第68章
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  Takingthewatersatleast,andamusinghimself。FromBrunswick,inpassing,hehadbroughtwithhimhisBrother—in—lawthereigningDuke;Rothenburgwasthere,andBrotherHenri;D’Argetexpressly;

  Flute—playerQuanzwithal,andvariousmusicalpeople:\"inall,atrainofabovesixtypersons。\"InoticealsothatPrinceWilhelmofHessenwasinPyrmontatthetime。Withwhom,onefancies,whatspeculationstheremightbe:AboutthelateandpresentWar—

  passages,aboutthepoorPeaceProspects;yourHessian\"Siege\"socalled\"ofBlairinAthol\"(CULLODENnowcomfortablydone),andothercognatetopics。ThatisthePyrmontJourney。

  Itisnosurprisetoustohear,inthesemonths,ofnewandcontinualattentiontoArmymatters,toHusbandrymatters;andtomakinggood,onallsides,theruinsleftbyWar。Ofrebuilding(attheroyalexpense)\"thetownofSchmiedeberg,whichhadbeenburnt;\"ofrebuilding,andrepairingfromtheirdamage,allSilesianvillagesanddwellings;andstillmoresatisfactory,How,\"inMay,1746,therewas,ineveryCircleoftheCountry,byexactliquidationofAccounts[sorapidlygotdone],exactpaymentmadetotheindividualsconcerned,1。ofallthehay,strawandcornthathadbeendeliveredtohisMajesty’sArmies;2。ofallthehorsesthathadperishedintheKing’swork;3。ofallthehorsesstolenbytheEnemy,andofallthemoney—contributionsexactedbytheEnemy:paymentinreadycash,andaccordingtotherulesofjustice(BAARUNDBILLIGMASSIG),byhisMajesty。\"[Seyfarth,ii。

  22,23。]

  ItwasfromPyrmont,May,1746,——ormoredefinitely,itwas\"atPotsdamearlyinthemorning,15thSeptember,\"following,——thatFriedrichlaunched,orshotforthfromitsmoorings,aftermuchpreviousattemptingandpreparing,averygreatEnterprise;

  whichhehasneverlostsightofsincethedayhebeganreigning,norwilltillhisreignandlifeend:theactualReformofLawinPrussia。\"May12th,1746,\"Friedrich,ontheroadtoPyrmont,answershisChiefLaw—MinisterCocceji’sREPORTOFPRACTICALPLAN

  onthismatter:\"Yes;looksveryhopeful!\"——andtookitwithhimtoconsideratPyrmont,duringhisleisure。Muchconsideringofit,thenandafterwards,therewas。Andfinally,September15th,earlyinthemorning,CoccejihadanInterviewwithFriedrich;andthedecisivefiatwasgiven:\"Yes;startonit,inGod’sname!

  Pommern,whichtheycallthePROVINCIALITIGIOSA;tryittherefirst!\"[Ranke,ii。392。]AndCocceji,avigorousoldmanofsixty—

  seven,oneofthemostlearnedofLawyers,andaveryHerculesincleaningLaw—Stables,has,onFriedrich’surgencies,——whichhavebeenrepeatedoneverybreathing—timeofPeacetherehasbeen,andevensometimesinthemiddleofWar(lastJanuary,1745,forexample;andagain,expressOrder,January,1746,afortnightafterPeacewassigned),——actuallygothimselfgirtforthissalutarywork。\"Washmeoutthathorrorofaccumulation,letusseetheoldPavementsoftheplaceagain。EveryLawsuittobefinishedwithintheYear!\"

  Cocceji,whohadbeenmeditatingsuchmattersforagreatwhile,[\"1stMarch,1738,\"FriedrichWilhelm’s\"Edict\"onLawReform:

  Coccejiready,atthattime;——buthisthenMajestyforbore。]andwashimselfeagertoproceed,inspiteofconsiderablewiggedoppositionsandsecretreluctancesthattherewere,didnow,onthatfiatofSeptember15th,gethisSelectCommissionofSixriddledtogetherandadjoinedtohim,——thelikeliestSixthatPrussia,inherdifferentProvinces,couldyield;——andgottheSTANDEofPommern,afterduecommitteeinganddeliberating,toconsentandpromisehelp。December31st,1746,wasthedaytheSTANDEconsented:andJanuary10th,1747,CoccejiandhisSixsetoutforPommern。OnalongishEnterprise,inthatProvinceandtheothers;——ofwhichweshallhavetotakenotice,andgiveatleastthedatesastheyoccur。

  TosweepoutpettifoggingAttorneys,cancelimproperAdvocates,toregulateFees;towar,inacalmbutdeadlymanner,againstpedantries,circumlocutionsandthemultipliedformsofstupidity,cupidityandhumanowleryinthisdepartment;——and,onthewhole,torealizefromeveryCourt,nowandonwards,\"AdecisiontoallLawsuitswithinaYearaftertheirbeginning。\"Thislatterresult,Friedrichthinks,willitselfbehighlybeneficial;andbethesignofallmannerofimprovements。AndCocceji,scanningitwiththosepotentlaw—eyesofhis,venturestoassurehimthatitwillbepossible。As,infact,itproved;——honortoCoccejiandhisKing,andKing’sFatherwithal。\"SamuelvonCocceji[saysanoldNote],sonofaLawProfessor,andhimselfoncesuch,——waspickedupbyFriedrichWilhelm,fortheOfficialcareer,manyyearsago。Amanofwholesome,bynomeansweaklyaspect,——tojudgebyhisPortrait,whichisthechief’Biography’Ihaveofhim。Potenteyesandeyebrows,dittobluntnose;honest,almostcarelesslips,anddeepchinwelldewlapped:extensivepenetrativeface,notpinceredtogether,butpotentlyfallenclosed;——comfortabletosee,inawigofsuchmagnitude。Friedrich,ajudgeofmen,callshim’amanofsterlingcharacter(CARACTEREINTEGREETDROIT),whosequalitieswouldhavesuitedthenobletimesoftheRomanRepublic。’\"

  [OEuvres,iv。2。]HehashisHerculeanbattle,hisMasterandhehave,withtheOwleriesandthevulturousLaw—Pedantries,——whichIalwaysloveFriedrichfordetestingashedoes:——and,duringthenextfiveyears,theworldwillhearoftenofCocceji,andofthisPrussianLaw—ReformbyFriedrichandhim。

  HisMajesty’sexertionstomakePeacewerenotsuccessful;

  whatdoeslieinhispoweris,tokeepoutofthequarrelhimself。

  Itappearsgreathopeswereentertained,bysomeinEngland,ofgainingFriedrichover;ofmakinghimSupremeCaptaintotheCauseofLiberty。Andprospectswereheldouttohim,quasi—offersmade,ofareallymagnificentnature,——undeniable,thoughobscure。

  HerrRankehasbeenamongtheArchivesagain;andcomesoutwithfractionalsnatchesofaverystrange\"PaperfromEngland;\"

  capriciouslyhidingalldetailsaboutit,allintelligibleexplanation:sothatyouinvainask,\"Where,When,How,Bywhom?\"

  ——andcanonlyguesstoyourselfthatCarteretwassomehowatthebottomofthething;AUTCARTERETUSAUTDIABOLUS。\"WhatwouldyourMajestythinktobeelectedStadtholderofHolland?WithoutaStadtholder,theseDutchareworthnothing;nothoistable,norofusewhenhoisted,allpalaveringandpullingdifferentways。

  MusthaveaStadtholder;andonethatstandsfirmonsomebasisofhisown。StadtholderofHolland,KingofPrussia,——youthen,insuchposition,takethereinsofthispoorflounderingEnglish—

  DutchGermanicAnti—FrenchWar,you;anddriveitinthestyleyouhave。ConquerbacktheNetherlandstous;FrenchNetherlandsaswell。FrenchandAustrianNetherlandstogether,yoursinperpetuity;DutchStadtholderateasgoodasditto:this,withPrussiaanditsfightingcapabilities,willbeapleasantProtestantthing。AustriacareslittleabouttheNetherlands,incomparison。Austria,gettingbackitsLorraineandAlsace,willbecontent,willbestrongonitsfeet。WhatifitshouldevenloseItaly?France,Spain,Sardinia,theItalianPettyPrincipalitiesandAnarchies:supposetheytugandtussle,andcollapsethereastheycan?ButletFrancetrytolookacrosstheRhineagain;andtothreatenTeutschland,England,andtheCauseofHumanLibertytemporalorspiritual!\"

  ThisisauthenticallythepurportofHerrRanke’sextraordinaryDocument;[Ranke,iii。359。]guessableasduetoCARTERETUSorDIABOLUS。Hereisanoutlook;hereisacareerasConqueringHero,ifthatwereone’sline!Averymagnificentground—plan;hunguptokindlethefancyofayoungKing,——whoisfartooprudenttogointoitatall。Moredefinitequasi—officialoffers,itseems,weremadehimfromthesamequarter:Subsidiestobeginwith,suchsubsidiesasnobodyeverhadbefore;say1,000,000poundssterlingbytheYear。TowhichFriedrichanswered,\"Subsidies,yourExcellency?\"(AreWeaHackney—Coachman,then?)——and,withmuchcontempt,turnedhisbackonthatoffer。Nofightingtobehad,bypurchaseorseduction,outofthisyoungman。WillnotplaytheConqueringHeroatall,northeHackney—Coachmanatall;

  hasdecided\"nottofightacat\"ifletalone;buttodoandendeavoraquiteothersetofthings,fortherestofhislife。

