Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 02.djvu/735

BEAUHARNAIS. BEAUHARNAIS, Horte.xse EuGfixiE. See Bonaparte.

BEAULIEU, b6'lye', Jean Pierre (1725- ISIO). An Austrian general, born at Namur. He entered the army in 1743, served in the Seven Years' War, being present at BrcsUiu and Leu then, and in 1789 took an active part in the sup- pression of the Belgian insurrection. As major- general he increased his military reputation by liis gallant services in the campaigns against the French in Belgium. In 17911 he was appointed conunander of the forces in Italy, but after the defeat by Bonaparte at Lodi he relinquished the command to Wurmser.

BEAUMANOIR, bfi'ma'nwiir'. Sir Lucas de. The head of the Knights Templars in Scott's Ivanhoe, who arraigns Rebecca for sorcery.

BEAUMANOIR, bu'ma'nwar', Philippe de EliMi, Sire de (c. 1250-90). A French jurist and poet. From 1279-82 he was iailli at Clermont, and from 129.3 to his death at Senlis. His chief work, Coutiiines de Beauvoisis, is highlj' com- mended by Jlontesquieu. It is the masterpiece of mediii'val judicial literature: the main source of knowledge, not only of old French law, but of the society of the Thirteenth Century. The best edition is that of Beugnot (1842). Among his poems, the "JIanekine," "Jehan et Blonde," and a "Salut d'amour" are the most noteworthy.

BEAUMARCHAIS, bd'miir'sha'. A name assumed by Pierre Augustin Caron (1732-99), the most important French dramatist of the Eighteenth Century, though he wrote but two really successful pla3's, Le harbier de Semite (1775) and Le Mariage de Fujaro (1784). He was born in Paris, the son of a watchmaker, and was educated to his father's trade. He early developed a marked taste for music and sufli- cient proficiency to become music-master to the daughters of Louis XV. He turned this posi- tion to good account in speculations. In 17t)4 he made a journey to Spain to protect or vindi- cate his sister, who had been abandoned by her betrothed, Clavigo. His account of this mission in Ills Mcnioirea suggested the drama Cliivifio to Goethe. He brought from Madrid a knowledge of things Spanish that was later of much use to him. He now turned to the drama, wrote Eugenie (1767), a fairly successful domestic drama, and Les deux amis, a decided failure in the pathetic vein. Meantime he had become en- gaged in financial speculations that led to law- suits, and these led to a series of Jlemoires, appeals to the public that are among the most vigorous, audacious, clever, and witty jiolemics in literatiire. Their attack on judicial injvistiee gave them a universal interest. They were eager- ly read, and deepened the discontent, with the existing state of society that was to culminate in the Revolution. Beaumarchais thus became a political personality. He was confidentially employed by Louis XV. and later by Louis XVI., but before this he had snatched a sensational dramatic triumph out of failure by rearranging a comic opera into a five-act comedy — his Burhier de HcviUc (1775), Spanish in scene, but essen- tially French at the heart ; the most famous comedy of the century, save only its sequel from the same hand. It is simple, lively, ingenious, effective, and it contains one of the strongest- drawn characters of dramatic literature — Figaro, an incarnation of the new democracy.

Beaumarchais now engaged in furnishing the American revolted colonists with supplies, and acquired a pecuniary claim against the United States that remained long unsettled. His rest- less spirit also projected a complete edition of Voltaire, and he prepared a sequel to the Barbier, Le mariage de Figaro, so daringly democratic and revolutionary that it received the advertise- ment of a prohibition which so whetted public curiosity that when at last it was licensed, three persons were crushed to death in seeking en- trance to the National Theatre (Thfatre Fran- Cais, 1784). Here the wit is keener, the action swifter, the social satire more mordant than in the Barbier. Figaro, the light-hearted, ver- satile, shrewd scapegrace, was furnishing a social solvent that would disintegrate society and in- vite the Revolution. Beaumarchais had prob- ably no more serious purpose than delight in his own wit. "He wished to fire a squib and he ex- ploded the magazine." These comedies mark, in dialogue, construction, and intrigue, the high- water mark of the century. If they err, it is in the monotony of their brilliancy. The tradition of their unparalleled success gave models to Hugo and Dumas and inspired the operas of Rossini and Mozart. Beaumarchais did noth- ing more of significance. An opera libretto, Tarare (1777), is a trifle. A heavy melodrama. La mere roupable (1790), vainly seeks to recall Figaro. Then Beaumarchais fled from the Terror to Holland. He returned in 1796, and left at death a comfortable fortune that he had nuinaged to save from the wreck of the Revolution. Beau- marchais's works are edited by Gudin (7 vols., 1809), by Furne (6 vols., 1827), and by Moland (1874). Consult also Lomenie, Beaumarehaia et son temps, 4th ed. (trans, by Edwards, Lon- don, 1850) : Lintilhae, Beaumarehais et ses ceiivres (Paris, 1887); Gudin de la Brenellerie, Histoire de Beaumarchais (ed. Tourneaux, Paris, 1880) ; Lescure, Eloge de Beaumarchais (Paris, 1887) ; Bonnefon, Elude sur Beaumarchais (Paris, 1887) ; and Hallays, Beaumarehaia (Paris. 1897).

BEAUMARIS, bo-nnlr'Is (Fr. heau marais, beautiful marsh). A seaport and chief town of the Island of Anglesey, North Wales, on the west side of the picturesque bay of Beaumaris, near the north entrance to the Menai Strait, 3 miles north of Bangor, and 239 miles northwest of London (Map: Wales, B 3). It is a modest little watering-place, with excellent sea-bathing. It has picturesque covered ruins of an ancient castle, one of the three ( Conway and Carnarvon being the other two) castles in Wales built by Henry de Elreton. the famous architect of Edward I. Population; in 1891, 2200; in 1901, 2300. Beaumaris is in steamship communication with Liverpool.

BEAUMONT, bo-mont'. A city and county-seat of Jefferson County, Tex., 83 miles east by north of Houston, on the Neches River and on the Texas and New Orleans, the Gulf, Beaumont and Kansas City, the Sabine and East Houston, and other railroads (Map: Texas, G 4). The accessibility of vast forests has contributed materially to the city's development as one of the greatest lumber centres of the South, the transportation facilities afforded by the railroads being augmented by the water route through Sabine Pass. Shingles, live stock, hides, and ice