amiliar facts, or by delicate allusions, or by those strong
and brilliant touches which paint, by one stroke, nations and men.

In a word, M. de Montesquieu stands for the study of laws, as Descartes
stood for that of philosophy. He often instructs us, and is sometimes
mistaken; and even when he mistakes, he instructs those who know how to
read him. The last edition of his works demonstrates, by its many
corrections and additions, that when he has made a slip, he has been
able to rise again.

But what is within the reach of all the world is the spirit of the
'Spirit of Laws,' which ought to endear the author to all nations, to
cover far greater faults than are his. The love of the public good, a
desire to see men happy, reveals itself everywhere; and had it no other
merit, it would be worthy, on this account alone, to be read by nations
and kings. Already we may perceive that the fruits of this work are
ripe. Though M. de Montesquieu scarcely survived the publication of the
'Spirit of Laws,' he had the satisfaction to foresee its effects among
us; the natural love of Frenchmen for their country turned toward its
true object; that taste for commerce, for agriculture, and for useful
arts, which insensibly spreads itself in our nation; that general
knowledge of the principles of government, which renders people more
attached to that which they ought to love. Even the men who have
indecently attacked this work perhaps owe more to it than they imagine.
Ingratitude, besides, is their least fault. It is not without regret and
mortification that we expose them; but this history is of too much
consequence to M. de Montesquieu and to philosophy to be passed over in
silence. May that reproach, which at last covers his enemies,
profit them!

The 'Spirit of Laws' was at once eagerly sought after on account of the
reputation of its author; but though M. de Montesquieu had written for
thinkers, he had the vulgar for his judge. The brilliant passages
scattered up and down the work, admitted only because they illustrated
the subject, made the ignorant believe that it was written for them.
Looking for an entertaining book, they found a useful one, whose scheme
and details they could not comprehend without attention. The 'Spirit of
Laws' was treated with a deal of cheap wit; even the title of it was
made a subject of pleasantry. In a word, one of the finest literary
monuments which our nation ever produced was received almost with
scur