Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1865 edition. Excerpt: ...harbour of a fast sailing vessel, bringing a letter from Charles I., assuring the citizens of his continued support: and that he was preparing a fleet, and armament which would at once insure the concession of their liberties. Delays, however, arose, of which the French government knew how to profit. Throughout the winter of 1627, and the first months of the following year, the siege was carried on with wonderful vigour. The king remained in camp until the 9th of February, 1628; when, feeling indisposed, he returned to Paris, leaving Richelieu sole commander-in-chief, with the power of life and death over every person engaged in the siege. Aware that the Rochellois could never be subdued while their city was open to the approach of an English fleet, Richelieu commenced that wonderful work, the mole and fortification which close the harbour of La Rochelle. Two French engineers, Louis Metezeau, a townsman of 'Dreux, and Jean Tiriot, were the designers of the work, which was carried on under the inspection of the Cardinal; whose courage, and the Capuchin father, Joseph de Tremblay. The Cardinal lived in a lone house known as Le Pout de la Pierre, situated a stone's cast from the beach. There the Cardinal and "his shadow" worked, plotted, pondered, and sustained each other during the blockade: they sketched imaginary schemes for the glory, and the political government of France, which, impossible as these designs then appeared, the matchless genius of these two men realised under the fostering growth of King Louis' inaptitude for affairs of state; his ever wavering health; and the suspicions which poisoned his existence. perseverance were sustained by his able counsellor ' Bassompierre, Journal de ma Vie; Siege de La...