himself caused to be brought here. I have, says he, six miles in circuit here and am lord of a greater extent than the neighboring republic of Geneva. I pay no taxes to the French King or any other. I enjoy liberty and property here and am my own master. We told him his situation was, what it really is, most charming and that no doubt he must have enjoyed a particular pleasure in seeing a kind of second creation rise under his hand. Where my Chateau is, says he, there were churches and chapels, I bought all and pulled them down to build my chateau. I hate churches and priests and masses. You gentlemen have been in Italy; you have been at Rome. Has not your blood often boiled to see shoescrapers and porters saying mass in a place where once a Cicero, a Cato, and a Scipio have thundered in eloquent harangues to the Roman people. His soul seemed to be moved with indignation whilst he spoke it, and he accompanied this with a vehemence of action that showed to what a degree he abhorred masses and the religions. How often when one would go fast do these fellows detain you, says he; If you ask where is the postillion he is gone to mass, and you must wait with patience for a half an hour till he has done. By this time I became quite familiar with him, asked him questions with as much assurance as if I had been long acquainted with him. I asked him if he had read any account of electricity or was acquainted with Dr. Franklin's writings on that subject, and what he thought of him. He acknowledged him to be the discoverer and improver of electricity; that he was a man of genius, of merit, and a great natural philosopher. I then asked him if he had read Mr. Hume's writings or Dr. Robinsons History of Scotland as he said he often read English books. He told me he had, that both were men of merit; but he preferred Mr. Hume whom he said wrote more like a philosopher. He has given us a good history of England. It is not so full of minute facts as that of Rapin, who smells indeed of the Presbyterian whilst Mr. Hume throughout smells of the philosopher. He often used the words smell of, figurately for to partake of. I know not whether it was because he delighted in the sense of smelling particularly, or for want of words to express himself better in English. He now pulled out of his pocket a fine snuff box. In taking a pinch of snuff I observed on the inside of the lid a miniature picture of the King of Prussia, which probably was presented to him by that monarch at the time Voltaire was so great a favorite of his and his chief counsellor. In speaking of an intended new publication upon the History of a Trine which has been often wrote on, he inveighed against writing on trite subjects where the author had it not in his power to bring new facts to the light or publish some new discoveries that are important and interesting-above all authors I admire Newton & Locke -these opened our eyes to glorious objects and immortal discoveries which we did not think of; one has dissected and laid open to us the planetary system; the other has, as I may say, dissected the soul and discovered to us all the powers of the understanding. On my knees I prostrate myself all my life before two such great men as these, to whom I esteem myself as an infant. I then asked who Monsr. Beaufremont was. He told me of him what I wrote above. I then asked him if the young gentleman whom I had sat next to, was his son, as I had heard him call him papa; and who the young lady was. He answered me, the young lady I call my daughter; because she was a poor orphan neglected neice of the deceased great CorneileEvery nation you know has its Shakespeare. Corneille was our Shakespeare and because I look on myself as a soldier under the Generals Corneile, Racine, &c., in this sort of warfare, I found out the neice of Corneile and brought her to live with me. I call her my daughter and I have married her to that young man. Their children I look on as if they were my own, and take care of them all as of my own family. Being now time to return to Geneva lest the gates of the City should be shut against us we thanked him in the politest terms for the honor he had done us. He returned the compliment, said he should always be proud to enterVOL. X.