Retrospect of French Literature—Bigraphy. 
with an accaunt of this celebrated author, 
{see vol. xxii. p. $7.) but in the following 
statement some errors are rectified, and 
a variety of new and iteresting particu- 
dars introduced, ' 
Men of letters have always been ca- 
ressed and protected in France ; and it 
will be seen from the following account, 
that, even before the Revolution, they 
were adinitted into the first circles. ‘This 
memoir will, at the same time, exhibit 
the extraordinary occurrence of the con- 
version of one of the modern philosophers 
to the doctrines of Christianity ! 
Jean Francois de la Harpe was born in 
the year 1740. His father, who was de- 
scended from a noble family in the Pays 
de Vaud, entered early in life into the 
service of France, obtained the cross of 
St. Louis, and, notwithstanding his defi- 
ciency in respect to wealth, and the im- 
possibility of ever being able to enrich 
himself in the profession that had been 
embraced by him, he married a young 
lady, more recommendable on account 
of her beauty, her virtue, and her birth, 
than by any of the advantages usually de- 
rived trom fortune. This alliance proved 
as happy as could possibly be expected ; 
but the prospect of a large family ren- 
dered the pavents at times peculiarly un- 
happy. 
M. de ta Harpe, one of the youngest 
of the children, had already distinguished 
himself, at an early period of lite, by the 
display of extraordinary talents, when he 
Jost both father and mother, whose su- 
perintendance was so necessary to his 
education. This young orphan, aban- 
doned by all the world, was destitute of 
every resource, except what he derived 
from the charity of some pious and welil- 
disposed persons. Paris, at that period, 
fortunately presented a number of esta- 
blishments for children of this descrip- 
tion, and the good and charitable people 
just alluded to, had credit sufficient to 
place him in one of the colleges of the 
University, as a pensioner.* 
While in this situation, the talents of 
the young scholar began to be developed, 
and soon gave rise to the most flattering 
* THis was then termed a £* boursier,” 
from the purse of money with which persons 
of this description had been originally pre- 
sented by the rules of the Institution. 
Scotch collezes, like the Scotch courts of 
justice, weie formed after the model of the 
French, and the term édursar, is accordingly 
continued to this day, in respect to such as 
derive any emolument from the funds of the 
University. 
The —- 
677 
hopes. His future condition in life de- 
pended, in some measure, on his pre- 
sent success; for it was from the doursi- 
ers that the Universities derived the 
greater poruon of their credit, and con- 
tinual triumphs appeared to be consi- 
dered as the price paid by the youne 
people for the asylum, and the attention 
which they received. heir situation 
being such, that they could neither rec- 
kon on the succour nor the indulvence of 
their parents, they generally di.tinguished 
themselves; and being thus exposed to a 
perpetual emulation, their courave was 
excited, and they themselves were ren- 
dered capable of extraordinary efforts, . 
Notwithstanding the disadvantace of 
bemg sent to college at too early an age 
and being sometimes obliged to study 
what ne could not comprehend, yet, af 
ter a short interval, young La Harpe got 
to the head of his class; and the Univer- 
sity of Paris had not been able to boast 
of such a scholar for many years anterior 
to this epoch. He displayed the same 
aptitude in rhetoric as in the languages, 
aud for two succeeding years he obtained 
all the first prizes: this was a circum- 
stance hitherto unexampled. 
Such an unparalleled instance of suc 
cess occasioned no small degree of sur= 
prise; this boy accordingly became the 
subject of conversation: his admittance 
to the houses of persons of distinetion 
began to be considered as a kind of 7 
Shion; and he was accordingly well known 
in the world, before he had entirely com- 
pleted his studies. 
This precarious celebrity would have 
proved extremely prejudical to most per- 
sons in his condition of iife; but he, on 
the contrary, persevered in his studies 
with unabating industry, and had good 
sense enough to discover, that the repu- 
tation which a young man acquires at 
college, is neither solid nor durable. 
At this period of his life an event oc- 
eurred, which, while it exhibits the des- 
potic nature of the French government, 
may, at the same time, account perhaps 
for his early partiality in favour of a 
reform. Having addicted himself to 
the composition of satires, he was sup- 
posed to be the author of a lampoon 
against a person of great credit ;* and, 
in consequence of bare unauthorised 
suspicion, was committed to the house 
of correction! He himself constantly 
protested his innocence, and the real 
author was soon after discovered: yet 
* M, Asselin, 
this 
