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yielded to the representations of his friends, and, paro-dying the title of the attack, brought out his “ Lettresecrites de la Montagne." This had no influence overthe council: they persisted in their refusal — and evenreiterated their decree. From that moment Rousseau declared that he would mingle no more in public affairs;— and he kept his word.
But the mischief was already done. The quarrelbetween the citizens and council of Geneva, on thesubject of the right of the latter to enact decrees withoutconsulting the former, was attended with disturbancesand bloodshed. The whole country was in tumults. The“ Letters from the Mountain ” were more anti-christianthan any of his preceding works. The clergy were en-raged r the peasantry of Neufchatel were taught to re-gard him as a monster; from execration they proceededto personal attack ; stones were thrown at him during hiswalks—and at last, the ferment arriving at its height, hishouse was attacked in the night by the country people : itappeared certain that his life was in the utmost danger ;the officers of government were disquieted by the appre-hension of more fatal disturbances, and the probabilityof his being assassinated : he himself was sick at heart atfinding himself the object of open and loud execration.Resolving to leave Motiers, he felt uncertain whither togo. His Parisian friends had interested David Flumein his behalf, and exhorted him to fake up his abode inEngland. Frederic invited him to Berlin , where thefriendship of lord Keith assured him a cordial welcomefrom at least one friend. He was inclined to a farwilder scheme; — the Corsicans had asked him to framea code of laws, and he entertained the idea of establish-ing himself in their island. The sudden necessity ofinstant removal drove this idea from his mind; andanother presented itself that accorded with his tastes.During his botanical rambles he had visited the islandof St. Pierre situated in the lake of Bienne , and de-pendent on the canton of Berne. The aspect of the islehad enchanted him. A difficulty arose, from his having