-4 tain any English gentleman. Being now at the steps he ushered us in, breaking into a kind of rapture with "Oh goddess of liberty, thou heaven born maid." We were now within the Salle, and Mons'r. Voltaire as if he had been pleased with our conversation and the freedom we used with him, crys out in French to this effect-addressing himself to the company. Behold two amiable young men lovers of truth and inquirers into nature, they are not satisfied with mere appearances, they love investigation and truth and despise superstition. I commend you gentlemen-go on, love truth and search diligently after it. Hate hypocrisy, hate masses, and above all hate the priests. Compliments being over we left the company. Monsr. Voltaire accompanied us to the door. Told us he should always be proud to see us, particularly whenever we would call and dine with him-his hour was two o'clock: he would be glad to see us, and if his health permitted would dine with us but if not, his children (meaning his adopted ones) would take care of us, nor should we ever want for company at his house who would endeavor to make themselves agreeable. We returned our thanks once more in the warmest terms and getting into the chariot drove off. I could not help noticing a chapel before the gate of the court yard with this inscription over the door Deo erexit Voltaire MDCCLXI I afterwards heard that in buying this possession he was obliged to stipulate for building a chapel-of which I suppose no great use is made. Till I heard this I did not know whether it was not his Theatre. In a Tavern on the road not far off these lines are pencilled Deo erexit Voltaire Behold the pious work of vain Voltaire JOURNAL OF MISS SALLY WISTER. (Concluded from page 478, Vol. IX.) FOURTH DAY, MORN, 12 o'clock. I was awaken'd this morn with a great racket of the Captain's servant calling him; but the lazy fellow never rose till about half an hour past eight. This his daylight ride. I imagin'd they would be gone before now, so I dressed in a green skirt and dark short gown. Provoking. So down I came, this Captain (wild wretch) standing at the back door. He bow'd and call'd me. I only look'd, and went to breakfast. About nine I took my work and seated myself in the parlour. Not long had I sat, when in came Dandridge, the handsomest man in existence, at least that I had ever seen. But stop here, while I just say, the night before, chatting upon dress, he said he had no patience with those officers who, every morn, before they went on detachments, would wait to be dress'd and powder'd. "I am," said I, "excessively fond of powder, and think it very becoming." "Are you?" he reply'd. "I am very careless, as often wearing my cap thus" (turning the back part before)" as any way." I left off where he came in. He was powder'd very white, a (pretty colored) brown coat, lapell'd with green, and white waistcoat, etc., and his "Sword beside him negligently hung." He made a truly elegant figure. "Good morning, Miss Sally. You are very well, I hope." "Very well. Pray sit down," which he did, close by me. "Oh, dear," said I, "I see thee is powder'd." "Yes, ma'am. I have dress'd myself off for you." Will I be excused, Debby, if I look upon his being powder'd in the light of a compliment to me?"Yes, Sally, as thee is a country maid, and don't often meet with compliments." Saucy Debby Norris ! 'Tis impossible to write a regular account of our conversation. Be it sufficient to say that we had a multiplicity of chat. About an hour since, sister H. came to me and said Captain Dandridge was in the parlour, and had ask'd for me. I went in. He met me, caught my hands. “Oh, Miss Sally, I have a beautiful sweetheart for you." "Poh! ridiculous! Loose my hands." "Well, but don't be so cross." "Who is he?" "Major Clough. I have seen him. Ain't he pretty, to be sure? I am going to headquarters. Have you any commands there?" "None at all; but" (recollecting), "yes, I have. Pray, who is your commanding officer?" "Colonel Bland, ma'am.” "Please give my compliments to him, and I shou'd be glad if he would send thee back with a little more manners." He reply'd wickedly, and told me I had a little spiteful heart. But he was intolerably saucy; said he never met with such ladies. "You're very ill-natur'd, Sally." And, putting on the sauciest face, "Sally, if Tacy V*nd*r*n won't have me, will you?" "No, really; none of her discarded lovers." "But, provided I prefer you to her, will you consent?" "No, I won't." "Very well, madam." And after saying he would return to-morrow, among a hundred other things, he elegantly walk'd out of the room. Soon he came back, took up a volume of Homer's Iliad, and read to us. He reads very well, and with judgment. One remark he made, that I will relate, on these lines, "While Greece a heavy, thick retreat maintains, "G-d knows our army don't do so. I wish they did." He laugh'd and went away. FOUR O'CLOCK, AFTERNOON. Major Clough, Captain Swan, and Mr. Moore, a Lieutenant of horse, din'd with Dandridge. The latter, after dinner, came in to bid us adieu. He sat down, and was rather saucy. I look'd very grave. "Miss Betsy, you have a very ill-natured sister. Observe how cross she looks." He pray'd |