VINNOU TVO

SHORT ACCOUNT

OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF THE

ABBÉ FLEURY.

THOSE who have profited by the works of the learned and pious, naturally wish to know who the persons were from whom they have received so much instruction: and are glad to meet with any account of lives, which they know must have been spent not only innocently but usefully. This disposition so natural to man, has been deeply studied by the inspired writers; hence their works abound with biography and biographical anecdotes; and thus truth teaches not only by precept, but also by example, and hereby seems to assume a body and render itself palpable. Of the Abbe Fleury I have been able to meet with few anecdotes which can be particularly interesting to the pious reader, as most accounts which have been hitherto published of him relate chiefly to his literary history. The following memoirs which I have collected from the most authentic sources, are, I must confess, very scanty, but they are such as cannot fail to give some pleasure to those who are admirers of the immortal work to which they are prefixed.

Claude Fleury, in Latin, Claudius Florus, was born at Paris, Dec. 6, 1640; he was son of a lawyer, originally of the diocese of Rouen, and was brought up to the bar. In 1658, he was received advocate to the parliament in Paris, in which employment he continued for nine years, devoting all his time to the study of jurisprudence and the

belles lettres, in which he made uncommon proficiency. This kind of life not entirely suiting his natural inclination, which was gentle, peaceable and benevolent, he abandoned it, devoted himself to the study of theology, entered into the ecclesiastical state, and soon arrived at the order of priesthood.

From this time he devoted himself solely to the study of the Sacred Writings, divinity, ecclesiastical history, the canon law, and the works of the fathers. He confined himself, for a considerable time, to these studies alone, from a persuasion that they were most suitable to his clerical functions, and that a more extensive range in the sciences, by diffusing the attention too much, must render the judgment and understanding less profound.

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His deep piety and solid learning gained him greatreputation and Lewis XIV, who was well qualified to discern great and useful talents, and well knew how to employ them, made him preceptor to the princes of Conti in 1762, whom he caused to be educated with the Dauphin his son. These princes were, Lewis Armand, and Francis Lewis, son of Armand de Bourbon, prince of Conti, and chief of that illustrious family.

The fidelity and accuracy with which this amiable man discharged the duties of his office in this important business, procured him another pupil from the royal family, for in 1680, the king made him preceptor to the Prince de Vermandois, admiral of France; one of his legitimated natural sons; but this prince died in 1683.

In 1684, the king, highly pleased with his fidelity and success in the office of preceptor to the princes, gave him the Abby of Loc-Dieu, in the diocese of Rhodes: and in 1689, he appointed him subpreceptor to his three grandchildren, Lewis, duke of Burgundy; Philip, duke of Anjou; and Charles, duke of Berri, sons of the Dauphin. In this important employment he was associated with that most accomplished scholar and most amiable of men,

Monsr. Fenelon, afterward archbishop of Cambray. Like his assistant, the Abbe Fleury had the happy art of rendering virtue amiable by connecting delight with instruction, and of making the precepts of religion pleasant by exemplifying them in a placid, steady, and upright conduct. Thus precept and example went hand in hand, and mutually supported each other. Never had pupils greater advantages; and never were teachers more revered by their pupils. Lewis, duke of Burgundy, became Dauphin, April 14, 1711, and died Feb. 18, 1712. Philip, duke of Anjou, became king of Spain in 1700, with the title of Philip V.

In 1696 the French Academy chose him for one of its 40 members: the highest literary honour in France. A choice due to the merit of Abbe Fleury, and which was at the same time an honour to the Academy itself.

The studies of the three princes being ended in 1706, the king, who knew as well how to reward merit as to distinguish it, presented him with the priory of Notre Dame d'Argenteuil, in the diocese of Paris: but this learned and conscientious man, an exact observer of the canons, (which indeed he had made a particular object of study) gave a rare example of disinterestedness in delivering up into the hands of the king the Abby of LocDieu, which he refused to hold in conjunction with his priory! An example, which in the present day we may hope in vain to find, as sinecures and pluralities are sought after with an extreme avidity, every one seeking his gain from his own quarter, and never saying in his heart, it is enough.

In 1716 the duke of Orleans, regent of the kingdom, made him Confessor to the young king, Lewis XV, son to the duke of Burgundy. In this important employment he continued till 1722, when his age and infirmities obliged him to give it up. Had it not been well known that the Abbe had executed the office of preceptor to the

father with the strictest zeal and integrity, we may rest assured that he never would have been entrusted with the dearest interests of the son, and indeed those of the whole French nation. This was the highest eulogium that could possibly be given of the merit of this extraordinary man. For many years he had been in the very high road to preferment, but his deadness to the world induced him steadily to avoid any farther advancement; and being completely satisfied with his priory, he refused to have any thing in addition.

Though he lived in the midst of a court where pleasure reigned, and rational devotion to God was unfashionable; yet he steadily pursued his course, and lived in the centre of fashion and folly, as if he had been in the inmost recesses of a cell, constantly refusing the slightest compliance with any thing that was not conformed to the purest principles of the gospel of Christ.

Having spent a long life in exemplary piety, and laborious usefulness, he died of an apoplexy July 14, 1723, in the 83d year of his age.

On his death several of the academicians signalized themselves by eulogiums to his memory: a few extracts from which will show in what estimation he was held by that learned body. Mr. Adam, who was chosen to succeed him in the academy, speaks of him in the following terms in his inaugural discourse, delivered before that august assembly, Dec. 2, 1723.

"Where shall we find so many inestimable qualities united in one person? An excellent understanding cultivated with intense labour; profound knowledge; a heart full of uprightness: not only innocent in his manners, but leading a simple, laborious and edifying life, always accompanied with sincere modesty: an admirable disinterestedness, an unfailing regularity of conduct, and perfect fidelity in the performance of his duty; in a word, an assemblage of all those talents and virtues.

which constitute the scholar, the honest man and the Christian."

In answer to Mr. Adam, the Abbe de Roquette spoke of this great man in the same high strain of justly merited panegyric. "We shall always deplore the loss of our late pious, learned, and illustrious associate. Nothing can obliterate the strong impression which his virtues have made on our minds. Candour, uprightness, affability, meekness, and strict probity seemed to constitute the very essence of his soul. Nature had lavished her choicest talents on his mind; and study had put him in possession of the riches of knowledge. In him a solid judgment was combined with profound penetration. An exquisite taste in every department of literature, with a vast and retentive memory: and a fertile genius with an indefatigable ardour for application. To these gifts of nature let us add those which he received from grace : a sincere and intelligent piety; an ardent and insatiable thirst after truth; an unbounded love to mankind, and the most scrupulous fidelity in the discharge of every duty imposed by religion; a contempt of honour, and detachment from perishing riches, the love of solitude even in the midst of the pomps of a court; and to sum up the whole, a pure, exemplary, and irreproachable life." Such truly was the Abbe Fleury, and such the serious reader will perceive him to be in every page of the following inestimable work.

Besides the "Manners of the Israelites," and the "Manners of the primitive Christians," the Abbe Fleury published many other works, the principal of which is his Ecclesiastical History, 20 vols. 12mo, or 13 4to, the first volume of which was published in 1691, and the last in 1722: it takes in the history of the church from the birth of our Lord to the year 1414. The author designed to have brought it down to his own times, but was prevented by his death, which took place the following year. It was long