tuis to write him an express Letter.
Letter which is too curious, especially the Answer it gets, to be quite
omitted:--

MAUPERTUIS TO VOLTAIRE (at Leipzig).

"BERLIN, 3d APRIL, 1753. If it is true that you design to attack me
again [with your LA-BEAUMELLE doggeries and scurrilous discussions], I
declare to you that I have still health enough to find you wherever you
are, and to take the most signal vengeance on you (VENGEANCE LA PLUS
ECLATANTE). Thank the respect and the obedience which have hitherto
restrained my arm, and saved you from the worst adventure you have ever
yet had. MAUPERTUIS."

VOLTAIRE'S ANSWER (from Leipzig, a few days after).

"M. le President,--I have had the honor to receive your Letter. You
inform me that you are well; that your strength is entirely returned;
and that, if I publish La Beaumelle's Letter [private Letter of his,
lent me by a Friend, which proves that YOU set him against me], you
will come and assassinate me. What ingratitude to your poor medical man
Akakia!... If you exalt your soul so as to discern futurity, you will
see that if you come on that errand to Leipzig, where you are no better
liked than in other places, and where your Letter is in safe Legal
hands, you run some risk of being hanged. Poor me, indeed, you will find
in bed; and I shall have nothing for you but my syringe and vessel of
dishonor: but so soon as I have gained a little strength, I will have
my pistols charged CUM PULVERE PYRIO; and multiplying the mass by the
square of the velocity, so as to reduce the action and you to zero, I
will put some lead in your head;--it appears to have need of it.
ADIEU, MON PRESIDENT. AKAKIA." [Duvernet, pp. 186, 187;--OEuvres de
Voltaire,--lxi. 55-60.]

Here, in the history of Duelling, or challenging to mortal combat, is
a unique article! At which the whole world haha'd again; perhaps King
Friedrich himself; though he was dreadfully provoked at it, too: "No
mending of that fellow!"--and took a resolution in consequence, as will
be seen.

Dresden and Leipzig done with, Voltaire accepted an invitation to
the Court of Sachsen-Gotha (most polite Serene Highnesses there, and
especially a charming Duchess,--who set him upon doing the ANNALES
DE L'EMPIRE, decidedly his worst Book). "About April 2lst"
Voltaire arrived, stayed till the last days of May; [--OEuvres de
Voltaire,--lxxv. 182 n. Clogenson's Note).] and had, for five weeks, a
beautiful time at Gotha;--Wilhelmina's D