These two little productions,
the former of which was by Grimm, the latter by myself, are the only
ones which have outlived the quarrel; all the rest are long since
forgotten.
* King's corner,- Queen's corner.
But the Petit Prophete, which, notwithstanding all I could say,
was for a long time attributed to me, was considered as a
pleasantry, and did not produce the least inconvenience to the author:
whereas the letter on music was taken seriously, and incensed
against me the whole nation, which thought itself offended by this
attack on its music. The description of the incredible effect of
this pamphlet would be worthy of the pen of Tacitus. The great quarrel
between the parliament and the clergy was then at its height. The
parliament had just been exiled; the fermentation was general;
everything announced an approaching insurrection. The pamphlet
appeared: from that moment every other quarrel was forgotten; the
perilous state of French music was the only thing by which the
attention of the public was engaged, and the only insurrection was
against myself. This was so general that it has never since been
totally calmed. At court, the bastile or banishment was absolutely
determined on, and a lettre de cachet would have been issued had not
M. de Voyer set forth in the most forcible manner that such a step
would be ridiculous. Were I to say this pamphlet probably prevented
a revolution, the reader would imagine I was in a dream. It is,
however, a fact, the truth of which all Paris can attest, it being
no more than fifteen years since the date of this singular fad.
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