[669] Villemain was then preparing his History of Gregory VII., a work which was celebrated before its appearance and fell into oblivion so soon as it had appeared, which was not until 1873, three years after the author's death.—B.
[670] Jacques Nicolas Augustin Thierry (1795-1856), a noted French historian. In 1826, he became completely broken down in health, and was left blind and paralyzed. The remainder of his work was done through the medium of secretaries. With their help he published his Dix ans d'études historiques (1834), his Récits des temps mérovingiens (1840), and an Essai sur l'histoire de la formation et du progrès du tiers-état ( 1853). His famous Histoire de la conquête de l'Angleterre par les Normands had been published in 1825.—T.
[671] Thanks to God, M. Thierry has been restored to life and has resumed his fine and important work with renewed strength; he works at night, but like the chrysalis:
La nymphe s'enferme avec joie
Dans ce tombeau d'or et de soie
Qui la dérobe à tous les yeux.
—Author's Note.
"The nymph herself doth gladly hide
That tomb of gold and silk inside
Which conceals her from every eye."—T.
[672] The Russians took Varna on the 11th of October 1828.—B.
[673] Giovanni Torlonia, Duca di Bracciano (d. 1829), the famous Roman banker, created Duca di Bracciano and a Roman prince, in 1809, by Pope Pius VII.—T.
[674] The Treaty of Unkiar-Skelessi was signed between Russia and Turkey on the 8th of June 1833 and was a treaty of defensive and offensive alliance concluded for eight years. A secret clause eventually closed the Dardanelles to the European Powers, while leaving both that passage and the Bosphorus open to Russia and Russia alone.—B.
[675] Mehemet Ali, Viceroy of Egypt (circa 1769-1849), appointed Governor of Egypt in 1805, massacred the Mamelukes in 1811; conquered Nubia, Sennaar, and Kordofan (1820-1822); assisted the Turks in the War of Greek Independence (1827); conquered Syria (1831-1832); defeated Turkey (1839); and was obliged to give up Syria in 1841. From then until 1847, when he lost his reason, he devoted himself to the improvement of his vice-realm.—T.
[676] The Treaty of London, signed on the 6th of July 1827, by which England, France and Russia agreed to compel Turkey and Greece to accept their mediation with a view to restoring peace in the East. The offer of mediation was rejected by Turkey, with the result that armed intervention ensued.—T.