The literary friendship of a father with his son is one of the rarest alliances in the republic of letters.  It was gratifying to the feelings of young Gibbon, in the fervour of literary ambition, to dedicate his first-fruits to his father.  The too lively son of Crebillon, though his was a very different genius to the grandeur of his father’s, yet dedicated his works to him, and for a moment put aside his wit and raillery for the pathetic expressions of filial veneration.  We have had a remarkable instance in the two Richardsons; and the father, in his original manner, has in the most glowing language expressed his affectionate sentiments.  He says, “My time of learning was employed in business; but after all, I have the Greek and Latin tongues, because a part of me possesses them, to whom I can recur at pleasure, just as I have a hand when I would write or paint, feet to walk, and eyes to see.  My son is my learning, as I am that to him which he has not.—­We make one man, and such a compound man may probably produce what no single man can.”  And further, “I always think it my peculiar happiness to be as it were enlarged, expanded, made another man, by the acquisition of my son; and he thinks in the same manner concerning my union with him.”  This is as curious as it is uncommon; however the cynic may call it egotism!

Some for their friend have died penetrated with inconsolable grief; some have sacrificed their character to preserve his own; some have shared their limited fortune; and some have remained attached to their friend in the cold season of adversity.

Jurieu denounced Bayle as an impious writer, and drew his conclusions from the “Avis aux Refugies.”  This work is written against the Calvinists, and therefore becomes impious in Holland.  Bayle might have exculpated himself with facility, by declaring the work was composed by La Roque; but he preferred to be persecuted rather than to ruin his friend; he therefore was silent, and was condemned.  When the minister Fouquet was abandoned by all, it was the men of letters he had patronised who never forsook his prison; and many have dedicated their works to great men in their adversity, whom they scorned to notice at the time when they were noticed by all.  The learned Goguet bequeathed his MSS. and library to his friend Fugere, with whom he had united his affections and his studies.  His work on the “Origin of the Arts and Sciences” had been much indebted to his aid.  Fugere, who knew his friend to be past recovery, preserved a mute despair, during the slow and painful disease; and on the death of Goguet, the victim of sensibility perished amidst the manuscripts which his friend had in vain bequeathed to prepare for publication.  The Abbe de Saint Pierre gave an interesting proof of literary friendship.  When he was at college he formed a union with Varignon, the geometrician.  They were of congenial dispositions.  When he went to Paris he invited Varignon to accompany him;