WE

TE have already brought down the hiftory of this celebrated author to the period of his retirement at Ferney. His laft journey to Paris was as extraordinary as it was unexpected. He arrrived at the capital on the 10th of February, in the afternoon, after an abfence of 27 years. It is remarkable, that he left this city in the year in which the Sieur Kain was received on the French theatre, and returned to it the very day when that great actor was buried. At the Barriers his carriage was ftopped by the custom-houfe officers, and he was afked if he had any thing that paid duty: "No, gentlemen," faid he, "there is nothing here contraband-but my felf."

Two days after his arrival, M. de Voltaire paffed the whole night in ftudy; which, with the numerous vifits that were paid him, was more than fufficient to hurt his health. He was expected on the 16th, at the reprefentation of Cinna, for the benefit of a great nephew of Corneille; but Dr. Tronchin thought it imprudent for his old patient to quit his

chamber fo foon. He faw company, however, all the afternoon; he left them indeed at an early hour. "I "am fmothered," faid he; "but it is by roses."

The French Academy, at one of their meetings, determined to fend three of their members to compliment him, instead of one, as had been usual on like occafions. The Prince de Beaveau was at the head of this deputation, which was joined by feveral other academicians. M. de Voltaire received his brethren with a cordiality and pleafantry difficult to exprefs.

Next day the comedians waited on him in a body, to pay their respects. The Sieur Bellecourt, who was their fpokefman, artfully hinted at the lofs they had juft fuffered, in thefe few words: "Behold the remains of the comedians ;" adding, "We are come to beg you, Sir, to breathe upon us." M. de Voltaire replied with his ufual grace and precifion (and the actors had reafon to be flattered by his faying)-"I only live for you, and by you." He spoke afterwards in the moft obliging manner, to every one in particular, and as he had paffed the night before in correcting the tragedy of Irene*, he said to Madame Veftris, "I have devoted a whole

B

tragedy,

whole night to your service, as if I were only twenty."

Having a great defire to be acquainted with Dr. Franklin, this celebrated American was introduced to him. Voltaire accofted and converfed with him fome time in English, till Mad. Denis interrupted him by faying, that Dr. Franklin underfood French, and the rest of the company wifhed to know the fubject of their difcourfe. "Excufe me, my dear," replied. Voltaire; "I have the vanity to fhew, that I am not unacquainted with the language of a Franklin."

On prefenting the Marchionefs de Villette to feveral ladies of the court, who came to fee him, he faid, "See, ladies, the fair and the good! fhe has taken pity on my age; to her I am indebted for the happiness of seeing you, and for the little existence that I have left."

This young lady, whofe maiden name was Varicourt, is of a good family in the county of Gex, and was deftined to a convent; but about four years ago was adopted by Voltaire, and educated ever fince by his niece, Madam Denis. was married, at Ferney, to the Marquis de Villette.

She

To the numerous panegyrical verfes that fwarmed at his arrival, his enemies opposed several epigrams and other fatires, no lefs witty than malicious. Many of thefe came to his hands, which occafioned his faying, " I receive fuch filth at Ferney every week, and I pay the poftage of it: here it is fent me every day, and costs me nothing. By this I am a gainer." Flattered, but not elated, with the attention that was fhewn him, he often repeated, "I am, like Spartacus, amazed at my glory."

On the morning of the 25th, being defirous of reading his tragedy of Irene to the players, he had fuch a violent flux of blood, that, Dr. Tronchin was obliged to order a vein to be opened. In the evening he was quite eafy, and a few days reft entirely recovered, him. But as if the continual exertion of his genius was become. neceffary to him, though he very readily followed the prefcription of his phyfician in not talking, yet he could by no means be prevented reading the whole evening.

On March 16th, M. Voltaire's new tragedy of Irene, or Alexis. Comnêmus, was acted at Paris. for the first time to a moft fplendid and crowded audience. the royal family were prefent, and never were more applauses

heard.

All

Enlivened,

Enlivened, as it were, and recovered by the fuccefs of his play, M. de Voltaire went abroad a few days after, and walked in the Elyfian Fields. On this fuccefs he was complimented by a deputation from the French Academy, and his buft has been placed in the theatre by the fide of that of the great Corneille; a compliment which, though never before paid to any living bard, can be authorized only by the great age and talents of this writer.

