e moi. Ma vie et mon
coeur sont a vous."

[Footnote 145: La.--ED.]

[Footnote 146: Le.--ED.]

[Footnote 147: Employe.--ED.]

[Footnote 148: Leur. I have made the corrections by the copy given in
"Rousseau's Collected Works."--ED.]

"It is superfluous, Sir, to endeavour to excite my zeal for the
undertaking which you propose to me. The very idea of it elevates my
soul and transports me. I should esteem the rest of my days very nobly,
very virtuously, and very happily employed. I should even think that I
well redeemed the inutility of many of my days that are past, if I could
render these sad remains of any advantage to your brave countrymen. If
by any useful advice, I could concur in the views of your worthy Chief,
and in yours. So far then you may be sure of me. My life and my heart
are devoted to you."

Such were the first effusions of Rousseau. Yet before he concluded even
this first letter, he made a great many complaints of his adversities
and persecutions, and started a variety of difficulties as to the
proposed enterprise.

The correspondence was kept up for some time, but the enthusiasm of the
paradoxical philosopher gradually subsiding, the scheme came to
nothing.[149]

[Footnote 149: In one of his letters, dated March 24, 1765, Rousseau
said:--"Sur le peu que j'ai parcouru de vos memoires, je vois que mes
idees different prodigieusement de celles de votre nation. Il ne serait
pas possible que le plan que je proposerais ne fit beaucoup de
mecontents, et peut-etre vous-meme tout le premier. Or, Monsieur, je
suis rassasie de disputes et de querelles."--ED.]

As I have formerly observed, M. de Voltaire thought proper to exercise
his pleasantry upon occasion of this proposal,[150] in order to vex the
grave Rousseau, whom he never could bear. I remember he used to talk of
him with a satyrical smile, and call him, "Ce Garcon, That Lad;" I find
this among my notes of M. de Voltaire's conversations, when I was with
him at his Chateau de Ferney, where he entertains with the elegance
rather of a real prince than of a poetical one.

[Footnote 150: "Je recus bien ... la lettre de M. Paoli; mais ... il
faut vous dire, Monsieur, que le bruit de la proposition que vous
m'aviez faite s'etant repandu sans que je sache comment, M. de Voltaire
fit entendre a tout le monde que cette proposition etait une invention
de sa facon; il pretendait m'avoir ecrit au nom des Corses une lettre
contrefaite dont j'avais ete la dup