in its nature, astonished his brother
performers; but they were obliged to yield to his superiority, and
Grandval, who acknowledged his error, no longer delayed to put Le Kain
in possession of the first characters in tragedy.

Le Kain published shortly after his success, the following particulars
of his first connexion with M. de Voltaire, to which he prefixed this
expressive motto from the play of Oedipus.

"L'amite d'un grand homme est un bienfait des Dieux."

"May I not be permitted to boast of a title which at once fixed my
condition, my fortune, and the happiness of my life? The brief account I
am about to give, will justify the motto I have chosen, which may, at
the first view, have the appearance of too much vanity.

"The peace of 1748 reviving amusements of every kind in the city of
Paris, gave birth at the same time to the institution of several
societies of citizens, who assembled together to enjoy the pleasure of
acting plays.

"The first was established at the hotel de _Soyecourt_, St. Honore; the
second at the hotel de _Clermont-Tonnerre_, Marais; and the third at the
hotel de _Jabac_, in the street of St. Mery. Of this last theatre I was
the founder.

"Of all the young people who acquired celebrity upon these stages, and
some of whom are settled in the provincial theatres, I am the only one
who have obtained a situation in Paris; and for this favour I am
indebted more to my good stars, than to my poor talents. The
circumstances which led to it are these.

"The proprietor of the hotel de Jabac, being obliged to make some
repairs on the inside of the hall which we occupied, laid us under the
necessity of requesting permission from the comedians of
Clermont-Tonnerre, to play alternately with them upon their stage. It
was stipulated between us, in the month of July 1749, that we should pay
a moiety of the expenses; and accordingly we made our debut there with
_Sidney_ and _Georges Dandin_.

"It may be easily conceived, that the competition of these two societies
excited much difference of opinion in the public, the result of which
could not be favourable to one company, without diminishing the credit
with which the other had till then performed. Some divided in our
favour, and some in favour of our rivals. 'These ladies,' observed one
party, 'are prettier than the other.'--'Ah!' replied their neighbours,
'but then the latter have better knowledge of the stage, more grace and
vivacity, &c. &c.'