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MIRABEAU.

1749—1791.

It is impossible to imagine a greater contrast of cha-racter than that between the subject of the precedingmemoir and the present. Condorcet was a man of warmaffections, well regulated mind, and clear precise under-standing ; his enthusiasm was lighted up by benevo-lence, and the love of that which he considered truth.He was timid, yet firm ; mild, yet resolute. Mirabeauresembled his Italian ancestors, rather than the usualFrench character. His violent passions governed him,and caused him to govern others through his earnestnessand vehemence. His intellect showed itself rather ineloquent bursts than in works of reason, and yet hecould apply himself more sedulously than almost anyother man when he had an object in view. Profligate,extravagant, and proud, ardent and ambitious, with awarm kind heart, and a mind which erred only underthe influence of passion, he passed a life of adversity andoppression, to die at the moment he reached a degreeof power which is allotted to few men not horn to itsinheritance.

The family and progenitors of Mirabeau were allremarkable. He left, in manuscript, a sketch of thefamily history, and a more detailed life of his grand-father, in which we find singularly displayed thej energy, iron will, and pride of the race. The name, they originally bore was Arrighetti ; the family wasFlorentine, and driven from that city in 1268, duringone of the revolutions occasioned by the quarrels of theGuelphs and Ghibelines. A sentence of perpetual exilewas pronounced against Azzo Arrighetti and his desccud-o 2