  Friedrich,readerscanobserve,isnotupliftedwithhisgreatness。

  Hehasbeentoomuchbeatenandbruisedtobeanythingbutmodestlythankfulforgettingoutofsuchadeadlyclashofchaoticswords。

  Seemstohavelittleprideeveninhis\"FiveVictories;\"orhidesitwell。Talksnotovermuchaboutthesethings;talksofthem,sofaraswecanhear,withhisoldcomradesonly,inpraiseofTHEIR

  prowesses;asasimplehumanbeing,notasasupremeofcaptains;

  andattimesacknowledges,inafinesincereway,theomnipotenceofLuckinmattersofWar。

  Oneofthemostcharacteristictraits,extensivelysymbolicalofFriedrich’sintentionsandoutlooksatthisEpoch,ishisinstallingofhimselfinthelittleDwelling—House,whichhassincebecomesocelebratedunderthenameofSans—Souci。TheplanofSans—Souci——anelegantcommodiouslittle\"CountryBox,\"quiteofmodestpretensions,onestoryhigh;onthepleasantHill—topnearPotsdam,withotherlittlegreenHills,andpleasantviewsoflandandwater,allround——hadbeensketchedinpartbyFriedrichhimself;andthediggingsandterracingsoftheHill—sidewerejustbeginning,whenhequittedfortheLastWar。\"April14th,1745,\"

  whilehelayinthoseperilousenigmaticcircumstancesatNeissewithPandoursanddevouringbugbearsroundhim,\"thefoundation—

  stonewaslaid\"(Knobelsdorfbeingarchitect,oncemore,asintheoldReinsbergcase):andthework,whichhadbeensteadilyproceedingwhiletheMasterstruggledinthosedangerousbattlesandadventuresfarawayfromit,wasingoodforwardnessathisreturn。Anobjectofcheerfulinteresttohim;propheticofcalmeryearsahead。

  ItwasnottillMay,1747,thattheformaloccupationtookplace:

  \"Mayday,1747,\"hehadagrandHouse—heating,or\"FirstDinner,of200covers:andMay19th—20thwasthefirstnightofhissleepingthere。\"ForthenextFortyYears,especiallyasyearsadvanced,hespentthemostofhisdaysandnightsinthislittleMansion;

  whichbecamemoreandmorehisfavoriteretreat,wheneverthenoisesandscenicetiquetteswerenotinexorable。\"SANS—SOUCI;\"

  whichwemaytranslate\"No—Bother。\"Abusyplacethistoo,butofthequietkind;andmoreahometohimthananyoftheThreefinePalaces(ultimatelyFour),whichlayalwayswaitingforhimintheneighborhood。BerlinandCharlottenburgareabouttwentymilesoff;

  Potsdam,which,liketheothertwo,isratherconsummateamongPalaces,liesleftwiseinfrontofhimwithinashortmile。Andatlength,toRIGHThand,inasimilardistanceanddirection,camethe\"NEUESCHLOSS\"(NewPalaceofPotsdam),calledalsothe\"PALACE

  ofSans—Souci,\"indistinctionfromtheDwelling—House,orasitwereGarden—House,whichmadethatnamesofamous。

  CertainlyitisasignificantfeatureofFriedrich;anddisclosestheinbornproclivityhehadtoretirement,tostudyandreflection,asthechosenelementofhumanlife。WhyhefelluponsoambitiousatitleforhisRoyalCottage?\"No—Bother\"wasnotpracticallyathinghe,ofallmen,couldconsiderpossibleinthisworld:attheutmostperhaps,bygoodcare,\"LESS—Bother\"!

  Thename,itappears,camebyaccident。HehadpreparedhisTomb,andvariousTombs,intheskirtsofthisnewCottage:lookingatthese,asthebuildingofthemwenton,hewasheardtosay,oneday(Spring1746),D’Argensstrollingbesidehim:\"OUI,ALORSJE

  SERAISANSSOUCI(OnceTHERE,onewillbeoutofbother)!\"Asayingwhichwasrumoredof,andrepeatedinsociety,beingbysuchaman。

  Outofwhichrumorinsociety,andtheevidentaimoftheCottageRoyal,therewasgraduallyborn,asVenusfromthefrothofthesea,thisname,\"Sans—Souci;\"——whichFriedrichadopted;and,beforetheYearwasout,hadputuponhislintelingoldletters。Sothat,by\"Mayday,1747,\"thenamewasinallmen’smemories;andhascontinuedeversince。[Preuss,i。268,&c。;Nicolai,iii。1200。]

  TouristsknowthisCottageRoyal:Friedrich’s\"ThreeRoomsinit;

  oneofthemaLibrary;inanother,alittleAlcovewithanironBed\"(iron,withoutcurtains;oldsoftenedHATtheusualroyalnightcap)——altogetherasoldier’slodging:——allthisstillstandsasitdid。Cheerfullylookingdownonitsgarden—terraces,stairs,Greekstatues,andagainstthefreesky:——perhapswemayvisititintimecoming,andtakeamorespecialview。IntheYearsnowonhand,Friedrich,Ithink,didnotmuchpracticallylivethere,onlyshiftedthithernowandthen。HischiefresidenceisstillPotsdamPalace;andinCarnivaltime,thatofBerlin;withCharlottenburgforoccasionalfestivities,especiallyinsummer,thegardenstherebeingfine。

  ThisofSans—SouciisbutportionofawiderTendency,widersetofendeavorsonFriedrich’spart,whichreturnsuponhimnowthatPeacehasreturned:ThatofimprovinghisownDomesticities,whilehelaborsatsomanypublicimprovements。Gazinglongonthatsimmering\"TyphoonofMarine—stores\"abovementioned,wedotraceThreegreatHeadsofEndeavorinthisPeacePeriod。FIRST,theReformofLaw;which,asabovehinted,isnowearnestlypushedforwardagain,andwasbroughttowhatwasthoughtcompletionbeforelong。Withmuchrumorofapplausefromcontemporarymankind。

  Concerningwhichwearetogivesomeindications,wereitonlydatesintheirorder:though,astheaffairturnedoutnottobecompleted,buthadtobetakenupagainlongafter,andisanaffairlyingwideofBritishken,——thereneednot,andindeedcannot,bemuchsaidofitjustnow。SECONDLY,thereiseagerFurtheringoftheHusbandries,theCommerces,PracticalArts,——

  especiallyatpresent,thatofForeignCommerce,andShippingfromthePortofEmbden。Whichshallhaveduenotice。AndTHIRDLY,whatmustbeourmaintopichere,thereisthatofImprovingtheDomesticities,theHouseholdEnjoymentssuchastheywere;——

  especiallydefinableasRenewaloftheoldReinsbergProgram;

  attemptmorestrenuousthanevertorealizethatbeautifulideal。

  Which,andthetotalfailureofwhich,andtheconsequentquasi—

  abandonmentofitfortimecoming,arestill,intrinsicallyandbyaccident,ofconsiderableinteresttomodernreaders。

  Curious,andinsomesorttouching,toobservehowthatoldoriginalLife—Programstillre—emergesonthisKing:\"Somethingofmelodiouspossibleinone’spoorlife,isnotthere?ALifetothePracticalDuties,yes;buttotheMusesaswell!\"——OfFriedrich’ssuccessinhisLaw—Reforms,inhisHusbandries,CommercesandFurtherances,conspicuouslygreatasitwas,thereisnopossibilityofmakingcarelessreaderscognizantatthisday。

  Onlybythegreatresults——a\"PrussiaQUADRUPLED\"inhistime,andthelike——canstudiousreadersconvincethemselves,inacoldandmerelystatisticway。ButinrespectofLifetotheMuses,wehavehappilythemeansofshowingthatinactualvitality;inpracticalstruggletowardsfulfillment,——andhowextremelydisappointingtheresultwas。Inaword,VoltairepayshisFifthandfinalVisitinthisPeriod;theVoltairemattercomestoitsconsummation。Tothat,astooneofthefewthingswhichareperfectlyknowableinthisPeriodofTEN—YEARSPEACE,andinwhichmankindstilltakeinterest,wepurposemostlytodevoteourselveshere。

  TenyearsofagreatKing’slife,tenbusyyearstoo;andnothingvisibleinthem,ofmainsignificance,butacrashofAuthor’sQuarrels,andtheCrowningVisitofVoltaire?Trulyyes,reader;

  soithasbeenordered。Innumerablehigh—dressedgentlemen,godsofthislowerworld,aregonealltoinorganicpowder,nocomfortableorprofitablememorytobeheldofthemmore;andthispoorVoltaire,withoutimplementexceptthetongueandbrainofhim,——heisstillashiningobjecttoallthepopulations;andtheysayandsymboltome,\"Tellusofhim!Heistheman!\"Verystrangeindeed。

