This Memoir (added to the works of its author for the first time in 1837) was written in 1759, by way of preface to a translation of the Henriade made by Purdon, and which Griffiths had undertaken to publish. "I know not," Goldsmith writes to his brother, "whether I should tell you-yet why should I conceal those trifles, or indeed anything from you? There is a book of mine will be published in a few days, the life of a very extraordinary man; no less than the great Voltaire. You know already by the title that it is no more than a catch-penny. However, I spent but four weeks on the whole performance, for which I received twenty pounds." Though announced for speedy publication in The Public Advertiser of the 7th February 1759, it has not been discovered as a separate publication. It was printed, however, in detached portions in The Lady's Magazine for 1761. It is a fragment, and chiefly of importance for its account of Voltaire's residence in England. MEMOIRS OF M. DE VOLTAIRE. THAT life which has been wholly employed in the study, is properly seen only in the author's writings; there is no variety to entertain, nor adventure to interest us in the calm anecdotes of such an existence. Cold criticism is all the reader must expect, instead of instructive history. VOLTAIRE, however, may be justly exempted from the number of those obscure philosophers whose days have been passed between the fireside and the easy chair. It is a doubt whether he appears more remarkable for the busy incidents of his life, or the fine productions of his retirement. If we regard the variety of his adventures, we shall be surprised how he had time to study; and if we look into his voluminous and spirited productions, we shall be apt to conclude that his whole employment was speculation. The truth is, no man can more truly be said to have lived. There is hardly a period of his existence which is not crowded with incidents that characterise either the philosopher or the man of the world. No poet was ever more universally known than he: none more praised or more censured; possessed of more sincere friends or inveterate enemies. François Marie Arouet de Voltaire was born at Châtenay, near Paris, the 20th of February, 1694. His family was but mean, as his father was the maker of his own fortune. François Arouet was at first an usurer; in which employment, by the most extreme parsimony, he saved as much as entitled him to follow the business of a public notary. Frugality in the lower orders of mankind may be considered as a substitute to ambition: this old man was a miser with no other view; and when his circumstances permitted, he purchased a place under the government of greffier du châtelet; which is equivalent to an under-secretary with us. In this office he acquired a fortune of about 5001. a-year, and had interest sufficient to get his family ennobled, by having the title of DE added to the name of Voltaire. Being therefore in easy circumstances, he was resolved to give his son the best education in his power, and accordingly, at the usual age, put him under the care of the celebrated Porée, who at that time professed rhetoric and philosophy in one of the colleges of Paris. Young Voltaire quickly dis covered a capacity equal to any task, but at the same time an utter aversion |