Beaumanoir, marquis de, a French man of letters, born in Bretagne about 1720; died about 1795. He at first embraced the profession of arms, and took part in the campaigns of the Seven years' war, but at a later period gave himself up to the cultivation of letters. Among other pieces written by him for the stage, are "Osman III. et Laodice, reine de Carthage," "Les Ressources de l'Esprit," "Les Mariages," "La Justification d'Enguerrand de Marigny." These have been collected under the title, "Œuvres diverses," Lausanne, Paris, 1770, two vols. 8vo. He projected also a translation of the Odyssey, but was deterred by the small success which had attended his translation of the Iliad into French verse, Paris, 1781.—G. M.
BEAUMANOIR, Jean de, a celebrated Breton chevalier, lived about the middle of the fourteenth century. In the famous civil war which at that time desolated Bretagne, he took part with Charles de Chatillon, count of Blois, against Jean de Montfort. He was the friend and companion-in-arms of Du Guesclin, and is mentioned as the hero of many surprising exploits. He was the commander of thirty Bretons, who are said to have fought with thirty Englishmen in 1351. During a long career he had often been intrusted with important missions and difficult commands, and was ever distinguished by his loyalty and courage.—G. M.
BEAUMANOIR, Phillipe de, a celebrated French magistrate, author of a curious and valuable work, "Coutumes du Beauvoisis," was born in Picardy in the first half of the thirteenth century. He is said to have been of noble family, and to have followed in early life the profession of arms, and afterwards of diplomacy. From a notice of a judicial proceeding in which he was concerned, we learn that he was bailli of Senlis in 1273, and this dignity he seems to have retained throughout the reigns of Phillipe le Hardi and Phillipe le Bel. He is entitled to be ranked among the first jurists of the century to which he belonged. His work is not only interesting as a record of the judicial customs which prevailed in his native district at that important epoch in French history, when the feudal system began to give way before the combined power of the communes and the throne, but is also invaluable as one of the earliest productions of a French jurist, in which it was proposed to limit the power of the clergy by extending that of the crown, and to secure justice to the commons by restricting the judicial authority of the barons. The author of the "Coutumes" had the wisdom to propose as a remedy for the anarchy of his times, the introduction of common law, and the establishment of a central court of justice. He died in 1296. The first printed copy of the "Coutumes" is dated 1690. A second and more accurate edition appeared in 1842.—J. S., G.
BEAUMARCHAIS, Pierre-Augustin Caron de, one of the most characteristic of Frenchmen, alike in his excellencies and deficiencies, was born at Paris, January 24, 1732. His father was a watchmaker, only boasting the simple surname of Caron, and at the age of thirteen Beaumarchais was taken from school and inducted into the paternal business. Music was, however, his passion, and he never looked with favour on watchmaking. Such, nevertheless, was the activity of his mind, and its natural fertility of suggestion and invention, that he speedily invented an important improvement in the mechanism of watches. Having confided his secret to another watchmaker, Lepante, he soon found his invention publicly claimed by him. Beaumarchais immediately flew to law, established his case, gained his suit, was appointed watchmaker to the king, and soon afterwards obtained a small office in the royal household. Thence commenced one of the busiest and most varied lives on record: from that period till his death, his career was one series of social successes, financial speculations, trading wholesale and retail, lawsuits without end, gallantries, triumphs on the stage, diplomacy,—and all conducted with a good-nature, a shrewdness, a cheerfulness, and an uprightness, bordering on the marvellous; and characterized throughout by a mercurial levity and absence of all the deeper emotions of human nature equally complete. The comptroller of the household died, and Beaumarchais married his widow and succeeded to the office. This office brought him into a nearer relationship to the three princesses: his skill in music attracted their notice, and he soon became their teacher, and from teacher, intimate companion and amuser. Through the influence of the king's daughters in those days of corruption, he was enabled to push his fortune. By this means he made the acquaintance of Paris Duverney, the celebrated capitalist and financier; and as the court intrigues deepened and progressed, so also complicated and lucrative speculations arose. In 1761 Beaumarchais' anomalous position in the court was put an end to by his ceasing to be plain M. Caron, being ennobled by the king, and made lieuténant-général des chasses. In 1764 his sister's affairs called him to Madrid, and here occurred his quarrel and pursuit of Clavigo, which Goethe has immortalized by his drama of that name. He spent a year in Spain, busy as ever; engrossed in politics, literature, intrigues, and trade; above all, acquiring that local knowledge and spirit, that resulting in "Figaro," has made him famous. In 1768 Beaumarchais married his second wife. In 1770 commenced his seven years' contest with Goezman, concerning money due to him from the estate of the late Duverney; and it was the "memoires" that he published from time to time during the progress of his suit that made him a notoriety. The varied ability they displayed; their wit, sarcasm, keen logic, and general smartness; amused the public, conquered his enemies, and even excited the envy of Voltaire: while his trenchant exposure of the abuses that were fast bringing on the Revolution, not a little contributed to hasten it. As might be expected, we next find Beaumarchais in prison. However, he was soon out, though deprived of his court favour for a time. He married a third wife, and produced his "Figaro," which had a run of one hundred nights, and was a world's wonder for a time; and partly by its own merits, and partly by Mozart's and Rossini's adoption of it, will not speedily be forgotten. Beaumarchais next appears in London as secret agent to Louis XVI., in giving underhand aid to the American revolutionists. In this manner 1,000,000 livres of French money went to America; while Beaumarchais, in his private capacity of speculator, sent forty ships of ammunition, &c., thither in 1776. After the Republic was established, Beaumarchais spent the remainder of his life in endeavours to get paid. After the revolution of 1789 Beaumarchais was as active a servant of the Revolution as he had been of the Monarchy; but the Revolution was a more capricious master, and the remainder of Beaumarchais' life is a series of sufferings from imprisonment, expatriation, and poverty, borne with a cheeriness half-heroic, and only broken by his ceaseless efforts to obtain the enormous wealth which was still his due, but which he could never get. Thus occupied, death surprised him very suddenly in Paris, May 19, 1799. A very copious and entertaining life of Beaumarchais from entirely new sources, chiefly autobiographical, appeared in the Revue des deux Mondes in 1852, by M. de Loménie.—J. S. S.
BEAUME, a French historical and genre painter. His subjects are well chosen, and always interesting and imaginative. In military scenes of the French romantic school, that deals with the glories of the empire, he came early into the field. Some of his pictures are "The Departure of the Conscript;" "The Death of Henry III.;" "Alain Chartier Asleep;" "Le Roi Boit;" "The Slave of Velasquez;" "The Comrade's Visit."
BEAUMELLE, Laurent Angliviel de la, born at Valleraugue, Gard, 28th January, 1726. The persecution which this person underwent at the hands of Voltaire, forms a curious but unpleasant chapter in the quarrels of authors. Having acted for some time as professor of the French language and of belles-lettres at Denmark, he left for Berlin in 1751, at a time when Voltaire was in the zenith of favour at the court of Frederick. It is not impossible that he may have contrasted with pique his own position at Copenhagen, which he had probably quitted in disgust with that of his illustrious countryman at Sans Sonci. The frame of mind in which he published the verses that roused the ire of the vainest and most irritable of a proverbially touchy tribe, could not have been of the best. In "Mes Pensees," he wonders at the excessive recompense bestowed by the king on the poet; but, adds he, German monarchs indulge in strange whims; some fancy buffoons, others dwarfs, and Frederick likes the gambols of Voltaire. The king who, while he appeared to honour the French philosopher, took a strange delight in seeing his weaknesses practised upon, could not, however, pass over an allusion not complimentary to himself, and the offender found it necessary to leave Berlin for Paris. Madame de Pompadour reigned supreme at Versailles, and Voltaire was in high favour with one who could make and unmake ministers; and on the 24th April, 1753, Beaumelle was, by virtue of a lettre de cachet, shut up in the bastile. Deprived of writing materials, he contrived with a needle to scratch on a pewter dish a birthday ode and a portion of a tragedy. When liberated in the follow-
