The whole may be seen
in the work itself.
There is nothing in this world but time and misfortune, and every
act of courage seems to be a crime in adversity. For that which had
been admired in Montesquieu, I received only blame and reproach. As
soon as my work was printed, and I had copies of it, I sent one to
Saint Lambert, who, the evening before, had written to me in his own
name and that of Madam d'Houdetot, a note expressive of the most
tender friendship.
The following is the letter he wrote to me when he returned the copy
I had sent him. (Packet B, No. 38.)
EAUBONNE, 10th October, 1758.
"Indeed, sir, I cannot accept the present you have just made me.
In that part of your preface where, relative to Diderot, you quote a
passage from Ecclesiastes (he mistakes, it is from Ecclesiasticus) the
book dropped from my hand. In the conversations we had together in the
summer, you seemed to be persuaded Diderot was not guilty of the
pretended indiscretions you had imputed to him. You may, for aught I
know to the contrary, have reason to complain of him, but this does
not give you a right to insult him publicly. You are not
unacquainted with the nature of the persecutions he suffers, and you
join the voice of an old friend to that of envy. I cannot refrain from
telling you, sir, how much this heinous act of yours has shocked me. I
am not acquainted with Diderot, but I honor him, and I have a lively
sense of the pain you give to a man, whom, at least not in my hearing,
you have never reproached with anything more than a trifling weakness.
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