ith this proposed interview (says a French contemporary,
whose work exists in MS., but is quoted in Joly's folio volume
of Remarks on Bayle), the sick man answered, "Don't let him
come for this; I shall laugh at him; and perhaps I may convert
him myself." Father Mersenne did come; and when this
missionary was opening on the powers of Rome to grant a
plenary pardon, he was interrupted by Hobbes--"Father, I have
examined, a long time ago, all these points; I should be sorry
to dispute now; you can entertain me in a more agreeable
manner. When did you see Mr. Gassendi?" The monk, who was a
philosopher, perfectly understood Hobbes, and this interview
never interrupted their friendship. A few days after, Dr.
Cosin (afterwards Bishop of Durham), the great prelate whom
Dr. Grenville alludes to, prayed with Hobbes, who first
_stipulated_ that the prayers should be those authorised by
the _Church of England_; and he also received the sacrament
with reverence. Hobbes says:--"Magnum hoc erga disciplinam
Episcopalem signum erat reverentiae."--It is evident that the
conversion of Father Mersenne, to which Hobbes facetiously
alluded, could never be to Atheism, but to Protestantism: and
had Hobbes been an Atheist, he would not have risked his
safety, when he arrived in England, by his strict attendance
to the _Church of England_, resolutely refusing to unite with
any of the sects. His views of the national religion were not
only enlightened, but in this respect he showed a boldness in
his actions very unusual with him.

But the religion of Hobbes was "of a strain beyond the
apprehension of the vulgar," and not very agreeable to some of
the Church. A man may have peculiar notions respecting the
Deity, and yet be far removed from Atheism; and in his
political system the Church may hold that subordinate place
which some Bishops will not like. When Dr. Grenville tells us
"Hobbes ridiculed in companies" certain matters which the
Doctor held sacred, this is not sufficient to accuse a man of
Atheism, though it may prove him not to have held orthodox
opinions. From the MS. collections of the French contemporary,
who well knew Hobbes at Paris, I transcribe a re