The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-27
YOltaire's Death.bed.
H-on, the Pail Mall Gazette.

A new document has just been published at
Paris, bearing on one OF the most contested
subjects in literary history-the death of
Voltaire. In the Journal des D6batS of Satur-
day last, M. H. Taine, the author of the
"Histoire de 10 Literature Anglaise," has
given to the world new and contemporary
account OF the death of the great Frenohman.
This account was forwarded to M. Taine by
Mr.. Schuyler, the American Consul at Mos
COW, who discovered it among the Russian
archives. 1t was originally sent by Prince
Ivan Bariantinsky, the Russian ambassador
at Paris at the time of Voltaire's death; to
the Empress Catharine III. The Ambassador
says, "Knowing that your Imperial Majesty
takes deep interest in all that concerns this
great man, have prepared for your Majesty
the following account of the death of Voltaire,
by one of my friends who was we'll acquainted
with all the details" The narrative is not
signed; from intel nal evidence M. Taine
judges it to have been written by doctor.
"At all events" he says, sit is perfectly
authentic and Of great interest" The whole
account is long one, and fills more than
three columns of the Dlbats, and we can only
give here a few extracts which appear to
throw new light on the circumstances
attending Voltaire's death.
We omit the first par. of the despatch, ia
which the writer states what was already
known, viz that Voltaire hastened his death
by an overdose of opium which he took to
alleviate the violent pains brought on by his
abuse of coffee. The most important part Of
the new account is that OF relating the last
moments of Voltaire, and the difficulties with
which his burial was attended. VOltaire, as
we know already, had, at the desire Of his
relatives, who were anxious that he should
have Christian burial, confessed himself and
made sort of recantatien, said to have been
in the following terms by the Russian des-
patch:-'T, the undersigned, certify and pro-
| test that | die in the Catholic, Roman, and
| Apostolical Church. II has happened that
have caused scandal, by my works, to the
Church and to religion, ask Gods pardon for
1t, hoping that in His goodness he will vouch-
safe to pardon my faults" Nothing could
well be more vague; there is no word of belief,
nor even a denial of his errors, and 1t is no
wonder the priests were but half satisfied. On
Saturday, the 30th of May, 1776, all hope of
his recovery being abandoned, V0ltaire' 8
nephew, the Abbe Mignot, sent for the cure of
| Saint Sulpice (the parish in which VOltaire
| lay dyipg) and for the Able Gautier, to whom
| the Aforesaid confession had been made two
months before. We continue in the words of
| the new account
| These Two priests came to M. de Voltaires g
| house; he was then In state OF langnor, ex
haustio and stup0r quite frightful. He was,
too. extremely weak from pain and from the
want OF nouIishment, his stomach being no
| Longer able to retain any food. When the two
priests entered M. de Voitaire's ohamber, they
found there M. and NJ. - both of them
| friends OF M. de Voilaire. The gentlemen
asked the cure If their presence would be objee-
replied no. Tnen the arrival Of the cure was
| announc ced TO M de VolGaire Toe first time
/ he appeared not TO have heard. On being told
| second time, he replied, "TellNhlm l respect
him, and he passed his arm round the cure, To
mark his attachment. Then the cure cam =
nearer 10 the bed, and, after having spoken OF
| God of deaf b, and of the sick mans spproacn-
| ing end, he asked In q pretty louu voice
| (d une voi1 hGHel. "Monsleur, 90
you recognize the divinity OF a,ns 1esns
seemed to collect all his strength, made an
effort 10 sit up, quilted brusquely tne cure;
| whom he had held almost in mis- embrace anu
using the same arm whicn ne nAu .nto"n.
round the cures neck, he made sestuL'1 y,
anger and appearing TO repulse .n9 a adu 1oioa
| III 81 me die In peace" and at once turneu ms
| back on the cure The latter, IuInins W snoso
| nresent said with q readiness Whlcn NO ons
| We ould have expected from one Wnose ueSu S Was was
| SnSantlamen you see he is not in his right mind
| fo,rii,l'a pas sa tete)" He asked for pen and
| ~ nensr and wrote a permission TO carry the body
| n HI de Voltaire wherever II might be desired,
and in the same writing declared that he
FABIAN led" it. IN. Taine explains In note
thsI he meant to deprive IL of all rights OF
Christian burial). The Aobe Gautier, the con-
fessor of M de Voltaire, signed a sort OF ceriin'
| cate of confession, and the two priests retired.
] This took place between six and seven In the
! evening. Soon after M. de Vollaire called for
| one of his old servants, took him by the hand,
| and wished him good-by, and added. in very
| distinct voice, take care OF Maria;'' The was
| aocustome ed TO call Madame Denys, his niece
by this name) These were the last words he