we can have for the morals of mankind ;" and he goes so far as to say that " all .societies require a religion." No one has shown better than he the intimate relation between religion and social life; and it is interesting to observe that it is in the Persian iMttrf, namely, in the work into which he has introduced the rashest state- ments, and in which he has conceded most to the ideas and manners of his time, that we tind this remarkable passage, Avhich explains so well what we have merely indicated : " In any religion wliicli we profess, the ob- servance of laws, love to men, devotedness to parents, arc always the first religious acts, . . . For, whatever religion a man professes, the moment any religion is supposed, it must also necessarily be supposed that (jod loves mankind, since he establishes a religion to render them happy ; that, if he loves men, we are certain of
] pleasing him in loving them also; that is, in exercising towards them all the duties of charity and humanity, and not breaking the laws under which they live," In the Spirit of Laws, and in the Thoiight.t, we meet with
' passages mucli stronger in favor of Christianity, prov- ing that INIontescjuieu understood it far better than the moralists of his time, at least in the philosophical
I view. But for further development of these criticisms we must refer the reader to Wn&t.Jlisl. of French Lit. ISth Century (Engl, by the Kev. James Bryce, Edinb. 185.5, 8vo), p, 199 sq, Montesquieu died at Paris, Feb, 10, 1755, The private character of Jlontesquieu was such as the tendency of his works might lead us to an- ticipate. Possessing that calm independence which se- cured him respect, he possessed also that mildness and benignity of character which displayed itself in a cheer- ful temper, and obtained for him universal love. He was distinguished by the readiness which he always mani- fested to use his influence with the government in be-
I half of persecuted men of letters; and strict frugality
j frequently enabled him, without impairing the pmperty of his family, to mitigate the wants of the indigent. Burke characterizes him as " a genius not born in every country or every time; a man gifted by nature with a penetrating, aiiuiline eye; with a judgment trained by the most extensive erudition ; with a herculean robustness of mind, and nerves not to be broken with labor." The most complete edition of his works is that by D'Alembert and Villemain (Paris, 1827, 8 vols. 8vo). Nugent's translation of the Sjnril of the Lmcs, together with D'Alembert's biographical sketch of Montesquieu, were published at Cincinnati in 187.3. See Voltaire, Sie- cle dc Louis XIV ct Louis XV; D'Alembert, Elo;ie de Montesquieu ; Villemain, XVoc/e dc Montesquieu (18;2fl); Kiaux, Notice sur Montesquieu (1849) ; Maupertuis, Elofje de Montesquieu (1755); Bersot, Jfontesquieu (Paris, 1852); Burs, Montesquieu n. Cartesius, in Philos. Mo- natshefte, Oct, 1 , 18(J9 ; Sainte-Beuve, Causeries du Luudi, vii, 41 sq, ; Mcnnechet, Litterolitre Modenie (Paris, 1857, 12mol, iv. 12.")-148; and the excellent article in the Kdiidmnih Ci/rlup. s, v, (.1. 11, W,)
Montesquieu -Fezensac, dk, Fk.\n(;'ois Xa- viiCK IMauc AsToisii:, iMi\ a French ecclesiastic, was iiorn near Auch in 1757. He was a deputy from the clergy of Paris to the States-(ieneral in 1789, and was twice elected president of the National Assembly. Dur- ing the Keign of Terror he took refuge in England, but after the second IJestoration returned to his native coun- try and was made a duke, receiving the title of minis- ter of state. He died in 1832. ^OGdmzot, Memoins. — lloefcr, Nouv. Biotj. Gencralv, s. v.
Monteth (or Monteith, or even Montieth\ RoiiKitT, a Scotch )iri(-i. who was ihaplaiii of cardinal de Ketz and a canon ol N'olre Dnnie. tlourisiicd near ilie middle of the 17th century. He wrote mainly works on secular history. See Allibone, Z>iW, of Biitish and A merirtin A uthors, s, v,
Monteveide, Claviho, an Italian composer, was born at Cremona aliout 15()5, and died at Venice in l(i49. He composed both secular and ecclesiastical music, but
MONTFAUCON"
541
MONTFIQTJET
was particularly celebrated for his motets and madri- gals: of the latter he produced five books.