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AN AWFUL FULFILMENT OF AN AWFUL PRO

PHECY.

In the year 1788, M. Cazotte, a French gentleman, being in company with some of the nobility of France, made the following remarks by way of Prophecy. It was anticipated by that deluded part of the people, viz. the adherents of Voltaire's licentious doctrines, that when they should prevail over the heavenly and chaste doctrines of the gospel, they should be a happy people. [Related by De la Harpe.]

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"It appears to me as if it were but yesterday; and it was, nevertheless, in the beginning of the year 1788; we were at the table of a brother Academician, who was of the highest rank and a man of talents. The company was numerous and of all kinds; courtiers, advocates, literary men, academicians, &c. We had been, as usual, luxuriously entertained; and at the desert, the wines of Malvoisie and the Cape, added to the natural gaiety of good company that kind of social freedom which sometimes stretches beyond the rigid decorum of it. In short, we were in a state to allow of any thing that would produce mirth. Chamfort had been reading some of his impious and libertine tales, and the fine ladies had heard them, without once making use of their fans. A deluge of pleasantries on religion then succeeded; one gave a quotation from the Pucelle d'Orleans; another recollected and applauded the philosophical distich of Diderot,

Et des Boyaux du dernier Pretre,
Serrez le Cou du dernier Roi.

And of the last Priest's entrails form the string
Around the neck of the last King.

A third rises, and with a bumper in his hand, "Yes, gentlemen," (he exclaims) "I am as sure that there is no God, as I am certain that Homer is a fool." The conversation afterwards took a more serious turn, and the most ardent admiration was expressed of the revolution which Voltaire had produced; and they all agreed that it formed the brightest ray of his glory. "He has given the ton to his age, and has contrived to be read in the chamber, as well as in the drawing room." One of the company mentioned, and almost burst with laughter at the circumstance, that his hair-dresser had said, while he was powdering him, "Look you, sir; though I am nothing but a

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of liberty; it will be under the reign of Reason, that what I have foretold will happen to you. It will then, indeed, be the reign of reason: for she will have temples erected to her honour, Nay, throughout France, there will be no other places of public worship than the temples of reason." "In faith," said Chamfort, with one of his sarcastic smiles, " you will not be an officiating priest in any of these temples." "I hope not, but you, M. Chamfort, you will be well worthy of that distinction for you will cut yourself across the veins with twentytwo strokes of a razor, and will, nevertheless, survive the attempt for some months."-They all looked at him and continued to laugh" You, M. Vicq d'Azyr, you will not open your veins yourself, but you will order them to be opened six times in one day. during a paroxysm of the gout, in order that you may not fail in your purpose, and you will die during the night. As for you, M. de Nicoli, you will die on the scaffold; and so M. Bailly, will you; and so will you, M. Malesherbes." "Oh heavens," said Roucher," it appears that his vengeance is levelled solely against the academy: he has just made a most horrible execution of the whole of it; now tell me my fate, in the name of mercy!"-"You will die also upon the scaffold." "Oh," it was universally exclaimed, "he has sworn to exterminate us all." "No, it is not I who have sworn it." "Are we then to be subjugated by Turks and Tartars?" By no means; I have already told you, that you will then be governed by Reason and Philosophy alone. Those who will treat you as I have described, will all of them be philosophers; will be continually uttering the same phrases that you have been repeating for the last hour, will deliver all your maxims, and will quote, as you have done, Diderot and Pucelle." "Oh," it was whispered," the man is out of his senses;" for during the whole of the conversation, his countenance never underwent the least change. "Oh no," said another, " you must perceive he is laughing at us; for he always blends the marvellous with his pleasantries." "Yes," answered Chamfort, "the marvellous, with him, is never enlivened with gaiety. He always looks as if he were going to be hanged. But when will all this happen? "Six years will not have passed away, before all which I have told you shall be accomplished."

"Here, indeed, is plenty of miracles," (it was myself, says M. de la Harpe, who now spoke,)" and you set me down for nothing." "You will yourself be a miracle as extraordinary as any which I have told. You will then be a Chrisfian."

Loud exclamations immediately followed. "Ah,” replied

Chamfort, “ all my fears are removed; for if we are not doomed to perish till La Harpe becomes a Christian, we shall be immortal."

"As for us women," said the duchess de Grammont," it is very fortunate that we are considered as nothing in these revolutions. Not that we are totally discharged from all concern in them; but it is understood that in such cases we are to be left to ourselves Our sex."" Your sex, ladies, will be no guarantee to you in these time. It will make no difference whatever, whether you interfere or not. You will be treated precisely as the men; no distinction will be made between you." " But what does all this mean, M. Cazotte? You are surely preaching to us about the end of the world." "I know no more of that,... my lady duchess, than yourself: but this I know, that be conducted to the scaffold, with several other ladies along teve know, that you will with you in the cart of the executioner, and with your hands tied behind you." "I hope, Sir, that in such a case, I shall be allowed, at least, a coach hung with black." "No, madam, you will not have that indulgence: ladies of higher rank than you, will be drawn in a cart as you will be; with their hands tied as yours will be, and to the same fate as that to which you are destined." "Ladies of higher rank than myself? What, princesses of the blood ?" "Greater still."

Here there was a very sensible emotion throughout the company, and the countenance of the master of the mansion wore a very grave and solemn aspect it was, indeed, very generally observed, that this pleasantry was carried rather too far. Madame de Grammont, in order to disperse the cloud that seemed to be approaching, made no reply to his last answer, but contented herself with saying, with an air of gaiety, "You see, he will not even leave me a confessor." "No, madam, that consolation will be denied to all of you. The last person led to the scaffold who will be allowed a confessor, as the greatest of favours, will be Here he paused for a moment. "And who then is the happy mortal who will be allowed to enjoy this prerogative ?" "It is the only one which will be left him; it will be the king of France.'

The master of the house now rose in haste, and his company were all actuated by the same impulse. He then advanced towards M. Cazotte, and said to him, in an affecting and impress sive tone, "My dear M. Cazotte, we have had enough of these melancholy conceits. You carry it too far; even to the compromising the company with whom you are, and yourself along with them." Cazotte made no answer, and was preparing to retire; when Madame de Grammont, who wished, if possible,

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