50 LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN.

all scenic illusion, and afforded too narrow a space forthe actors. A formidable cabal opposed these innova-tions, headed by Piron and Crebillon; and Voltaire ,himself, was obliged to have recourse to means whichhad been unworthy of him under other circumstances,and to place a number of resolute friends in the pit, tooppose the adverse party. The piece was successful,and the poet eager to return to Luneville . He wassuffering greatly in his health. During his stay in Paris ,he had been attacked by low fever ; and his busy lifein the capital, where his days were given up to society,and his nights to authorship, exhausted the vital powers.Notwithstanding his suffering, he resolved to set out,and proceeded as far as Chalons , where he tvas obligedto give in, and take to his bed. The bishop and in-tendant of Chalons visited him ; they sent him a phy-sician ; but, without showing outward opposition, Vol-taire followed none of his prescriptions, and endeavouredto get rid of the intruders. He felt his danger; he en-treated his confidential servant, Longchamps not to aban-don him, and, as he said, to remain to cover his body withearth when he should expire. His fever and deliriumincreased, and his resolution not to take the remediesprescribed was firm : every one expected to see him die ;he, himself, anticipated death, and gave his secretary in-structions how to act. On the sixth day, though ap-parently as ill as ever, he resolved to proceed on hisjourney, declaring that he would not die at Chalons .He was lifted into his carriage ; his secretary took hisplace beside him ; he did not speak, and was so wanand feeble, that Longchamp feared that he would neverarrive alive : hut as they went on, he grew better ; sleepand appetite returned ; he was much recovered whenthey reached Luneville; the presence of madame duChatelet reanimated him ; a few days with her causedall his gaiety to return, and he forgot his sufferings anddanger.

This appears to have been a very happy portion ofVoltaire ’s life. His friendship for madame du Cha-