Lives of the most eminent literary and scientific men of France, Vol. 2 (of 2)Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft
Science
Lives of the most eminent literary and scientific men of France, Vol. 2 (of 2)
Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft
Authors, French -- Biography
Yet he was eager to quit Paris; he was in France on sufferance; he even
received intimation from the duke de Choiseul not to prolong his stay.
[Sidenote: 1766.
Ætat.
54.]
On the 2d of January, he departed with Hume and a M. de Luze, a Genevese
and a friend of his. There was great difficulty in knowing where to
place the exile, when he arrived in England: his scanty income was far
too slight to afford mere necessaries in this country: many plans were
discussed; Rousseau rejected several. Thérèse le Vasseur was the great
obstacle to his comfort. It was with difficulty that the prejudice
against her as Rousseau's mistress could be got over; but worse remained
in her own character. De Luze represents her as ignorant, mischievous,
and quarrelsome; add to this, that heretofore Rousseau had treated her
as a mere housekeeper, and she did not dine at table with his
guests--now he insisted that she should be placed on an equality with
himself.
Still he and Hume continued on friendly terms; and the latter
entertained a sincere esteem for him. He wrote: "He is mild, gentle,
modest, affectionate, disinterested, and, above all, endowed in a
supreme degree with sensibility of heart." Rousseau insisted on
establishing himself in solitude at a distance from London: an eligible
residence was at last found for him. He passed two months in London and
Chiswick. He was visited by all persons of distinction. "English
manners," he wrote to a friend, "suit my taste; they can testify esteem,
without cajolery." He then repaired to Wotton in Derbyshire--a house
belonging to Mr. Davenport, but seldom inhabited by him: his host, to
satisfy his delicacy, received nominal payment for his board and
lodging; and here Rousseau and Thérèse took up their abode.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account