P. 377, c. 1.—“Voltaire,” vol-têrˈ. (1694-1778.) French author.
“Rousseau,” Jean Jacques, rooˌsōˈ. (1712-1778.) French philosopher and
writer.
“Montesquieu,” mŏnˈtĕs-kūˌ. (1689-1755.) French jurist and philosopher.
“D’Alembert,” däˈlŏnˌbêrˌ. (1717-1783.) French mathematician.
P. 377, c. 2.—“Maria Theresa,” ma-rīˈa te-reeˈsä. (1717-1780.) Empress of
Germany and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia.
“Turgot,” türˌgoˈ. (1727-1781.) At the time of his appointment to the
control of finance, Turgot had won a fine reputation by his papers on
political economy, tolerance in governing, and like subjects. He at once
undertook to carry out his views, abolishing all taxes save those on
land, doing away with compulsory labor for the state, the privileges of
trading corporations and the like; this made him very unpopular among the
favored classes, and Louis was forced to dismiss him.
“Necker,” nĕkˈer. (1732-1804.) Necker’s policy was to restore order and
confidence. He restrained the prodigality of the court, cut down the
expenses of the government, regulated taxes, and laid the foundation
of the Bank of France. After his final withdrawal from France, Necker
lived in Geneva, where he wrote several essays. It is said that on the
accession of Bonaparte to power he attempted to obtain the position of
minister of finance, but was rejected.
“Ushant,” ushˈant. The largest of the Ouessant Isles, off the coast of
the department of Finisterre in France.
“D’Estaings,” dĕsˌtănˈ. (1729-1794.) He was brought up to military
service, was twice taken prisoner by the English but released, and in
1763 was appointed lieutenant-general of the navy. D’Estaings was sent
to the United States in 1778, where he planned attacks on New York and
Newport, but was unsuccessful in both. After the campaign in the West
Indies he coöperated with the Americans in an attack upon Savannah, but
was wounded.
“Granada,” “St. Lucia,” “St. Vincent.” Three islands of the Windward
group of the West Indies.
“Langara,” läˈgä-rä. (1730-1800.)
“De Guichen,” deh-gēˈshonˌ. (1712-1790.) A French naval officer, made
lieutenant-general in 1779. The next year after the victory here given he
was defeated by the English.
“De Grasse,” deh gräs. (1723-1788.) Count de Grasse served in the
American war, and in 1781 aided Washington and Lafayette in the capture
of Cornwallis.
“Hood.” (1724-1816.) He entered the navy at sixteen. In 1780 he was
made second in command in the West Indies. The year after his defeat he
defeated De Grasse and was made a baron. In 1793 he commanded the English
in the Mediterranean against the French, and in 1796 was made a viscount.
“Tobago,” to-bāˈgo. An island of the Windward group of the West Indies.
P. 378, c. 1.—“Ville de Paris.” The city of Paris.
“Crillon,” kreˈyonˌ. (1718-1796.) A lieutenant-general in the Seven
Years’ War, and afterward captain-general of Spain.
“Senegal,” senˈe-gawlˌ. A river of western Africa.
“Calonne,” kăˌlonˈ. (1734-1802.) Calonne had been a law student and a
courtier, when appointed to succeed Necker. After his dismissal he went
to London, where he wrote many able political and financial tracts.
“Brienne,” breˌënˈ. (1727-1794.) Brienne was an archbishop and a member
of the academy when he succeeded Calonne.
P. 378, c. 2.—“En Masse.” In a body.
“Desmoulins,” dāˌmooˌlănˈ. (1762-1794.) A schoolmate of Robespierre, and
a partisan of the Revolution. He was called the “Attorney-General of the
lamp post,” for his share in street mobs.
“Launay,” lōˈna. He was massacred immediately after the capture of the
place.
