Francis Maria Arouet, so celebrated under the name of Voltaire, which he derived from a small estate belonging to his mother, was born at Châtenai, near Paris, the 20th of February, 1694, of Francis Arouet, a notary belonging to the Châtelet, and treasurer of the Chambre des Comptes, and of Mary Margaret Daumart. Like Fontenelle, who lived a century, he was so feeble at his birth that his life was despaired of, and he was not baptized till nine months after, at the church of St. Andrè-des Arcs. He commenced his studies at the college of Louis-leGrand, and was early distinguished. One of the professors, F. Le lay, foretold that he would become the champion of deism in France. Such a prophecy might be easily made, without much sagacity or foresight: Voltaire at college already piqued himself upon his incredulity. For this propensity, he was indebted to the Abbé de Châteauneuf, his godfather, who had made him commit to memory the Moïsade of Rousseau. The same abbé also introduced him to the celebrated Ninon de l'Enclos, who, pleased with his spirited sallies and the style of his poetry (in which he began to exert himself even at twelve years of age) bequeathed him a legacy of two thousand livres, for the purchase of books. In his old age he seemed disposed to evince his gratitude by writing his comedy of the Dépositaire, but his gratitude might have been more happily testified. The Abbé de Châteauneuf also procured him the acquaintance of the Duke de Sully, the Marquis de la Fare, the Abbé de Chaulieu, the Abbé Courtin, &c, a society of wits, at which the prince of Condé and the grand-prior of Vendome were often present. It was there that he acquired that exquisite vein of politeness, that natural and easy humour which embellished his lighter poetry, his correspondence, and his conversation. His father trembled for the future fate of a son who frequented noblemen and wits, and wrote

FRANCE.]

VOLTAIRE.

verses. He requested M. de Châteauneuf, who was going ambassador from France to Holland, to take him in his suite. At the Hague, Voltaire became enamoured with the daughter of a Madame Dunoyer, a protestant refugee; and the intrigue having occasioned some disturbance, he was sent back to his parents. As he continued to write verses, and frequent high company, his father, still more irritated, banished him from home, and would not consent to his return, unless he entered the office of an attorney. In this situation he became acquainted with Thiriot, but soon left it. M. de Caumartin, a friend of his father, invited him to his seat at St. Ange. The father of M. de Caumartin, an enthusiastic admirer of the virtues and character of Henry IV. having enflamed the fancy of the young poet by his numerous anecdotes, he conceived the project of his Henriade, and was preparing to execute it when he was accused of being the author of a wicked satire, against the memory. of Louis XIV. then lately deceased, and sent to the Bastille. He there began his poem, and finished the Edipus. This tragedy had a prodigious run. It lead to the only real passion which Voltaire ever felt. This amour, of which Madame de Villars was the object, appears to have had no other result but to make him extremely unhappy, and negligent of his fortune. Artémise, which he produced two years after the Œdipus, was unlucky in its reception; when it appeared again in 1724, under the title of Mariamne, with considerable alterations, it met with better success. In the interval Voltaire accompanied Madame de Rupelmonde to Holland; and passing through Brussels he visited the exile Rousseau, whom he pitied and admired; but they parted irreconcileable enemies. Soon after the Henriade made its appearance: Voltaire was enjoying its success, when an unexpected accident destroyed his peace, and even

threatened his life. A powerful nobleman, highly offended by a sarcasm of Voltaire, caused him to be insulted by his servants. Voltaire was bent on revenge, but his adversary evaded his pursuit, and procured him a second confinement in the Bastille. He was permitted to leave it only on condition of being banished the capital, and afterwards the kingdom. He took refuge in England. The literature of this country, and the society of its men of genius, strengthened that spirit of bold and independant philosophy, which influenced the remainder of his life, his conduct, his opinions, and his writings. He opened in London a subscription for the republication of his Henriade; it was the basis of his fortune, which was afterwards so much increased by successful speculations in the public funds, and by shares in the contracts for provisions. We cannot but wonder at the extraordinary activity, sagacity, and prudence, which he always displayed in pecuniary affairs. If he had not been the first writer of his age, he might have become one of its ablest financiers.

