Life of Voltaire Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1881 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXIV. PURSUIT OF LITERATURE UNDER DIFFICULTIES. "La Henriade" was at length allowed to be sold in France. The applause of Europe, the patronage of friendly courts, the popularity of the work at home, had their effect upon a ministry every member of which, except one, seems to have enjoyed and admired the poem. There is reason to think that the Cardinal de Fleury himself did so. This wondrous rSgime often affords us the spectacle of an administration suppressing a book which nearly every member delighted in, and suppressing it, perhaps, with the more energy because they delighted in it. "La Henriade" was, however, only tolerated. "This new edition," the author wrote, in 1731, "of the poem of' La Henriade, ' has been issued at Paris by the tacit permission of M. Chauvelin, Master of Requests, and of M. HeYault, Lieutenant of Police, without the Keeper of the Seals yet knowing the least thing about it." There is another sentence in the same letter which the reader will do well to bear in mind: "All M. de Chauvelin desires is to give no pretext to complaints against himself;" and M. de Chauvelin was the protSgS and confidant of the Cardinal de Fleury. Of all the cabinet he stood nearest to the prime minister. Henceforth, then, "La Henriade " was a tolerated book in France. The tragedy of "Brutus," printed in England in 1727, and since revised, was offered to the manager in December, 1729. The author invited the actors to dinner, with Thieriot and one or two other friends. After dinner, he read the play; which was accepted, put in rehearsal, and announced for presentation. Some places were sold for the opening night, when suddenly the author withdrew the piece, giving two reasons for so doing. "I am assured on all sides," he wrote to...