John-Antony Nicholas Cartat, marquis of, a French writer, and political character of considerable eminence, descended from an ancient family from the principality of Orange, and born at Ribemont in Picardy, in 1743. He received his education at the college of Navarre, where he was distinguished at an early period of life for his strong attachment to the study of physics and mathematics. On his entrance into public life, he established a friendly intercourse with Voltaire, D'Alembert, and other literary characters, who professed opinions analogous to his own, and formed a very powerful party among the French literati, whose united efforts to propagate their ideas of religion and politics, have been applauded or condemned, according to the principles of their different judges. Condorcet first attracted the attention of the public as a mathematician, obtaining their approbation for his treatise on integral calculations, which he composed at the age of 22. In the year 1767, his solution of the problem of the Three Bodies made its appearance, and in the following year the first part of his "Essays on Analysis." In the year 1769 he was received a member of the Academy of Sciences, the memoirs of which were greatly enriched by him with different papers on the most abstruse branches of mathematical science. His justly merited reputation pointed him out as a fit person to co-operate with D'Alembert and Buffon, in afflicting M. Turgot, that celebrated minister and able financier, with arithmetical calculations. In the mean time he laboured indefatigably in the study of politics and metaphysics, and defended, in an anonymous publication, the feet of philosophers to which he had attached himself, from Condorcet, an attack made upon them in the Trois Siecles; and replied to M. Necker's essay on Corn Laws. He was appointed secretary to the Academy of Sciences in the year 1773, when he employed much of his time in writing eulogies on such of its deceased members as Fontenelle had passed over in silence. Like D'Alembert and some others, Condorcet having united in himself the characters of an elegant writer and a man of profound research, was admitted into the French academy in 1793, when he pronounced an oration on the influence of philosophy, which was ordered to be printed. From the time of D'Alembert's death, which happened this year, he filled the station of secretary to that academy, rendering his name conspicuous by the publication of eulogies on different eminent characters. His panegyric on D'Alembert, to whom he was most sincerely attached, is a very elaborate performance, notwithstanding of which it is esteemed by judges as a candid account of the genuine merits of that great philosopher. His encomium bestowed on that very able mathematician Euler, furnished him with a favourable opportunity of giving a circumstantial account of the specific improvements and inventions conferred on a peculiar branch of science by the labours of an individual; a talent in a biographical writer which Condorcet appears to have possessed in an eminent degree. His eulogy on the minister Turgot was read with avidity, and admired by all those who approved of Turgot's plans of government and system of finance. In the year 1787 he gave the public his "Life of Voltaire," which was highly elaborate, and replete with lofty panegyric, on the merits of which mankind were consequently much divided, according to their sentiments of that author's philosophy. The last of his biographical works was an eulogy on the celebrated Dr Franklin, published in 1799, all of which will be read with some degree of prejudice by those who are insensible to the school of philosophy to which he belonged.

The memorable event of the French revolution, which the writings of Condorcet and his associates unquestionably accelerated, naturally interested his feelings, and called forth his exertions. But the conduct of the political parties and their leaders, during this tumultuous period, is painted in colours so diametrically opposite to each other, that a proper estimate of it is scarcely possible. In this part of Condorcet's life, therefore, we must confine ourselves to such facts as are universally acknowledged, leaving it to our readers to draw inferences for themselves.

