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Preface however, endeavoured to dissuade me from giving publicity to the memoirs, declaring that their publication would only injure me. Why? This the venerable prelate refused to tell me more explicitly. Our conversation, however, having taken place in Russia, where censure might have vetoed such a work, 1 determined to wait.
A year later I happened to be in Rome. There 1 submitted my manuscript to a cardinal who has great influence with the Pope, and who answered me as follows: "What is the use of having that published; no one will attach any great importance to it, and you will only create numerous enemies. Nevertheless, you are still young. If it is a question of money which interests you, I can obtain for you a recompense in exchange for your notes which will remunerate you well for all expenses and for the time lost." Naturally, I refused.
At Paris I spoke of my project to Cardinal Rotelli, whose acquaintance I had made at Constantinople. He also opposed the publication of my work under the pretext that it would be premature.“ The church,” he added, “suffers already too much from this new current of atheistic ideas, and you will only furnish new pasture to the calumniators and slanderers of the - Evangelical doctrine. I say this in the interest of all Christian churches." After this I called on M. Jules Simon. He found that my communication was a very interesting one and recommended me to ask the advice of M. Renan, upon the best way to publish the memoirs.
The next day found me in the office of the great philosopher. At the end of our conversation, M. Renan proposed to me to intrust the memoirs in question to him, so that he might be able to make a report to the Academy. This proposition was, as anyone may easily understand, very tempting and flattering. I however, carried away the work under the pretext of revising it once more.
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