Infidelity of Voltaire 2
1694. Birth of François-Marie Arouet at Chatenay 4
His Father, M. Arouet, a Notary 4
1704. Ætat. 10. Is taught by the Jesuits in the College of
Louis-le-Grand 5
His Prejudice against the Jansenists 5
The Abbé de Chateauneuf 5
Precocious Genius of Arouet 5
His introduction to Parisian Society 6
Court of Louis XIV. 6
The King ruled by Molinist Confessors 6
Influence of Madame de Maintenon in religious Matters 6
1714. Ætat. 20. Young Arouet sent to Holland with the Marquis de
Chateauneuf 7
His Affection for Mademoiselle du Noyer 8
He is placed as pupil with M. Alain, Attorney in Paris 9
M. de Caumartin invites him to his Château of St. Ange 10
1715. State of public Affairs on the Demise of Louis XIV. 10
The Regent d'Orléans, and Cardinal Dubois 10
1716. Ætat. 22. Arouet imprisoned in the Bastille for a Satire of
which he was not the Author 11
On Epic Poetry 12
Criticism on the Henriade of Voltaire 13
Duke of Orléans liberates and compensates him 14
1718. Ætat. 24. "Œdipe," Tragedy by Voltaire 15
His Critique on the Tragedies of Sophocles 15
His mode of Life and Habits 16
His "Mariamne" successful 16
1722. Dispute between the Poets Jean Baptiste Rousseau and Voltaire 17
Insult offered Voltaire by the Chevalier de Rohan 17
He challenges de Rohan, and is sent to the Bastille 18
1728. Ætat. 34. He visits England and reads Locke and Newton 18
His return to Paris 19
The Clergy become suspicious of him, and aim at his Ruin 19
Increase of his Fortune 20
Reasons of his purchasing the Estate of Voltaire, and assuming
that name 21
Becomes attached to the Marchioness du Châtelet 21
His "Brutus" and "Eriphyle" unsuccessful 22
1732. Ætat. 38. Great success of "Zaire" 22
"Histoire de Charles XII." 23
"Siècle de Louis XIV." projected by Voltaire 23
Mademoiselle Lecouvreur, an Actress, denied the Rites of
Sepulture 23
Voltaire's "Lettres sur les Anglais" publicly burnt 23
He retires to the Château de Cirey with the Marquis and
Marchioness du Châtelet 24
Their philosophical Studies 25
He writes "Alzire," "Mérope," "Mahomet," &c. 25
"Essay on the Manners and Spirit of Nations" 25
Madame de Graffigny's Visit to Madame du Châtelet at Cirey;
her Letters 26
1738. Ætat. 44. Voltaire writes "La Pucelle," the Maid of Orléans 28
Is attacked by the Abbé des Fontaines and Jean Baptiste
Rousseau 31
Alarm as to the Printing of "La Pucelle" 33
His Correspondence with Frederic II. 35
1740. Letters of Frederic 37
Interview of the King of Prussia and M. de Voltaire at the
Castle of Meuse, near Clèves 39
Maupertuis President of the Berlin Academy 39
Frederic's former Work against the Principles of Machiavel, the
"Anti-Machiavel" 40
Character of Frederic 41
1742. War against Maria Theresa, on the Death of Charles VI. her
Father 42
Administration of Cardinal de Fleuri 42
Voltaire in constant Danger of the Bastille 43
Crébillon refuses to license "Mahomet" 43
It is acted at Lille in Flanders by La Noue and Mademoiselle
Clairon 44
1743. The Duke of Richelieu, a Favourite of Louis XV. 44
Ætat. 49. Voltaire endeavours to obtain a Seat in the French
Academy, but is rejected 45
Great Success of his Tragedy of "Mérope" 45
He is sent on a Mission to Berlin, and a Treaty between Prussia
and France is the result 46
Frederic invades Bohemia 47
Voltaire is left unrewarded 47
He resides in Paris with the Marquis and Marchioness du
Châtelet 47
His Visit to the Duchess du Maine at Sceaux, when he writes
"Zadig," and other Tales 48
He performs the Part of "Cicero" in his Play of "Rome
Sauvée" 48
M. Longchamp's Account of Voltaire's Journeys, and his Visit
to King Stanislas at Luneville 48, 51
1748. Ætat. 54. Tragedy of "Semiramis" 49
Voltaire dangerously ill of Fever at Chalons 50
His Friendship for Madame du Châtelet 51
His Rapidity in Writing, and literary Enthusiasm 51
His "Catiline" and "Elèctre" 51
