VOLTAIRE (1694-1778). L.A., Lausanne January 29 [1758], to D - Lot 116

VOLTAIRE (1694-1778). L.A., Lausanne January 29 [1758], to D'alembert; 4pages in-4. Magnificent letter on his collaboration on the Encyclopédie, and on the affair of the Genève article. "I receive, my dear philosopher, your letter of the 11th. I will first tell you that I have just read your article on geometry. Quoyque je suis un peu rouillé sur ces matieres, jay eu un plaisir tres vif, et jay admiré les vues fines et profondes que vous répande partout." He sent the articles Hemistiche and Heureux: "Hemistiche is not a very brilliant commission. However, by embellishing the subject a little, I might have made it a useful article for literary people and amateurs. There's nothing to despise, and I'll do the comma word when you want me to. I repeat that it will always be a great pleasure for me to add a few grains of sand to your piramide. But don't abandon it, don't do what your ridiculous enemies wanted; don't give them this impertinent triumph. I've been doing the unfortunate job of a man of letters for forty years and more, and I've been plagued by enemies for forty years. I would make a biblioteque of the insults spewed against me, and the calumnies lavished upon me. I was alone, without any supporters, without any backing, and delivered to the beasts like a first cretien. That's how I spent my life in Paris. You are certainly not in the cruel and degrading situation that was the only reward for my work. You are one of the two academies pensioned by the King. This great work of the Enciclopedie, in which the nation must take an interest, is shared by you and a dozen superior men who must unite with you. They should all address Malesherbes as a body: "Why don't you prescribe the conditions? We need your work. It has become necessary. You must be given the means to continue it with honor, and without disgust. The glory of M. de Malzerbe is at stake. We must beg you to complete a work which must always be perfected, and which becomes better as it progresses. I don't understand how all those who are working don't get together, and declare that they will give up everything if we don't support them. But after the promise of support, they have to work. Make a corps, gentlemen. A corps is always respectable. I know that neither Cicero nor Loke were obliged to submit their works to the clerks of the customs of thought. I know that it is shameful that a society of superior minds working for the good of mankind should be subjected to censors unworthy of reading you. But can't you choose a few reasonable reviewers?" Malesherbes could help choose them. "Ameutez vous, et vous serez les maitres. I speak to you as a republican, but also it is about the republic of letters! O la pauvre republique!" Then he turns to the turmoil caused by the article Genève (written by d'Alembert): "A minister tells me that we owe you thanks [...] others are angry, others pretend to be angry. Some excite the people, others want to excite the magistrates". Voltaire points out that a commission has been set up on the subject, where the theologian Vernet and the great physician Tronchin seem favorable. "Vous n'ignorez pas combien on a crié sur l'ame atroce de Calvin, mot qui n'était pas dans ma lettre à Tiriot", very wrongly printed in the Mercure galant. "I have a house in the neighborhood that costs me more than a hundred thousand francs today. I merely told my friends that the atrocious soul had indeed been in Calvin, and was not in my letter. The magistrates and priests came to dine with me as usual. Continue to leave me and Tronchin in charge of the pleasant matter of the Sociniens de Geneve. You recognize them as cretiens; as Mr Chicaneau recognizes Me de Pimbeche as a very sensible woman of good judgment. That's enough. I am only very angry that two or three lines prevent you from coming back to us. I kiss you tenderly". And he adds: "Permit me only the courtesies with these shameful Socinians. It's not enough to make fun of them, you have to be polite. Make fun of everything and be cheerful.