Montes Pietatis (Fr. Mont dc Piete, Ital. Monte di J'iitii) is the name of charitable institutions, thor- oughly Christian in origin and purpose, the object of which is to lend money to the very ])oor at a moder- ate rate of interest.
Montesquieu's Birthplace.
noble and otherwise distinguished family of the prov- ince of Guienne. Even as a youth he gave the promise of his future fame. His habits were most studious, and his desire for learning was encouraged in e^■e^^• way by a fond and judicious father. While engaged in a most laborious study of the civil law, with a view to the pro- fession for which he was destined, young ]Montes((uieu was also much devoted to the study of general litera- ture and philosophy, and even found time to prepare a work on a theological subject, namely, n7(fV/((?- the Idolati'ij vJtich prevailed among the Heathen deserved etermd Damnation ? His love of the writers of antiq- uity had led him to enter the lists in defence of pagan writers, pronouncing them worthy of salvation. The book was favorably received, but did not create much stir. In 1714 Montesquieu attained the rank of "con- seiller" in the Parliament of Bordeaux, and three years after\vards, on the death of a paternal uncle, he suc- ceeded at the same time to his fortune and to his post of " president h mortier" in the same Parliament. With the most assiduous and conscientious discharge of his duties as a judge, he yet continued the pursuit of liter- ature. His most favorite studies were historical and moral sciences. But he also loved the study of the nat- ural sciences, and even joined in 1716 the Academy of Bortieaux, zealous to direct the attention of tliis body to physical science. He seems at this lime to have been very much impressed with the importance of pliys- ical science. He wrote about this time his J'hi/sical I/istoii/ of the Ani-ieyit and Modem World, which was
published in 171'.>. He shortly returned, however, and They date from the close of the allowed the academy likewise to return, to literature and mediicval jjcriod, when all such transactions were in the morals; and lie now wrote several small essays on literary hands of usurers, to whom the necessities of the poor and moral subjects, which were read at meetings of the
were but an inducement to the most oppressive extor- tion. The principle was to advance small sums, not or- dinarily exceeding $100, on the security of pledges, but at a rate of interest barely suflicient to cover the work- ing e.xpenses of the institution, any surplus to be ex- pended for charitable purposes. The earliest of these charitable banks is believed to have been that founded by the ^linorile Barnabas at Perugia in 14(i4, and was con-
academy. In 17-21, just six years after the death of Louis XIV. when France had outlived the lethargy of the last years of the great reign, and the orgies of the regency were in full swing, ^lontesquieu appeared with the work which first brought him fame, the f.ettre.i Per- sa)ie.<!, which was published anonymously. The author, however, was soon recognised, and his name was in ev- ervbodv's mouth. The book, in whi( h. in the charac-
firmed by pope Paul III. Another was founded at Pad- 1 ter of a Persian, he ridicules with exquisite humor and ua in 1491, and a third (the first in (Jermany) was es- ' clear, sharp criticism the religious, i>oliiical. social, and
tablished in 141IH at Nuremberg. The first opened at Rome was under Leo X ; and the Konian Monti di Pietii are confessed to have been at all times the most suc- cessful and the best managed in Italy. The institution extended to Florence, iSIilan, Najjles, and other cities. The 3Iont-de-Piete system has been generally intro-
literary life of his countrymen, secured him a place in the "Academy," though he had even levieil his attacks against it. It is sujiposed that the ,Siamiii.'< cif Dufresny, or the Kspion Turc, suggested the plan of this work, but, be this as it may, its execution is entirely original "The dehneation of Oriental manners," savs D'Alem-
MONTESQUIEU
539
MONTESQUIEU