My friends,
concerned for my safety, imagined they already saw me in the
Bastile. This apprehension never once entered my head, and I was right
in not being afraid. The good prince, after reading my answer, said:
"I have enough of it; I will not return to the charge." I have,
since that time, received from him different marks of esteem and
benevolence, some of which I shall have occasion to speak of; and what
I had written was read in France, and throughout Europe, without
meeting the least censure.
In a little time I had another adversary whom I had not expected;
this was the same M. Bordes, of Lyons, who ten years before had
shown me much friendship, and from whom I had received several
services. I had not forgotten him, but had neglected him from
idleness, and had not sent him my writings for want of an opportunity,
without seeking for it, to get them conveyed to his hands. I was
therefore in the wrong, and he attacked me; this, however, he did
politely, and I answered in the same manner. He replied more
decidedly. This produced my last answer; after which I heard no more
from him upon the subject; but he became my most violent enemy, took
the advantage of the time of my misfortunes, to publish against me the
most indecent libels, and made a journey to London on purpose to do me
an injury.
All this controversy employed me a good deal, and caused me a
great loss of my time in my copying, without much contributing to
the progress of truth, or the good of my purse.
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