  Changedtimessince,fordogsbarkingattheheelsofhim,andlionsroaringahead,——forAssesofMirepoix,forfoulcreaturesinhighdizenment,andfoulcreatureswhowerehungryvaletsofthesame,——thismancouldhardlygetthehighwayswalked!Andindeedhadtokeephiseyeswellopen,andalwayshavecovertwithinreach,——underpainofbeingtorntopieces,whilehewentaboutintheflesh,orratherinthebones,poorleanbeing。Changedtimes;

  withintheCenturylastpast!Forindeedtherewasinthatmanwhatfartranscendsalldizenment,andtemporarypotencyovervalets,overlegions,treasure—vaultsanddimmillionsmostlyblockhead:

  asparkofHeaven’sownlucency,agleamfromtheEternities(insmallmeasure);——whichbecomesextremelynoticeablewhentheDanceisover,whenyourtallow—dipsandwax—lightsareburntout,andthebrawlofthenightisgonetobed。

  ChapterII。

  PEEPATVOLTAIREANDHISDIVINEEMILIE(BYCANDLELIGHT)

  INTHETIDEOFEVENTS。

  PublicEuropeanaffairsrequirelittleremembrance;theWarburningwelltoleewardofushenceforth。Ahugeworldofsmokychaos;thespecialfiresofit,iftherebeanythingoffire,areallthemoreclearfarinthedistance。Ofwhichsort,andofwhichonly,thereaderistohavenotice。MarechaldeSaxe——KingLouisoftenestpersonallythere,togivehisnameandcountenancetothingsdone——isverygloriousintheNetherlands;captures,sometimesbysurprisal,placeafterplace(beautifulsurprisalofBrusselslastwinter);withsiegesofAntwerp,Mons,Charleroi,victoriouslyfollowinguponBrussels:and,beforetheendof1746,heiscloseuponHollanditself;intentonhavingNamurandMaestricht;

  forwhichthepoorSea—Powers,withahandfulofAustrians,fighttwoBattles,andareagainbeatenbothtimes。[1。BattleofRoucoux,11thOctober,1746;PrinceKarlcommanding,Englishtakingmainlythestressoffight;——SaxehavingalreadyoutwittedpoorKarl,andgotNamur。2。BattleofLawfelt,orLauffeld,calledalsoofVAL,2dJuly,1747;RoyalHighnessofCumberlandcommanding(andtakingmostofthestress;Ligoniermadeprisoner,&c。),——Dutchfightingill,andBathyaniandhisAustrianshardlyinthefireatall。]Aglorious,ever—victoriousMarechal;andhasanArmyvery\"high—toned,\"inmorethanonesense:indeed,Ithink,oneoftheloudest—tonedArmieseveronthefieldbefore。Loudnotwithwell—

  servedArtilleryalone,butwithplay—actorThunder—barrels(alwaysanitinerantTheatreattends),withgasconadingtalk,withorgies,debaucheries,——busyserviceoftheDevil,ANDpleasantconsciousnessthatweareHeaven’smasterpiece,andareinperfectreadinesstodieatanymoment;——ourELASTICITYandagility(\"ELAN\"

  aswecallit)wellkeptup,inthatmanner,forthetimebeing。

  HungarianMajesty,contrarytohope,neglectstheNetherlands,\"HollandandEngland,fortheirownsake,willmanagethere!\"——anddirectsallherresources,andherlatelyAnti—PrussianArmies(GeneralBrowneleadingthem)uponItaly,asuponthegrandinterestnow。LittletothecomfortoftheSea—Powers。

  ButHungarianMajestyisdecidedtocutinupontheFrenchandSpaniards,inthatfineCountry,——whohadbeentriumphingtoomuchoflate;MailleboisandSenordeGagesdoingtheirmutualexploits(thoughgiventoquarrel);DonPhilipwinteringinMilaneven(1745—1746);andtheKingofSardiniagettingintoFrenchcoursesagain。

  StrongcutsherHungarianMajestydoesinflict,ontheItalianside;tumblesInfantPhilipoutofMilanandhisCarnivalgayeties,inplentyofhurry;besiegesGenoa,MarquisBottad’Adorno(ouroldacquaintanceBotta)hersiege—captain,anativeofthisregion;

  bringsbackthewaveringSardinianMajesty;capturesGenoa,andmuchelse。CapturesGenoa,wesay,——hadnotBottabeentoorigorousonhiscountrymen,andprovokedarevoltagain,RevoltofGenoa,whichproveddifficulttosettle。Infine,HungarianMajestyhas,inthecourseofthisyear1746,withaidofthereconfirmedSardinianMajesty,satisfactorilybeatentheFrenchandSpaniards。

  Has——aftertwomurderousBattlesgainedovertheMaillebois—Gagespeople——drivenbothFrenchandSpaniardsintocorners,MailleboisaltogetherhomeagainacrosstheVar;——nayhasdescendedinactualInvasionuponFranceitself。And,beforeNew—year’sday,1747,GeneralBrowneisbusybesiegingAntibes,aidedbyEnglishSeventy—

  fours;sothat\"sixtyFrenchBattalions\"havetohurryhome,fromwinter—quarters,towardsthoseProvencalCountries;andMarechaldeBelleisle,whocommandsthere,hashishandsfull。TriumphantenoughherHungarianMajesty,inItaly;whileintheNetherlands,thepoorSea—PowershavemetwithnoencouragementfromtheFatesorher。[\"BattleofPiacenza\"(PrinceLichtenstein,withwhomisBrowne,VERSUSGagesandMaillebois),16thJune,1746(ADELUNG,v。427);\"BattleofRottofreddo\"(BottachiefAustrianthere,andouroldfriendBarenklaugettingkilledthere),12thAugust,1746

  (IB。462);whereupon,7thSEPTEMBER,Genoa(whichhaddeclareditselfAnti—Austrianlatterly,notwithoutcause,andbroughtthetugofWarintothoseparts)iscoercedbyBottatoopenitsgates,ongrievousterms(IB。484—489);sothat,NOVEMBER30th,Browne,noBourbonArmynowonthefield,entersProvence(crossestheVar,thatday),andtriesAntibes:5th—11thDECEMBER,PopularRevoltinGenoa,andExpulsionofproudBottaandhisAustrians(IB。518—523);uponwhichsurprisingevent(whichcouldnotbemendedduringtheremainderoftheWar),Browne’senterprisebecameimpossible。SeeBuonamici,HistoiredeladerniereRevolutiondeGenes;Adelung,v。516;vi。31,&c。&c。]

  Allwhichthereadermaykeepimaginingathisconvenience;——butwillbegladrather,forthepresent,togowithusforanactuallookatM。deVoltaireandthedivineEmilie,whomwehavenotseenforalongtime。Notmuchhashappenedintheinterim;oneortwothingsonlywhichitcanconcernustoknow;——scatteredfragmentsofmemorial,onthewaythusfar:——

  1。M。DEVOLTAIREHAS,IN1745,MADEWAYATCOURT。DivineEmiliepickedupherVoltairefromthatfineDiplomaticcourse,andwenthomewithhimoutofoursight,intheendof1743;theDiplomaticcareergraduallydeclaringitselfbarredtohimthenceforth。

  Sincewhich,nevertheless,hehashadhissuccessesotherwise,especiallyinhisoldLiterarycourse:onthewhole,brightersunshinethanusual,thoughneverwithouttempestuouscloudsattending。Goesabout,withhisdivineEmilie,nowwearingbrownerandleaner,bothofthem;andtakesthegoodandeviloflife,mostlyinaquietmanner;sensiblethatafternooniscome。

  Thethrice—famousPompadour,whohadbeenknowntohimintheChrysalisstate,didnotforgethimonbecomingHead—ButterflyoftheUniverse。Byherhelp,onelongwishofhissoulwasgratified,anddidnothungerorthirstanymore。SomeuncertainfootingatCourt,namely,wasatlengthvouchsafedhim:——uncertain;fortheMostChristianMajestyalwaysrathershudderedunderthosecarbuncleeyes,underthatvoice\"sombreandmajestious,\"withsuchturnslyinginit:——someuncertainfootingatCourt;andfromthebeginningof1745,hisluck,intheCourtspheres,begantomountinawonderfulandworld—evidentmanner。Ongroundstragicallysilly,ashethoughtthem。OntheDauphin’sWedding,——aTermagant’sInfantacominghitherasDauphiness,atthistime,——thereneededtobeCourt—shows,Dramaticules,Transparencies,FeastsofLanterns,orIknownotwhat。Voltairewasthechosenman;VoltaireandRameau(readershaveheardofRAMEAU’SNEPHEW,andmusicalreadersstillesteemRameau)didtheirfeat;wemaythinkwithwhatperfection,withwhatsplendorofreward。Alas,andthefeatdonewas,tooneoftheparties,sounspeakablycontemptible!

