56 VOLTAIRE. 



while the Marchioness herself superintended the lat- 

 ter' s education. 



The chateau of Cirey, on the confines of Cham- 

 pagne and Lorraine, had, like most French country 

 houses, fallen into some disrepair. Steps were imme- 

 diately taken to put it in order, and a considerable 

 addition of a gallery and a laboratory, or cabinet of 

 natural philosophy, was made to it under Voltaire's 

 superintendence. The elegance and even luxury of the 

 apartments is described as very great. He likewise 

 furnished the funds required for the improvements, by 

 lending the Marquess 40,000 francs, and by providing a 

 portion of the furniture, of the apparatus, and of the 

 library, which became a sufficiently large one for all or- 

 dinary purposes. It appears, that soon after the building 

 was finished, he reduced his claim to 30,000 francs, and 

 agreed to take in lieu of that sum an annuity of 2000 

 francs. Fifteen years, however, elapsed without any 

 payment of the annuity ; and though the arrears now 

 amounted to 30,000 francs, he agreed to receive 15,000 

 both for these arrears and for the remainder of his life- 

 interest in the annuity : of this 1 5,000 francs it does 

 not appear that he ever received more than 10,000 

 so that he gave up altogether a sum of about 2000/. 

 sterling, principal and interest.* But he appears 

 constantly to have assisted the household with money, 

 which the careless habits of the Marquess, and the 

 yet less worldly nature of the Marchioness, occasion- 

 ally rendered necessary. The income of the Marquess 



* A sum equal at the present time, and in England, to at least 

 6000/. 



