The abbé de Sade, who so freely expatiates on the history of the 14th century, might treat, as his proper subject, a revolution in which the heart of Petrarch was so deeply engaged (Memoires, tom. ii. p. 50, 51, 320-417, notes, p. 70-76, tom. iii. p. 221-243, 366-375). Not an idea or a fact in the writings of Petrarch has probably escaped him.