The absence of scientific method, unfortunately, detracts from the value of this otherwise excellent production, which, as a sequel to Roscoe's works, attracted no little attention.
The swarm of apologies for the Borgias called forth in France one of the most wonderful books to which history has ever given birth.

Ollivier, a Dominican, published, in 1870, the first part of a work entitled _Le Pape Alexandre VI et les Borgia_.

This production is the fantastic antithesis of Victor Hugo's drama.

For, while the latter distorted history for the purpose of producing a moral monster for stage effect, the former did exactly the same thing, intending to create the very opposite.

Monks, however, now are no longer able to compel the world to accept their fables as history, and Ollivier's absurd romance was renounced even by the strongest organs of the Church; first by Matagne, in the _Revue des questions historiques_, Paris, April, 1871, and January, 1872, and subsequently by the _Civilta Cattolica_, the organ of the Jesuits, in an article dated March 15, 1873, whose author made no effort to defend Alexander's character, simply because, in the light of absolutely authentic historical documents, it was no longer possible to save it.
This article was based upon the _Saggio di Albero Genealogico e di Memorie su la familia Borgia specialmente in relazione a Ferrara_, by L.
N.Cittadella, director of the public library of that city, published in Turin in 1872.