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Where； accordingly； would conversation be if people abstained from
philosophy？ What circle is that in which serious political problems
and profound criticism are not admitted？ And what motive brings
intellectual people together if not the desire to debate questions of
the highest importance？ … For two centuries in France the
conversation has been related to all that； and hence its great charm。
Strangers find it irresistible； nothing like it is found at home； Lord
Chesterfield sets it forth as an example：
〃It always turns； he says； on some point in history； on criticism
or even philosophy which is much better suited to rational beings than
our English discussions about the weather and whist。〃
Rousseau； so querulous； admits 〃that a moral subject could not be
better discussed in a society of philosophers than in that of a pretty
woman in Paris。〃 Undoubtedly there is a good deal of idle talk； but
with all the chattering 〃let a man of any authority make a serious
remark or start a grave subject and the attention is immediately fixed
on this point； men and women； the old and the young； all give
themselves up to its consideration on all its sides； and it is
surprising what an amount of reason and good sense issues； as if in
emulation； from these frolicsome brains。〃 The truth is that； in this
constant holiday which this brilliant society gives itself philosophy
is the principal amusement。 Without philosophy the ordinary ironical
chit…chat would be vapid。 It is a sort of superior opera in which
every grand conception that can interest a reflecting mind passes
before it； now in comic and now in sober attire； and each in conflict
with the other。 The tragedy of the day scarcely differs from it
except in this respect； that it always bears a solemn aspect and is
performed only in the theaters； the other assumes all sorts of
physiognomies and is found everywhere because conversation is
everywhere carried on。 Not a dinner nor a supper is given at which
it does not find place。 One sits at a table amidst refined luxury；
among agreeable and well…dressed women and pleasant and well…informed
men； a select company； in which comprehension is prompt and the
company trustworthy。 After the second course the inspiration breaks
out in the liveliest sallies； all minds flashing and scintillating。
When the dessert comes on what is to prevent the gravest of subjects
from being put into witticisms？ On the appearance of the coffee
questions on the immortality of the soul and on the existence of God
come up。
To form any idea of this attractive and bold conversation we must
consult the correspondence of the day； the short treatises and
dialogues of Diderot and Voltaire； whatever is most animated； most
delicate； most piquant and most profound in the literature of the
century； and yet this is only a residuum； a lifeless fragment。 The
whole of this written philosophy was uttered in words； with the
accent； the impetuosity； the inimitable naturalness of improvisation；
with the versatility of malice and of enthusiasm。 Even to day；
chilled and on paper； it still excites and seduces us。 What must it
have been then when it gushed forth alive and vibrant from the lips of
Voltaire and Diderot？ Daily； in Paris； suppers took place like those
described by Voltaire；＇4＇ 。at which 〃two philosophers； three clever
intellectual ladies；M。 Pinto the famous Jew； the chaplain of the
Batavian ambassador of the reformed church； the secretary of the
Prince de Galitzin of the Greek church； and a Swiss Calvinist
captain；〃 seated around the same table； for four hours interchanged
their anecdotes； their flashes of wit； their remarks and their
decisions 〃on all subjects of interest relating to science and taste。〃
The most learned and distinguished foreigners daily visited； in turn；
the house of the Baron d'Holbach； … Hume； Wilkes； Sterne； Beccaria；
Veri； the Abbé Galiani； Garrick； Franklin； Priestley； Lord Shelburne；
the Comte de Creutz； the Prince of Brunswick and the future Elector of
Mayence。 With respect to society in general the Baron entertained
Diderot； Rousseau； Helvétius； Duclos； Saurin； Raynal； Suard；
Marmontel； Boulanger； the Chevalier de Chastellux； the traveler La
Condamine； the physician Barthèz； and Rouelle； the chemist。 Twice a
week； on Sundays and Thursdays； 〃without prejudice to other days；〃
they dine at his house； according to custom； at two o'clock； a
significant custom which thus leaves to conversation and gaiety a
man's best powers and the best hours of the day。 Conversation； in
those days； was not relegated to night and late hours； a man was not
forced； as at the present day； to subordinate it to the exigencies of
work and money； of the Assembly and the Exchange。 Talking is the
main business。 〃Entering at two o'clock；〃 says Morellet；＇5＇ 〃we
almost all remained until seven or eight o'clock in the evening。 。
。 。 Here could be heard the most liberal； the most animated； the
most instructive conversation that ever took place。 。 。 。
There was no political or religious temerity which was not brought
forward and discussed pro and con。 。 。 。 Frequently some one
of the company would begin to speak and state his theory in full；
without interruption。 At other times it would be a combat of one
against one； of which the rest remained silent spectators。 Here I
heard Roux and Darcet expose their theory of the earth； Marmontel the
admirable principles he collected together in his 'Elements de La
Littérature；' Raynal； telling us in livres； sous and deniers； the
commerce of the Spaniards with Vera…Crux and of the English with their
colonies。〃 Diderot improvises on the arts and on moral and
metaphysical subjects； with that incomparable fervor and wealth of
expression； that flood of logic and of illustration； those happy hits
of style and that mimetic power which belonged to him alone； and of
which but two or three of his works preserve even the feeblest image。
In their midst Galiani； secretary of the Neapolitan Embassy； a clever
dwarf； a genius； 〃a sort of Plato or Machiavelli with the spirit and
action of a harlequin；〃 inexhaustible in stories； an admirable
buffoon； and an accomplished skeptic； 〃having no faith in anything； on
anything or about anything；〃＇6＇ not even in the new philosophy； braves
the atheists of the drawing…room； beats down their dithyrambs with
puns； and； with his perruque in his hand； sitting cross…legged on the
chair on which he is perched； proves to them in a comic apologia that
they raisonnent （reason） or résonnent （resound or echo） if not as
cruches （blockheads） at least as cloches （bells）；〃 in any event almost
as poorly as theologians。 One of those present says； 〃It was the
most diverting thing possible and worth the best of plays。〃
How can the nobles； who pass their lives in talking； refrain from
the society of people who talk so well？ They might as well expect
their wives； who frequ