  VoltairepensivelysurveyingLife,brushesthesoundingstrings;

  andhumstohimself,thecarbuncleeyescarryinginthemalmostsomethingofwet:——

  \"MONHenriQuatreETMAZaire,ETMONAMERICAINAlzire,NEM’ONTVALUJAMAISUNSEULREGARDDUROI;

  J’AVAISMILLEENNEMISAVECTRESPEUDEGLOIRE:

  LESHONNEURSETLESBIENSPLEUVENTENFINSURMOI

  POURUNFARCEDELAFOIRE。\"

  [\"MyHENRIQUATRE,myZAIRE,myALZIRE[highworksverymany],couldneverpurchasemeasingleglanceoftheKing;Ihadmultitudesofenemies,andverylittlefame:——honorsandrichesrainonme,atlast,foraFarceoftheFair\"(OEuvres,ii。151)。

  The\"Farce\"(whichbynomeansCALLEDitselfsuch)wasPRINCESSEDE

  NAVARRE(OEuvres,lxxiii。251):firstacted23dFebruary,1745,DayoftheWedding。GentlemanshipoftheChamberthereupon(whichVoltaire,bypermission,sold,shortlyafter,for2,500pounds,withtitlesretained),andappointmentasHistoriographerRoyal。PoorDauphinessdidnotlivelong;LouisXVI。’sMotherwasaSECONDWife,Saxon—PolishMajesty’sDaughter。]

  Yes,myfriend;itisaconsiderableass,thisworld;bynomeansthePerfectlyWiseputatthetopofit(asonecouldwish),andthePerfectlyFoolishatthebottom。Witness——nay,witnessPsychePompadourherself,isnotsheanemblem!Takeyourluckwithoutcriticism;luckgoodandbadvisitsall。

  2。ANDGOTINTOTHEACADEMYNEXTYEAR,INCONSEQUENCE。In1746,theAcademyitself,Pompadourfavoring,ismadewilling;VoltaireseeshimselfamongtheForty:soul,onthatsidetoo,beatease,andhungernotnorthirstanymore。[\"May9th,1746,VoltaireisreceivedattheAcademy;andmakesaveryfineDiscourse\"(BARBIER,ii。488)。OEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxiii。355,385,andi。97。]ThishighestoffelicitiescouldnotbeachievedwithoutanuglyaccompanimentfromthesurroundingPopulace。

  Desfontainesisdead,safedowninSodom;butwantsnotforasuccessor,forawholeDoggeryofsuch。Whoareallawake,andgivingtongueonthisoccasion。ThereisM。Roithe\"Poet,\"ashewasthenreckoned;jinglingRoi,whoconcoctssatiricalcalumnies;

  whocollectsoldones,reprintsthesame,——andsendsTravenol,anOpera—Fiddler,tovendthem。FromwhichsprangaLawsuit,PROCES—

  TRAVENOL,offamousmelancholysort。AsVoltairehadratherthehabitofsuchsadmelancholyLawsuits,wewillpauseonthisofTravenolforamoment:——

  3。SUMMARYOFTRAVENOLLAWSUIT。\"Monday,9thMay,1746,wastheDayorreceptionattheAcademy;receptionandfruition,thrice—savorytoVoltaire。ButwhatanexplosionoftheDoggeries,before,duringandafterthatevent!Voltairehadtriedtobeprudent,too。HehadbeencorrespondingwithPopes,withCardinals;and,inafinefrank—lookingway,capturingtheirsuffrages:——notbylying,whichingeneralhewishestoavoid,butbyspeakinghalfthetruth;

  inshort,byadvancing,inadexterous,diplomaticway,theunclovenfoot,inthoseVaticanprecincts。AndhadgottheHolyFather’sownsuffrageforMAHOMET(thinkofthat,youAssofMirepoix!),amongothercasesthatmightrise。WhenthisseatamongtheFortyfellvacant,hisveryfirstmeasure——markit,Orthodoxreader——wasaLettertotheChiefJesuit,FatherLatour,Headofone’soldCollegeofLouisleGrand。ALetteroffinefilialtenor:

  ’MyexcellentoldSchoolmasters,towhomIoweeverything;

  therepresentativesoflearning,ofdecorum,offrugalityandmodesthumanvirtue:——inwhatcontrasttotheobscureDoggeriespoachingaboutinthestreet—gutters,andflyingatthepeaceablepassenger!’[InVoltairiana,ouElogesAmphigouriques,&c。(Paris,1748),i。150—160,theLETTERitself,\"Paris,7thFebruary,1746;\"omitted(withoutneedorrealcauseonanyside)inthecommonCollectionsofOEuvresdeVoltaire。]WhichcaptivatedFatherLatour;andmadematterssmoothonthatside;sothateventheANCIENDEMIREPOIX

  saidnothing,thistime:Whatcouldhesay?Noclovenfootvisible,andtheAuthoritiesstrong。

  \"VoltairehadstartedasCandidatewiththesejudiciouspreliminaries。Voltairewaselected,aswesaw;fineDiscourse,9thMay;andontheOfficialsideallthingscomfortable。But,inthemeanwhile,theDoggeries,asnatural,seeingthethingnowlikely,hadrisentoanever—imaginedpitch;andhadfilledParis,and,toVoltaire’sexcruciatedsense,theUniverse,withtheirhowlingsandtheirhyena—laughter,withtheirpasquils,satires,oldandnew。SothatVoltairecouldnotstandit;and,inevilhour,rusheddownstairsuponthem;seizedonepoordog,Travenol,unknowntohimasFiddlerorotherwise;pinionedDogTravenol,withpincers,bytheears,himforone;——properPolice—pincers,forwearenowwellatCourt;——andhadamomentaryjoy!And,alas,thiswasnottherightdog;this,wesay,wasTravenolaFiddlerattheOpera,who,exceptthestreet—noises,knewnothingofVoltaire;

  muchlesshadtheleastpiqueathim;buthadtakentohawkingcertainPasquils(JinglerRoi’sCOLLECTION,itappears),toturnadesirablepennybythem。

  \"AndmistakesweremadeintheAffairTravenol,——oldFATHER

  Travenolhaledtoprison,insteadofSon,——bytheLieutenantofPoliceandhispeople。AndVoltairetookthehigh—handmethod(beingwellatCourt):——andthereuponhungryAdvocatestookupDogTravenolandhispinceredears:’SereneJudgesoftheChatelet,MostChristianPopulaceofParis,didyoueverseeaDogsopinceredbyanAcademicalGentlemanbefore,merelyforbeinghungry?’AndVoltaire,gettingmadderandmadder,appealedtotheAcademy(whichwouldnotinterfere);filedCriminalInformations;

  appealedtotheChatelet,totheCourtsaboveandtotheCourtsbelow;and,foralmostayear,therewentonthe’PROCES—TRAVENOL:’

  [AboutMayday,1746,SeizureofTravenol;PleadingsareinvigorAugust,1746;notdoneApril,1747。InVoltairiana,ii。141—206,Pleadings,&c。,copiouslygiven;andmostoftheoriginalLibels,indifferentpartsofthatsadBook(compiledbyTravenol’sAdvocate,averysadfellowhimself):seealsoOEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxiii。355n。,385n。;

  IB。i。97;BARBIER,ii。487。Allinaveryjumbled,dateless,vagueandincorrectcondition。]OlympianJoveindistressedcircumstancesVERSUSahungryDogwhohadeatendirtypuddings。Paris,inallitsSaloonsandLiteraryCoffee—houses(figuretheANTREDEPROCOPE,onPublicationnights!),had,monthlyorso,theexquisitemalignbanquet;andgrinnedovertheLawPleadings:whatMagazineSerialofourdaycanbesointerestingtotheemptiestmind!

  \"Lasted,Ifind,foraboveayear。FromSpring,1746,tilltowardsAutumn,1747:Voltaire’sfeelingsbeing——Haha,soexquisite,allthewhile!——Well,reader,Icanjudgehowamusingitwastohighandlow。AndyetPhoebusApollogoingaboutasmereCowherdofAdmetus,andexposedtoamusethepopulacebyhisduelswithdogsthathavebittenhim?ItiscertainVoltairewasafool,nottobemorecautiousofgettingintogutter—quarrels;nottohaveathickerskin,infact。\"

  PROCES—TRAVENOLescortingone’sTriumphalEntry;whatanadjunct!

