218

THE REPUBLICAN AT VERSAILLES.

sent declining condition must naturally give you.

I am, with due respect, sir,

"Your most obedient servant,

"GEORGE WASHINGTON."

"To William Franklin, Esquire, Litchfield."*

Thus did Dr. Franklin's son-with his familysuffer for being "a thorough courtier;" whilst Dr. Franklin himself was loaded with honours at feudal Versailles, for being what England had called "a rank republican."

Madame Campan tells us that "elegant fêtes were given to Dr. Franklin, in whom was united the renown of one of the most learned of men, with the patriotic virtues which had made him an Apostle of Liberty. I assisted at one of these fêtes, where the most beautiful from amongst three hundred ladies were chosen to place a crown of laurel upon the white hair of the American Philosopher, and to kiss him on both cheeks."

* Original MS., ex dono, Wilmot. (Mus. Brit.) endorsed :"The Congress refused it, and Mrs. Franklin died." Mems. Campan. Tome x., p. 177.

219

CHAPTER V.

Voltaire's arrival in Paris-Recognition on the road-Voltaire's costume-His Prussian antecedents-His visitors -Kain, the actor-Voltaire's reception of French actors -Madame Necker, Lord Stormont, and Dr. FranklinVoltaire's benediction of Dr. Franklin's grandson-Madame du Deffand visits Voltaire-Voltaire and Pigalle Conversation of Voltaire-Voltaire's visit to Madame de Ségur-Portrait of Voltaire by one who knew him— Conversation of Voltaire-Madame du Barry visits Voltaire-Marshal Duc de Richelieu visits Voltaire-The soldier and the sage of the eighteenth century-Voltaire dangerously ill-Dr. Tronchin-The Archbishop of Paris holds a convocation-The Abbé Gauthier visits Voltaire Voltaire's profession of faith-Rivalry of the Priesthood concerning Voltaire-Correspondence of Voltaire and the Curé de St. Sulpice-Dr. Lorry—Jean Jacques Rousseau-Rousseau's retreat from Paris-Duel between the Count d'Artois and the Duc de Bourbon"Irène "—The Philosopher revives-Second Academic Deputation to Voltaire-Voltaire enthroned at the Academy-Voltaire crowned-Vive Voltaire! Vive Franklin

220

VOLTAIRE'S RETURN TO PARIS.

-The Princesse de Lamballe and Madame de GenlisMadame de Genlis visits Voltaire-Voltaire at the Palais Royal-Voltaire and the Orléans family-Madame de Villette Voltaire's "Brother Cain "Last moments of Voltaire--Voltaire excommunicated-Signs of the Times -America symbolised in Paris-Dr. Franklin stamps the gift bread with "Liberty "-Voltaire's heart enshrined-Liberty of conscience in the eighteenth cen

tury.

UPON the 10th of February, 1778—not a week after the treaty with America was signed-Voltaire, after an absence of more than twenty years, arrived in Paris.

Great changes were taking place in both hemispheres; the pen of Voltaire had done much to provoke those changes.

Louis XVI., even in these early years of his reign, was subservient to the will of his people. His Majesty had just openly subscribed to the popular cause in America, and it was impossible for a monarch who wished to be popular in France to insist that Voltaire should remain in exile. But Louis XVI. did not love Voltaire any more for all that.

Paris eagerly awaited the arrival of Voltaire. The elder members of Paris society desired to re

VOLTAIRE'S JOURNEY TO PARIS.

221.

new their personal acquaintance with him, and its younger members (a new generation that had sprung up during the last twenty years), not less familiar with his thoughts, desired to behold the philosopher who had educated them.

The only incident that befell Voltaire on his journey to Paris, in 1778, he himself thus relates:

"Having stopped in a village to change horses, I alighted from my coach, and perceived a venerable old man standing at some few paces from me; he might have been about my own age, but he certainly was much more active of the two. Upon examining him nearer, I thought I recognized him. 'Sir,' said I to him, 'I ask your pardon, but you much resemble a child whom I saw about seventy years ago!' The old man asked me where I had seen that child; and when I had told him where, 'I was that child!' said he, and you are M. de Voltaire!' We then embraced each other."

When Voltaire's carriage was stopped at the barriers of Paris, according to custom, and he was asked if he had anything to declare, "Gentlemen," said he to the commissioners,

222

VOLTAIRE'S ATTIRE.

"there is nothing contraband in this coach but myself."

And a queer spectacle Voltaire must have presented to the astonished eyes of the excise officers when he put his head out of the window; for the public prints of the time inform us, that "his out-door attire is a vast pelisse, which completely envelopes his frail body; a Louis Quatorze wig of wool shades his thin cheeks, and this wig is surmounted by a red cap trimmed with fur."

It was Carnival time. when he first re-appeared in the streets of Paris, after more than twenty years' absence; and profane gamins, not knowing who he was, hooted at M. de Voltaire, or cheered him, thinking that he was in masquerade for their amusement.

Voltaire, upon his arrival in Paris, alighted at the hôtel of the Marquis de Villette, at the corner of the Rue de Beaume.* He was accompanied by his niece, Madame Denis, who had lived with him long at Ferney. She had joined Voltaire at Frankfort in 1753, when

*Lettres d'un Espion Anglais.-Paris, 1788. (Passim.) Bib. Imp.