The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-05-16
RAvENNA, WEDNESDAY, MAY l6, 1856.

BILE power of covering whatever he hated
with ridicule, made him an object of dread
even to the leaders Of armies and the rulers
of nations. In truth, all the intellectual
weapons ever welded by man, the most
terrible was the mockery af Voltaire. Big
OTIS and tyrants who had never been moved
by the wailing and cursing of millions, turn
ed pale ut his name. Principles unassailable
by reason, principles which had withstood
the piercest attacks sfpower, the most valu-
able truths, the most generous sentiments,
the noblest and graceful images, the pures t
regulations and the most august institutions,
began to look mean and loathsome as soon
as that whitening smile was turned upon
them. To every opponent, however strong
in his cause and talents, in cause and his
character who ventured to encounter the
Great Scoffer, might be addressed the caution
which was given of old to the Archangeli
81 forwarn the, shun,
His deadly arrows; neither vaiuly
To be invulnerable in those bright arms,
Tho tempered heavenly; for that faal dint,
Save Him who rclghs above resist. ,
We cannot pause to recount how often
that rare talent was exercised against rivals
worthy Of esteein--how often 1t was used to
crush and torture enemies worthy only Of si-
lent Gisdain-how often it was perverted to
the more noxious purpose of destroying the
last soace of earthly misery, and the last re-
straint on earthly power. Neither can we
pause to tell how often it was Used to vindi.
cate justice humanity and federation It
principles of sound PHILOSOPHY, the princi-
pies of flee government. This is not the
place for full character of Voltaire.
Causes of quarrel multiplied fast. Vol
taire, who, partly from love of money and
partly from love of excitement, was always
fond of stock. .jobbing, became implicated in
some transactions of at leust dubious char
acter. The king was delighted at having
such an opportunity to humble his guest; and
bitter reproaches and complaints were ex-
changed. Voltaire, too, was soon at war
with the other men of letters who surrounded
the king; and this irritated Frederick, who,
however; had himself chiefly to blame; for,
from that love of torment ting, which was in
him ruling passion, he was perpetualy. law
shng extravagant praises on small men and
bad books. He did SO merely that he might
enjoy the rage and modification which on
such occasions Votaire took no pains to
conceal. His majesty, however, soon had
reason to regret the pains he had taken to
kihdle jealousy among the members of his
household. The whole palace was in fer
ment with literary intrigues and cabals. 1t
was to no purpose that the imperial voice,
which kept hundred and sixty thousand
soldiers in order, was raised to quiet the con-
tentions of the exasperated wits. It was
far easier to stir up such storm than to
lull it, Nor was F ederick, in his capacity
of wit, by any means without his own share
of vexations. He had sent large quantity
of verses to Voltaire, and requested that they
might be returned with remarks and correc-
tons
"see!" exclaimed Voltaire, "what guam
tity of his dirty linen the king has sent me
to wash" Taebearers were not wanting
to carry the sarcasm 10 the royal ear, and
Frederick was as much incensed as Grub
street writer who had found his name iii the
Dunciad.
This could not last. A circumstance
which, when the mutual regard of the friends
vas in its first glow, would merely have
oeen matter for laughter, produced violent
explosion. Maupertius enjoyed as much Of
Frederick's good will as any man of letters.
He was president of the Academy of Berlin,
md stood second to Voltaire, though at ali
immense distance, in the literary society
which had assembled at the Prussian court.
Frederick had, by playing for mis- own amuse-
nent on the feelings Of the two jealous and
Frenchmen, succeeded in pro-
lucing bitter entity between them. Vol
aire had resolved to set his mark, never to
De effaced. on the forehead of Manpertias;
and wrote the exquisitely ludicrous diatribe
,f Doctor Akakia. He showed this little
piece to Frederick, who had too much taste
and too much malice not to relish such deli
cious pleasantly. In truth, even at this time
Of day, it Is not easy for any one who has
The least perception Of the ludicrous to read
the jokes on the Latin city, the Patagonians,
and the hole in the center of the earth, with
out laughing till he cries. But though Fred
erick was deviated at this charming pasquin-
ade, he was unwilling that it should get
abroad. His self-love was interested. He
had selected Maupertius to fill the chair of
his Academy. If oil Europe were taught
to laugh at Maupertius, would not the repu-
tation of the, Academy, would not even the
dignity of its royal patron be in some degree
The king, therefore, begged
voltaire to suppress his performance. II
Voltaire promised to do so, and broke his
word. The diatribe was published, and re-
ceived with shouts of merriment and applause
by all who could read the French language
The king stormed! Voltare, with his usu-
al disregard for truth, protested his inno-
cence, and made up some lie about printer
or an amanuensis. The king was not to be
imposed upon. He ordered the pamphlet to