5 1 mevioirs of Able Btdnct^t, Marcit^, 



Nothing is more true, than what I have just inform- 

 ed you, and you may congratulate me upon it,**" 

 One must have known the Abbe well to feel alt 

 the warmth of this pafsage which appears so mode- 

 rate. 



About forty years ago, M. Bouvant was given 

 over by the faculty ; he told his friend Blanchet^ 

 " from the character, I know you to have, you will 

 be always poor; there is every appearance, my 

 friend, I cannot last long, and when I am dead what 

 will become of you ?'* The Abbe wilhed to reply, but 

 the sick man, taking advantage of his condition, order- 

 ed him to be silent, and dictated hklast orders. '*My 

 wiU is, that you enjoy the interest of ten thousand 

 crowns, which I have earned, for your life. Don't 

 make any difficulties, the principal will return to my 

 family." M. Bouvant recovered. Some time after- 

 wards the Abbe related this trait to the duchefs o£ 

 Aumont, who was so delighted that fhe urged him to- 

 tell it her again. " Why, madam, what I have ju^t 

 related is nothing to what followed ; when my poor 

 Bouvant was recovered, I found hina quite sorry that 

 he was so well." 



Such was the character, the mind, and talents of 

 this good man. As for his life, do not let us be ralh 

 in believing, or afserting that it was unhappy, be- 

 cause he saw only nnisery. What life is exempt 

 from it ? For me I feel that virtue forbids me to de- 

 plore the lofs of him, who could say, at the end of 

 every day, " Heaven is my witnefs, I love God above 

 all things, and mankind as well as myself." Man- 

 kind 1 — he oflen loved them in preference. That glo- 



