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LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN.

Louis XIV . outlived him but a few months. Theduke of Orleans became regent. France flourished inpeace under his regency ; while its aristocracy was cor-rupted by a state of libertinism and profligacy, un-equalled except in the pages of Suetonius . Had Fene-lon lived, would he not have influenced the regent,whose perverted mind was yet adorned by talents, andregulated by a sense of political justice ?—Would he nothave fostered the child of his pupil, and engraftedvirtue in the soul of Louis XV. ? This is but con-jecture ; futile, except as it may teach us to make useof the example and precepts of the good and wise, whilethey are spared to us. Soon all but their memory islost in the obscurity and nothingness of the tomb.

In person, Fenelon was tall and well made; a palenessof countenance testified his studious and abstemioushabits; while his expressive eyes diffused softness andgentle gaiety over his features. His manners displayedthe grace and dignity, the delicacy and propriety, whichbelong to the well-born, when their understandings arecultivated by learning, and their hearts enlarged by thepractices of virtue. Eloquent, witty, judicious, andpleasing, he adapted himself to the time and personwith whom he conversed, and was admired and belovedby all.

His character is sufficiently detailed in these pages ;—his benevolence, generosity, and sublime elevation aboveall petty and self-interested views. It may be said,that his piety was too softening and ideal; yet in practiceit was not so. His nephew, brought up under his care,and embued with his principles of religion, was a gal-lant soldier, and believed that it was the duty of a sub-ject to die for his king; and, acting on this belief, fell atthe battle of Raucoux. A religion that teaches toleration,active charity, and resignation, inculcates the lessons towhich human nature inclines with most difficulty, andwhich, practised in a generous, unprejudiced manner, raiseman to a high pitch of excellence. “ I know not,” saysa celebrated writer, “ whether God ought to be loved for