SUPPL. VOL. I. PART I.
history of the Athenians commences about 150 years after the first Olympiad, including the age of Solon, or that of legislation; that of Themistocles and Aristides, or that of glory, of luxury, and arts. In the second, speaking of war, his observation, that "the example of one nation, that prefers death to slavery, is too important and too instructive to be passed in silence," should have preserved him from the horrors of a long confinement in an advanced age, from which he was delivered only to die. But arts, sciences, and literature, are alike forgotten and overwhelmed in France. In the third interval, speaking of the corruption of manners introduced by Pericles to support his power, he has this observation, applicable to every state: "Corrupted morals are not restored but by the loss of liberty, which brings that poverty inconsistent with softness, and inseparable from abstemiousness, if not that rigid principle of a healthy mind, which is properly called virtue." In this period, though the arts were encouraged, philosophy was neglected.
In this diversified undertaking, where the picture of ancient Greece in its minutest parts, both of public and private life, is brought before our eyes, the Abbé is frequently more brilliant than solid, and occasionally loses the substance of a reflection in pursuit of something ingenious to add to it. The plans, views, and maps, are executed with great spirit and accuracy by Mr Barber, a young man of very promising talents; and to the charts many useful tables are added. The beauties of the classics are diffused in a very pleasing manner, and interspersed with anecdotes little known.
Such was the man whom the French government detained in prison for months, and released on the fall of Robespierre. As he concurred in the revolution, we know of no cause for his imprisonment but the mildness of his disposition, and the jealousy of that tyrant, which pursued, with relentless cruelty, every man suspected of being a friend to peace. Of the persecution of Barthelèmi, in the extremity of old age, the convention itself seemed to be ashamed; for it unanimously voted him a pension as some recompence for his sufferings. But, alas! the recompence came too late: the old man lived but a few months after his liberation, having died at Paris on the 4th of May 1795; and the day after the following tribute was paid to his memory by Duffaulx, in the national convention:
"Legislators, your liberality conferred honour on the latter days of the life of our respectable fellow citizen, Barthelèmi. Our successors, I have no doubt, will consecrate his memory so soon as the period fixed by the law shall permit them. May his old friend, however, be permitted, in a few words, to point out the rare qualities of that Nestor of French literature? It might, perhaps, be sufficient to tell you, as Xenophon said with so much simplicity of one of his most illustrious contemporaries, that Barthelèmi was an excellent man in all respects. In fact, those who knew him were at a loss which to admire most—his immortal Anacharsis, or his own life. His policy consisted in goodness; his science was an immense treasure of every thing that could purify the morals, perfect the tale, render man
I
Barthelemi more dear to man, and contribute to the splendour of his country. A single trait will convince you of the mildness of his philanthropic mind: 'Why is it not permitted (he often said) to a mortal to bequeath prosperity to his fellow-creatures?' After having been overwhelmed with the favours of fortune, which came unexpectedly and unsought, he became poor; yet his character, far from sinking under the pressure, acquired new respect; and he proved that poverty, supported with dignity, is not less honourable than wealth accompanied with benevolence. Persecuted, as all virtuous and enlightened citizens were, he carried with him to the dungeon of that tyranny which you have so gloriously destroyed, the constancy and serenity of Socrates. It was there that the venerable old man offered to his companions in misfortune the magnificent spectacle of a good man struggling with adversity. I have said that he was rich; but let us not forget that he was not rich at the expense of the unfortunate, and that he adopted all the branches of his numerous family. The republic has gained by that family good citizens, who serve her in the most useful and brilliant manner. Barthelemi felt that the period of his dissolution was approaching; yet though exhausted by long fatigue, and bending beneath the weight of 80 years, his sensibility was still vigorous, and your just decrees made the closing scene of his life happy. When he heard that you were endeavouring to repair the ills under which so many thousand innocent men laboured, he lifted up his hands to heaven, and exclaimed, 'Glory to God—honour to the national convention—I have lived long enough!' In the present posture of affairs, the country demands all your attention. I shall therefore confine myself to request the favour due to the manes of the illustrious Barthelemi. One of his nephews, I do not mean your respectable ambassador at Basse, but the citizen Courcey, has, for 25 years, discharged all the duties of a son to his uncle, and for a long time has performed the functions of keeper of the medals and antiquities of the national cabinet. I move, that the citizen Courcey be appointed to that office, which he has already proved himself so worthy to fill.'
Whatever became of this motion, which was referred to the committee of public instruction, the cruelty of the government pursued the family; and the late banishment of his other nephew by the directory, of which he was a member, surpasses, if possible, the injustice of Robespierre to the uncle. But their crimes were the same: both Barthelemi were men of mild dispositions and friends to peace.