21 February 1778
[ Tallentyre's Commentary: In 1778, Voltaire, being now in his eighty-fourth year, decided, against the advice of his best friends, to leave Ferney on a visit to Paris. He was overwhelmed with homage and attentions--in one day alone he received three hundred visitors. By Sunday, February 15th, he was too ill to leave the house. On that day, as recorded in this letter, Benjamin Franklin --the American statesman, philosopher, diplomatist, now seventy-two years old, and in Paris on a diplomatic mission to secure foreign assistance for America in the war she was then waging with Great Britain--brought his grandson to receive the patriarch's blessing. (Franklin's efforts had been so far successful that on February 6, 1778,--a week or two before this letter was written,--Louis XVI had signed a treaty of alliance with the United States.) It is said that Voltaire and Franklin talked of the government and constitution of that free country. "If I were forty," said Voltaire, "I should go and settle in your happy fatherland."(Click here to see a cartoon image of this encounter)
On February 20th Voltaire received a letter from the Jesuit Abbé Gaultier, who was anxious for the salvation of the sceptic's soul and that he himself should have the prestige of saving it. To this letter Voltaire made the following reply, and on February 21st accorded Gaultier a long interview, in which he accepted the abbe as his confessor--since to ensure decent and Christian burial a con-fessor was a necessary evil--and promised to see him again. Gaultier played no insignificant part in the extraordinary scenes which took place round Voltaire's deathbed: and in the struggle for his conversion showed more mercy and moderation than some of his brethren. ]
Paris, February 21, 1778.Your letter, sir, seems to me to be that of an honest man: that is sufficient to determine me to receive the honour of a visit from you on the day and at the hour most convenient to you. I shall say to you exactly what I said when I gave my blessing to the grandson of the wise and famous Franklin, the most honoured of American citizens: I spoke only these words, "God and liberty." All present were greatly moved. I flatter myself that you share these aspirations.
I am eighty-four years of age: I am about to appear before God, the Creator of all the universe. If you have anything to say to me, it will be my duty and privilege to receive you, despite the sufferings which overwhelm me.
I have the honour to be, etc.,
Voltaire