  Alwaysso:alwaysinyourutmostradianceofsunshineashadow;

  andinyoursoftestoutburstofLydianorSpheralsymphoniessomethingofeatingCare!Thentoo,intheCourt—circleitself,\"isTrajanpleased,\"orareallthingswell?Readershaveheardofthat\"TRAJANEST—ILCONTENT?\"ItoccurredWinter,1745(27thNovember,1745,adateworthmarking),whilethingswerestillintheflushofearlyhope。Thatevening,ourTEMPLEDELAGLOIRE(TempleofGlory)hadjustbeenactedforthefirsttime,inhonorofhimwemaycall\"Trajan,\"returningfroma\"FontenoyandSevenCitiescaptured:\"[Sevenofthem;oreveneightofakind:Tournay,Ghent,Bruges,Nieuport,Dendermond,Ath,Ostend;andnothinglostbutCapeBretonandone’sCodfishery。]——

  \"Reviens,divinTrajan,vainqueurdouxetterrible;

  Lemondeestmonrival,touslescoeurssontatoi;

  Maisest—iluncoeurplussensible,Etquit’adoreplusquemoi?\"

  [TEMPLEDELAGLOIRE,Acteiv。(OEuvres,

  xii。328)。]

  \"Return,divineTrajan,conquerorsweetandterrible;

  Theworldismyrival,allheartsarethine;

  Butisthereaheartmoreloving,OrthatadorestheemorethanI?\"

  AnallegoricDramaticPiece;naturallyveryadmirableatVersailles。IssuingradiantfromFalloftheCurtain,VoltairehadthefartherhonortoseehisMajestypassout;MajestyescortedbyRichelieu,one’soldfriendinasense:\"IsTrajanpleased?\"

  whisperedVoltairetohisRichelieu;overheardbyTrajan,——whoansweredinwordsnothing,butinavisibleglanceoftheeyesdidanswer,\"ImpertinentLackey!\"——Trajanbeingamanunreadywithspeech;anddislikingtroublewiththepeoplewhomhepaidforkeepinghisbootsinpolish。OmywingedVoltaire,towhatdunghillBubbly—Jocks(COQSD’INDE)youdostoopwithhomage,constrainedbytheirappearanceofmeresize!——

  EvidentlynoperfectfootingatCourt,afterall。AndthenthePompadour,couldshe,Head—ButterflyoftheUniverse,beananchorthatwouldhold,ifgalesrose?Rathersheisherselfsomewhatofagale,ofacontinualliabilitytogales;unstableasthewind!

  Voltairedidhisbesttobeuseful,asCourtPoet,asdirectorofPrivateTheatricals;——aboveall,tosoothe,toflatterPompadour;

  andneverneglectedthisevidentduty。But,bydegrees,theenviousLackey—peoplemadecabals;turnedtheDivineButterflyintocomparativeindifferenceforVoltaire;intopreferenceofaCrebillon’spoorfadedPieces:\"Suitablerthese,Madame,forthePrivateTheatricalsofaMostChristianMajesty。\"Thinkwhatastab;cruelerthandaggersthroughone’sheart:\"Crebillon?\"

  M。deVoltairesaidnothing;lookednothing,inthosesacredcircles;andneverceasedoutwardlyhisworship,andassiduoustuning,ofthePompadour:buthefelt——asonlyPhoebusApollointhelikecasecan!\"Away!\"growledhetohimself,whenthisatrocityhadculminated。And,ineffect,is,sincetheendof1746

  orso,prettymuchwithdrawnfromtheVersaillesOlympus;andhasset,privatelyinthedistance(nowatCirey,nowatParis,inourPETITPALAISthere),withhiswholewillandfire,todoCrebillon’sdeadDramasintolivingouesofhisown。DeadCATILINA

  ofCrebillonintoROMESAUVEEofVoltaire,andtheothersamplesofdeadintoliving,——thatstupidoldCrebillonhimselfandthewholeUniversemayjudge,andevenPompadourfeelaremorse!——Readersshallfancythesethings;andthattheworldiscomingbacktoitsoldpoordrabcolorwithM。deVoltaire;hisdivineEmilieandherubbingalongontheoldconfusedterms。Oneface—to—facepeepofthemreadersshallnowhave;andthatistobeenough,ormorethanenough:——

  VOLTAIREANDTHEDIVINEEMILIEAPPEARSUDDENLY,ONENIGHT,ATSCEAUX。

  AboutthemiddleofAugust,1747,KingFriedrich,Ifind,wasathome;——notinhisnewSANS—SOUCIbyanymeans,butrunningtoandfro;busywithhisMusterings,\"grandreview,andmimicattackonBornstadt,nearBerlin;\"INVALIDEN—HAUS(MilitaryHospital)gettingbuilt;SilesianReviewsjustahead;and,forthepresent,muchfestivityandmovingabout,toCharlottenburg,toBerlinandthedifferentPalaces;Wilhelmina,\"August15th,\"havingcometoseehim;ofwhichfinevisit,especiallyofWilhelmina’sthoughtsonit,——whyhavetheenviousFatesleftusnothing!

  WhileallthisisastirinBerlinandneighborhood,thereis,amongtheinnumerableothervisitsinthisworld,onegoingonnearParis,intheMansionorPalaceofSceaux,whichhasbychancebecomememorable。AvisitbyVoltaireandhisdivineEmilie,directfromParis,Isuppose,andratheronthesudden。WhichhashadthelucktohaveaLETTERwrittenonit,byoneofthoserarecreatures,aseeingWitness,whocanmakeothersseeandbelieve。

  TheseeingWitnessislittleMadamedeStaal(bynomeansNecker’sDaughter,butamuchcleverer),knownasoneofthesharpestfemaleheads;shefromthespotreportsittoMadameduDeffand,whoalsoisknowntoreaders。Thereissuchaglimpseaffordedhereintotheactualityofoldthingsandremarkablehumancreatures,thatFriedrichhimselfwouldbehappytoreadtheLetter。

  DuchesseduMaine,LadyofSceaux,isasublimeoldpersonage,withwhomandwithwhosehighwaysandmagnificenthospitalitiesatSceaux,atAnetandelsewhere,Voltairehadbeenfamiliarforlongyearspast。[InOEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxiii。

  434n,x。8,&c。,\"Clog。\"andothersrepresentTHISVisitashavingbeentoAnet,——thoughtherecordotherwiseisexpress。]

  ThisDuchess,grand—daughterofthegreatConde,nowadowagerfortenyears,andherselfturnedofseventy,hasbeenanotablefigureinFrenchHistorythisgreatwhile:alivingfragmentofLouisleGrand,asitwere。WasweddedtoLouis’s\"Legitimated\"

  Illegitimate,theDucduMaine;wasintroublewiththeRegentd’OrleansaboutAlberoni—Cellamareconspiracies(1718),Regenthavingstriptherlmsbandofhishighlegitimaturesanddignities,withlittleceremony;whichledhertoconspireagooddeal,atonetime。[DUCDUMAINEwithCOMTEDETOULOUSEwereproductsofLouisXIV。andMadamedeMontespan:——\"legitimated\"byPapa’sfiatin1673,whilestillonlyyoungchildren;DISlegitimatedagainbyRegentd’Orleans,autumn,1718;grandscene,\"guardsdrawnout\"andthelike,onthisoccasion(BARBIER,i。8—11,ii。181);futileConspiracieswithAlberonithereupon;arrestofDuchessandDuke(29thDecember,1718),andclosureofthatpoorbusiness。DucduMainedied1736;Toulousenextyear;ages,eachaboutsixty—five。

  \"DucdePenthievre,\"Egalite’sfather—in—law,wasToulouse’sson;

  MainehasleftafamousDowager,whomwesee。Nothingmoreofnotableabouttheoneortheother。]Shewasneververybeautiful;

  buthadaworldofgraceandwittyintelligence;andknewaVoltairewhenshesawhim。Wasthesoulofcourtesyandbenignity,thoughproudenough,andcarryingherheadatitsdueheight;

  andwasalwaysverycharming,inherloftygraciousway,tomankind。Interestingtoall,wereitonlyasalivingfragmentoftheGrandEpoch,——kindofFrenchFulnessofTime,whentheworldwasatlengthblessedwithaLouisQuatorze,andNe—plus—ultraofaGentlemandeterminedtodothehandsomethinginthisworld。Sheismuchfrequentedbyhighpeople,especiallyifofaLiteraryorHistoricalturn。PresidentHenault(oftheABREGECHRONOLOGIQUE,thewell—frilled,accuratelypowdered,mostcorrectoldlegalgentleman)isoneofheradherents;Voltaireisanother,thatmaystandformany:thereisanoldMarquisdeSt。Aulaire,whomshecalls\"MONVIEUXBERGER(myoldshepherd,\"thatistosay,sweetheartorflameoflove);[BARBIER,ii。87;seeib。(i。8—11;

  ii。181,436;&c。)formanynoticesofheraffairsandher。]thereisamostlearnedPresidentdeMesmes,andotherswehaveheardof,butdonotwishtoknow。LittleDeStaalwasatonetimethisfineDuchess’smaid;buthasfaroutgrownallthat,afavoriteguestoftheDuchess’sinstead;holdsnowmainlybyMadameduDeffand(notyetfallenblind),——andiswellturnedoffifty,andknownforoneoftheshrewdestlittlesoulsintheworld,atthetimeshewrites。

  HerLetterisaddressed\"TOMADAMEDUDEFFAND,atParis;\"mostfree—flowingfemaleLetter;ofmanypages,runson,dayafterday,forafortnightorso;——onlyExcerptsofitintroduciblehere:——

  \"SCEAUX,TUESDAY,15thAUGUST,1747……MadameduChateletandVoltaire,whohadannouncedthemselvesasforto—day,andwhomnobodyhadheardofotherwise,madetheirappearanceyesternight,nearmidnight;liketwoSpectres,withanodorofembalmmentaboutthem,asifjustoutoftheirtombs。Wewererisingfromtable;

  theSpectres,however,werehungryones:theyneededsupper;

  andwhatismore,beds,whichwerenotready。TheHousekeeper(CONCIERGE),whohadgonetobed,roseingreathaste。