Death of the Marchioness du Châtelet 52
Voltaire become sole Tenant of their Hôtel in Paris, appoints
his Niece, Madame Denis, to preside over it 53
Private Theatre in his House 53
He patronises Le Kain, the Tragedian 54
His Admiration of Corneille and Racine 55
Madame de Pompadour for a Time patronises M. de Voltaire 55
Louis XV. appoints him a Gentleman of the Bed-chamber, and
Historiographer of France 56
Voltaire becomes a French Academician 56
Crébillon a successful Rival of Voltaire in dramatic
Composition, and Court-favour 57
Voltaire, jealous on that Account, repairs to the Court of
Frederic at Potsdam 57
Is pensioned by him, and appointed Chamberlain 58
Frederic's Admiration and Kindness 58
Voltaire's Admiration of the Prussian Monarch 59
Madame Denis left in Paris 60
Ætat. 57. His "Siècle de Louis Quatorze" 60
Umbrage and Jealousies of the King and Poet 61
1751. Offence given by M. de Voltaire to Frederic 63
Maupertuis and the Berlin Academy; Contest respecting the
mechanical Principle of the "least Power" 65
La Beaumette and Maupertuis attack M. de Voltaire 66
Voltaire's Satire of "Akakia" against Maupertuis 66
His Reconciliation with Frederic the Great 67
Their mutual Dissatisfaction renewed, and Voltaire takes leave
of the Prussian Court 67
He repairs to Leipsic and Saxe Gotha 68
Is arrested at Francfort by Agents of Frederic 69
Voltaire slighted at Lyons by Cardinal du Tencin 71
1755. Ætat. 61. He purchases the Estate of "Les Délices" at Geneva 72
1756. Renews a literary Correspondence with Frederic 73
Despair of that Monarch on a Defeat 73
Fresh Victories of Frederic 74
M. de Voltaire's "Manners and Spirit of Nations" 74
The Publication of "La Pucelle" occasions a
against the Poet 75
His Residence in the Genevese Territory becomes perilous 76
1762. Ætat. 68. He purchases the Château de Ferney on the Frontier
of France and Geneva, as a Residence affording him
Security 76
The "Encyclopédie" 77
A great niece of Corneille received by Voltaire and Madame
Denis at Ferney 79
Arrival of the Family of Calas at Ferney 79
1765. Ætat. 71. Voltaire obtains the Reversal of the Condemnation
of Jean Calas, and the Restoration of his Family to civil Rights 81
His Exertions in Favour of the Sirven Family 83
Execution of the Chevalier de la Barre at Abbeville, and
Indignation of Voltaire at the Spirit of religious Persecution 84
The Jesuits banished from France 87
Persecution of Jansenists and Quietists 87
Bitter Quarrel and Satire between M. de Voltaire and Jean-Jacques
Rousseau 88
Security and happy Life of Voltaire at Ferney 88
1766. Ætat. 72. He is deserted at Ferney by his Niece and former
Inmates 89
His Letters to the Marquise du Deffand 89
Return of Madame Denis to Voltaire at Ferney 90
Marmontel's Visit to him 91
The Countess de Genlis' Visit to Voltaire 94
Voltaire neglects the Count de Guibert and other Visitors 98
His Improvements in his Village of Ferney 98
His Humanity to Exiles, and charitable Character 99
He founds the Town of Versoi 100
Patronises the Town of Gex, and procures the Enfranchisement
of Serfs of the Jura Mountains 100
Disgraceful Close of the Reign of Louis XV. 101
1788. Ætat. 81. After the Accession of Louis XVI. Voltaire,
accompanied by his Niece and M. and Madame de Villette, arrives
in Paris 102
His Tragedy of "Irene" 102
Condorcet's and Baron de Grimm's Description of his honourable
Reception by the Parisians, with whom he had always
been a Favourite 103
Louis XVI. 104
The Clergy endeavour to obtain from M. de Voltaire, in Sickness,
a Declaration of his Faith 104
On a temporary Recovery he attends the Academy and the
Theatre, and is received enthusiastically 105
Is prevented from returning to Ferney by Madame Denis 105
1778. Death of M. de Voltaire 106
Delineation of his Character 107
His Infidelity, and Grossness, alluded to 108
Critique of his Works 109