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nefactor to his own country in particular, and to human nature in general. That noxious superstition he has been a main cause of disarming, for never can it be much more than John Bunyan has made it, even in France and with a Bourbon on its throne. We hesitate not to say, that the man who so washed it out of the minds of the large population of his country that the faction intent on reviving it in its pristine fearfulness have no alternative but to begin again, has all but succeeded. Recommencement truly! recom→ mence where-at the revocation of the Edict of Nantz, or at the Bull Unigenitus? This remark is not extended to religion generally, but to the old religion and the ci-devant hierachy of France, with their monstrous power of annoyance and persecu tion. Of that religion, whether contemplated in three-crowned majesty dispensing orders tocrouching monarchs, and brutalising and fleecing their subjects, or in the extreme of Irish abasement,* a

*The phrase, Irish Abasement, escapes with infinite reluc tance; but what can be said of a body, the priestly and even lay leaders of which deal in Hohenlohe awards and-to borrow a phrase applied by the French wits to those of the Jansenists in garret miracles even in these days? Heaven knows, if the propriety of what is termed the emancipation of the Irish Catho lics, rested on no stronger grounds than their own progress in discretion, it would form the weakest of all causes. Happily, it is founded on a claim so lofty and immutable, as not to be weakened even by the absurdities of the claimants; and by the fact, that the admission of it is a great step to their removal. It is useless to speculate on the respectability and good conduct of a body like the English Catholics, for the most part people of family and property, softened and sentimentalised by recollections of past greatness and the merit of conscientious sacrifice. Look at the operation of the Catholic superstition upon the great majority of the people of every community, where it is rigidly and exclusively supported. Look at its effect in Spain, and let us ask if a Spanish Voltaire had prepared the way for the downfal of that oppressive and rancorous hierarchy, the blessing would not have been felt at this moment? It is only necessary to look

calm and enlightened lover of his species can form but one opinion-that it has uniformly opposed itself to political freedom, and the progressive amelioration of the social state. It never had, it never will have, more than one claim to consideration, and that is, when its own oppression is re-acted on itself-its own maxims put into force. It is no nice estimation of the mode of attack and of the nature of the weapon-no_casuistical refinement upon the exact point when discretion failed, when the argument was carried too far, and when the assailant ought to have paused,-which can rob Voltaire of the honest fame of having broken down, and for ever, the most baleful order of domination that ever existed, and that by the arms of wit, reason, and adventrous exposure alone. It must be something more than a few light-minded and fantastical inconsistences, which can erase the name of this man from the list of the benefactors to mankind.

But great as are his claims on this score, they by no means form his only title to the gratitude of his fellow creatures. It is trite to observe, that books are useful in proportion as they are read; and that the most able and elaborate productions, if only partially perused, must be comparatively inefficient. The elegant and perspi cuous style in which Voltaire conveyed his various information, the fascinating brilliancy of his allusion, the picquant attraction of his wit, and the easy flow of his narrative, made readers of every body; and such is the spontaneous and natural order of his thoughts, that his prose is less injured by translation than that of any other author on record. Such have been the operation at the character and conduct of the common people of Spain, Portugal, Naples, &c. &c. to answer this question, even if a glance at Ireland would not go far to save all the trouble.-T.

of these charms, it would be difficult to say how much his cotemporaries and posterity owe to the labours of Voltaire; for, setting aside his diligent and never-neglected exposure of superstition and priestcraft and their historical train of horrors, he uniformly inculcates the finest lessons of humanity, and those improved views of the genuine nature of the social progress, which are now happily established beyond the power of Holy Alliances to unsettle, if not to impede. It is asserted, to be sure, and may be allowed, that the works of Voltaire, to which we more particularly allude, convey no great depth of information, upon points of mere erudition and closely elaborate research. So much the better for his purpose, for in that case they would not have moved the general mind, which was his useful and beneficial object. It must never be forgotten, that he wrote for every body; and it would be immensely useful if other able men would do the same. A German taste exists at this time, which affects an amazing contempt for writers whom all the world can understand, and consequently for Voltaire. The perfection of human genius in such estimation, is exhibited in the art of mystification. Common thoughts are borne aloft into the clouds, and we no longer know them for that which they were, and still less for any thing else; and all this is played off with a gravity of pretension, which is quite edifying. These are not the levers by which society can be rectified or exalted, nor were they those of Voltaire.* The cant of philanthropy is as despicable as any other cant; and mind must exercise

*These flights resemble the voyages of the modern aronauts, who ascend into the clouds amidst the gaze and expectation of multitudes, and as constantly reach earth again with a similar provoking barrenness of result.

itself in various departments; but the quiddities and conundrums of this class of writers, in comparison with the effective and manly exertions of Voltaire, resemble the learned lucubrations of the schoolmen in opposition to the effective intellectuality of Bacon.

The reader will perceive, that the foregoing review of the character of Voltaire is chiefly confined to a consideration of his claims as a man of social purpose, or, if it must be so, as a philosopher. As a man of genius and of literature, he has been so often and so ably estimated, it would be in vain to attempt novelty either of illustration or discovery. On the former point, the case is different it is the practice of a powerful party to prate him down; and, owing to mental cowardice, many who are too conscientious to join in the jargon, allow it to pass. Hence this brief rally, which is scarcely out of place in an introduction to the republication of a work so connected with the light in which he has here been chiefly considered. Upon that work a few very candid observations will now follow, and then this voluntary task will be ended.

The Philosophical Dictionary is one of the most lively, amusing, and various books of fact and illustration now in existence; comprising information adapted to every taste and line of study, delivered with the wit, animation, ease, and perspicuity, for which its gifted author was unrivalled. There is scarcely a topic which has instructed or amused the world of letters, which is not treated of; nor any part of the varied shores which bound the ever-revolving tide of human opinion, left unexplored. It must no doubt be admitted, that the scriptural narrative, especially in relation to Jewish history and

antiquities, is canvassed with great freedom; and what is still more disagreeable to many grave and respectable persons, with occasional sallies of wit and raillery, which, it is to be feared, will not in their estimation be entirely atoned for by the air of deference and of extreme good manners with which they are usually concluded. But on the other hand it may be pleaded, that a great number of serious people deem the most important doctrines of religion unaffected by any alleged or presumed discrepancies in the above relations; and the fact is unanswerable, that a still greater number of learned persons are well paid to reconcile them. What more need be said? It is good to hear all sides. It will be more difficult to satisfy the objectors to wit; it being impossible to say that there is none; but then it is of great logical capability, shutting up, like the plant in the seed, a complete set of premises and conclusions-the flash usually escaping with the latter. This being the case, nothing in the world will be more easy than to turn them into syllogisms previous to reply; by which expedient their fallacy will be the more readily detected, and the reasoning be made to assume the decent solemnity, which is so becoming in criminals on the point of execution.

Whether this advice be followed or no, it is not necessary to lose some excellent ore for a small portion of alloy. We admire the sun, although it sometimes scorches, and pluck the rose which is surrounded by thorns. În a word, a strong conviction exists, that this very entertaining and discursive work will be welcome to a great many people, and who can please all?

It only remains to explain to the reader that the French edition of the Philosophical Diction

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