ROUSSEAU.

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rally, as well as he could, by the light of little else thanhis own natural reason.

At first, his head was perpetually full of projects foradvancement. He made many little journeys to Lyons,Geneva, and Niort , for the sake of prosecuting schemes,tvhich he believed to be fraught with advantages ; butwhich failing each in turn, he returned penniless to hishome with madame de Warens . By degrees, however,he fell into a bad state of health. Feeling an inexplica-ble weakness pervade his frame, he believed he had buta short time to live, and lost his desire for advancementin the languor and bodily inaction produced by disease.His protectress, for the sake of securing a friend at thecourt of Savoy, rented a house of a Piedmontese nobleat Chambery , which no one else would take, being closeand damp. In the summer, she escaped from this speciesof prison to a small country house, Les Charmettes, nearChambery. There, in solitude and tranquillity, Rousseau gave himself up to study. Mathematics and Latin w'erehis principal occupations: he worked hard: there wasan inaptitude to remember in him which made know-ledge difficult to acquire; but he acquired the power ofreflection—he learnt to distinguish his ideas—he re-cognised moral principles and philosophical truths —he penetrated deeply into the secret springs of humanaction. Man’s nature was often exposed as a map be-fore him—and he knew its various bearings and powers—although he was ill able then, as ever, to control itsimpulses as they existed within himself.

The confidential domestic of madame de Warens died; and Rousseau , in some sort fulfilling his avo-cations, discovered the ruin into which his protectresswas plunged, through her love of scheming, and theready ear she gave to every quack and swindler whosought her for the sake of plunder. It became hisdesire to save her; and, if that were impossible, to makesuch a fortune as would enable him to be of use to herin his turn.