228 condorcet: a biography. 



of the danger incurred by Madam Vernet by bis presence in Servan- 

 doni street were renewed. Ee then, to use his own words, resolved to 

 quit a retreat which tlie unlimited devotion of his tutelary saint had 

 transformed into a paradise. 



Condorcet was so well assured of the probable consequence of the 

 step he was about to take, the chances of safety appeared to him so 

 slight, that before leaving the protection of Madam Vernet he recorded 

 his last wishes. This document, which I have in my hands, manifests 

 throughout an elevated mind, a feeling heart, and a beautiful soul. I 

 dare even to say that in no language can there be found anything more 

 thoughtful, more touching, more graceful in form than some passages 

 in this testament, the last effort of our confrere, which he called The ad- 

 vice of a proscript to his daughter. I regret that time does not permit 

 me to make some quotations from it. These lines, so clear, so full of 

 delicate and natural feeling, were WTitten by Condorcet on the very day 

 when ho was about to expose himself to great danger. The feeling that 

 a violent death was almost inevitable did not disturb him; his hand 

 traced these terrible expressions, my death, my approaching deaths with 

 a firmness the stoics of antiquity might have envied. Sensibility, on 

 the contrary, overcame his strength of mind when the illustrious pro- 

 script considered that Madam de Condorcet might be included in the 

 violent death which threatened him. When obliged to mention this 

 terrible contingency, he no longer speaks directly to the point, but en- 

 deavors, if we may so say, to veil from his own eyes the horrors of the 

 situation by ambiguous expressions — "If my daughter is destined to 

 lose both parents." This is the most explicit reference he makes to the 

 subject in all the writing; and then, as if even this was too much for 

 him, he immediately reverts to the support of his child, then only five 

 years old. He hopes that his dear Eliza will remain with his benefac- 

 tress. He foresees and provides for everything. Eliza will call Madame 

 Vernet her second mother ; she will learn, under the direction of this 

 excellent friend, besides the usual occupations of woman, how to design, 

 paint, and engrave sufiBciently well to gain a living. In case of neces- 

 sity, she might apply for assistance in Enghnid to Lord Stanhope, and 

 Lord Dean ; in America, to Bache, grandson of Franklin, and to Jefferson. 

 She should therefore be taught the English language; this, moreover, 

 was the wish of her mother, which was, in itself, enough. At the proper 

 time, Madam Vernet will cause to be read to Mademoiselle Condorcet 

 the instructions of her parents from the original manuscript (this cir- 

 cumstance is especially indicated). Eliza must be kept free from any 

 desire for revenge, must be taught to overcome what would naturally 

 be, under the circumstances, her filial tendencies in this respect. This 

 was a sacrifice demanded of her in the name of her father. The will 

 terminates with these lines: " I say nothing of my feelings toward the 

 generous friend (Madam Vernet) for whom this document is intended j 



