ng a brilliant wit, fond to excess of
amusements, delighting in play, and flattered by every one, he gave up
his time almost entirely to pleasure. A prominent member of the
Legislature for many years, he had identified himself with the history
of the State, as had his ancestor before him. He was the youngest
member of the convention which formed the first Constitution of the
State, and was the last survivor of that memorable body. Soon after
succeeding to his fortune, and when he was by far the wealthiest man
in the State, Louis Philippe, the fugitive son of Louis Egalite, Duke
of Orleans, came to New Orleans, an exile from his native land, after
his father had perished by the guillotine. Marigny received him, and
entertained him as a prince. He gave him splendid apartments in his
house, with a suite of servants to attend him, and, opening his purse
to him, bade him take _ad libitum_. For some years he remained his
guest, indeed until he deemed it necessary to leave, and when he went,
was furnished with ample means. Long years after, when fortune had
abandoned the fortunate, and was smiling upon the unfortunate--when
the exile was a monarch, and his friend and benefactor was needy and
poor--when Louis Philippe was king of France and the wealthiest man in
Europe, they met again. Their circumstances were reversed. Marigny was
old and destitute. The monarch waited to be importuned, though
apprised of his benefactor's necessities and dependence, and answered
his appeal with a snuff-box, and the poor old man learned that there
was truth in the maxim, "Put not your trust in princes."

Wasteful habits, and the want of economy in every branch of his
business, wrought for him what it must for every one--"ruin." During
the discussion in the Legislature upon the bill dividing the city into
municipalities, Marigny, then a member, exerted himself against the
bill. He viewed it as the destruction of the property of the ancient
population in value, and their consequent impoverishment, and threw
much of his wit and satire at those who were its prominent supporters.
Among them was Thomas Green Davidson, a distinguished member of
Congress, (still living, and long may he live!) Robert Hale, and
myself. Ridicule was Marigny's _forte_. Upon the meeting of the House,
and before its organization for business, one morning, the writer, at
his desk, was approached by Alexander Barrow, a member--and who
afterward died a member of the United State