“Condé,” kŏnˈdāˌ (1736-1818); “Polignac,” poˈlēnˌyäkˌ; “Noailles,” noˈäl;
“Seignioral,” seenˈyur-al. Lordly, kingly; belonging to a seignior.
P. 379, c. 1.—“Sièyes,” se-yāsˈ. (1748-1836.) At the beginning of the
Revolution Sièyes wrote a pamphlet which placed him at the head of the
publicists. He was a member of the Assembly, of the Convention, and in
1799 of the Directory. When the new régime began he was one of the three
consuls, but soon after lost his influence, which he never regained.
“Robespierre,” roˈbes-peer. (1758-1794.) He was educated for the law, and
practicing, when in 1789 he was sent to the States-General. His radical
democratic views gained him a prominent place. He afterward was a member
of the Assembly, and in 1792 was elected to the Convention. He became the
leader of one party there, and was instrumental in bringing on the Reign
of Terror, of which he was the acknowledged head. His cruelty at last
turned the people against him, and he was guillotined in 1794.
“Mirabeau,” mĭrˈa-bō. (1749-1791.) He was descended from a family of high
rank, but was passionate and uncontrolled. Until 1788 his life was spent
in all sorts of employments and intrigues. At that time he made up his
mind to enter French politics, and succeeded in getting himself elected
to the States-General of 1789. In 1791 he was elected president of the
National Assembly, but died soon after, a victim to excess.
“Œil-de-Bœuf,” eel-deh-bŭf.
P. 379, c. 2.—“Chalons,” shäˌlōnˈ; “Menehould,” māˌnāˈhō.
“Bouillé,” booˈyā. (1739-1800.)
“Varennes,” väˈrenˌ.
“Rochambeau,” roˈshŏnˌbō. (1725-1807.) A French marshal. In early life
he fought in several minor campaigns. In 1780 he was sent to the United
States with 6,000 men, and the next year fought at Yorktown.
“Dumouriez,” düˌmooˈre-ā. (1739-1823.) After the battle of Jemappes, the
convention being jealous of Dumouriez’s loyalty to the Bourbons, summoned
him to their bar. He refused to go, and was obliged to spend the rest of
his life in exile.
“Verdun,” vĕrˈdun; “Longwy,” lōngˌveˈ.
“Custine,” küsˌtēnˈ. (1740-1793.)
“Jemappes,” zhem-map.
P. 380, c. 1.—“Fédérés,” fāˈdāˌrāˌ; “Abbaye,” ă-bāˈ; “Conciergerie,”
konˌcerˈjaˌreˌ; “Carmes,” kärm; “Bicêtre,” beˈcātrˌ. The names of famous
French prisons.
“Lamballe,” lŏnˌbälˈ. (1749-1792.)
“Sombreuil,” sŏnˌbrulˈ. The sister of an officer prominent in support of
the Royalists.
“Cazotte,” käˈzotˌ. Jacques Cazotte, her father, was a French poet.
P. 380, c. 2.—“Égalité,” ā-găˈle-tā.
“Vergniaud,” verˌyne-ōˈ. (1759-1793.)
P. 381, c. 1.—“Marat,” mäˈrä. (1744-1793.) Before the Revolution Marat
had practiced medicine. In 1789 he gained great popularity among the
Revolutionists by his journal, _The Friend of the People_. After his
election in 1792 to the Convention and the formation of the triumvirate
with Danton and Robespierre, he wielded great power by his decisive
opinions.
“Danton,” dänˌtonˈ. (1759-1794.) He was a lawyer by profession. At the
beginning of the Revolution he became a popular leader and orator. When
the supreme power fell into the hands of the triumvirate Danton was
elected minister of justice, thus having chief control of the city.
Afterward he was elected to the Convention, where he became a prominent
leader, but excited the jealousy of Robespierre. The latter triumphed in
the contest for the first rank, and Danton was guillotined. Lamartine
says of him: “Nothing was wanting to make Danton a great man, except
virtue.”