It is therefore at this period that I think I may fix the establishment of a system, since adopted by those by whom my fate has been determined, and which has made such a progress as will seem miraculous to persons who know not with what facility everything which favors the malignity of man is established.I will endeavor to explain in a few words what to me appeared visible in this profound and obscure system.
With a name already distinguished and known throughout all Europe, Ihad still preserved my primitive simplicity.My mortal aversion to all party faction and cabal had kept me free and independent, without any other chain than the attachments of my heart.Alone, a stranger, without family or fortune, and unconnected with everything except my principles and duties, I intrepidly followed the paths of uprightness, never flattering or favoring any person at the expense of truth and justice.Besides, having lived for two years past in solitude, without observing the course of events, I was unconnected with the affairs of the world, and not informed of what passed, nor desirous of being acquainted with it.I lived four leagues from Paris as much separated from that capital by my negligence as I should have been in the Island of Tinian by the sea.
Grimm, Diderot and d'Holbach were, on the contrary, in the center of the vortex, lived in the great world, and divided amongst them almost all the spheres of it.The great wits, men of letters, men of long robe, and women, all listened to them when they chose to act in concert.The advantage three men in this situation united must have over a fourth in mine, cannot but already appear.It is true Diderot and d'Holbach were incapable, at least I think so, of forming black conspiracies; one of them was not base enough, nor the other sufficiently able; but it was for this reason that the party was more united.Grimm alone formed his plan in his own mind, and discovered more of it than was necessary to induce his associates to concur in the execution.The ascendency he had gained over them made this quite easy, and the effect of the whole answered to the superiority of his talents.
It was with these, which were of a superior kind, that, perceiving the advantage he might acquire from our respective situations, he conceived the project of overturning my reputation, and, without exposing himself, of giving me one of a nature quite opposite, by raising up about me an edifice of obscurity which it was impossible for me to penetrate, and by that means throw a light upon his maneuvers and unmask him.
This enterprise was difficult, because it was necessary to palliate the iniquity in the eyes of those of whose assistance he stood in need.He had honest men to deceive, to alienate from me the good opinion of everybody, and to deprive me of all my friends.What say I? He had to cut off all communication with me, that not a single word of truth might reach my ears.Had a single man of generosity come and said to me, "You assume the appearance of virtue, yet this is the manner in which you are treated, and these the circumstances by which you are judged; what have you to say?" truth would have triumphed and Grimm have been undone.Of this he was fully convinced; but he had examined his own heart and estimated men according to their merit.I am sorry, for the honor of humanity, that he judged with so much truth.
In these dark and crooked paths his steps to be the more sure were necessarily slow.He has for twelve years pursued his plan, and the most difficult part of the execution of it is still to come; this is to deceive the public entirely.He is afraid of this public, and dares not lay his conspiracy open.* But he has found the easy means of accompanying it with power, and this power has the disposal of me.
Thus supported he advances with less danger.The agents of power piquing themselves but little on uprightness, and still less on candor, he has no longer the indiscretion of any honest man to fear.
His safety is in my being enveloped in an impenetrable obscurity, and in concealing from me his conspiracy, well knowing that with whatever art he may have formed it, I could by a single glance of the eye discover the whole.His great address consists in appearing to favor whilst he defames me, and in giving to his perfidy an air of generosity.
* Since this was written he has made the dangerous step with the fullest and most inconceivable success.I am of opinion it was Tronchin who inspired him with courage, and supplied him with the means.