At an early period he employed his talents to promote those reforms, (for such they appeared in his judgment) which were to pave the way to a new order of things. A work entitled La Bibliothèque de l'Homme Public, to contain an analysis of the writings of the most eminent politicians, was chiefly conducted by him, as was also a newspaper called La Chronique de Paris, filled with declamation against royalty. He had likewise a share in the Journal de Paris, a paper conducted on similar principles. About the time when the unfortunate king fled to Varennes he proposed a paper called Le Républicain, the obvious intention of which is clearly deducible from its title. He was an indefatigable member of the Jacobin club, and spoke frequently, though not forcibly, in it. He was chosen a representative for Paris when Condorcet, the constituent assembly was dissolved, and followed the general political course of the Brissotin party. A plan for public instruction was now to exercise his abilities, which he finished in two elaborate memoirs, allowed to contain some exalted and enlarged ideas, but perhaps rather extensive to be reduced to practice. He was likewise author of the manifesto addressed to the European powers by the people of France, on the approach of a war. He wrote a letter of expostulation to the king while he was president of the assembly, which some have considered as by far too severe, and destitute of that ceremony to which the sovereign was entitled. When the king was insulted by the populace at the Tuileries, in being offered the red cap, it is said that he vindicated their proceedings. We are also informed, that while he was degrading royalty in this manner, he was secretly soliciting the office of tutor to the dauphin; a proposition which the king utterly rejected, on account of his avowed infidelity. Attempts have been made to fix upon his character the most abominable ingratitude, by making him accessory to the murder of the duke de la Rochefoucault, to whom he was under the strongest obligations, and from whose family he had received a most accomplished wife with a fortune; but we sincerely hope that this calumny entirely originated from the malevolence of party spirit. When the trial of the king came to be agitated, Condorcet gave it as his opinion that he could not be brought to judgment in a legal manner; yet it must be confessed that his conduct in regard to the sentence, was rather of an ambiguous nature, and betrayed that timidity and want of resolution which formed the most prominent features of his political career. The judgment of Madame Roland concerning the moral constitution of this wonderful man has all the air of impartiality. "The genius of Condorcet," says that lady, "is equal to the comprehension of the greatest truths; but he has no other characteristic besides fear. It may be said of his understanding, combined with his person, that it is a fine essence absorbed in cotton. The timidity which forms the basis of his character, and which he displays even in company, does not result from his frame alone, but seems to be inherent in his soul, and his talents furnish him with no means of subduing it. Thus, after having deduced a principle or demonstrated a fact in the assembly, he would give a vote decidedly opposite, overawed by the thunder of the tribunes, armed with insults, and lavish of menaces. The properest place for him was the secretariatship of the academy. Such men should be employed to write, but never permitted to act." The Girondist party, after the execution of the king, employed him to frame a new constitution, the plan of which was presented to the convention, and obtained their approbation. It was not thus esteemed by the people at large; and it has, perhaps not without reason, been considered as "a mass of metaphysical absurdities." During the violent struggle between the Girondist and Mountain parties, Condorcet took no decided part with either, which seems to have been owing to the native timidity of his mind, and his abhorrence of the state of public affairs. He was not comprehended among the number of those who were sacrificed with their leader Brissot; but having employed his pen against the victorious par- Condorcet, he fell under the invincible displeasure of that inhuman, blood-thirsty tyrant Robespierre, who inflicted a decree of accusation against him in July, 1793. He found means to effect his escape from the arrest, and during nine months concealed himself in Paris. Dreading at length that the tyrant would order a domiciliary visit for the purpose of discovering the place of his retreat, he passed through the barriers without being taken notice of, and went to the house of a person in whom he could confide, on the plain of Mont-Rouge, who unfortunately for Condorcet was at that time in the metropolis. He was of consequence under the necessity of passing two dreary nights in the open fields, a melancholy prey to hunger and cold. On the third day he obtained an interview with his friend, who unhappily durst not venture to afford him shelter under his roof, so that he was once more compelled to wander in the fields. Worn out at length by hunger and fatigue, and life being no longer supportable without sustenance, he applied at a public house for an omelette, which he devoured with greediness. His cadaverous appearance and uncommonly keen appetite, roused the suspicion of a municipal officer who happened to be present, and by whom he was interrogated. The ambiguity and hesitation which characterized his answers, made the officer conclude that it would be proper to apprehend him. He was accordingly confined to a dungeon, to be next day conducted to Paris, but his melancholy fate rendered such a measure unnecessary. He was found dead in the morning; and as it was generally understood that he constantly carried with him a dose of poison, to this cause his melancholy exit was very properly ascribed. Thus terminated the career of Condorcet on the 28th of March, 1794, who for many years sustained a brilliant and honourable reputation in the republic of letters. His manners were complete with urbanity, and as well qualified to please in company as could be expected in a man who was conceived as destitute of a heart. He was certainly blest with domestic felicity, and had one daughter by his wife. Soon after his death appeared his "Sketch of a Historical Draught of the Progress of the Human mind," a methodical performance, and convincing the profoundest research, in which he strongly recommends his favourite idea of gradually bringing human nature to a state of perfection, by considering what man has been, now is, and may be. This treatise will no doubt be viewed by some as rather fanciful; but it is clearly the effort of a very superior genius, and must be peculiarly interesting to the feeling man, when it is known that it was composed while its author was in circumstances of danger and distress. The idea of man's progressive advancement towards perfection and happiness inspired him with consolation under his complicated misfortunes. Besides the works which we have enumerated in this sketch of his life, he published "Letters to the King of Prussia," with whom he kept up a correspondence, as well as with Catharine Empress of Russia. A treatise on calculation, and an elementary treatise on arithmetic, were left behind him in manuscript. Although he was an enemy to revealed religion, he was certainly a man of virtue and integrity; yet all his philosophy could never inspire him with that heroic fortitude and contempt of death in just cause, for which the sincere votaries of Christianity have ever been conspicuous.