glimmering candles
Swell to suns as forth we track them far,--
Suns that bear our throne and victory-bannered car!

* * * * *

THE HUGUENOT FAMILIES IN AMERICA.

The celebrated 'Edict of Nantes' was, to speak accurately, a new
confirmation of former treaties between the French government and the
Protestants, or _Huguenots_--in fact, a royal act of indemnity for all
past offences. The verdicts against the '_Reformed_' were annulled and
erased from the rolls of the Superior Courts, and to them unlimited
liberty of conscience was recognized as a right. This important and
solemn Edict marked for France the close of the Middle Ages, and the
true commencement of modern times; it was sealed with the great seal of
green wax, to testify its irrevocable and perpetual character. In
signing this great document, Henry IV. completely triumphed over the
usages of the Middle Ages, and the illustrious monarch wished nothing
less than to grant to the 'Reformed' all the civil and religious rights
which had been refused them by their enemies. For the first time France
raised itself above religious parties. Still, a state policy so new
could not fail to excite the clamors of the more violent, and the hatred
of factions. The sovereign, however, remained firm. 'I have enacted the
Edict,' said Henry to the Parliament of Paris,--'I wish it to be
observed. My will must serve as the reason why. I am king. I speak to
you as king.--I will be obeyed.' To the clergy he said, 'My predecessors
have given you good words, but I, with my gray jacket,--I will give you
good deeds. I am all gray on the outside, but I'm all gold within.'
Praise to those noble sentiments, peace was maintained in the realm; the
honor of which alone belongs to Henry IV.

In the first half of the seventeenth century, there could be counted in
France more than eight hundred Reformed churches, with sixty-two
Conferences. Such was the prosperity and powerful organization of the
Protestant party until the fall of La Rochelle, which was emphatically
called the citadel of 'the Reform.' This misfortune terminated the
religious wars of France. The Huguenots, now excluded from the
employment of the civil service and the court, became the industrial
arms of the kingdom. They cultivated the fine lands of the Cevennes, the
vineyards of Guienne, the cloths of Caen. In their hands were almost
entirely the maritime trade of Normandy, with the silks