, the following is a
remarkable fact, inasmuch as it serves to prove the pernicious effects
of the writings of Voltaire and Rousseau in the minds of youth, when
at an age incapable of discriminating between fanaticism and real
piety!

The person in question was a youth not turned sixteen, who destroyed
himself last summer, while at college, and who left the following
paper as his last will. The lady who gave it me copied it from the
original.

"Testament de Villemain.

"Samedi. July 6th, 1816.

"Je donne mon corps aux Pedants: je legue mon ame aux manes de
Voltaire et de J.J. Rousseau, qui m'ont appris a mepriser toutes les
vaines superstitions de ce monde, et tous les vains prejuges qu'a
enfantes la grossierete des hommes, et surtout les subtiles noirceurs
des fourbes de Pretres.

"J'ai toujours reconnu un Etre supreme, et ma religion a toujours ete
la religion naturelle.

"Quant a mes biens terrestres, je donne: (Here he mentions various
articles to his favorite school-fellows).

"A Mondesir, mon dernier soupir.

"J'ai toujours connu, je l'ai dit plus haut, reconnu un Etre supreme,
j'ai toujours pense que la seul religion digne de lui, etait la vertu
et la probite!

"J'ose dire que je m'en suis rarement ecarte malgre la faiblesse, et
la fragilite humaine.

"Je parois devant l'Etre supreme en disant avec Voltaire: 'Un Bonze,
honnete homme, un Dervis, charitable, trouveront plutot grace a ses
yeux, qu'un Pontife ambitieux.'"

Then follows a Latin quotation, "All things are due to death, and
without delay, sooner or later, hasten to the same goal: Hither we all
tend: This is our last asylum".

"De tout les Pedants qui m'ont le plus tourmente je compte surtout
Poir, son Jeannes et Veissier, qui sont la cause du vol que je fais a
la nature en tranchant moi meme le fil de mes jours; je leur pardonne,
l'equite le fait aussi: Je n'ai cesse de repeter avec Rousseau avant
de mourir. 'Tu veux cesser de vivre, sais-tu si tu as commence.'

"Adieu!!! Mortels et foiblesses! VILLEMAIN".]

Here conclude my notes, and if my reader has condescended to accompany
me through my little Tour without feeling fatigue or displeasure
at his "Compagnon de Voyage," my aim and ambition as an author are
satisfied--so wishing that all the journeys he may ever take, may
prove as delightful to him as this has been to me, I sincerely thank
him for his attention, and kindly bid