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LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN.

messages and invitations; but Rousseau , with properpride, shunned advances, the nature of which he didnot fully comprehend. This occasioned further demon-strations. The duke visited him—he became an ha-bitual guest at the chateau—rooms were furnished forhim in a sort of pleasure-house, or smaller chateau, inthe grounds — and he was treated by the whole familywith all that cordial and winning grace peculiar toFrench persons of rank in those days. He read the“ Nouvelle Helo'ise” and “ Emile” to the duchess, whopaid him the most flattering attentions. Both she andher husband displayed warm interest in his fortunes; andthe noble, amiable character of the marshal was a pledgethat such would prove neither treacherous nor evanescent.They were serviceable, without impertinent interference

— kind, without pretension.

This may be considered a happy period in Rousseau ’slife. The works on which his fame is chiefly foundedwere finished or composed during these years. The“Nouvelle Helo’ise” was published at the end of 1760.With all its errors, this novel is full of noble sentimentsand elevated morality—of true and admirable views oflife — and an eloquence burning and absorbing. Itssuccess was unparalleled. Parisian society, engrossed byintrigues and follies, yet felt at its core that passion wasthe root even of these — depraved and distorted as pas-sion was by their social laws and opinions; and, thusbrought back to its natural expression, they were car-ried away by enthusiastic admiration. The women in par-ticular, who are always the losers in a system of heart-less gallantry,— since they seldom, if ever, cultivate alove of pleasure destitute of sentiment — as is the casewith a number of men, — were charmed by a book whichincreased their influence by exalting love. Anotherinterest was excited by the notion generally spread, thatthe book contained the history of the author’s early life.Rousseau was identified with St. Preux, and gained bythe idea. This work was followed by the “ Emile, ”

— a book that deserves higher praise. That he adopted