LETTERS written by Mr. LENFANT, Father VOTA, and the late QUEEN of Pruffia.

I. A Letter to Mr. Le CLERC. By Mr.

LENFANT.

SIR

A1 found a Letter of the Illuftrious Father Vora, SI was lately perusing some Papers in my Study;

Confeffor of the King of Poland, to the late Queen of Pruffia, of Glorious Memory, with the Anfwer of that incomparable Princefs. I have read again those Two Letters; and it seems to me that they ought to come out of the Duft, and to be inferted in the Bib liotheque Choific. But in order to it, I muft inform you upon what Occafion they were written.

Father Vota came to Berlin fome Years ago: Í know not what Business occafioned his Journey. That Jefuit having a great deal of Wit, a Noble Eloquence, a kind of Univerfal Learning, a Vivacity feldom to be feen in the Flower of the Age, but very extraordinary in a Man far advanced in Years; his Converfation muft needs be extremely agreeable. The Queen was very much pleased with it. That Princefs, among other Talents, knew how to diftinguish Merit, and delighted in the Conversation of Ingenious and Learned Men. Nay, the might have improved them, by her great Genius, and penetrat

ing

ing Wit, by the Extent of her Knowledge in many Things, that are generally above the reach of the Ladies, and by an extraordinary Tafte; but above all by that Noble and Polite Behaviour, which should be the Character of Learning. I me

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One may eafily judge, that Controverfy was not wholly laid afide. The Queen was very well pleaf ed to hear fome Clergymen of both Parties difcourfe of feveral Matters, which, tho' very common, are very important. She fent for her Germanland French Chaplains one after another; that the Converfation might be free from Noife, and that Father Vota, who, was alone, fhould not be overcome by the Number of his Antagonists. Thofe Converfations proved fometimes perfect Affaults, attended with fharp Blows on both Sides; but there was no decifive Battle. The Combatants being well pleased with their own Feats, parted good Friends, and were ready to renew the Attack upon the First Signal. The Queen's Chaplains used Father Vota with great Civility in every Thing, that concerned his Perfon; bus because they were unwilling to carry their Politeness farther, or to yield any Thing in Matters, wherein vil credere is not di cortefia, that Father could hardly bear any Contradiction to which he was not aufed, སློpགས་131:||

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He found himself engaged with Men of Refo lution, who boldly attacked the pretended Infallibi lity of the Church, and held out against the Authority of Fathers and Councils. His Zeal carried him fometimes beyond the Bounds of Moderation, as he himself owns in his Letter; but it must be confeffed, that his Anger proceeded from a Noble Principle. Agréable colere digne reffentiment! The Goddefs, who prefided over the Combar, fmiled more than

once :

Vol. IV.

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2 Mr. de Beaufobre, and Mr. Lenfans,

Olli

·Olli fubrifit vultu, quo cuncta ferenat.

Father Vota excufes himself to the Queen for his zealous Flights. That Princess was pleased to communicate his Letter to one of her Chaplains and being refolved to answer it, fhe confulted him about fome Facts, that were mentioned in the Conferences, and are proved more at large in her Answer. Father Vota received that Letter; and I often heard the Queen fay, he had promifed more than once to answer it. I do not queftion but that he has done it. 'Tis pity fo good a Piece fhould have been in volved in the Troubles of Poland. However it be I thought I was obliged to publish that Letter, our of Refpect for the Memory of a Queen, who was fo generous as to defend her Religion, and those Divines who maintained it in her Prefence, and by her Order. Father Vota cannot take it ill, fince it is to his Honour: Befides, there are fome Occafi ons on which one may fall into a Paffion without offending against Decency, and good Manners. It were to be wifhed the Impreffion of the Queen's Letter might help us to recover Father Vota's Reply.

I am,

Berlin, Octob. 6.

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1711.

Sir, &c.

II. A LETTER of Father VOTA to the QUEEN of Pruffia.

ཊཱི་?

TAKE this Opportunity to appear at your Ma

nanc

nant Colonel de Maffo, and to exprefs again my Ac knowledgment for the many Favours you have been pleafed to beftow upon me. I beg your Majefty's Pardon, for taking fo foon the Liberty of troubling you again, having been fo long troublesome by my Discourses, attended with a very unpleasant Cough, of which however I was perfectly cured by the Prefence of your Majefty, when fuch a hot Difpute fhould have made it worse.

But fince I have mentioned that Difpute, I muft confefs to your Majefty, that notwithstanding the good Reception I met at your Royal Court, I am fomewhat uneafy, becaufe being engaged to maintain the Honour of the Ancient Fathers of the Church, and of the Four Oecumenical Councils, fo much refpected by all Chriftians, whether Catholicks or Prote ftants, I found myself obliged to answer thofe Gentlemen, (for whom I have nevertheless a great Efteem,) in a manner fuitable to the Injuftice which they did to the Ancient Church, not yet divided into Sects.

If ever I have the Honour to appear again at your Majefty's Feet, according to your Commands, I hope they will no more give Occafion for any fharp Expreffions, by ufing any Word injurious to the greateft Saints of Antiquity, and the brightest Lights of the Church. The like never happened to me, for the Space of Forty Years, in any Controverfy with the greateft Men, at Rome, ar Paris, and in other Parts, where Civility and Learning went always together. I flatter myfelf, that thofe Worthy Gentlemen will continue to be my Friends, as I have ftill a fincere Efteem for them, without keeping any Refenument; And indeed I am free from it, even

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The Four Oecumenical Councils were never attacked thafe Conferences.

in the Heat of a Difpute. When we come to meet again, in your Majefty's Prefence, we fhall peacea bly enquire after Truth, being influenced and directed in our Enquiries by your Majesty's Great Gënius and wonderful Knowledge.

Madam,

It is a great Comfort to me, in my folitary Journey, to think of the incomparable Merit of your Majefty, and of the Goodness and Gonerofity you have been pleafed to exprefs to me. I fhall proclaim to the King, and to all Poland, the Virtues of a Queen, who is the Admiration of all Europe, befeeching God to preferve your Majefty for ever. I am,