author of the once celebrated book on 'L'Esprit;' Buffon, the famous naturalist; Turgot, afterwards Minister of Finance; and Condorcet. Except Turgot, all these philosophers were free-thinkers, and were convinced that the policy and abuses of the Church in France were the great obstacles to the enlightenment of the nation. But the time had by no means arrived when they could venture to be completely outspoken. The authorities both of Church and State felt instinctively that their power rested mainly on the ignorance of the people, of whose welfare, temporal and spiritual, they took small thought; and their interest in science and literature was almost entirely of a repressive kind. It was necessary, therefore, for the Encyclopedists to insinuate their theories, whether of science or theology, in a covert or apologetic way. Nevertheless, the jealousy of the priesthood was aroused, the early volumes were suppressed, and it was only after many conflicts with authority, which tended to increase its popularity and fame, that the 'Encyclopedia' attained to a far more than national celebrity. None of the views therein set forth would be considered extreme in the present day. On the contrary, works of philosophy and religion that bring their authors high repute and esteem are published every day, which seem to have made a starting-point of the theories of the French philosophers. It might even be possible to name English divines who would be puzzled to define the points in which they differ from those unorthodox theologians. But things are to be considered with reference to their time: these views then excited hatred and fear; and on the school, and Voltaire the head of the school, obloquy was so lavishly poured that the stains have never left
