the affairs of his kingdom. His knowledge of mankind was profound,
and he had sought it in the private walks of life, in which he
often personally mingled; and, though naturally proud and haughty,
he hesitated not, with an inattention to the arbitrary divisions
of society which was then thought something portentously unnatural,
to raise from the lowest rank men whom he employed on the most
important duties, and knew so well how to choose them, that he was
rarely disappointed in their qualities. Yet there were contradictions
in the character of this artful and able monarch; for human nature
is rarely uniform. Himself the most false and insincere of mankind,
some of the greatest errors of his life arose from too rash a
confidence in the honour and integrity of others. When these errors
took place, they seem to have arisen from an over refined system of
policy, which induced Louis to assume the appearance of undoubting
confidence in those whom it was his object to overreach; for, in
his general conduct, he was as jealous and suspicious as any tyrant
who ever breathed.

Two other points may be noticed to complete the sketch of this
formidable character, by which he rose among the rude, chivalrous
sovereigns of the period to the rank of a keeper among wild beasts,
who, by superior wisdom and policy, by distribution of food, and
some discipline by blows, comes finally to predominate over those
who, if unsubjected by his arts, would by main strength have torn
him to pieces.

The first of these attributes was Louis's excessive superstition, a
plague with which Heaven often afflicts those who refuse to listen
to the dictates of religion. The remorse arising from his evil
actions Louis never endeavoured to appease by any relaxation in