1 66 LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN.

prince asked him about his music, and then alludedto literature, and quoted one of the opinions Rousseau had himself advanced, of the danger of certain literaryacquirements: in a moment he was on the alert to reply,entering into the argument with more eloquence than hehad ever showed in his writings, and developing his ideaswith delicacy and precision ; for it is remarkable that theembarrassment and confusion of ideas, of which Rous-seau complains as habitual to him in conversation, neveroccurred, except when he fancied that something wasexpected, and his extreme shyness interfered to perplexhis ideas, and even his utterance. But in the commoncourse of conversation all agree in describing him asmore than entertaining, as fascinating, through his elo-quence, his perspicuity, and the vivacity and energy ofhis imagery and ideas ; but these were not to be exer-cised on the trivial topics of the day, but on the highmoral and philosophical sentiments and opinions thatwarmed his soul. On leaving him, the prince wrotehim a letter, telling him who he was, and offering himan asylum in his states. His letter is a singular one ;he tells him that no one knew how to read in his country,and that he would neither he admired nor persecuted.He continues: “You shall have the key of my booksand my gardens ; you shall see me or not as you please;you shall have a small country-house a mile from mine,where you can sow and plant just as you like ; as, likeyou, I dislike thrones and dominations, you shall ruleno one, and no one will rule you. If you accept myoffers, I will lead you myself to the Temple of Virtue— such shall he the name of your abode, though wewill not call it thus ; I will spare your modesty all thetriumphs you have well deserved.”

The prince declares that this letter was written in thesincerity of his heart; afterwards it was spread throughParis as a bad imitation of Horace Walpole ’s fabrication,and Rousseau himself believed that it was a trick.However, at first he took it as sincere, and called onthe prince : he described his misfortunes, his enemies,