1792- memoirs of Abbe JBlanchet. j 



In general, human life is spent almost entirely in 

 •wiihing for, and in pursuit of honours and riches ; 

 the life of the Abbs Blanchet is more remarkable 

 by -the obstacles which he never ceased to throw in 

 the way of his fortune, which came to seek him 

 without his thinking of it. They made him inter- 

 preter of the Englifli, Italian and Spanifli tongues, at 

 the king's library. After he had considered of it, he 

 •went to M. Bfgnon ; — " I understand what you come 

 for," said the librarian, "but will not accept the re- 

 signation of your place of interpreter, as M. de Mi- 

 repoix did that of your canonry ; moreover, added 

 he, it is a recompence given you, and not an employ- 

 ment." Thus the Abbe was condemned to receive 

 a hundred pistoles, which were continued to his last 

 moments. They had made him an interpreter, on 

 condition he interpreted nothing ; they made him cen- 

 sor, on the like terms, and merely to give him a pen- 

 sion ; but this time he would have his way, and ac- 

 cepted the title but refused the salary. He never 

 loved presents, of whatever sort they might be ; and, 

 he hfid made a kind of agreement, with his generous 

 friends, by which they were forced to serve him ac- 

 cording to his own fancy rather than as they wifhed. 

 These victories gained over the perpetual scruples 

 of the Abbe, made his friends more eager. They 

 got him nominated librarian of the king's cabinet, 

 an honourable and lucrative place ; but as soon as 

 they informed him of it, they did not allow him time 

 to deliberate. You must set out directly and with- 

 out delay. More confounded than surprised, at this 

 jyuew piece of good fortune, he writes to his friend, " J 