  Gaya[amiablegentleman,conceivable,notknown],whohadofferedhisapartmentforpressingcases,wasobligedtoyielditinthisemergency:heflittedwithasmuchprecipitationanddispleasureasanarmysurprisedinitscamp;leavingapartofhisbaggageintheenemy’shands。Voltairethoughtthelodgingexcellent,butthatdidnotatallconsoleGaya。

  \"AstotheLady,herbedturnsoutnottohavebeenwellmade;

  theyhavehadtoputherinanewplaceto—day。Observe,shemadethatbedherself,noservantsbeingup,andhadfoundablemishorDEFAUTof\"——wordwanting:whoknowswhat?——\"inthemattresses;

  whichIbelievehurtherexactmind,morethanhernotverydelicatebody。Shehasgot,intheinterim,anapartmentpromisedtosomebodyelse;andshewillhavetoleaveitagainonFridayorSaturday,andgointothatofMarechaldeMaillebois,wholeavesatthattime。\"

  ——Yes;Mailleboisinthebody,Oreader。Thisishe,withtheoldape—facerenewedbypaint,whomweoncesawmarchingwithan\"ArmyofRedemption,\"hagglinginthePassesaboutEger,unabletoredeemBelleisle;marchingandhaggling,morelately,witha\"Middle—RhineArmy,\"andthelikenon—effect;sincewhich,fightinghisbestinItaly,——pushedhomelastwinter,withBrowne’sbayonetsinhisback;BelleislesucceedinghimindealingwithBrowne。

  Belleisle,andthe\"RevoltofGenoa\"(fataltoBrowne’sInvasionofus),andtheDefenceofGenoaandthemutualworryingsthereabout,aregoingonatagreatrate,——andthereisterriblenewsoutofthoseSavoyPasses,whileMailleboisishere。Concerningwhichbyandby。HeisgrandsonoftherenownedColbert,thisMaillebois。

  AField—Marshalevidentlyextant,youperceive,inthosevanishedtimes:istomakeroomforMadameonFriday,saysourlittleDeStaal;andtakeleaveofus,——ifforgood,somuchthebetter!

  \"Hecameatthetimewedid,withhisdaughterandgrand—daughter:

  theoneispretty,theotheruglyanddreary[l’UNE,L’AUTRE;

  nosayingwhich,insuchimportantcase!MadamelaMarechale,themotherandgrandmother,Ithinkmustbedead。Notbeautifulshe,norverybenignant,\"UNETRES—MECHANTEFEMME,verycat—wittedwoman,\"saysBarbier;\"shriekedlikeadevil,atCourt,upontheCardinal,\"aboutthatoldARMY—OF—REDEMPTIONbusiness;butallhernoisedidnothing]。[Barbier,ii,332(\"November,1742\")。]——

  M。leMarechalhashuntedherewithhisdogs,inthesefineautumnwoodsandglades;chasedabitofastag,andcaughtapoordoe’sfawn:thatwasallthatcouldbegotthere。

  \"OurnewGuestswillmakebettersport:theyaregoingtohavetheirComedyactedagain[ComedyofTHEEXCHANGE,muchanentertainmentwiththem]:Vanture[conceivable,notknown]istodotheCountdeBoursoufle(DEBLISTERorDEWINDBAG);youwillnotsaythisisahit,anymorethanMadameduChatelet’sdoingtheHon。MissPiggery(LACOCHONNIERE),whooughttobefatandshort。\"

  [L’ECHANGE,TheExchange,orWHENSHALLIGETNARRIED?Farceinthreeacts:OEuvres,x。167—222;usedtobeplayedatCireyandelsewhere(seeplentyofdetailsuponit,exactornotquiteso,IB。7—9)。]——LittleDeStaalthenabruptlybreaksoff,toaskaboutherCorrespondent’shealth,andherCorrespondent’sfriendoldPresidentHenault’shealth;touchesonthose\"grumblingsanddiscordsintheArmy(TRACASSERIESDEL’ARMEE),\"whicharemakingsuchastir;howM。d’Argenson,ourfineWar—Minister,manoftalentamidblockheads,willmanagethem;andsuddenlyexclaims:

  \"Omyqueen,whatcuriousanimalsmenandwomenare!Ilaughattheirmanoeuvres,thedayswhenIhavesleptwell;ifIhavemissedsleep,Icouldkillthem。ThesechangesoftemperprovethatIdonotbreakoffkind。Letusmockotherpeople,andletotherpeoplemockus;itiswelldoneonbothsides。——[PoorlittleDeStaal:

  towhataposturehavethingscomewithyou,inthatfast—rottingEpoch,ofHypocrisiesbecomingallinsolvent!]

  \"WEDNESDAY,16th。OurGhostsdonotshowthemselvesbydaylight。

  Theyappearedyesterdayattenintheevening;Idonotthinkweshallseethemsoonerto—day:theoneisengagedinwritinghighfeats[SIECLEDELOUISXV。,orwhatatlastbecamesuch];theotherincommentingNewton。Theywillneitherplaynorwalk:theyare,infact,equivalenttoZEROSinasocietywheretheirlearnedwritingsareofnosignificance。——[Pauses,withoutnoticegiven:forsomehours,perhapsdays;thenresuming:]Nay,worsestill:

  theirapparitionto—nighthasproducedavehementdeclamationononeofourlittlesocialdiversionshere,thegameofCAVAGNOLE:

  [\"KindofBIRIBI,\"itwouldappear;intheheightoffashionthen。]

  itwascontinuedandmaintained,\"onthepartofMadameduChatelet,youguess,\"inatonewhichisaltogetherunheardofinthisplace;andwasendured,\"onthepartofSereneHighness,\"withamoderationnotlesssurprising。Butwhatisunendurableismybabble\"——Andherewithournimblelittlewomanhopsoffagainintothegeneralfieldofthings;andgossipslargely,Howareyou,myqueen,Whitherareyougoing,Whitherwe;ThattheMailleboispeopleareaway,andalsotheVilleneuves,ifanybodyknewthemnow;thenhowtheEstillacs,tothenumberoffour,arecomingto—morrow;andCousinSoquence,forallhishunting,cancatchnothing;anditisacontinualcomingandgoing;andhowBoursoufleistobeplayed,andaDameDufourisjustcome,whowilldoacharacter。Rubrics,vanishedShadows,nearlyallthosehighDamesandGentlemen;LAPAUVRESaint—Pierre,\"eatenwithgout,\"whoisshe?\"Stilldragsherselfabout,aswellasshecan;butnotwithme,forInevergobyland,andsheseemstohavethehydrophobia,whenItaketothewater。[Threadofdateisgone!IalmostthinkwemusthavegottoSaturdaybythistime:——orperhapsitisonlyThursday,andMailleboisoffprematurely,tobeoutofthewayoftheFarce?LittleDeStaaltakesnonotice;butcontinuesgossipingrapidly:]

  \"YesterdayMadameduChateletgotintoherthirdlodging:shecouldnotanylongerenduretheoneshehadchosen。Therewasnoiseinit,smokewithoutfire:——privatelymeseems,alittletheemblemofherself!Astonoise,itwasnotbynightthatitincommodedher,shetoldme,butbyday,whenshewasinthethickofherwork:

  itderangesherideas。SheisbusyreviewingherPRINCIPLES\"——

  NEWTON’SPRINCIPIA,nodoubt,butDeStaalwillunderstanditonlyasPRINCIPES,Principlesingeneral:——\"itisanexercisesherepeatseveryyear,withoutwhichthePrinciplesmightgetaway,andperhapsgosofarshewouldneverfindthemagain[Yousatiricallittlegypsy!]。Herhead,likeenough,isakindoflock—upforthem,ratherthanabirthplace,ornaturalhome:

  andthatisacaseforwatchingcarefullylesttheygetaway。

  Sheprefersthehighairofthisoccupationtoeverykindofamusement,andpersistsinnotshowingherselftillafterdark。

  Voltairehasproducedsomegallantverses[unknowntoEditors]

  whichhelpoffalittlethebadeffectofsuchunusualbehavior。

  \"SUNDAY,27th。ItoldyouonThursday[no,youdidn’t;youonlymeanttotell]thatourSpectresweregoingonthemorrow,andthatthePiecewastobeplayedthatevening:allthishasbeendone。

  IcannotgiveyoumuchofBoursoufle[donebyoneVanture]。

  MademoisellePiggery[DELACOCHONNIERE,MadameduChateletherself]executedsoperfectlytheextravaganceofherpart,thatI

  ownitgavemerealpleasure。ButVantureonlyputhisownfatuityintothecharacterofBoursoufle,whichwantedmore:heplayednaturallyinaPiecewhereallrequirestobeforced,likethesubjectofit。\"——WhatapitynoneofushasreadthisfineFarce!

