unanimously agree, that he had a World of Learning, and a profound
Erudition. He had a thorough Knowledge of the Civil Law, which he
managed with all the Eloquence imaginable; and was, without dispute, one
of the ablest Civilians that _France_ had ever produced: This is _Thuanus_
and _Barthius_'s Testimony of him. Mr. _Bayle_ indeed passes his Censure
of this Work in the Text of his Dictionary, in these Words: "_Sa
Francogallia dont il faisoit grand etat est celuy de tous ses ecrits que
l'on aprouve le moins:_"--and in his Commentary adds, "_C'est un Ouvrage
recommendable du costè de l'Erudition; mais tres indigne d'un
jurisconsulte Francois, si l'on en croit mesme plusieurs Protestants._"
I wou'd not do any Injury to so great a Man as Monsieur _Bayle_; but
every one that is acquainted with his Character, knows that he is more a
Friend to Tyranny and Tyrants, than seems to be consistent with so free
a Spirit. He has been extremely ill used, which sowres him to such a
degree, that it even perverts his Judgment in some measure; and he seems
resolved to be against Monsieur _Jurieu_, and that Party, in every
thing, right or wrong. Whoever reads his Works, may trace throughout all
Parts of them this Disposition of Mind, and see what sticks most at his
Heart. So that he not only loses no Occasion, but often forces one where
it seems improper and unseasonable, to vent his Resentments upon his
Enemies; who surely did themselves a great deal more wrong in making him
so, than they did him. 'Tis too true, that they did all they cou'd to
starve him; and this great Man was forced to write in haste for Bread;
which has been the Cause that some of his Works are shorter than he
design'd them; and consequently, that the World is deprived of so much
Benefit, as otherwise it might have reap'd from his prodigious Learning,
and Force of Judgment. One may see by the first Volume of his
Dictionary, which goes through but two Letters of the Alphabet, that he
forecasted to make that Work three times as large as it is, cou'd he
have waited for the Printer's Money so long as was requisite to the