LETTER I.* CHARLEMONT TO INCHIQUIN. Dated at Paris. My dear preceptor and friend, ACCORDING to promise I send after you the notice of St. Pierre, which I procured from M. de too late to mould into the exercise you desired, before your departure from ***. As it is authentic, being in part communicated by the philosopher himself to M. de, and the rest having passed under his observation, you are at liberty to communicate it to our friends at Baltimore, or any others, who may be desirous of learning particulars concerning so distinguished and amiable a votary of science. James Henry Bernardin de St. Pierre was born in the District of Caux, in the Province of Normandy, of an ancient and respectable family: being a near relation to the Abbé St. Pierre, celebrated for his * This letter is a translation from the French, in which the original is written.....E. † One word is erased here. A 1 scientific acquirements, and especially for his project of a perpetual peace; with which the good Cardinal Fleury was so well pleased, as to write to Fontenelle that it would be happy for mankind if princes would take a dose of the elixir of that excellent project. The Author of the Studies of Nature resembles his relation the Abbé in goodness of heart and depth of knowledge, and surpasses him in genius and the powers of elegant composition. At an early age, he entered upon the profession of arms, and travelled in Russia and Poland. Upon his return, he was sent, in the capacity of an engineer, to the Isle of France; which useful colony owes its continued preservation from capture by the English, during the protracted maritime war, in which they have gained nearly all the other French colonies, in great measure, to be sure, to the natural ruggedness of its coast, but in no inconsiderable degree to the excellent fortifications constructed under the direction of St. Pierre. On his return to France, he renounced his situation in the army as too restrictive of the freedom for study and contemplation he longed to enjoy. Being thus deprived of his pay as an officer; and having generously relinquished what patrimonial estate he had, in favour of a sister, his finances fell to a very low ebb, his prospects were overcast with gloom, and the fate of genius seemed to threaten to be his. But he neither repined, nor abandoned himself to despair. While thus struggling with want and uncertainty, he formed an acquaintance with John James Rousseau, whom he resembled in lofty talents, excessive sensibility, and devotion to retirement: though there was none of Rousseau's desponding and unsociable humour about his friend St. Pierre. Owing in part to the instances of M. de, he was prevailed upon to shake off the scholastic diffidence, and the poverty under which he was sinking into solitude, and to present himself to certain personages about the court of Louis XVI. distinguished by their stations, and beneficence to men of letters in indigence. The person, of all others, who has now the honour to have interested herself in favour of St. Pierre, was Madame Neckar, wife of the great financier; to whom he was indebted for the patronage of the king, and several eminent characters of his household. It was at one time generally feared, that St. Pierre had fallen a victim to the revolution. But he providentially escaped the perils of that tempest, to live serenely to a good old age, blessing and blessed by his learning, cheerfulness and benevolence. We observe, with pleasure, that Professor Barton, of Philadelphia, whom, through his scientific researches, we know as one of the only men of letters in America, has given his countrymen an edition of the Studies of Nature. But it is to be regretted, that he has not introduced his work with any biographical sketch of the author: because, independent of the desire of most readers to know something of the life of the writer they admire, the qualities of St. Pierre's mind are so strongly reflected in his works, that all persons must read them with greater pleasure and instruction, from knowing that they faithfully repre sent the virtues and simplicity of the author's cha racter. It is probable the world would have been gratified with many other of St. Pierre's productions, had he not, at rather a late day, sacrificed his additional fame to marriage, and the tame enticements of domestic life. This sin against science he attempted to extenuate to his friends, by the proverb "Better late than never;" to which with much greater propriety they might have replied, "Better never than late." Or early either, say I. For what has a being dedicated to academic shades, and attenuated with study, to do with the everlasting distractions of a family? There are no more insurmountable barriers to literary attainments, than chubby children and a charming wife. Literary men are but indifferent propagators of any other species than letters; and Madame Dacier herself would be no better than a hindrance in the pursuit of learning. The emperor showed his usual good sense in permitting the marriage of priests; because it not only renders their lives both happier and more exemplary, but serves also to replenish population. But as the interest of letters is one of the nearest his imperial heart, would he not, in return for this dispensation to the priesthood, have done well by enjoining celibacy on all academicians and philosophers? The reign of Louis XIV. is called the Augustan age of France. Yet all the pensions given by that monarch to men of letters, amounted to no more than * Line crossed out. 66,300 livres; 52,300 to Frenchmen, and 14,000 to foreigners. Whereas since his present majesty has shone from the throne of France, I suppose sixty thousand times that amount has been appropriated to the same noble purpose. * Apropos of the sex. Pray do not fail to give us details of their appearance, manners, and education (if they have any) in America. Even the faces, figures, and costume of the American females, if not unworthy your pen, would be agreeable to our perusal. I presume they are infinitely mixed. What with the original English leaven, the aboriginal Indian, the Mulatto, the Creole, African, and other crosses, they must be a most curiously heterogeneous and streaked kind. From all these mixtures there can be no predominant complexion: few fair, and none ruddy. A torrid sun has gilded them with his cadaverous hues, driving the rose from their cheeks, with the verdure from their fields. I have always understood they marry early, breed fast, fade soon, and die young. Do the sexes meet freely at places of public resort? Was there ever such a thing as an intrigue in the United States of America? I think I should enjoy an amour with a squaw, string her bow, feather her arrows, run races with her, pick up her tomahawk, sharpen her scalping knife, play with her long nose-bobs, and sing guttural ditties with her. As to society I suppose it is not of this present age in America. Even in England, by all accounts, they live a melancholy sort of routine, walking and riding of a morning, drinking and picking their teeth of afternoons, putting each *Line crossed out. |