Among others, I met at
Lyons, with M. Perrichon, whose friendship I accuse myself with not
having sufficiently cultivated, considering the kindness he had for
me; and that of the good Parisot, which I shall speak of in its place;
at Grenoble, that of Madam Deybens and Madam la Presidente de
Bardonanche, a woman of great understanding, and who would have
entertained a friendship for me had it been in my power to have seen
her oftener; at Geneva, that of M. de la Closure, the French Resident,
who often spoke to me of my mother, the remembrance of whom neither
death nor time had erased from his heart; likewise those of the two
Barillots, the father, who was very amiable, a good companion, and one
of the most worthy men I ever met, calling me his grandson. During the
troubles of the republic, these two citizens took contrary sides,
the son siding with the people, the father with the magistrates.
When they took up arms in 1737, I was at Geneva, and saw the father
and son quit the same house armed, the one going to the town-house,
the other to his quarters, almost certain to meet face to face in
the course of two hours, and prepared to give or receive death from
each other. This unnatural sight made so lively an impression on me,
that I solemnly vowed never to interfere in any civil war, nor
assist in deciding our internal dispute by arms, either personally
or by my influence, should I ever enter into my rights as a citizen. I
can bring proofs of having kept this oath on a very delicate occasion,
and it will be confessed (at least I should suppose so) that this
moderation was of some worth.
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