  \"OneParisdidthepartofMUSCADIN(LittleCoxcomb),whichnamerepresentshischaracter:inshort,itcanbesaidtheFarcewaswellgiven。TheAuthorennobleditbyaProloguefortheOccasion;

  whichheactedverywell,alongwithMadameDufourasBARBE

  (GovernessBarbara),——who,butforthisbrilliantaction,couldnothaveputupwithmerelybeingGovernesstoPiggery。And,infact,shedisdainedthesimplicityofdresswhichherpartrequired;——asdidthechiefactress,\"DuChateletherself(agenowforty—one);

  \"who,inplayingPIGGERY,preferredtheinterestsofherownfacetothoseofthePiece,andmadeherentryinallthesplendorandelegantequipmentsofaCourtLady,\"——her\"PRINCIPLES,\"thoughthekeyisturneduponthem,notunlikejumpingoutofwindow,onewouldsay!\"Shehadacrowtopluck[MAILLEAPARTIR,\"clasptoopen,\"whichisbetter]withVoltaireonthispoint:butsheissovereign,andheisslave。Iamverysorryattheirgoing,thoughIwaswornoutwithdoinghermultifariouserrandsallthetimeshewashere。

  \"WEDNESDAY,30th。M。lePresident[Henault]hasbeenaskedhither;

  andheistobringyou,myQueen!TriedallIcouldtohinder;

  buttheywouldnotbeputoff。Ifyourhealthanddispositiondosuit,itwillbecharming。Inanycase,Ihavegotyouagoodapartment:itistheonethatMadameduChatelethadseizedupon,afteranexactreviewofalltheMansion。Therewillbealittlelessfurniturethanshehadputinit;Madamehadpillagedallherpreviousapartmentstoequipthisone。Wefoundaboutseventablesinit,foroneitem:sheneedsthemofallsizes;immense,tospreadoutherpapersupon;solid,tosupportherNECESSAIRE;

  slighter,forhernicknacks(POMPONS),forherjewels。AndthisfinearrangementdidnotsaveherfromanaccidentlikethatofPhilipII。,when,afterspendingallthenightinwriting,hegothisdespatchesdrownedbytheoversettingofanink—bottle。

  TheLadydidnotpretendtoimitatethemoderationofthatPrince;

  atanyrate,hewasonlywritingonaffairsofstate;andthethingtheyblotted,onthisoccasion,wasAlgebra,muchmoredifficulttocleanupagain。

  \"Thissubjectoughttobeexhausted:onewordmore,andthenitdoesend。Thedayaftertheirdeparture,IreceiveaLetteroffourpages,andaNoteenclosed,whichannouncesdreadfulburly—burly:

  M。deVoltairehasmislaidhisFarce,forgottentogetbacktheparts,andlosthisPrologue:Iamtofindallthatagain[excessivelytremulousabouthisManuscripts,M。deVoltaire;

  ofsuchvaluearethey,ofsuchdangertohim;thereisLAPUCELLE,forexample,——enoughtohangaman,wereitsurreptitiouslylaunchedforthinprint!]——IamtosendhimthePrologueinstantly,notbypost,becausetheywouldcopyit;tokeepthepartsforfearofthesameaccident,andtolockupthePiece’underahundredkeys。’Ishouldhavethoughtonepadlocksufficientforthistreasure!Ihavedulyexecutedhisorders。\"[MadamedeGraffigny(Paris,1820),pp。283—291。]

  AndherewithEXPLICITDESTAAL。Scenecloses:EXEUNTOMNES;areofftoParisorVersaillesagain;toLunevilleandtheCourtofStanislausagain,——wherealsoadventuresawaitthem,whichwillbeheardof!

  \"Figuretoyourself,\"sayssomeotherEye—witness,\"aleanLady,withbigarmsandlonglegs;smallhead,andcountenancelosingitselfinaclouderyofhead—dress;cockednose[RETROUSSE,sayyou?Veryslightly,then;quiteanunobjectionablenose!]andpairofsmallgreenisheyes;complexiontawny,andmouthtoobig:

  thiswasthedivineEmilie,whomVoltairecelebratestothestars。

  Loadedtoextravagancewithribbons,laces,face—patches,jewelsandfemaleornaments;determinedtobesumptuousinspiteofEconomics,andprettyinspiteofNature:\"Pooh,itisanenemy’shandthatpaints!\"Andthenbyherside,\"continueshe,\"thethinlongfigureofVoltaire,thatAnatomyofanApollo,affectingworshipofher,\"[FromRodenbeck(quotingsomebody,whomIhavesurelyseeninFrench;whomRodenbecktriestoname,ashecouldhavedone,butcuriouslywithoutsuccess),i。179。]——yes,thatthinlongGentleman,withhighred—heeledshoes,andthedaintiestpoliteattitudesandpaces;insuperfinecoat,lacedhatunderarm;

  noseandunder—lipevermorelikecoalescing(owingtodecayofteeth),buttwoeyesshiningonyoulikecarbuncles;andintheringingvoice,suchtouchesofspeechwhenyouapplyforit!

  ThustheyatSceauxandelsewhere;walkingtheirLife—minuet,makingtheirentrancesandexits。

  Onethingislamentable:therelationwithMadameisnotnowaflourishingone,orcapableagainofbeing:\"Doesnotlovemeashedid,thewretch!\"thinksMadamealways;——yetsticksbyhim,wereitbutintheformofblister。TheyhadbeentoLuneville,Spring,1747;happydullplace,withinreachofCirey;farfromVersaillesanditscabals。Theywentagain,1748,inakindofpermanentway;

  TitularStanislaus,anopulentdawdlingcreature,muchlikingtohavethem;andFatherMenou,hisJesuit,——whoisalwaysinquarrelwiththeTitularMistress,——thinkingtodisplaceHER(asyou,graduallydiscover),andpromotetheDuChatelettothatimproperdignity!Inwhichhehadnottheleastsuccess,saysVoltaire;

  butgot\"twowomenonhisearsinsteadofone。\"ItwasnottobeStanislaus’smistress;noraTITULARoneatall,butareal,thatMadamewasfatedinthisdullhappyplace!Idlereadersknowthestoryonlytoowell;——concerningwhich,admitthisotherFractionandnomore:——

  \"Stanislaus,asaTitularKing,cannotdowithoutsomekindofTitularArmy,——wereitonlytoblareaboutasLife—guard,andbeatkettle—drumsonoccasion。Acertaintallhigh—sniffingM。deSt。

  Lambert,ayoungLorraineroflongpedigreeandlightpurse,hadjusttakenrefugeinthisLife—guard[Summer1748,orso],IknownotwhetherasCaptainorLieutenant,justcomefromtheNetherlandsWars:ofgravestiffmanners;fortherest,agood—

  lookingyoungfellow;thoughttohavesomepoeticgenius,even;——

  whoisprecious,surely,insuchanout—of—the—wayplace。

  WelcometoVoltaire,toMadamestillmore。Alas,readersknowtheHistory,——onwhichwemustnotdwell。Madame,abrowngeometricLady,agenowforty—two,withaGreatManwhohasscandalouslyceasedtoloveher,castshereyeuponSt。Lambert:’Yes,youwouldbetheshoeing—horn,Monsieur,ifonehadtime,youfinefloridfellow,hardlyyetintoyourthirties——’Andtrieshimwithalittlecoquetry;Ialwaysthink,perhapsinthisviewchiefly?

  Andthen,atanyrate,asheresponded,thethingitselfbecamesointeresting:’OurUlysses—bow,wecanstillbendit,then,aha!

  ’Andisnotthataprettystagwithal,worthbringingdown;

  florid,justenteringhisthirties,andwiththesusceptibilitiesofgenius!Voltairewasnotblind,couldhehavehelpedit,——hadhebeentremulouslyalivetohelpit。’YourVersestoher,mySt。

  Lambert,——ah,Tibullusneverdidthelikeofthem。Yes,toyouaretheroses,myfineyoungfriend,tomearethethorns:’thussingsVoltaireinresponse;[OEuvres,xvii。223

  (EPITREAM。DEST。LAMBERT,1749);&c。&c。InMemoiressurVoltaireparLongchampetWagniere(Paris,1826),ii。229etseq。,detailsenoughandmore。]perhapsnotthinkingitwouldgosofar。Anditwent,——alas,itwenttoalllengths,mentionableandnotmentionable:andM。leMarquishadtobecoaxedhomeintheSpringof1749,——stillearlierithadbeensuitabler;——

  andinSeptemberensuing,M。deSt。Lambertlookinghisdemurest,thereisanimportantlying—intobetransacted!Newton’sPRINCIPIA

  is,bythattime,drawingdiligentlytoitsclose;——complicatedbysuchfarabstruserProblems,notofthegeometricsort!Poorlittleleanbrownwoman,whataLife,afterall;whatanEndofaLife!\"——

  WAR—PASSAGESIN1747。

  TheWar,sinceFriedrichgotoutofit,doesnotabateinanimosity,norwantforbloodshed,battleandsieging;butofferslittlenowmemorable。March18th,1747,aghastlyPhantasmofaCongress,\"CongressofBreda,\"whichhadforsomemonthsbeenattemptingPeace,andwasneverabletogetintoconference,orsitinitschairsexceptformoments,flewawayaltogether;

  [InSeptember,1746,hadgottogether;butwouldnottakelife,ontryingandagaintrying,andfellforgotten:February,1747,againgleamsupintohope:March18thandthefollowingdays,vanishesforgood(ADELUNG,v。50;vi。6,62)。]andlefttheWarperhapsangrierthanever,morehopelesslystupidthanever。

