1 832.] The Autobiography of St. Simon. 659 



in ratio to the injury I have done my reputation. I have every reason 

 to applaud the line of conduct I have followed, since it has enabled me to 

 offer new and positive views to my contemporaries j since the universal 

 genius of the Emperor has not impeded me, and my admiration for him 

 has not altered the independence of my thoughts. 



It will be easily conceived that many most extraordinary things have 

 happened to me. I shall in fact have to relate some most amusing and 

 piquant anecdotes ; but at this moment a more important labour occupies 

 me it absorbs all my time and all my faculties. I have yet a vigorous 

 constitution. I live yet in futurity when I am old I shall then begin to 

 babble. 



I shall terminate this first part by a comparison. A human generation 

 may be compared to a year of vegetation. 



In the spring the orchards are covered with flowers. Some blow 

 some fade the greater part die and fall off before summer without having 

 budded. Is not this a striking image of the children of a generation ? 



In the summer, the beauty of the orchard is of another description. 

 We see fruits, some few of which are thriving, while the rest languish 

 and fall. Again, is not this the image of the virility of a generation ! 



In the autumn the orchard still presents a beautiful aspect j its fruit is in 

 full maturity : this is the spectacle of the happy part of a generation who 

 have distinguished themselves by useful and honourable labours. 



Lastly, at the commencement of winter the orchard yet presents some 

 objects upon which the eye may agreeably dwell. Some fruits are yet 

 to be seen. These are the old men, who, after having made numerous 

 experiments, and carefully examined their results, preserve yet a suffi- 

 cient vigour of constitution to give an account of their labours with 

 animation, clearness, and precision. These men are philosophers of 

 invention. 



Conceiving that there are many readers to whom the above translation 

 of St. Simon's account of his views and opinions would be acceptable, 

 we make no apology for inserting it, although to others it may be 

 familiar. 



What elevation of sentiment, what genius, we discover in this frag- 

 ment ! It presents to us a man whose sole and unceasing desire was to 

 exercise an immediate action upon his contemporaries. First, an en- 

 thusiastic lover of science, and endeavouring to found a Newtonian reli- 

 gion. Then the champion of industry and finance, and wishing to throw 

 into the hands of the industrious classes the supreme direction of society. 

 And, lastly, at a later period, when the Catholic clergy again endeavoured 

 to assume their former influence, we find him writing the New Christi- 

 anity. Such was St. Simon. A man who had outstripped the progress 

 of the age in which he lived, and whose system at the present day is uni- 

 versally regarded as the wild chimera of an enthusiastic and overwrought 

 imagination, the practical application of which was fraught with danger 

 to the existing community. Admitting such an improved state of society 

 possible as contemplated by St. Simon, we should guard against the 

 error of supposing that it is near, and that there is a short and ready road 

 to it open before us. The generous feeling and enlightened sentiment, 

 however, at present pervading this country, almost justify every dream 

 and vision of human advancement, and every hope of human cultivation 

 and happiness. 



