acious reception, and was charmed with his
conversation. But the greatest pleasure he received by this voyage was
the intimate friendship he contracted with Casaubon. They knew one
another before by character, and highly esteemed each other. They were
made to be intimate friends: in both the most profound erudition was
joined with the most perfect probity. They had still another sympathy to
knit faster the band of this union: both ardently wished to see all
Christians united in one faith and desired nothing more, than to be
employed in that great work. They have left behind them testimonies of
the satisfaction they found in each other's acquaintance. "For my part,
says Grotius in a letter to John Frederic Gronovius[62], I reckon it one
of the greatest felicities of my whole life to have been loved by a man
as illustrious for his piety, his probity, and his candor, as for his
extensive learning. It was by his counsels or those of persons he
approved that I conducted myself in the most difficult times."

"I respect no less, says he in another letter, his frankness and his
probity, than his uncommon erudition. His letters sufficiently prove
what great friendship he had for me."

We find in fact that they contain evidences of the highest esteem for
Grotius. To Daniel Heinsius he writes, April 13, 1613, "I am very well;
and cannot say enough of my felicity in enjoying the friendship of such
a great man as Grotius. O that incomparable man! I knew him before: but
fully to comprehend the excellency of his divine genius, one must see
him, and hear him converse. His countenance speaks probity, and his
discourse discovers the deepest learning and the most sincere piety.
Think not that I only am his admirer; all learned and good men entertain
the same sentiments for him, particularly the King."

Casaubon writes to the President de Thou, April 20, 1613, to acquaint
him what pleasure he had received by seeing Grotius. "I must let you
know, says he, that I have seen here Hugo Grotius. He is a man of
admirable probity and learning[63]."

They had long conversations together on religion. Casaubon ardently
desired a reunion of the Protestants with the Roman Catholics[64]: and
would have set about it, had he staid longer in France, as he informed
Descordes, who repeated it to Grotius. He greatly respected the opinions
of the ancient church[65], and was persuaded its sentiments were more
sound than those of the Ministers of Charenton. G