New-York tribune., 1878-06-21
VOLTAlRE's CENTENARY.


TO THE BISHOP.
FRoM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE.
LoNDON,J 7.-Who is Mrs. Eliza Clarkel That
is a question which, suppose, l ought to answer
rather than ask but viii ask it this week and
tperhaps) answer it next Whoever she is, she has
written an article on Voltaire and Madame du Chat
elet in The NiReieah Ceaiuy for June. The article
is clever enough, and readable; and timely, like
most of the articles which Mr.. Knowles, born
journalist, publishes. But that is not why put my
question. want to know who the woman is who
could write this:
"Voltairo had in hand at this period one of his
most curious productions, La Puoelle."
A woman who thinks curious" a sufficiently apt
and descriptive adjective for a poem which is one
long libel on her sex must herself be a curious
woman She adds:
Every other writer has found the life and death
Of Jeanne dare earnest, pathetic, and tragic
Voltaire alone, regarding her from know not
what point of view, saw material only for a comedy,
into which, like Dante in the Inferno ~, he found
means to drag his enemies most ignominousy 1t
did not meet with the approval Of any of his friends,
with the exception of Richelicu, but it remained
great favorite with its author"
That is astonishing enough, in more than one re-
spect. Not less astonishing is the GOODNESS with
which this lady discusses the relations between
would perhaps think brutal. To her. Madame du
Chatelet is " the woman who was his chosen friend
and familiar spirit though not his wife, throughout
so many years Of mingled triumph and exile" the
woman who. married at eighteen to the Marquis
Florent Claudo du Chdtelet-Lomond, before many
years had rolled over her head had tasted some Of
the unwholesomest fruits Of the tree of knowledge"
Mrs. Clarkes apology for her is that she learned to
know life it was in that corrupt age. the world
her own charms the value Of her splendid intellect,
and the infenorty Of her husband" No French
man could state the matter more coolly. No Greek
could put the artistic side of Aspaslas career more
luminously forward if Aspasia had thought 1t
worth while to have a husband. 1t might have
been said not only of Aspasia but of Phrne or OF
Lais that she possessed with all her frailties
sincere power OF loving, though il was expended on
more than one object Ii is perhaps the first time
in this century that an EuRlishwOman, writing IN
an English periodical has thought proper to eX-
plaln with reference TO Madame du Chatelet. that
the reason why before she was twenty-seyen, her
list Of lovers had included NJ de Gu6brant and the
Due de Richelieu, was that " both mind and heart
needed occupation
Not that have any inclination 10 join the hue and
CRY which pack Of priests, with Mouselmour Du-
panloup, Bishop Of Orleans, at their head, have
lately been raising against YoGaire, and against his
Victor Hugos oration in Paris the other day. which
has drawn down on him prelate's wrath and the
spite Of lesser ecCcsastics one Of the nobcst Of the
poets many noble speeches. So far from it that
will translate for you in minute or two, Victor
HugO's letter, which find in NJ. Gambettas paper.
Before / come TO that / want 10 point out the re-
markabc freshness OF this June number Of the same
periodical and it's catholic mot Roman Catholic
quality Mr. Knowles might be an American for his
singular quicIlness Of mind and an American jour
nast Of the first order for his sureness Of sight and
keen perception of the topics which interest people
at the moment. Yoltairc is topic Of to-day thanks
to the fuss the priests and Tories Of France have
made over the celebration Of his centenary. But /.
requires courage as well Of sight to pub
lish inst such paper as Mrs ClaTkes. Would MrCur-
tis or Mr. Thorndke Rice lwho is in London) have
published ~ / am not sure. / an not even sure
that you will publish my col0less and impartial
comment on il.
But the most austerc churchman win not object
20 admire the talent which could for one and
the same number of monthly magazine an article
on Turkey by Midhat Pasha and another by Mr.
Gladstone. How Mr.. Knowles must rejoice over
Mr.. Hanbury's proposal that the House Of Commons
should cenure Mr. Gladstones passionate protest
in behalf Of the mid Hindoo! That Mr.. Knowles
himself had anything to do with Mr.. IIanbury's
ton reject as a calumny. So do the report that
he hailed thonews Of tho attempted assassination
Of the Emperor of Germany as a provdcntal en-
hanCement Of the interest of Dr. Waldsteins learned
and excellent paper on The Social Origin of Mini
ism and Pesslmism IN Germany" You will note,
also an Independent and thoughtful discussion Of
"The Future of English Women" by Mrs
Sutherland Orr the accomplished lady TO
whom Mr. BrowDing's last volume is dedi-
Gated, and who is not 70 be confoundcd
by the most careless reader with the adyo-
Gates Of what are called WOmeu's Rights. Mrs.
Orr says The one fatal result OF female omanc-
patton is this that in its full and final attainment
not only the power Of love in women but for either
sex its possibility, will have passed away" That
may be too strongly stated, but it viii help the
female enthusiasts to see that their views are too
comprehensive and that If they insist on their
rights they must reuquish their privileges. Their
mistake lies in believing they can have both.
Here is NJ. Victor HugO's letter 10 the Bishop OF
Orleans, whom he does not address by his purely
courtesy title Monseigneur. but az plain Monsieur
You are guilty Of an imprudence. You remind
those who might have forgotten il that was
brought up by a churchman, and that, if my life
began in prejudice aud error, il was the priests
fault, not mine. That sort Of education is 80 fatal
that at nearly forty years Of age, as You point out
was still under its influence. All that has been
SAID before. don't dwell on it, have certain
contempt for mere utilities.
"You insult Yoltaire and You do me the honor to
revile me. That is your affair
"YOu and / are two men, better or worse; tlfe
future will decide between us. You say am old,
and you pretend to be young; which believe,
"1be moral sense is imperfectly developed in
you that you TcprOach me with the very
act which does me honor. You undertake 20 read
me a lesson BY what righti Who youi Let
us come TO the point. Let us see what sort of a
thing your conscience is, and what mine is A single