682 
long and brilliant: but they were disap- 
pointed! — 
No sooner were the apprehensions of 
M. de la Harpe dissipated, and he had 
returned to mix with the world, than all 
the flattermg appearances of longevity 
were linmediately dissipated. A number 
of infirmities, towhich he had hitherto- 
been a stranger, now shewed themselves ; 
and he facele began to anticipate the 
melancholy catastr ‘ophe. Firmiy ¢ oes 
in his own ‘maind, that he could never be 
ter repair his former errors, than oe 
work calculated to enlighten the incre- 
dulous, he laboured with additional ar- 
dour at his Apoiogy for Religion,in which 
‘he had embraced a vast and extensive 
plan. He was often accustoimed to ob- 
serve, when speaking cn this subject, 
that he could die without regret, pro- 
vided he were but able to Hnish this 
work. 
La Harpe had no occasion _ for 
these warnings to prepare himself for 
death, for he not only fulfilled ail the 
duties of religion with the most minute 
exactitude, but even expiated his tormer 
mistakes, by means 0 a most rigorous 
penance. Several of his surviving friends 
have beheld hin at times, when he did 
not think himself observed, lying with 
his fuce towards the earth, and exhibit- 
ing the most lively signs of a sincere re- 
Benrance, 
His last illness, which exhibited a com- 
plication of diseases, announced itself in, 
a manner so as to demonstrate from the 
very first, that the termination wouid be 
fatal. No sooner did he perceive death in- 
evitable, than his resignation, amidst the 
most cruel sufferings, became equally in- 
structive and affecting to those who sur- 
rounded him. His friends were astonished 
that, notwitastanding the impetuosityof his 
characier, he was abie to support the 
agonies of dissolution without a groan. 
But what still surprised them more, was 
the indiiference which he aifected for his 
own works; an indifference which not 
only extended to his literary, but even 
his religious productions. During the 
whole ot his illness, he never ouce men- 
tioned his “‘ Apologie de la Religion,” to 
which he had before attached such im- 
portance, but contented kimseif with 
merely exciaiming, a few days before his 
dissolution, ‘ Cog has not permitted ine 
to repair the evil T have committed.” 
Ai the approach of death, his agonies — 
seemed to ke somewhat alleviated; he 
also preserved gis usual presence of mind, 
¢ 
Retrospect of French Literature—Biography. 
and was still capable of conversing with 
his friends. Hus eyes, however, could no 
longer bear the bght, and he was kept 
constantly shut up within the curtains of 
his bed. In this position he heard and 
understood every word that was uttered, 
and sometimes he himself would mention 
to his friends the consolations which he 
derived from religion. 
One of them remarks on this ecca- 
sion, ‘‘ that no affectation of courage was 
observable in his discourse, which was 
characterized by an humbie resigna- 
tion. The philosophers,” adds he, ‘‘ en- 
deavour to die in a theatrical manner; 
but Christians, on the other hand, are 
filled with reflexions of a nature superior 
to all haman vanities.’ 
M. de la Harpe resigned his life Fe- 
bruary 11, 1803, in the 64th year of 
his age. 
His will, which was made at the begin- 
ning or his illness, contains a variety 
of legacies to his rearions and the 
poor, as well as his best wishes for the 
prosyerity of Vrauce. On the evening 
before his demise, he made the following 
declaration, which we shall here tran+ 
scribe, manent any commentary whatso- 
ever, leaving it entirely to the ‘reader to 
decide relative to the religious opinions 
of this very extraordinary man: 
“‘ Having yesterday enjoyed the hap- 
piness,” says he, “of receiving the holy 
communion tor the second time, I deem 
it my duty once more to make the last 
declaration of those sentiments which I 
have publicly manifested during the last 
nine years, aud in which f still persevere. 
A Christian by the grace cf God, and 
professing the catholic apostolical and 
Roman religion, in which I have had the 
happiness to be born and educated, and 
iu which it is my concluding wish both 
to live and to die, I declare, that I firmly 
believe in whatsoever is believed and 
taught by the Roman church, the st 
charch founded by Jesus Chaise. 
“ That I condemn with my heart and 
spirit all that she condemns, and that I 
approve all that she approves. 
ce aler consequence of which, I retraet 
all that I have written’ and printed, or 
that has been printed under my name, 
which may be contrary to the catholic 
faith, or to good morals; hereby disavow- 
ing the saine, and as much’as lies in my 
power condemning and dissuading the 
publication of them, as well as the re 
printing,and repr esentation onthe theatre. 
ai | als so hereby- equally retract and 
coudemn 
> 
