hope and faith I have none. The nineteenth century is, in my
eyes, a genesic era, in which new principles are elaborated, but
in which nothing that is written shall endure. That is the
reason, in my opinion, why, among so many men of talent, France
to-day counts not one great writer. In a society like ours, to
seek for literary glory seems to me an anachronism. Of what use
is it to invoke an ancient sibyl when a muse is on the eve of
birth? Pitiable actors in a tragedy nearing its end, that which
it behooves us to do is to precipitate the catastrophe. The most
deserving among us is he who plays best this part. Well, I no
longer aspire to this sad success!

"Why should I not confess it, gentlemen? I have aspired to your
suffrages and sought the title of your pensioner, hating all
which exists and full of projects for its destruction; I shall
finish this investigation in a spirit of calm and philosophical
resignation. I have derived more peace from the knowledge of the
truth, than anger from the feeling of oppression; and the most
precious fruit that I could wish to gather from this memoir would
be the inspiration of my readers with that tranquillity of soul
which arises from the clear perception of evil and its cause, and
which is much more powerful than passion and enthusiasm. My
hatred of privilege and human authority was unbounded; perhaps at
times I have been guilty, in my indignation, of confounding
persons and things; at present I can only despise and complain;
to cease to hate I only needed to know.

"It is for you now, gentlemen, whose mission and character are
the proclamation of the truth, it is for you to instruct the
people, and to tell them for what they ought to hope and what