114 LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN.

tyranny, that falls peculiarly on themselves, makes afrightful impression; it appears to enfranchise themfrom the tacit vow of obedience under which they beforelived, and causes them to regard their elders as treach-erous enemies.

Leaving their country pension, the boys continuedto lead a happy life at the house of Bernard, who wasan engineer. He brought up his son to the same pro-fession, and Rousseau shared his cousin’s lessons. Atlength it was decided that he must adopt some calling,by which to earn his livelihood : he was placed with agreffier, or attorney; but he disliked the employment,and neglected his duties; he was dismissed, and ap-prenticed to an engraver. Here he appears to havebeen neglected by his relations; and the vulgarity andviolence of his master had the worst effect on his cha-racter. There was that in Rousseau , which is oftenfound in the early years of genius, — detestation of con-trol ■— rebellion against all forced application. Eagerto occupy himself, if allowed the choice of employment ;revolting from a routine, in which his own purposesand inclinations were not consulted; it is one of theSphinx’s riddles, not yet divined, how to break in thedaring and aspiring spirit of youth to the necessities oflife, without exciting discontent and rebellion. Theheart opening at that age more warmly to the affections,nature seems to point out the way,—but who in society,as it is formed, takes nature for a director ?

Beaten, maltreated, hard worked, Rousseau becameidle, timid, and lying. It is strange, but true, how, inthe little republic of Geneva, money is perhaps morethe main spring of existence than in larger states, andhow early the children of the artizans are subjected tothe grinding evils of penury. Brought up to earn theirsubsistence as soon as is practicable, the parents are eagerto cast them wholly on their own exertions : and thenumerous class of young people, male and female, de-cently horn and bred, who, in that city, live by attendancein shops, by the needle, or the -workman's tool, suffer