The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-07
For the Sunday Bulletin.l
VOLTAIRE AND GIBBON.
BY l.. II. r.


age, and her sovereign, in the person of Vol
taire grandly received the court Of princes
and crowned heads. 1t is true there was an
other capital at Versailles, where Louis XIV
sat enthroned; but the blood of Robert the
Brave had degcnerated, and the nobility Of
the world seemed to have lost their chief
The Duke de Choiseul, exiled by tavorite,
held court at Cbanteloup, where the best
men OF France shared his exile; but neither
Versailles nor Chanteloup shared the high
reputation Of Ferney; though, in truth, the
latter court where princes asked for admis-
sion, was not characterized by the noble man
ners Of true royalty. and Nine. Denis some
tunes committed ft~t pas In doing the
honors OF the palace; but visitors did not
forget that it was the Court Of Philosophy.
the requirements Of etiquette.
The patriarch of Ferney was rarely visible.
and visitors frequently were turned away
without seeing as much as the shadow of the
great philosopher who, at other times, ex-
ercised the greatest hospitality in the world
But he was particularly rigorous in this re-
spect to Gbbon, the English historian His
antipathy for the great Englishman grew out
OF comparative trtie, and led to an encoun-
ter OF wit, original and entertaining.
Or all the historians who contributed to
England's renown during the eighteenth cen
fury, Gibbon had acquired the reputation of
being the most truthful and conscientious.
His love Of historical truth was proverbial,
and from this sprung that shade of scepticism
which darkens all his works a scepticism.
however, far preferable to the opinions Of
those pretentious writers OF later date who
seek to impose on the reader their own idle
dreams as the logic of facts.
But Noltalre was never charged with being
servilely attached to truth, and has more than
once been accused of having combined his
tory with romance. In short, the author Of
the "Siecle de Louis XIV" added to his Sc
ries of historical writings the adventures of
Swedish heroes, to which he impaired the
pompous title of 'Histoire de Charles NIL"
Gibbon was shocked at this prostitution of
genius and great indelicacy, and expressed
appeared in London and subsequently On the
Continent. Voltaire, easily wounded by ad-
verse criticism, swore an eternal hatred
against the English author, and awaited with
some Impotence an opportunity to retaliate.
He was finally gratitiei.
Gibbon was travelling in Switzerland. He
had just finished his history Of the Helvetian
Republic. Several years had elapsed since
hi, brochure against Voltaire At this partic-
Mar time Ferney was in all its splendor, and
Glbbon did not wish to return to his native
country without having visited Noltaire, with
out having seen the king Of French philo o
ply. Entertaining this object, lie went to
Geneva and wrote to Voitare, asking permis-
sion to visit him. Eoltaire was still angry; !
he had not forgotten the Engli- hmans critI-
cism, and he accordingly declined the honor |
of receiving NJ. Gibbon Several weeks |
elapsed ana the request was repeated the |
same reply was returned. However, obsta- |
Giles only add to the ardor Of great souls aud |
Gibbon swore that he would see Noltalre But |
he found it necessary to change his tactics |
Peaceful negotla ions were no longer tenable |
it was necessary to reach Ferney by force or
by craft He determined to try the latter |
The first, between philosophers, was not prac-
t1cable.
One fine morning Gibbon filed his pocket
with gold. and taking his baton de royaqe
started in the direction of Noltaire's chateau.
Ferney was not far from Geneva Gibbon
reached there at an early hour. He knocked |
at the park gate; the porter WIS about to
place the large key in the lock when he was
struck by the personal appearance of the man
before him. Gibbon was repusively ugly
his large head w. ornamented with &. thick
suit of red hair his brilliant eyes were par
tally concealed by thick red eyebrows, his
nose was fat and red, his mouth large, his
chin sharp, and if the reader will fancy a
face marked by these features, encircled by a
fringe Of yellow whiskers he will have very
idea of the personal appearance of
the luminous historian The moment Of in
spection was fatal to Gbbon; he was recog-
nized; IN fact it was almost impossible to
mistake him. When he first addressed Vol
taire the philosopher procured his picture
and showed it to all the domestics Of Ferney
and gave strict orders that if the original
ever presented himself he was to he refused
admission.
The porter was intiexble; but Gibbon was
not hopeless Tor while the porter was calmly
his ugliness and repeating his
masters orders, the gu st ratified the gUlneas
in his pocket: he took some out and made
them glitter in the sun. The conflict was
short. Gold overcame fidelity The pom
derouS gate Sroaned on ltS hinges ana IIlD-
bon entered Bat the campaign was not fin
shed with this victory. The first step was
Accomplishment it was the least difficult, what
to be done required true courage.
Was Glbbon equal to the emergency? We
shall see. In yielding to the EnglIshman,
he porter had not guaranteed an interview
With his master. He had only consented to
lepart from the path OF duty in 50 far as to
admit Gibbon into the lodge; this done, he ,,
nad performed all OF his part of the agree ,
nent. !
The historian cudgeled his brain to hit ,
lpon some way in which 10 introduce him !
elf into the presence OF Voitaire; he scratched :
lis head. pressed his forehead, but no lumin-
Jus idea came 10 his relief and he determined ,
0 leave the inhospitabe chateau. Bat before
aking his departure he inquired into the &C.
ais Of Noltaires life adding that since be !
vas compelled to renounce the pleasure OF i