Choiseul et la France d'outre-mer après le traité de Paris. Etude sur la politique coloniale au XVIIIe siècle. Avec un appendice sur les origines de la question de Terre Neuve.

Paris, Hachette, 1892. xvi, 352 pp. 8vo. Sewn, original printed covers, uncut. Du Peloux 76. Original edition. Etienne-François de Choiseul (1719-1785), French statesman. He gained the protection of Madame de Pompadour and was given the appointment of ambassador to Rome in 1753, where he was entrusted with the negociations concerning the disturbances called forth by the bull Unigenitus. He acquitted himself skilfully in his task and in 1757 he was transferred to Vienna, where he was instructed to cement the new alliance between France and Austria. His succes in this mission opened the way to even higher offices and in 1758 he became minister of foreign affairs and directed French foreign policy during the Seven Years' War. He continued to control the policy of France untill 1770, holding most of the other important offices of state in that period. Coming to power in the midst of the demoralization consequent upon the defeats of Rossbach and Crefeld, by boldness and energy he reformed and strengthened both army and navy, and although too late to prevent the loss of Canada and India, he developed French colonies in the Antilles and San Domingo, and added Corsica and Lorraine to the crown of France. His management of home affairs in general satisfied the philosophes, he allowed the Encyclopédie to be published, and brought about the banishment of the Jesuits and temporary abolition of the order by Pope Clement IV.