DE M. MARMONTEL 19

a Spirit of Liberty, equally abhorrent of RébellionandofTyranny, the Rights ofKingsalways afferted, •and thofe of Mankind never laid aside.

The famé Spirit, in which it is written , gave methe Confidence, to o fier it to the virtuous Confortof a King , who among fo many crowned Headsenjoys , almost alone , the inestimable 1 Honour ofruling a íree Nation , a King who makes his Powerconsist in being beloved , and his Glory in beingjust.

Our Dejcartes , who was the greatest Philosopherin Europe, before Sir IJaac JVewlon appeared, dedi-cated his Principles to the celebrated Princefs Pala-tine Elisabeth , not , laid he , becaufe she was aPrincefs, for true Philofophers respect Princes, andnever flatter them, but becaufe of ail his Readersshe understood him the best , and loved Truth themost.

I beg Leave , M adam, ( without comparingmy self to Dejcartes ) to dedicate the Henriade toy ou r Majesty , upon the like Account, notonly as the Protectress of ail Arts and Sciences ,but as the best Judge of them.

I am with that profound respect , which is dueto the greatest Virtue , as well as to the higestRank.

May it pleafe your Majesty,

Y O U R M A J E S T Y’ S

most humble, most dutiful, mostobliged Servant,

Voltaire.