152 LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN.

nature, wherever it he found. Won by his benevolence,Rousseau addressed four letters to him, explaining anddescribing his opinions, motives, and conduct. Theseletters are, as it were, an introduction to the “ Confes-sions.” They are written with the same persuasive elo-quence, and passionate love for the good and beautiful,that reigns in the last parts of the “Nouvelle Heloi'se,”and forms their charm.

He had been ill during the publication of the“ Emile,” and rendered vehemently anxious by delays ofthe press. At length the book appeared ; — but it borea stamp to intimidate his admirers and silence theirpublic applause ; and it was therefore received moresilently than any other of his works. The Confessionof the Vicar of Savoy is a declaration of pure deism ;and, in particular, is levelled against various perniciouserrors of Catholicism . The great foundation stone ofpapacy is auricular confession, which enables the clergyto put all sins against the ordinances of the church inthe first class ; and to look on falsehood, treachery, andintolerance, as virtues, when exercised for its sake. TheConfession allies religion and morals—makes the Gospela rule of conduct; and, though it doubts the mysteriesof the Christian faith, it speaks of them with reverence,but in a protestant spirit, totally at variance withCatholicism . This portion of his book excited remark,and exposed the author to the persecutions of the French priesthood.

But Rousseau felt perfectly secure. There wasnothing said in the Confession of the Vicar of Savoythat had not appeared before in the last part of the“Nouvelle Helo'ise.” He had himself, notwithstandingthese considerations, been exceedingly averse to publish-ing his work in France : the method then, with anybook bringing forward forbidden opinions, being to pub-lish it at Brussels, which sheltered the author fromthe French laws. But the duchess of Luxembourg andM. de Malesherbes persuaded him to let them undertakean edition in France ; and it was brought out at their

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