condorcet: a biography. 205 



to light in the interests of a party and of certain mystical systems 

 rather than for the reputation of the author, procured, in the beginning of 

 177G, a complete copy of the manuscripts of Pascal, obtained from them 

 various passages that the saints of Port-Royal, with their Jansenistic 

 consciences, felt obliged to suppress, arranged them methodically, and 

 composed of the whole an octavo volume of 507 pages, copies of which 

 were sent to all the friends of the author, but which was not offered for 

 sale. Frankness compels me to say that the compiler of this new edi- 

 tion of Thoughts indulges, as did Arnaud, although in an entirely differ- 

 ent spirit, in systematic suppressions. We hasten to add, however, that 

 we have found a eulogy of Pascal by Condorcet, in which the great geome- 

 ter, the ingenious physicist, the profound thinker, the eloquent writer 

 is fully appreciated, and, with the most noble justice and impartiality, 

 Condorcet adds critical commentaries to several of the Thoughts of Pas- 

 cal. This audacity, in which Voltaire himself had already set him an 

 example, excited great indignation ; it was considered a sacrilege. To- 

 day the public would have been more indulgent. The admiration, amount- 

 ing to veneration, of that time is out of fashion now, and, if 1 do not 

 deceive myself, the tendency is in the opposite extreme. We no longer 

 think of asking, is such a criticism of a celebrated author irreverent, 

 but is it just. Considered, then, from our present point of view, the 

 remarks of Condorcet may be approved almost without exception. 



When the author of the Thoughts, pushing misanthropy to its utmost 

 limits, stated that if men were cognizant of all that was said by one of 

 another there would be not four friends in the world ; I like to find 

 the commentator protesting against this antisocial decision and blaming 

 Pascal for giving such a strange idea of his friends. 



When, in his ardent war against man's love of his own greatness, Pas- 

 cal insinuates that our actions, even those apparently most disinterested, 

 are always tinged with feeliugs of self-love, by the hope of publicity 

 and applause which follows in its train ; I read with delight, in a note 

 of the commentator, this touching anecdote borrowed from our Annates 

 Maritimes, and which contradicts the melancholy declaration of Pascal: 



" The vessel which contained the Chevalier de Lordat was wrecked 

 and about to sink in view of the shores of France. The chevalier did 

 not know how to swim ; a soldier, an excellent swimmer, offered, if he 

 would spring with him into the sea and would cling to his arm, to save 

 him if possible. After swimming lor a long time the strength of the 

 soldier became exhausted. M. de Lordat perceiving this endeavored to 

 encourage him, but the soldier at last declared that they must both 

 perish. 'And if you Avere alone?' 'Perhaps I might still be able to save 

 myself.' The chevalier let go his arm, and sank to the bottom of the 

 sea." 



Voltaire caused the book to be reprinted at his own expense in 1778. 

 Hitherto it had received only a partial publicity. Voltaire, let it be 

 said in his praise, thus became the editor and the commentator of the 



