The nineteenth century is； in my eyes； a genesic era； in which new principles are elaborated； but in which nothing that is written shall endure。 That is the reason； in my opinion； why； among so many men of talent； France to…day counts not one great writer。 In a society like ours； to seek for literary glory seems to me an anachronism。 Of what use is it to invoke an ancient sibyl when a muse is on the eve of birth？ Pitiable actors in a tragedy nearing its end； that which it behooves us to do is to precipitate the catastrophe。 The most deserving among us is he who plays best this part。 Well； I no longer aspire to this sad success！
〃Why should I not confess it； gentlemen？ I have aspired to your suffrages and sought the title of your pensioner； hating all which exists and full of projects for its destruction； I shall finish this investigation in a spirit of calm and philosophical resignation。 I have derived more peace from the knowledge of the truth； than anger from the feeling of oppression； and the most precious fruit that I could wish to gather from this memoir would be the inspiration of my readers with that tranquillity of soul which arises from the clear perception of evil and its cause； and which is much more powerful than passion and enthusiasm。 My hatred of privilege and human authority was unbounded； perhaps at times I have been guilty； in my indignation； of confounding persons and things； at present I can only despise and complain； to cease to hate I only needed to know。
〃It is for you now； gentlemen； whose mission and character are the proclamation of the truth； it is for you to instruct the people； and to tell them for what they ought to hope and what they ought to fear。 The people； incapable as yet of sound judgment as to what is best for them； applaud indiscriminately the most opposite ideas； provided that in them they get a taste of flattery： to them the laws of thought are like the confines of the possible； to…day they can no more distinguish between a savant and a sophist； than formerly they could tell a physician from a sorcerer。 ‘Inconsiderately accepting； gathering together； and accumulating everything that is new； regarding all reports as true and indubitable； at the breath or ring of novelty they assemble like bees at the sound of a basin。'＇1＇
＇1＇ Charron； on 〃Wisdom；〃 Chapter xviii。
〃May you； gentlemen； desire equality as I myself desire it； may you； for the eternal happiness of our country； become its propagators and its heralds； may I be the last of your pensioners！ Of all the wishes that I can frame； that； gentlemen； is the most worthy of you and the most honorable for me。
〃I am； with the profoundest respect and the most earnest gratitude； 〃Your pensioner； 〃P。 J。 PROUDHON。〃
Two months after the receipt of this letter； the Academy； in its debate of August 24th； replied to the address of its pensioner by a note； the text of which I give below：
〃A member calls the attention of the Academy to a pamphlet； published last June by the titulary of the Suard pension； entitled； 〃What is property？〃 and dedicated by the author to the Academy。 He is of the opinion that the society owes it to justice； to example； and to its own dignity； to publicly disavow all responsibility for the anti…social doctrines contained in this publication。 In consequence he demands：
〃1。 That the Academy disavow and condemn； in the most formal manner； the work of the Suard pensioner； as having been published without its assent； and as attributing to it opinions diametrically opposed to the principles of each of its members；
〃2。 That the pensioner be charged； in case he should publish a second edition of his book； to omit the dedication；
〃3。 That this judgment of the Academy be placed upon the records。
〃These three propositions； put to vote； are adopted。〃
After this ludicrous decree； which its authors thought to render powerful by giving it the form of a contradiction； I can only beg the reader not to measure the intelligence of my compatriots by that of our Academy。
While my patrons in the social and political sciences were fulminating anathemas against my brochure； a man； who was a stranger to Franche…Comte； who did not know me； who might even have regarded himself as personally attacked by the too sharp judgment which I had passed upon the economists； a publicist as learned as he was modest； loved by the people whose sorrows he felt； honored by the power which he sought to enlighten without flattering or disgracing it； M。 Blanquimember of the Institute； professor of political economy； defender of propertytook up my defence before his associates and before the ministry； and saved me from the blows of a justice which is always blind； because it is always ignorant。
It seems to me that the reader will peruse with pleasure the letter which M。 Blanqui did me the honor to write to me upon the publication of my second memoir； a letter as honorable to its author as it is flattering to him to whom it is addressed。
〃PARIS； May 1； 1841。
〃MONSIEUR；I hasten to thank you for forwarding to me your second memoir upon property。 I have read it with all the interest that an acquaintance with the first would naturally inspire。 I am very glad that you have modified somewhat the rudeness of form which gave to a work of such gravity the manner and appearance of a pamphlet； for you quite frightened me； sir； and your talent was needed to reassure me in regard to your intentions。 One does not expend so much real knowledge with the purpose of inflaming his country。 This proposition； now coming into noticePROPERTY IS ROBBERY！was of a nature to repel from your book even those serious minds who do not judge by appearances； had you persisted in maintaining it in its rude simplicity。 But if you have softened the form； you are none the less faithful to the ground…work of your doctrines； and although you have done me the honor to give me a share in this perilous teaching； I cannot accept a partnership which； as far as talent goes； would surely be a credit to me； but which would compromise me in all other respects。
〃I agree with you in one thing only； namely； that all kinds of property get too frequently abused in this world。 But I do not reason from the abuse to the abolition；an heroic remedy too much like death； which cures all evils。 I will go farther： I will confess that； of all abuses； the most hateful to me are those of property； but once more； there is a remedy for this evil without violating it； all the more without destroying it。 If the present laws allow abuse； we can reconstruct them。 Our civil code is not the Koran； it is not wrong to examine it。 Change； then； the laws which govern the use of property； but be sparing of anathemas； for； logically； where is the honest man whose hands are entirely clean？ Do you think that one can be a robber without knowing it； without wishing it； without suspecting it？ Do you not admit that society in its present state； like every man； has in its constitution all kinds of virtues and vices inherited from our ancestors？ Is property； then； in your eyes a thing so simple and so abstract that you can re…knead and equalize it； if I may so speak； in your metaphysical mill？ One who has said as many excellent and practical things as occur in these two beautiful and paradoxical improvisations of yours cannot be a pure and unwavering utopist。 You are too well acquainted with the economical and academical phraseology to play with the hard words of revolutions。 I believe； then； that you have handled property as Rousseau； eighty years ago； handled letters； with a magnificent and poetical display of wit and knowledge。 Such； at least； is my opinion。
〃That is what I said to the Institute at the time when I presented my report upon your book。 I knew that they wished to proceed against you in the courts； you perhaps do not know by how narrow a chance I succeeded in preventing them。＇1＇ What chagrin I should always have felt； if the king's counsel； that is to say； the intellectual executioner； had followed in my very tracks to attack your book and annoy your person！ I actually passed two terrible nights； and I succeeded in restraining the secular arm only by showing that your book was an academical dissertation； and not the manifesto of an incendiary。 Your style is too lofty ever to be of service to the madmen who in discussing the gravest questions of our social order； use paving…stones as their weapons。 But see to it； sir； that ere long they do not come； in spite of you； to seek for ammunition in this formidable arsenal； and that your vigorous metaphysics falls not into the hands of some sophist of the market…place； who might discuss the question in the presence of a starving audience： we should have pillage for conclusion and peroration。
＇1＇ M。 Vivien； Minister of Justice； before commencing proceedings against the 〃Memoir upon Property；〃 asked the opinion of M。 Blanqui； and it was on the strength of the observations of this honorable academician that he spared a book which had already excited the indignation of the magistrates。 M。 Viv