ELOGE ON BlIFFON, 



BY 



P. L. COUEIEE, 



(ADDRESSED TO HIS FELLOW CITIZENS). 



I AM apprehensive lest the name of a soldier, at the 

 head of such a subject as this, should surprise you, and 

 appear out of its proper place ; for, it may not meet 

 your approbation, that at the very time when a new 

 war demands all the energies of the army, of which I 

 form a part, I should apply myself to studies which 

 usually presuppose leisure, and which always require 

 considerable reflection. You may blame me, called as 

 T am to other duties, and ill fitted either to give or to 

 jonceive hopes of success, for engaging in attempts 

 which you encourage in those young literary aspirants 

 whom the public distinguishes among your disciples, 

 and whom they expect to preserve the arts which you 

 have transmitted to them. Perhaps you may even think 

 that a man appointed, by the state, to serve his country, 