On March 30th, Monf. de Voltaire went to a private meeting of the French Academy, which was very numerous. The Academy went to meet and receive him. He was conducted to the feat of the Director, which that officer and the Academy intreated him to take. Afterwards the Academy, with acclamations, nominated him Director for the April quarter, with out drawing lots, as ufual. The meeting was crowded on account of the reading the eulogium of Defpreaux by M. d'Alembert, which that celebrated academician. had before read, in a public meeting, with the greatest fuccefs.

The fame day, M. de Voltaire went to the theatre, and was prefent at the fixth representation of his tragedy of Irene. As foon as the people faw his coach they ran in crowds to meet him, and nothing but their regard for him could have moderated a curiofity, which might otherwise, perhaps, have been fatal to him. The audience impatiently expected him in the houfe, and by repeated fhouts and applaufes, fhewed their fatisfaction on feeing at last a writer, who has contributed fo much to their a mufement, and, whom they have

fo long idolized. As foon as he was feated in his box, the Sieur Brizard appeared, holding a crown, which he placed on his head. M. Voltaire stretched out his hand, and perceiving the honours that were intended him, removed it, faying, with an affected tone, "Ah! my God, you are refolved to kill me." The new tragedy was played with more fpirit and accuracy than it had ever been before. As foon as it was over, an unexpected and (if poffible) ftill more interesting scene fucceeded. The curtain was drawn up, and all the actors and actreffes were feen furrounding the buft of M. de Voltaire, and placing by turns fome crowns of laurel on his head. This homage was attended with univerfal applaufes, and in about a quarter of an hour, Mad. Veftris, advancing with a paper in her hand, had much difficulty to obtain a moment's filence: at length the read thefe verfes, which were juft compofed by the Marquis de St. Marc:

Ces lauriers, dont vos mains couvroient mes chevaux blancs,

Etoient nés dans votre domain.

On fait que de fon bien tout mortel eft jaloux,

Chacun garde pour foi ce que le ciel lui donne.

Le Parnaffe n'a vu que vous Qui fût partager fa couronne. There are various accounts given of the causes of his death; it is probable, that a decay of nature, owing to old age, and his being hurried into a variety of amufements, to which he had not latterly been accustomed, were amongst the principal. Other accounts add, that he had conceived a plan of reforming and correcting the French language, on which he laboured from fix to nine hours in a day for fome weeks before his death, taking no other fuftenance but coffee, which had been a favourite refreshment with him many years. -Complaining one day to the Duke de Richelieu that he found himfelf deprived of fleep, that nobleman recommended him to take fome opium, and faid, he took a certain quantity every day. Voltaire, however, thought he could take a larger dofe, which he did, without confulting any of the facuity, and thereby certainly haften.

ed his death.

The Marquis de Villette, with whom Voltaire refided in Paris, when he perceived his vifitor's death approaching, fent for Monf. Bonnet, Curate of St. Sulpice, to perfuade him, if poffible, to comply with the ufual customs of their

religion, in order that the proper honours might be paid to his res mains.The Curé began by queftioning Voltaire, if he believed in the divinity of Jefus Chrift,' but was haftily stopped by the wit's faying, Ah! M. le Curé, if I pafs that Article to you, you will demand if I do not allo believe in the Holy Ghost, and fo on, until you finish by the Bull Unigenitus.-The Curé departed; but, in a few hours, after a great change appearing, he came a fecond time, and began with putting his hand on the dying man's head as he lay in bed; upon which Voltaire raised his own hand to the Curate's head, and pushed him away, faying, I came into the world without a Bonnet, and will go out without one; therefore let me die in peace!' He accordingly turned his back toward the Cure, and died in a few minutes, without fpeaking another word, on the 30th of May. The Archbishop of Paris refufed every application that was made to him for the rites of Chriftian burial. -The Marquis de Villette and Voltaire's nephew contefted the matter with the Archbishop fome days, and the refult was, that Voltaire fhould be taken in a coach, as if living, to his nephew's abbey at Selliéres, in Champagne, accompanied by himself and the Marquis, where he was interred with the utmost privacy. The Marquis de Villette demanded his heart to be given to him, which he has caufed to be put into a vafe of gold fixed on a pyramid, on which is wrote the following verfe, by the Marquis himself:

Son Esprit eft par-tout, mais fon cœur eft ici.'

Voltaire