BAYLE, PETER, was born at Carla, in the county of Foix, in the year 1617. He discovered, from his infancy, great Intellectual talents, an inn tiable thirst for learning, and uncommon powers of study and applicrtion. His father, who was protes tant minister of Carla, and who seems to have been both a wise and a good man, instructed him with great care in the Greek and Latin languages ; but finding that the task of education occupied more time than he could spare from the duties of his pas toral office, and that his capable of much higher attainments than he could possibly reach un der his tuition, he sent him to the academy of Puy laurens. Young Bayle arrived there in his 19th year; and his passion for letters continued so strong, that, to gratify it, he spent, in preparing his academical exercises, and in reading such books as he could procure, those hours which his fellow-students de voted to amusement or to pleasure ; and, indeed, ap plied so closely to his studies, that he repeatedly fell into severe and dangerous distempers.
From Puylaurens he went to Toulouse, one of the most celebrated universities in France, where he ob tained great reputation by his good conduct and li terary acquirements. He had not been long there when he changed his religion, and became Roman Catholic. This step displeased his father so much, that the paternal aid, on which he was still depend ent, was withdrawn, and he was under the necessity of accepting money and protection from Mertier, bishop of Rieux. Actuated by the zeal of a new convert, and in obedience to the commands of his new patron, he wrote a long letter to his brother, with a view to persuade him and the rest of the fa mily to embrace the Catholic system. This letter, filled with those common-place sophisms which had strangely seduced his own mind, and somewhat tinc tured with the spirit of gloomy fanaticism, failed to produce its intended effect. And, indeed, many months had not elapsed, when he himself returned again to the bosom of the Protestant church. The doctrine of implicit faith did not accord with his in tellectual habits. He considered examination in re ligious matters to be an indispensible duty; He continued to think, to inquire, and to compare. His
researches were assisted by the conversation of two gentlemen of wit and address, who were anxious for his conversion. And the result was, that, convinced of his errors, he departed secretly from Toulouse, to avoid the resentment of the Jesuits, was reconciled to his family and friends, abjured the Popish com munion, in presence of several ministers, and imme diately set out for Geneva to resume the course of his studies. There he soon distinguished himself: and got acquainted with M. Basnage, and other learned men, to whom he endeared himself by his ta lents and his virtues. He refused a regency in the college ; but accepted of the office of tutor to the Count de Dhona's children. Shortly after he be came tutor to a merchant's son in the neighbour hood of Rouen. But disliking the solitary and se questered life to which he was doomed in both these places, he resolved to go to Paris, where he expect ed to meet with every thing agreeable to his taste. Soon after his arrival (1675) he became preceptor to the children of a Mr de Beringhen. This situa tion, however, did not please him more than those which he had left on account of their tiresome soli.
tude. The character of a preceptor, as he remark ed in a letter to Mr Basnage, had sunk so low in % the general estimation, that no personal merit almost could redeem it from contempt. And he was desi rous, therefore, of getting into some respectable and permanent establishment. His wishes were soon gra tified. By the friendly exertions of Mr Basnage, and by the superior merit which he himself displayed in a comparative trial, he was appointed a professor of philosophy in the• academy at Sedan. He remained there for about six years, fully justifying the good opinion which had been entertained of him by his friends, and gaining the respect and esteem even of those who had been his keenest opponents. When the academies of the reformed were suppressed in France, that of Sedan was the first that suffered (1681) ; although its continuance was an express stipulation in the treaty, made between the Duke de Bouillon and Louis XIII., and afterwards con firmed by Louis XIV. himself.