Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-04-20
-, FIR tie Enquirer.
FRA SKLlN AND VOLTAIRE.

| rhA NhLlN AND VOLTAIRE
Inere is a Tact which must strike the mind OF
every American travelling in Fiancr; il is. The
@aHiii auon, esteem, nay love entertained by The
french Tor Benjamin Franklin. Although three
| quarters OF century have elapsed since he WIS.,
.eu ffanct; although that ion has experienced
| ,hiee VI me most remarkable, most awful reyo.
| iuiions recorded 10 history; though she has been
s1nce 'h,se days, visited 10y hosts o! Kings,
queens, Emperors, Popes, Bashaws, Emirs, &c,
q al hehsh The visits oil those princes only
cicaleo momentary excitement, the name,
aeeds, character Of franklin, are as fresh in he
memory VI The French, as lasting in their hearts
as u they rad been engraved on the barte.r . nd
most durable OF stones or medals. Strange "a
thus nay appear, il is however material tact
10 proof OF which We cond cite the numerous
mnmnifs. notices. lives ana ma nnrs of all Lirt.
.he riehch language, concerning this eXTaordi.
nary man and eminent patriot; but We intend 10
nctice only The work lately wrillen by Mr. Mic
nei, OF The academic Franeaise, under hi, lille
we dc Franklin a l'usaes de tout le mind, y
mat Is, lie Of Franklin within the reach NJ
every one. The style Of his book although il is ot
ciassical and severe cast, retains all the lveli.
ness ana pIctuLe'que imagery, thai are The char
acens'ics Of French writer's. To give he read
rrS ol ms notice an idea of this life OF Franklin
might quote several passages, bur shall limii
myself 10 single one:
"When Mr.. de Vergennes presented him !,
LOUIS Tue slxlee!h, in the palace II Versailles he
was mere Inc oblcct ol real ovation, even among
'fe courtIeIs. He appeared in that royal audi.
eoce WIN an extreme simplicity Of dress. His
age, ms glory, his services, Inc alliance So much
ues'rea Wnich he had Just concluded, had allract.
e. {, dh Immense crowd in the palace OF Louis the
roui'eehen: people were seized with such SEN
and
OF inns venerable old man, This illustrious sa
want lhls fortunate patriot that they claimed
their hands as he passed BY. The King
welcomed him with cordial distinction. He
requested HIM 10 assure the United States
OF America OF his friendship; and congralula- |
Ting HIM personally on all lha, he had accom- |
pilshed since his arrival into his kingdom he eY. |
pressed his entire satisfaction about il. Upon his
return from that audience, the crowd haiet |
FRANKLIN with Inc same manifestations. and for
long distance followed as his rerinue.
Inc enthusiasm which he had excited al Yer
sallies was soon renewed in Paris. Ii was al
ms Very lime that Voltaire, al the age Of eighty
our, ie'l ferney and returned, before he died. To
hal city where his disciples were now ruling. and
Whefe ne mel no more any adversary 10 his
ssnlns or any one enVous OF his glory. All
wanted 10 see This great man, To applaud The an
hor OF SO many masterpieces OF writing. 10 bow
before The Intellectual sovereign who had been
governing The human mind in Europe for the last
lily years. Franklin was not one of The last in
listing Voliairc, who received him with those
oicuriosity and admiration which al.
raced him towards the American. He spoke
o him al first in English, and as he had lost The
Use OF this language, he resumed the conversation
n French, and told him with grace full OF wit:
could not ress' the desire of speaking. for a
moment, The native tongue OF Mr.. Franklin.'-
the sage OF Philade phia hen presented his grand
on TO the Patriarch OF Ferney, and begged him
0 bless The young man. COL aud Libertv said
lcItalre, lifting his hands over The head Of the
ouh, this IS the only blessing piict bscon,es tie
raadson 81 Mr.. Franklin.
Shorty alter they met again al The public sit.
inss Of The Academy OF Sciences, and sat by The
ide Of each other. The spectators contemplated
With admiration these two glorious old men who
lad discovered he secrets ot nature thrown so
much sp!endor upon liter azure, rendered so great
eryiceS IL human reason, insured the enfran-
hisement of minds, and commenced the enan-
ipaiion Of mankind. Yielding 10 The irresisl-
lie emotion OF the Assembly they embraced each
ther amidst the long and universal applause OF
he public Ii was said, On the OCCASION in al
usion TO the recent legislative abors OF Frank
in, and The last dramatic success o. Voltaire;
hat SoLOn ,cas embracing SopiOetcs; il was "a
ner the brilliant ani rcnosalins Genius of the
III world embracing the plain and entcrprising
senius OF The new" PHlLODEMOS.