On his return to France he successively gave to the public, in less than four years, Brutus, the Death of Casar, Eryphile, Zara, and Adelaide du Guesclin, which latter tragedy not having succeeded, met with a better fate under the title of the Duc de Foix; and having since appeared under its former name, and in its original state, has taken its rank among the best and most applauded pieces of its illustrious author. At the same time, the elegy on the death of Madame le Couvreur, and the Temple du Gout, excited against Voltaire the most violent acrimony. It is difficult at this day to comprehend the reasons for such terrible consequences of causes apparently so innocent. It is much easier to understand the prosecution commenced against him on the appear

The book was burnt, Scarcely had he begun.

ance of his Philosophical Letters. and the author compelled to fly. to breathe when the unavowed publication of his Epistle to Urania, and his imprudent recitation of some fragments of the Pucelle d'Orleans, again exposed him to danger. He then determined no longer to reside at Paris, and retired to Cirey the country seat of the famous Marchioness du Châtelet, a woman so celebrated for her extraordinary acquirements in abstruse science. Voltaire joined in these studies, but without renouncing literature. He wrote the Elements of the Philosophy of Newton, and an Essay on the Nature and Properties of Fire. He composed Alzira, Zulima, Mahomet, the Prodigal Son, Essay on Man, the History of Charles XII. collected materials for his Age of Louis XIV. and the Essay on the Manners and Spirit of Nations. It was then that Desfontaines, whose life he had formerly saved, directed against him that abominable libel, the Voltairomania, which he was afterwards compelled to disavow. But Voltaire had sufficient motives for consolation: while a miserable pamphleteer was harassing him with libels, the heir apparent of a kingdom was soliciting his friendship. This was the Prince Royal of Prussia, so celebrated under the name of Frederic II. When he had succeeded to the throne, Voltaire visited him at Wesel, refused the many tempting offers held out to him, and returned to Circy. He produced his tragedy of Merope, which met with unusual success. But he nevertheless failed twice in his endeavours to become a member of the French academy. The ministry conceiving that the alliance of Prussia might be advantageous to France, Voltaire was charged with the negociation, but secretly-his enemies considered his absence as a second exile, and began to triumph. He returned however from his mission, bringing with him, not a treaty of alliance, but much useful

information respecting the views and disposition of Prussia and Holland. Soon after Madame de Pompadour having desired him to prepare a piece on the occasion of the dauphin's marriage, he composed the Princess of Navarre. This, which was one of his most feeble productions, procured him the situation of Gentleman of the King's Chamber, the place of Historiographer of France, and, at length, a seat in the academy. But his success at court was not of long duration. Madame de Pompadour, actuated by her own caprice, and the clamours of his enemies, lavished on Crebillon marks of distinction and favour, which Voltaire considered as so many insults to himself. He again retired to Circy, from whence he went to the court of Lunéville, with Madame du Châtelet, where that ingenious woman expired. At Luneville he wrote his Nanine, and caused it to be performed. He returned once more to Paris, but the same persecution and malice awaited him. As an appropriate revenge on Crebillon, he wrote the Semiramis, Orestes, and Rome Preserved, all of them subjects which his rival had treated before. They were composed at Sceaux, under the patronage of the Duchess du Maine; the first had some success, the two latter were but coldly received.

It was at this period that Voltaire judged it proper to accede to the pressing invitations which the King of Prussia had repeatedly sent him, since the death of Madame du Châtelet. The particulars of his residence at Berlin and Potsdam are well known-as well as his singular favour with the king-their free and philosophical conversations, their open and instructive communications, their coldness, their disputes, their reconciliation, and the numerous intrigues which embittered their intimacy, and finally produced a separation. The king caused the satire of Akakea, which Voltaire had written