confidence of the principal persons of his time。
De Thou； who calls him a frank man without constraint； tells us that；
walking with him and Pasquier in the court at the Castle of Blois； he
heard him pronounce some very remarkable opinions on contemporary events；
and he adds that Montaigne had foreseen that the troubles in France could
not end without witnessing the death of either the King of Navarre or of
the Duke of Guise。 He had made himself so completely master of the views
of these two princes； that he told De Thou that the King of Navarre would
have been prepared to embrace Catholicism； if he had not been afraid of
being abandoned by his party； and that the Duke of Guise； on his part；
had no particular repugnance to the Confession of Augsburg； for which the
Cardinal of Lorraine； his uncle； had inspired him with a liking； if it
had not been for the peril involved in quitting the Romish communion。 It
would have been easy for Montaigne to play； as we call it； a great part
in politics； and create for himself a lofty position but his motto was；
'Otio et Libertati'； and he returned quietly home to compose a chapter
for his next edition on inconveniences of Greatness。
The author of the Essays was now fifty…five。 The malady which tormented
him grew only worse and worse with years； and yet he occupied himself
continually with reading； meditating； and composition。 He employed the
years 1589； 1590； and 1591 in making fresh additions to his book； and
even in the approaches of old age he might fairly anticipate many happy
hours； when he was attacked by quinsy； depriving him of the power
utterance。 Pasquier； who has left us some details his last hours；
narrates that he remained three days in full possession of his faculties；
but unable to speak； so that； in order to make known his desires； he was
obliged to resort to writing； and as he felt his end drawing near； he
begged his wife to summon certain of the gentlemen who lived in the
neighbourhood to bid them a last farewell。 When they had arrived； he
caused mass to be celebrated in apartment； and just as the priest was
elevating the host； Montaigne fell forward with his arms extended in
front of him； on the bed； and so expired。 He was in his sixtieth year。
It was the 13th September 1592。
Montaigne was buried near his own house； but a few years after his
decease； his remains were removed to the church of a Commandery of St。
Antoine at Bordeaux； where they still continue。 His monument was
restored in 1803 by a descendant。 It was seen about 1858 by an English
traveller （Mr。 St。 John）。'＇〃Montaigne the Essayist；〃 by Bayle St。
John； 1858； 2 vols。 8vo； is one of most delightful books of the kind。＇
and was then in good preservation。
In 1595 Mademoiselle de Gournay published a new edition of Montaigne's
Essays； and the first with the latest emendations of the author； from a
copy presented to her by his widow； and which has not been recovered；
although it is known to have been in existence some years after the date
of the impression； made on its authority。
Coldly as Montaigne's literary productions appear to have been received
by the generation immediately succeeding his own age； his genius grew
into just appreciation in the seventeenth century； when such great
spirits arose as La Bruyere； Moliere； La Fontaine； Madame de Sevigne。
〃O；〃 exclaimed the Chatelaine des Rochers； 〃what capital company he is；
the dear man！ he is my old friend； and just for the reason that he is
so； he always seems new。 My God！ how full is that book of sense！〃
Balzac said that he had carried human reason as far and as high as it
could go； both in politics and in morals。 On the other hand； Malebranche
and the writers of Port Royal were against him； some reprehended the
licentiousness of his writings； others their impiety； materialism；
epicureanism。 Even Pascal； who had carefully read the Essays； and gained
no small profit by them； did not spare his reproaches。 But Montaigne has
outlived detraction。 As time has gone on； his admirers and borrowers
have increased in number； and his Jansenism； which recommended him to the
eighteenth century； may not be his least recommendation in the
nineteenth。 Here we have certainly； on the whole； a first…class man； and
one proof of his masterly genius seems to be； that his merits and his
beauties are sufficient to induce us to leave out of consideration
blemishes and faults which would have been fatal to an inferior writer。
THE LETTERS OF MONTAIGNE。
I。
To Monsieur de MONTAIGNE
＇This account of the death of La Boetie begins imperfectly。 It first
appeared in a little volume of Miscellanies in 1571。 See Hazlitt； ubi
sup。 p。 630。＇〃。。。。As to his last words； doubtless； if any man can
give good account of them； it is I； both because； during the whole of his
sickness he conversed as fully with me as with any one； and also because；
in consequence of the singular and brotherly friendship which we had
entertained for each other； I was perfectly acquainted with the
intentions； opinions； and wishes which he had formed in the course of his
life； as much so； certainly； as one man can possibly be with those of
another man； and because I knew them to be elevated； virtuous； full of
steady resolution； and （after all said） admirabl