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the society of people who talk so well？ They might as well expect
their wives； who frequent the theater every night； and who perform at
home； not to attract famous actors and singers to their receptions；
Jelyotte； Sainval； Préville； and young Molé who； quite ill and needing
restoratives； 〃receives in one day more than 2；000 bottles of wine of
different sorts from the ladies of the court；〃 Mlle。 Clairon； who；
consigned to prison in Fort l'Eveque； attracts to it 〃an immense crowd
of carriages；〃 presiding over the most select company in the best
apartment of the prison＇7＇。 With life thus regarded； a philosopher
with his ideas is as necessary in a drawing room as a chandelier with
its lights。 He forms a part of the new system of luxury。 He is an
article of export。 Sovereigns； amidst their splendor； and at the
height of their success； invite them to their courts to enjoy for once
in their life the pleasure of perfect and free discourse。 When
Voltaire arrives in Prussia Frederic II。 is willing to kiss his
hand； fawning on him as on a mistress； and； at a later period； after
such mutual fondling； he cannot dispense with carrying on
conversations with him by letter。 Catherine II。 sends for Diderot；
and； for two or three hours every day； she plays with him the great
game of the intellect。 Gustavus III。； in France； is intimate with
Marmontel； and considers a visit from Rousseau as the highest
honor＇8＇。 It is said with truth of Voltaire that 〃he holds the four
kings in his hand；〃 those of Prussia； Sweden； Denmark and Russia；
without mentioning lower cards； the princes； princesses； grand dukes
and markgraves。 The principal r？le in this society evidently belongs
to authors； their ways and doings form the subject of gossip； people
never weary of paying them homage。 Here； writes Hume to
Robertson；＇9＇ 〃I feed on ambrosia； drink nothing but nectar； breathe
incense only and walk on flowers。 Every man I meet； and especially
every woman； would consider themselves as failing in the most
indispensable duty if they did not favor me with a lengthy and
ingenious discourse on my celebrity。〃 Presented at court； the future
Louis XVI； aged ten years； the future Louis XVIII； aged eight years；
and the future Charles X； aged four years； each recites a compliment
to him on his works。 I need not narrate the return of Voltaire； his
triumphant entry；
＇10＇ the Academy in a body coming to welcome him； his
carriage stopped by the crowd； the thronged streets； the windows；
steps and balconies filled with admirers； an intoxicated audience in
the theater incessantly applauding； outside an entire population
carrying him off with huzzahs； in the drawing…rooms a continual
concourse equal to that of the king； grand seigniors pressed against
the door with outstretched ears to catch a word； and great ladies
standing on tiptoe to observe the slightest gesture。 〃To form any
conception of what I experienced；〃 says one of those present； 〃one
should breathe the atmosphere of enthusiasm I lived in。 I spoke with
him。〃 This expression at that time converted any new…comer into an
important character。 He had； in fact； seen the wonderful orchestra…
leader who； for more than fifty years； conducted the tumultuous
concert of serious or court…vêtues ideas； and who； always on the
stage； always chief； the recognized leader of universal conversation；
supplied the motives； gave the pitch； marked the measure； stamped the
inspiration； and drew the first note on the violin。
III。 FRENCH INDOLENCE。
Further effects of indolence。 … The skeptical； licentious and
seditious spirit。 … Previous resentment and fresh discontent at the
established order of things。 … Sympathy for the theories against it。
… How far accepted。
Listen to the shouts that greet him： Hurrah for the author of the
Henriade！ the defender of Calas； the author of La Pucelle！ Nobody of
the present day would utter the first； nor especially the last hurrah。
This indicates the tendency of the century； not only were writers
called upon for ideas； but again for antagonistic ideas。 To render
an aristocracy inactive is to render it rebellious； people are more
willing to submit to rules they have themselves helped to enforce。
Would you rally them to the support of the government？ Then let them
take part in it。 If not they stand by as an onlooker and see nothing
but the mistakes it commits； feeling only its irritations； and
disposed only to criticize and to hoot at it。 In fact； in this case；
they are as if in the theater； where they go to be amused； and；
especially； not to be put to any inconvenience。 What inconveniences
in the established order of things； and indeed in any established
order！ … In the first place； religion。 To the amiable 〃idlers〃
whom Voltaire describes；＇11＇ to 〃the 100；000 persons with nothing to
do but to play and to amuse themselves；〃 religion is the most
disagreeable of pedagogues； always scolding； hostile to sensible
amusement and free discussion； burning books which one wants to read；
and imposing dogmas that are no longer comprehensible。 In plain
terms religion is an eyesore； and whoever wishes to throw stones at
her is welcome。 There is another bond； the moral law of the
sexes。 It seems onerous to men of pleasure； to the companions of
Richelieu； Lauzun and Tilly； to the heroes of Crebillon the younger；
and all others belonging to that libertine and gallant society for
whom license has become the rule。 Our fine gentlemen are quite ready
to adopt a theory which justifies their practices。＇12＇ They are very
glad to be told that marriage is conventional and a thing of
prejudice。 Saint… Lambert obtains their applause at supper when；
raising a glass of champagne； he proposes as a toast a return to
nature and the customs of Tahiti＇13＇。 The last fetter of all is the
government； the most galling； for it enforces the rest and keeps man
down with its weight； along with the added weight of the others。 It
is absolute； it is centralized； it works through favorites； it is
backward； it makes mistakes； it has reverses： how many causes of
discontent embraced in a few words！ It is opposed by the vague and
suppressed resentment of the former powers which it has dispossessed；
the provincial assemblies； the parliaments； the grandees of the
provinces； the old stock of nobles； who； like the Mirabeau； retain the
old feudal spirit； and like Chateaubriand's father； call the Abbé
Raynal a 〃master…man。〃 Against it is the spite of all those who
imagine themselves frustrated in the distribution of offices and of
favors； not only the provincial nobility who remain outside＇14＇ while
the court nobility are feasting at the royal banquet； but again the
majority of the courtiers who are obliged to be content with crumbs；
while the little circle of intimate favorites swallow down the large
morsels。 It has against it the ill…humor of those under its
dire