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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 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