prophet is set in a much more odious light than any of the vices or irregularities which these other pieces represent. It was precifely against the Ravaillacs and the Clements, this play was wrote, which made a very ingenious man fay, that, if it had been compofed in the times of Henry the third and Henry the fourth, it would have preferved their lives. Can fuch a reproach be made with any confidence to the author of the Henriade? He, who has fo often employed his pen in that poem, and elsewhere, not only against such wicked attempts, but even against every maxim that might have any fuch dangerous tendency.

I muft own, the more I read the works of this author, the more they seem to me to be characterised by a love for the public good; above all, he infpires on every occafion, the greatest horror for the vio lences of rebellion, of perfecution and fanaticifm. Is there any virtuous man or good fubject, who does not adopt all the maxims of the Henriade? does not this poem create in us a love for true virtue?

Mahomet

Mahomet feems to me to be wrote in the fame spirit, and I dare fay its greatest enemies will now allow it.

He foon faw that a dangerous cabal was forming against him. The most violent had spoken to perfons in power, who, not having seen it acted, were obliged to truft to the accounts of others. The celebrated Moliere, the glory of France, was in the fame fituation, upon his Tartuffe's being acted*; he had recourfe directly to Lewis the great, to whom he was known, and by whom he was beloved. The authority of this monarch, foon diffipated the finifter interpretations that were given of his comedy. But times are altered; the protection granted to arts entirely new, cannot be always

* As foon as this comedy was acted, the priests and devotees joined in an uproar against it, saying, it was calculated to fatyrife and ridicule religion and devotion; though the perfonage attacked in the play, is fuppofed only to wear the mask of both. Moliere, by being valet de chambre to Lewis the fourteenth, and very well known to him, faved himself from the difgrace fuch powerful enemies threatened him with.

continued ;

continued, befides, one artift has an opportunity of obtaining with ease, what another cannot have without great diffi, culty. Other difcuffions, a new examination became neceffary. The author thought it beft to take back his tragedy himself, after the third representation, until time fhould appease prejudiced minds, which cannot fail happening in a nation fo ingenious and fo learned as the french. It was mentioned in the public papers, that the tragedy of Mahomet had been prohibited by the government. I can poffitively affert that nothing can be falfer. Not only, the least order was never given on that head, but the first perfons of the ftate did not vary an instant in the opinion they had entertained from the beginning, of the discretion and prudence with which the subject was treated.

Some people having haftily copied feveral scenes during the reprefentations, and having obtained from the actors a part or two, prefumed to give the clandeftine editions which have hitherto appeared.

peared. It is easy to perceive how very much they differ from the work itself, which I have had from undoubted authority, as well as the other pieces that are in the present edition. The most curious I take to be, the author's letter to the king of Pruffia, which he wrote in Holland, in his return from a visit he paid that monarch. It is in fuch letters, which were not intended for the prefs,. that we may discover the real thoughts of

men.

Amfterdam, this 18th.

of November, 1742.

P. D. L M.

To

To His MAJESTY

1

The KING of PRUSSIA.

I

SIRE,

Am at prefent like the pilgrims of Mecca, whofe eyes are turned back towards that object of their devotions, from the moment they leave it; mine are turned towards your court. heart, full of the favours I have received from you, is penetrated with regret at not being able to live near your majesty.

My

I take the liberty to fend you a new copy of the tragedy of Mahomet, the first sketch of which I fubmitted to you fome years ago. It is a tribute I pay to the lover of the arts, to the learned judge, especially to the philofopher, much more than to the fovereign.

Your majesty is acquainted with the motives that guided my pen, when I was writing this work. Thefe motives were the love of mankind, and the horror

of