VOLTAIRE.

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Marmontel had several years before been excited byhim to venture on a literary career in Paris . On hisarrival, Voltaire received him with a cordiality thatwarmed the young man’s heart ; his purse and housewere open to him. Nor did he stop at mere offers ;he encouraged him in his arduous endeavours, and heshowed paternal joy in his success. These are real andabsolute virtues in a great man. There is so littleencouragement to literary ambition abroad in theworld, especially in this country. Those who holdthe place of judges in the literary world (including inthis class those whose trade is criticism as well as ama-teurs) are so afraid of compromising their reputation ;and the rest of society dare not pronounce an opinionfor themselves; so that, except in those instances inwhich, by a happy hit or servile fosterage of prejudices,popular favour is gained, and a speedy sale of an edi-tion gives undeniable proof of success, authors of pro-mise do not meet with the tithe of the encouragementnecessary to sustain them hopeful and glad in theirlaborious career. Voltaire ’s sensitive heart felt thatpraise and sympathy were the proper food of the youngaspirant, and as necessary as food, in keeping up thatbuoyant and confiding spirit which alone enables himto develope all his powers ; he displayed, therefore, invoice and manner, and in actions, such earnest sympathyas served as the dearest reward and encouragement tothe author. His kindness to Marmontel was unalter-able, but their intercourse was broken off by his expa-triation. Marmontel, accompanied by a friend, visitedhim at Les Delices soon after his arrival in Swit-zerland . “ Our welcome,” he narrates, “ was themost singular and original in the world. Voltaire was in bed when we arrived: he held out his arms,and wept with joy, as he embraced me. ‘ You find medying,’ he said, ‘ and you come to restore, or to receivemy last sigh.’ My companion was frightened at thiscommencement; but I, who had heard Voltaire declarehimself dying a hundred times before, made him a sign