Polynesian., 1858-05-08
No. l..

the Englishman, permit me to inform you that
Notaire is not frivolous, sceptica histori-
an as you would feel disposed to represent him.
aver to you, sir, that have tested his historical
manlpulations, and found the whole of them to be
grounded on facts, not fctions. If on any subject
ne may have betrayed inaptitude or inadequaey,
that subject was not history his great deficiency
resulted from his not having studied more search
lngly, more fundamentally, the science of physiu-
IoSy, here was the corner of weakness In which he
exposed himself to incursive attacks whilst every
other avenue teemed with streams of intellectual
wealth, unprecedented in any other mortal that
ever dtused the radations of genius in this sphere
and whilst my mind is impressed with the suhusiOn
OF this reality, cannot avoid coming to the con-
cluslon that Noltaire is a universal genius
. Gentlemen, whilst you are so justly sounding
the praises of him to whom society is so much in
debted, why should observe culpable silence ~
Such was the exclamation of theological able
who was aspiring to the honor of becoming men,
Der OF the French Academy. "No, it is my wish,
and deem 1t my duty, to render to him my tribute
of admiration. In my solemn Judgment, Veltaire
united within himself the rights and talents which
lmmortalized Aristotle, Plato, Plutarch, Cicero
Taeitus, SophOcles, Anacreon, Lucretius Virgil
Horace, and the Plinys thanks to his productions
our language will become as classical as the Ian
guage of the Greeks and Romans. The merit
which distinguishes this great man from all the
philosophers who preceded him is that of tearing
to shreds the veil of religious prejudices Lucian,
when compared to him, was mere novice; no one
could with more pungency WELD the weapons of
rldicule, which have been found always the most
deadly against the wild delusions of error Glori-
Gus must 1t have been for the cause Of religion had
he continued to use those unerring shafts but un-
fortunately In substituting argument for ridicule
he has been guilty of many oversights which have
not escaped the observance of our erudite theOlo-
gians, and for which they have severely and Justly
censured him; his knowledge of the Greek and
Roman languages is questioned, and believe with
much propriety. HIS critiques upon Abraham,
Moses, David, and Solomon the prophets, the laws
and customs OF the Hebrews, are proved not to be
derived from genuine source. 1t is fact of pal
pable nOtOriety that he has never read the works
of the Fathers Of the Church whom he so often
quotes. His enemies will, no doubt say that he
was not justified in attempting to reason on sub
Jeets with which he was totally unacquainted, or
at least, that he should be more particular in his
choice of those he employed to make such extracts
not cease to be the father of the gods, though at
one time be metamOrphOsed himself into a bull, so
with VOtaire. Though he has sometimes forgot
ten himself, he has ceased to be VOltaire the
prince of the most refined wits, the king of philo-
sophers poets historians, and lterati Of every de-
scriptiOn."
Here comic poet, a lyric poet, and others of the
company were about recording their opinions, when
they were interrupted by general laugh. Quite
time, for the man of universal genius would soon
have been reduced from giant to pigmy.-Brit-
ish Journal.