  Except,indeed,thatresourcesarefailing;moneyrunninglowinFrance,Parlementsbeginningtomurmur,andamongthePopulationgenerallyafeelingthatgloryisexcellent,butwillnotmakethenationalpotboil。PerhapsallthiswillbemoreeffectivethanCongressesofBreda?HerearethefewNotesworthgiving:

  APRIL23d—30th,1747,THEFRENCHINVADEHOLLAND;WHEREUPON,SUDDENLY,ASTADTHOLDERTHERE。\"AfterFontenoytherehasbeenmuchsiegingandcapturinginthatNetherlandsCountry,aseriesofsuccessesgloriouslydelightfultoMarechaldeSaxeandtheFrenchNation:likewise(inbarofsaidsieging,infutileattempttobarit)aBattleofRoucoux,October,1746;withvictory,orquasi—

  victory,toSaxe,atleastwithprostrationtotheoppositepart。

  Andfartheron,thereisaBattleofLauffeldcoming,2dJuly,1747;withsimilarresults;frustrationevident,retreatevident,victorynotmuchtospeakof。AndinthisgloriouslydelightfulmannerSaxeandtheFrenchNationhaveproceeded,tillinfacttheNetherlandsTerritorywithallstrongholds,exceptMaestrichtalone,wastheirs,——andtheydecidedonattackingtheDutchRepublicitself。And(17thApril,1747)actuallybrokeinuponthefrontierFortressesofZealand;foundthesamedry—rotteneverywhere;andtookthem,FortressafterFortress,attherateofacannonsalvoeach:’YemagnanimousDutch,seewhatyouhavegotbynotsittingstill,asrecommended!’TothehorrorandterrorofthepoorZealandersandgeneralDutchPopulation。WhoshriekedtoEnglandforhelp;——andwere,ontheveryinstant,furnishedwithamodicumofSeventy—fours(DutchCourierreturningbythesame);

  whichlandedtheCourierApril23d,andputWalchereninastateofsecurity。[Adelung,vi。105,125—134。]

  \"WhereupontheDutchPopulationturnedroundonitsGovernors,withagrowlofindignation,spreadingeverwider,waxingeverhigher:

  ’Scandalouslaggards,isthisyourmodeofgoverningafreeRepublic?FreedomtolettheStategotodry—rot,andbecomethelaughing—stockofmankind。ToprovideforyourownpaltrykindredintheState—employments;topalavergrandlywithallcomers;

  andpublishmelodiousDespatchesofVanHoey?HadnotBritannicMajesty,forhisdearDaughter’ssake,cometotherescueinthiscrisis,wherehadwebeen?WedemandaStadtholderagain;ourgloriousNassauOrange,tokeepsomebridleonyou!’Andactually,inthisway,PopulusandPlebs,bygeneralturningoutintothestreets,inagloomilyindignantmanner,whichthreatenstobecomevociferousanddangerous,——cowedtheHeadsoftheRepublicintochoosingthesaidPrince,withPrincessandFamily,asStadtholder,High—Admiral,High—EverythingandSupremeoftheRepublic。

  Hereditary,noless,andpunctuallyperpetual;PrincessandFamilytoshareinit。Inwhichhappystate(ripenedintoKingshiplatterly)theycontinuetothisday。AresultpainfullysurprisingtoMostChristianMajesty;gratifyingtoBritannicproportionately,ormore;——andindeedbeneficialtowardsabatingdry—rotandmelodiouspalaverinthatpoorLandoftheFree。Consummated,bypopularoutbreakofvociferation,inthedifferentProvinces,inaboutaweekfromApril23d,whenthosehelpfulSeventy—fourshoveinsight。Stadtholdershiphadbeeninabeyanceforforty—fiveyears。[SinceourDutchWilliam’sdeath,1702。]ThenewStadtholderdidhisbest;couldnot,intheshortlifegrantedhim,donearlyenough。——NextyeartherewasaSECONDDutchoutbreak,orgeneralturningintothestreets;ofmuchmoreviolentcharacter;inregardtoglaringlyunjustExcisesandTaxations,andto’instantdismissalofyourExcise—Farmers,’asthespecialfirstitem。

  [Adelung,vi。364etseq。;Raumer,182—193(\"March—September,1748\");or,inChesterfield’sWorks,

  Dayrolles’sLetterstoChesterfield:somewhatunintelligentandunintelligible,bothRaumerandhe。]Whichsalutaryobjectbeingaccomplished(newStadtholderwellaiding,inavaliantandjudiciousmanner),therehasnothirddoseofthatdangerousremedybeenneededsince。

  \"JULY19th,FATEOFCHEVALIERDEBELLEISLE。AttheFortressofExilles,inoneofthosePassesoftheSavoyAlps,——PassofColdiSieta,memorabletotheFrenchSoldiereversince,——thereoccurredalamentablething;\"doubtlessmuchtalkedofatSceauxwhileVoltairewasthere。\"TheRevoltofGenoa(popularoutburst,andexpulsionofourpoorfriendBottaandhisAustrians,thenafamousthing,andararerthannow)havingsuddenlyrecalledthevictoriousGeneralBrownefromhisSiegeofAntibesandInvasionofProvence,——MarechalDucdeBelleisle,wellreinforcedandnowbecome’ArmyofItaly’ingeneral,followedsteadfastlyfor’DefenceofGenoa’againstindignantBotta,BrowneandCompany。

  FordefenceofGenoa;nayforattackonTurin,whichwouldhavebeen’defence’inGenoaandeverywhere,——hadthecaptiousSpaniardconsentedtoco—operate。CaptiousSpaniardwouldnot;CourierstoMadrid,toParisthereupon,andmuchtimelost;——till,attheeleventhhour,cameconsentfromParis,’Tryitbyyourself,then!’

  Belleisletriesit;atleasthisBrotherdoes。HisBrother,theChevalier,istoforcethatPassofExilles;aterriblefierybusiness,butthebackboneofthewholeadventure:inwhich,iftheChevaliercansucceed,hetooistobeMarechaldeFrance。

  Forward,therefore,climbtheAlpinestairsagain;snatchmethatFortofExilles。

  \"Andso,July19th,1747,theChevaliercomesinsightofthePlace;scansalittlethefrowningbuttresses,bristlywithguns;

  thedumbAlps,torightandleft,lookingdownonhimandit。

  ChevalierdeBelleislejudgesthat,howeverdifficult,itcanandmustbepossibletoFrenchvalor;andstormsinuponit,hugeandfurious(20,000,orifneedful30,000);——butistornintomerewreck,andhideousrecoil;rallies,snatchesastandard,’Wemusttakeitordie,’——anddies,doesnottakeit;fallsshotontherampart,’pullingatthepalisadeswithhisownhands,’naysomesay’withhisteeth,’whenthelastmomentscame。Withinonehour,hehaslost4,000men;andhimselfandhisBrother’sEnterpriselieendedthere。[Voltaire,xxv。221etseq。(SIECLEDELOUISQUINZE,c。22);Adelung,vi174。]FancyhispoorBrother’sfeelings,whomuchlovedhim!ThediscordsaboutWar—matters(TRACASSERIESDE

  L’ARMEE)wereatopicatSceauxlately,asDeStaalintimated。

  ’WhystarveourItalianEnterprises;heapingeveryresourceupontheNetherlandsandSaxe?’DiligentDefenceofGenoa(chieflybyflourishingofswordsonthepartofFrance,fortheAustrianswerenotyetready)ishenceforthalltheItalianWarthereis;andthisexplosionatExillesmayfitlybefinistoithere。LetusonlysaythatInfantPhilipdid,whenthePeacecame,getabitofApanage(ParmaandPiacenzaorsomesuchthing,contemptiblysmalltotheMaternalheart),andthatallthingselselapsedtotheirpristinestate,MINUSonlythewasteandruintherehadbeen。\"

  JULY12th—SEPTEMBER18th:SIEGEOFTHECHIEFDUTCHFORTRESS。

  \"UnexpectedSiegeofBergen—op—Zoom;twomonthsofintenseexcitementtotheDutchPatriotsandCause—of—LibertyGazetteers,asindifferentandtotallydeadasithasnowbecome。MarechaldeSaxe,afterhisvictoryatLauffeld,2dJuly,didnotbesiegeMaestricht,ashadbeentheuniversalexpectation;butshotoffanefficientlieutenantofhis,oneLowendahl,indueforce,privatelyready,tooverwhelmBergen—op—ZoomwithsuddenSiege,whilehehimselflaybetweenthebeatenenemyandit。Bergenistheheart,ofHolland,keyoftheScheld,andquiteotherwiseimportantthanMaestricht。’Coehorn’smasterpiece!’exclaimtheGazetteers;

  ’Impregnable,youmaydepend!’’Weshallsee,’answeredSaxe,answeredLowendahltheDane(whoalsobecameMarechalbythisbusiness);andafteragreatdealoffuriousassaultingandbattering,tookthePlaceSeptember18th,beforedaylight,\"byakindofsurprisalorquasi—storm;——\"theCommandant,oneCronstrom,abraveoldSwede,agetowardsninety,notbeingofverywakefulnature!’Didaswellascouldbeexpectedofhim,’saidtheCourt—

  Martialsittingonhiscase,andforboretoshootthepooroldman。

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