The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

A letter of Rousseau to his bookseller at the Hague.

Sir,

I am very sorry for that embarrassment which you tell me you lie under, on account of the Savoyard's Creed, inserted in my Emilius; but I declare to you again, once for all, that no power on earth, no censure, no threats, no violence, shall ever prevail on me to suppress a syllable of what I have written. As you did not think it necessary to consult me with regard to the contents of my manuscript, when you treated for the copy, you have no right to make application to me now, on account of the obstacles you may meet with to its publication; especially as the bold truths, scattered up and down in my other works, might very naturally suggest to you, that this was by no means exempted from the like.

I am astonished you should ever conceive that a man, who takes so many precautions that his works may not be altered after his decease, would permit them to be mutilated during his life time.

With respect to the several reasons you have urged, you might have spared yourself that trouble, by supposing that I had myself reflected on what was proper to be done. You tell me, that I am censured even by persons of my own way of thinking. But this cannot possibly be; for I, who certainly am of my own way of thinking, approve what I have done; nor is there any action of my whole life with which my heart is more perfectly satisfied. In ascribing glory to God, and endeavouring to promote the real good of mankind, I have done my duty. Whether they profit by it, or not; whether they approve or blame me or my conduct in so doing, concerns me not: I would not give a straw to convert their censure to applause. As for the rest, to take things in the worst light, what can the world do to me more than the infirmities of my nature will very speedily do of themselves? The public can neither confer nor deprive me of my reward: this depends not on any human power. You see, therefore, that my measures are taken, let what will happen; for which reason, I would advise you to press me no farther on the subject; as every thing you can possibly advance will be absolutely to no purpose.

Yours, &c.

J. J. ROUSSEAU.