1800. | 
refume it till he had been fome years an 
academician, and was about to commence 
his Jabours in the Encyclopedia. The 
preliminary difcourfe to that work, of 
which M. D’ Alembert was the author, is 
the quinteffence, fo to fpeak, of the ma- 
thematical, fhilofophical, and literary 
knowledge, which he had acquired by 
twenty years’ application. 
M. D’ Alembert wrote a book, entitled 
De la Defiruction des Fefuites en France, 
par un Auteur definterefé (The Deftruction 
of the Jefuits in France, by a difinterefted 
Author). That work, the only impar- 
tial one on the fubjeét, produced its natu- 
ral effect: it difpleafed both | parties. 
Shortly after its publication, in the be- 
ginning of 1765, the death of M. Clai- 
raut occafioned a vacancy in the Acade- 
my, accompanied with a penfion, to 
which the age andthe labours of M. D’A- 
lembert gave hima better title than any 
other member. Yet fo it was, that the 
moinifter (M. le Comte de St. Floventin) 
conftantly refufed for. fix months to put 
M. D’Alembert in poftffion of that pen- 
fion, although the Academy had. afked it 
for him ‘the day after M.. Clairaui’s 
death, and at different times repeated the 
application. The minifter at laft yielded, 
. u M4 
though with a very bad grace, to the re-_ 
monftrances of that illuitrious body, to 
the exclamations of the public, and, it 
may be added, to thofe of the learned 
‘throughout Europe, who openly expreffed 
their indignation at the manner in which 
one of their number had been -treated. 
On this occafion the King of Pruffia made’ 
greater efforts than ever to prevail on M. 
D’Alembert to accept his offer; but he 
fill had the courage to refit that formi- 
dable temptation. His Majefty, far from 
taking offence at a refufal fo perfevering, 
almoft fo obitinate, redoubled his kind- 
nefs and regard; a circumftance which 
would have afforded M. D’ Alembert con- 
folation, had. it been neceffary, for the 
ufage which he received in France. 
In 1767, M. D’Alembert publithed a 
fupplement to his work on the Deftruction 
of the Jefuits, and which confifted of two 
letters. In the firft, the author rectifies 
fome flight miftakes which had efcaped 
him; he an{wers the criticif{ms made on his 
work in certain Janfeniftical pamphlets, 
and takes occafion to reprefent the fana- 
tics of that party in their proper colours. 
In the fecond letter, M. D’ Alembert treats 
of the edi&t of the King of Spain for ex- 
pelling the Jefuits from his dominions, 
making fuch reflections on the fubject as 
are diétated by humanity and philofophy, 
He there recalls to view a fine paflage in a 
| Memoirs of D’ Alembert. 
344. 
letter written to him by the King of Prut 
fia, © Although invited,”? fays that 
Prince, ‘* by the example of other fove- 
reigns, I do not banith the Jefuits becaufe 
they are unfortunate; I fhall do them no 
harm,- and take care that they fhall do 
none; and I do not opprefs them be- 
caufe I know how to keep them within. 
bounds.” 
The King of Pruffia gave M. D’Alem- 
bert a new proof of his goodnefs. That 
philofopher having refolved on a journey 
to Ttaly for the recovery of his health, 
and not poflefling the neceffary funds, ap- 
plied to his majefly, agreeably to his own 
kina and repeated offers of fuch aflillance ; 
in confequence of which he ordered his 
banker to pay M. D’Alembert 6000 livres. 
Particular reafons having prevented him 
from proceeding farther than Languedoc 
and Provence, ou. his return to Paris he 
remitted to the King cf Pruffia’s banker 
about 4000 livres of the money which re~ 
mained after defraying the expences of his 
journey. The banker received a Jetter, 
written by his majefty’s defire, ordering 
him to return the 40c0 livres to M.D’A- 
lembert, who did not accept the money 
till he was induced to do fo by the reiterat- 
ed commands of the king, and by the fear 
of difobligine his auguft henefaétor. 
LETTER fromthe KING of PRUSSIA fo the 
LORD MARESCHAL, his MINISTER at the 
COURT Of FRANCE, i 1754. 
‘¢ YOU know that there isin Paris a man 
of the highef merit who doés not enjoy ad- 
vantages, in point of fortune, proportioned 
to his talents and his chara&ter. I with to 
give eyes to the blind goddefs, and at leaf 
repair fome of her wrengs. On this confide. 
ration, Irequeit you to offer M. D’Alembert 
a penfion of 1200 /iwres. It is inadequate to 
his merit 5_but I flatter myfelf that he will 
accept it, on account of the pleafure I fhoyld 
have in obliging a man who joins a good cha 
raéter to the moft fublime talents of the mind. 
~ You, my dear lord, who think fo rightly, 
will partake with mein the fatisfa@tion of 
having placed one of the fineft geniufes’in 
France in a more eafy fituation. I flatter my- 
felf I thall fee M. D’Alembert here, as he has 
promifed to do me that favour, when he {halk 
have finithed his Encyclopedia. As for your- 
felf, my dear lord, I know not whenT thall 
fee youagain; but be affured it wilialways be 
too late for the efteem and friendfhip which 
I entertain for you.” 
Another LETTER written in the KING of PRUS- 
sia’s own Hand, to.M. D’ALEMBERT, 
awhen be took LEAVE of that MONARCR at 
POTSDAM, i21763. ; 
“¢ THE near approach of your departure is 
painful to me, and I fhall never forget the 
pleafure I have enjoyed in converfing with a 
x true 
