Montesquieu

“ Letter 55 It was a rule of good society. "Most men understand that they should say very little about their wives; but few know that they should talk still less about themselves."--LA ROCHEFOUCAULD. Letter 60 Voltaire, in his article on the Jews in the “Philosophical Dictionary,” has reproduced this idea of Montesquieu’s without acknowledging it. Abu Bekr, father-in-law of Mohammed, was proclaimed Caliph on the death of the prophet, in 632. According to the Persians, this nomination was a usurpation of the rights of Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Mohammed. ”

“ Letter 7 In Persia the women are confined much more closely than among the Turks or Indians.-- (M.) Letter 8 The two Gemmadis, or Gemalis, are the fifth and sixth months of the Persian year. Gemal-i-ul-awal is the first of these. Letter 9 This is the only letter to Ibbi, and there is only one from him, the XXXIX. He must not be confounded with Ibben, to whom many letters are addressed. Revers in the original. M. Laboulaye asserts that Montesquieu is the only writer who uses revers in the sense of revanche ”

“ Letter 113 Some countries were, in Montesquieu’s time, and are now, less populous than in their earlier history; but that the modern world contains fewer people than the antique one, is an assertion for which there is no proof. In one sense true, as Cæsar’s Gaul was covered with forests. Letter 114 Mercury. Letter 120 The heaven of the Chinese. Letter 121 By an edict of Henry II., in 1556. Letter 122 History proves the contrary. Montesquieu did not foresee the "Negro question." ”