1796] 
anion with the French republic : se the 
amicable difpofition they now {how towards 
‘France, has been chiefly excited by the 
great virtues of this popular reprefen- 
tative. 
The higheft eulogy that can be pro- 
nounced on his charaéter, is the fingular 
obfervation, that fince the commencement 
of the revolution, he has claimed the ad- 
Miration, and won the confidence, of all 
the different fa€tions that have, by turns, 
prevailed in the French government. Un- 
der the bloody rezimen of Robefpierre, a 
fyftem of profcription had been commenc- 
ed againtt all men of letters and profefled 
religionifts——such, however, was the ve- 
neration with which M. GREGOIRE was 
regarded, alrhough eminent in both thefe 
charaéters, that no one was found hardy 
enough to attack him. A ftranger to per- 
fonalities, and divcfted of private pations 
and ambition, his faculties were wholly 
abforbed by his concern for the public 
welfare. 
Asa member of the Committee of Pub- 
lic Inftruétion, M. GRecorre has la- 
boured more abundantly than all his affo- 
ciates, in foftering the growth of the arts 
and fciences, and in encouraging their 
profeffors. He has already addreifed, in 
the name of the Committee, fome valuable 
reports to the National Convention, which, 
if colleéted and printed, with due regard 
to fy tematical arrangement, would fur- 
nith the puolic with an excellent mifcella- 
neous compofition, or mélange. 
The boldeft fiep taken by M. Gru- 
GOIRE, fince his commencing a public 
funétionary, was his addreifing an excy- 
cle (civeula r letter) laf{ winter to the 
bithops of frence, tequiring their aid in 
the convocation of a national council, for 
the pur pote of reftoring the clergy, agree- 
ably to’ the decrees ‘of the Council of 
Trent, the fynod of Borromeo, and the 
liberties and ioprne ae of the Gallican 
Church. It was taken for granted at that 
time, that M, GREGOIRE would have 
incurred a profecution, on this account, 
from the exifting government ! — He was 
allowed, however, to pafs with impunity. 
_ The following /izzo, felected from his 
Report on the Bounties to be conferred by 
the Nation on Men of Genius, may affitt 
the reader to acquire fome infight i into the 
character of this celebrated man: ‘¢ A great 
man Is the public property. A prejudice 
vanquifhed, or a truth difcovered, are 
often of greater national utility, than the 
conqueft of atown. A manof genius is 
the foremok of his century ; outfirips ity. 
Original Anecdotes.—Gregoire « .. Original Letter. 
parchment. 
887 
and is, as it were, from thence (dépay/é} 
expatriated.—As virtue united with beau- 
ty, is liable to peculiar temptations; fo a 
genius, poffeffing the gifts of fortune, is 
particularly expofed to the anathemas of 
the fickle goddefs.”” And, in another 
pamphlet, we find, ‘‘ Books confecrated to 
the nobleffe, treatifes of genealogy, works 
-caleulated to flatter defpotifm, or pamper 
gveatnefs, enfhrined in Morocco feather, 
have always had a place in our moft fu- 
erb libraries; while the immortal works 
of Mhiton, Althufivs, and Hubert Lan- 
guet, have lain negleéted in an ignoble 
corner, under the humble covering of 
Works which laid open the 
crimes of princes and minifters of ftate, 
which demonftrated the juft rights of the 
people, were, fo to fpeak, the Sans Cu- 
/oties of our libraries,” 
And, ina paftoral letter addreffed to his 
clergy, foon after the refloration of reli- 
gious worfhip, after depioring the former 
errors of religious factions, he adds, ** You, 
Itruf, have not yet forfaken the faith 
which you once profeffed 5 yet can | won- 
der, if even fome amongtt you, through 
the contagion of example, have been per- 
verted ?>— Alas! our religion, like our 
native country, has alfo its EMIGRANTs!”" 
The character of GREGOIRt® may be 
beft collected, from a view of his writings 
at large. He isabout 50 years of age, in 
his temper extremely good-natured, and 
no lefs lively in converfation. 
[Toefe Anecdotes will be REGULARLY 
CONTINUED; and the Conduétors re- 
quefi the affifiance of all perfons who, by 
a recent refidence in France, are qualiq- 
fied to communicate original and intereft- 
ing facts. | 
SE — 
ORIGINAL LETTER. 
To the Editors of tbe Monthly Magazine. 
GENTLEMEN, 
S I oblerve it is a part of your plan te 
preferve the original co rre{pondence 
of eminent men, I fend you a letter from 
that venerable champion of liberty, the 
late archdeacon Blackburne ; which [I 
have no doubt you will think highly 
curious, as it illuftraces the origin of thofe 
enlarged views, both civil and religious, 
and that manly ftrength and freedom of 
expreffion, for which his writings are fe 
rematkablée. It prefents, alfo, a ftriking 
inflance of the effect which fingle circum- 
{tances fometimes have to give a direCtion 
to the whole of future life. 
Iam your’ 5 &c. 









