664 
whole of his life, and at the same time, 
afiorded him continual consolation. He 
now ‘confessed to a priest in due form, 
and while speaking of this event,-he was 
always accustorned to say, “ that it was 
hot trifles alone, thathe owned.” “ Vhe 
ease indeed,” added he, “ was'so black, 
that my confessor refused me absolution, 
and he informed me, that he would ne- 
ver coisent to grant me it, unless [ en- 
gaged to distribute to the poor, as many 
years value of my Jivings, asI had passed 
without having recited my breviary :” 
“¢¢ Dans mon impieté 
Récité mon bréviaire 
Ni par Ja charite 
Remplacé la priere.” 
In short the Abbé de Voisenon affirm- 
ed, that his absolution was to cost him 
two-thousand crowns, which his confes- 
sor was to distribute for him among the 
poor; and, in addition to this, he was to 
repeat his breviary every morning, with- 
out once omitting it. The rigour of such 
a sentence, penetrated the man of wit, 
with due respect for it. He submitted, 
and although he lost much, yet he 
‘thought he should beable to regain more: 
accordingly, during the whole course of 
the remainder of his life, he never once 
forgot his breviary, If the Duke car- 
tied him to Mont Rouge to supper, 
his old lacquey never omitted to say to 
‘the valet, “is Monsieur J*Abbé’s brevi- 
ary placed along with his night-cap.” 
No one can be ignorant, that Favart 
his wife, and the Abbé de Voisenon, 
lived together, and were the parents of 
Gertrude de Anglais, &e. But the au- 
thor of La Chercheuse d’ Esprit had vie- 
ver sought but liow to live; he was cyni- 
eal, and although he possessed talents, 
he yet: disdained every species of repu- 
tation. This was very convement for 
the Abbé, ‘who, being himself enchanted 
with Madame de Favart, -had contrived 
in his turn, to bewitch her so completely, 
as to induce the lady to adopt some of 
his ideas, and all his scruples. In fine, 
‘when any one ‘becume familiar in the 
house, the following Gomedy was always 
played in his ‘presence. On making a 
Morning’s visit, the friend wrs told, 
* that Monsieur and Madame were not 
yet stirring;” but on telling the femme de 
chambre ‘that he was: expected,” tne 
door instantly flew open, and they were 
seen in bed together, tlie Abbé constant- 
ly holding a large book in his hands. 
“Ha!” says the acquaintance (pro- 
vided it was the first visit), ‘ what are 
you doing together there !” 
2 
- 
Retrospect of French Literature—Miscelianiés. 
“ We are praying,” replics the Abbé, 
© Yes,” adds Madame de Favart in a 
droll manner, “ we are repeating our 
breviary, come let us finish M. Abbé, 
for it is getting late, and it is proper we 
should be rising, proceed.” ‘The priest 
accordingly continued the service, and 
the lady replied “ Amen,” as before. 
(This and the next article afford a. 
shocking picture of fashionable French 
manners, during the monarchy.) 
The Ablé Alégre.—This Abbé was one 
of the admirers of the Duchess of Maine, 
who received none at her seat called 
Sceaux, but either her courtiers or ado- 
rers. A single word from the rhouth of 
Fontenelle will convey a perfect idea of 
this court, and of its sovereign. © Ile cal- 
led all those (galeriens) Galley-Slaves, 
who passed for either the friends or the 
lovers of this Duchess, and was accus- 
tomed to say, “ that he himself was for 
a moment in this galley, whence he soon 
found means to extricate himself.” - 
As tothe Abbé Albgre, he was a priest, 
a sloven, aman of wit, more conversant. 
in intrigues than the gospel, and far 
from being amiable. It was his for- 
tune, good or bad, to become passion- 
ately enamoured with Mademoiselle Pro- 
vost, 2 celebrated dancer at the Opera- 
house, and much in vogue among the 
young men of fashion of that day. He 
began first by supping with her, and then 
gave her entertainments in his turn, to 
which she did not fail to invite her other 
‘lovers, having full asmuch respect for 
the temptations,is the pretensions, of the 
Abbé d’Alegre. 
It may be necessary here to observe; 
that thislady was at ornee debauched,and 
coarse in her manners and enjoyments 5 
notwithstanding this and her profession, 
since she had acquired some reputation, 
she failed not attimes, to talk of * the good 
principles, with which Madame her mo- 
ther had inspired her, during her infan- 
cy ;” and when the Abbé pressed his suit, 
she was accustomed to exelaim * Fil done 
M. PAbbé, vous n’y peusez pas! un pre- 
tral? < i 
An event oecurred, however, that ren- 
dered her more compliant. The father 
of Mademoiselle Provost died suddenly, 
and she of course’ was greatly afilicted. 
But her sorrow was without bounds, 
when her’ mother, Who had been brought 
up in the choir of the Opera-house, atid 
tiow appertained to the choir of ber 
parish, announced to her dear daughter, 
“that Monsiewr son Pere had died 
without confession, and without es 
the 
