In the matter in which he was involved with the venerable Archbishop of Moscow, he does not stand in quite so fair a light. He committed himself unadvisedly, nor was his explanation quite perspicuous or satisfactory. Take him for all in all, he was an eccentric character, and if we do not meet with his like again, it is of no material importance.
Numerous are the anecdotes which occur in our manuscript, as communicated by this singular personage, but lest our detail should be too far extended, one only is inserted.
A society was established under the most fortunate auspices, of which, the object was, to bring together individuals, who from their relative situations in life, were otherwise less likely to meet upon equal and familiar terms: men of rank, properly so denominated, and those who had exhibited such unequivocal proofs of learning and of talent, as to claim and deserve that countenance, which the conscious dignity of superior intellect is seldom disposed to solicit. Accordingly, the first promoters of the plan endeavoured, in the invitations which they circulated, to assemble personages of distinction, who were universally considered and acknowledged as friendly to the interests of literature, and men of literary character, whose studies and productions had conciliated the general esteem.
To Louis this seemed a mighty fantastical project, and as the invitation immediately came from one, who, though much employed, and exceedingly anxious in the business, did not add much to its allurement, from the splendour of his rank, or the popularity of his name; he declined it with a sort of faint praise and civil sneer, at the same time undertaking to predict that the scheme would fall to the ground. But it turned out far otherwise. The success exceeded the most sanguine hopes of the first projectors. In a very short space of time, the society comprehended a very large proportion of
The great, and the good, and the learned, and the wise.
It would not be very easy to describe the mortification and chagrin which was felt by him, who had rejected, what he would afterwards have made great sacrifices to obtain. But it was too late. The door was shut, not again to be opened to any force, within his power to apply.
Τ. Αυτος μετειληφὼς της καλῆς εκεινής συνουσιας, η παρ αλλου μαθων τοις ετεροις διεξηεις;
Α. Αυτος μετασχων.