at Port Royal, responds: "I was just going to write to beg you
to send me your carriage as soon as you had dined. I have yet
seen only the first maxims, as I had a headache yesterday; but
those I have read appear to me to be founded more upon the
disposition of the author than upon the truth, for he believes
neither in generosity without interest, nor in pity; that is, he
judges every one by himself. For the greater number of people,
he is right; but surely there are those who desire only to do
good." The Countesse de Maure, who does not believe in the
absolute depravity of human nature, and is inclined to an
elevated Christian philosophy quite opposed to Jansenism, writes
with so much severity that she begs her friend not to show her
letter to the author. Mme. de Hautefort expresses her
disapproval of a theory which drives honor and goodness out of
the world. After many clever and well-turned criticisms, she
says: "But the maxim which is quite new to me, and which I
admire, is that idleness, languid as it is, destroys all the
passions. It is true, and he had searched his heart well to find
a sentiment so hidden, but so just . . . I think one ought, at
present, to esteem idleness as the only virtue in the world,
since it is that which uproots all the vices. As I have always
had much respect for it, I am glad it has so much merit." But
she adds wisely: "If I were of the opinion of the author, I would
not bring to the light those mysteries which will forever deprive
him of all the confidence one might have in him."

There is one letter, written by the clever and beautiful Eleonore
de Rohan, Abbess de Malnoue, and addressed to the author, which
deserves to be read for its fine and just sentiments. In closing
she says: