The storm brought on by the Encyclopedie, far from
being appeased, was at this time at its height. Two parties
exasperated against each other to the last degree of fury soon
resembled enraged wolves, set on for their mutual destruction,
rather than Christians and philosophers, who had a reciprocal wish
to enlighten and convince each other, and lead their brethren to the
way of truth. Perhaps nothing more was wanting to each party than a
few turbulent chiefs, who possessed a little power, to make this
quarrel terminate in a civil war; and God only knows what a civil
war of religion founded on each side upon the most cruel intolerance
would have produced. Naturally an enemy to all spirit of party, I
had freely spoken severe truths to each, of which they had not
listened. I thought of another expedient, which, in my simplicity,
appeared to me admirable: this was to abate their reciprocal hatred by
destroying their prejudices, and showing to each party the virtue
and merit which in the other was worthy of public esteem and
respect. This project, little remarkable for its wisdom, which
supported sincerity in mankind, and whereby I fell into the error with
which I reproached the Abbe de Saint-Pierre, had the success that
was to be expected from it: it drew together and united the parties
for no other purpose than that of crushing the author. Until
experience made me discover my folly, I gave my attention to it with a
zeal worthy of the motive by which I was inspired; and I imagined
the two characters of Wolmar and Julia in an ecstasy, which made me
hope to render them both amiable, and, what is still more, by means of
each other.
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