My indignation was so raised at seeing so
many blockheads, who did not understand the question, attempt to
decide upon it imperiously, that in my answer I gave some of them
the worst of it. One M. Gautier, of Nancy, the first who fell under
the lash of my pen, was very roughly treated in a letter to M.
Grimm. The second was King Stanislaus, himself, who did not disdain to
enter the lists with me. The honor he did me, obliged me to change
my manner in combating his opinions; I made use of a graver style, but
not less nervous; and without failing in respect to the author, I
completely refuted his work. I knew a Jesuit, Father de Menou, had
been concerned in it. I depended on my judgment to distinguish what
was written by the prince, from the production of the monk, and
falling without mercy upon all the Jesuitical phrases, I remarked,
as I went along, an anachronism which I thought could come from nobody
but the priest. This composition, which, for what reason I knew not,
has been less spoken of than any of my other writings, is the only one
of its kind. I seized the opportunity which offered of showing to
the public in what manner an individual may defend the cause of
truth even against a sovereign. It is difficult to adopt a more
dignified and respectful manner than that in which I answered him. I
had the happiness to have to do with an adversary to whom, without
adulation, I could show every mark of the esteem of which my heart was
full; and this I did with success and a proper dignity.
Pages:
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526