But we turn from Voltaire and his stormy times to the seat of his
retirement--Ferney, about six miles from Geneva; where he lived for
twenty years; but in his eighty-fourth year actually quitted this scene
of delightful repose for the city of Paris--there to enjoy a short
triumph, and die. The latter event took place in 1778. At pages 62 and
69 of vol. xii. of THE MIRROR, we have given a brief description of
Ferney, with many interesting anecdotes, carefully compiled from a
variety of authorities. Here Voltaire lived in princely style, as
Condorcet says, "removed from illusion, and whatever could excite
momentary, or personal passion." According to M. Simond, a recent
tourist, the _château_ is still visited by travellers, and Voltaire's
bed-room is shown in the state he left it. The date of our view is about
the year 1800, since which the residence has been much neglected: and
during the late war, it was frequently the quarters of the Austrian
soldiers. The gardens are laid out in the formal, geometrical style,
and they command a view of the town and lake of Geneva. The apartments
of the ground-floor of the house are in the same state as during
Voltaire's lifetime. In the dining-hall is a picture, representing
demons horsewhipping Fréron:[1] such was Voltaire's mode of perpetuating
his antagonists.

[Footnote 1: Fréron was an eminent journalist of the last century: his
criticisms procured him many powerful enemies, among whom was Voltaire.]

Of the purchase of Ferney, Voltaire thus speaks in his memoirs:--

"I bought, by a very singular kind of contract, of which there was no
example in that country, a small estate of about sixty acres, which they
sold me for about twice as much as it would have cost me at Paris; but
pleasure is never too dear. The house was pretty and commodious, and the