Transcriber's Notes: Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as possible. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. _THE MARQUIS D'ARGENSON_ [Illustration] [Illustration] THE MARQUIS D'ARGENSON: A STUDY IN CRITICISM; BEING THE STANHOPE ESSAY: OXFORD, 1893 BY ARTHUR OGLE EXHIBITIONER OF MAGDALEN COLLEGE [Illustration] London T. FISHER UNWIN PATERNOSTER SQUARE MDCCCXCIII CONTENTS. I. 1630-1721. A friend of Richelieu and Mazarin, 10; A hapless ambassador, 11; A great chief of the Parisian police, 14. II. 1694-1724. A man of the world who can count his conquests, 23; Schooldays: emancipation, 24; Death of Louis XIV.: a retrospect, 26; Entry into public life: relations with his father, 28; Director of the Press, 30; In battle with the Parlement against the schemes of Law, 31; In the Rue Quincampoix, 33; Law arrested by d'Argenson, Intendant of Valenciennes, 34; A dutiful correspondent: Madame de Balleroy, 35; Appearance of "Mon Frère": relations of the brothers, 37; The Abbé de St. Pierre, 40; The work of an Intendant, 42; Difficulties: a "Partie Carrée," 43; D'Argenson's resignation: its consequences, 45; A judgment of his character, 48. III. 1724-1744. Bolingbroke in exile: the "Club de l'Entresol," 55; An active member, 57; "Un café d'honnêtes gens," 58; Cardinal Fleury and the Entresol, 59; The society suppressed, 60; A political aspirant, 61; Keen interest in the ecclesiastical quarrels, 62; D'Argenson, and Chauvelin's opinion of him, 65; Disadvantages: an embarrassed patron, 66; Political disappointments, 70; Relations with his wife, 71; D'Argenson and the fall of Chauvelin: a keen regret, 74; Appointed Ambassador to Portugal, 77; Six years of expectancy and intrigue, 78; Fleury and the Portuguese Embassy, 79; D'Argenson joins the Court opposition, 80; At feud with the Cardinal, 82; The weight of his indictment, 85; D'Argenson and Voltaire, 87; Their correspondence: literary quarrels, 88; "The best and most instructive work that I have read for twenty years," 89; The Prince Royal of Prussia, 91. IV. November, 1744-January, 1747.