His theory of the true functions of the theatre he explained in a special treatise, Du theatre ou Nouvel Essai sur l'art dramatique (1773).] The literary records of the past had been almost all deliberately destroyed by fire.

It was found expedient to do away with useless and pernicious books which only obscured truth or contained perpetual repetitions of the same thing.

A small closet in the public library sufficed to hold the ancient books which were permitted to escape the conflagration, and the majority of these were English.

The writings of the Abbe de Saint-Pierre were placed next those of Fenelon.

"His pen was weak, but his heart was sublime.