The second edition of the Critical Dictionary had fatigued Mr Bayle ; and, in order to relieve his mind a little, he wrote and published in 1703, a book en titled, Reponse aux Questions d'un Provincial, which treats of a great variety of subjects in an easy and agreeable manner, and is neither so profound as to require any er-pth of study, nor so superficial as to be unworthy of the notice of the. learned. It extended to five volumes, which came out successive ly at considerable intervals, and which the author sometimes made the vehicle of those replies, which he thought it necessary to make to his antagonists. He also published in 170t, a continuation of his Treatise on Comets, under the title Continuation des Pense'es Diversei, &c. Having occasion in this work to criticise the system of Doctors Cudworth and Grew concerning plastic and vital natures, he was keenly attacked by Mr Le Clerc, who had embraced that system, and thought himself bound to support it. The controversy was carried on for some time with great eagerness on both sides ; Mr Bayle main taining his opinions with his usual temper and acute ness, and Mr Le Clerc opposing them with violence, unfairness, and. abuse.
. While engaged in these disputes, he was seized with a distemper in the lungs. Knowing it to be in curable, he refused to take any remedy that was pre scribed. And after labouring under it for six months, during which time he chewed the utmost fortitude and patience, and continued to write as if he had en joyed perfect health, he died in 1706, at the age of 59 ; and was buried in the French church at Rot terdam. His death was deeply and universally re .retted by the Fterary world, and by a vast number of friends that his merits had procured for him in al most every country. He was unquestionably a man of great learning and ability. His intellectual powers were naturally strong, and he had improved them by a long and unwearied course of study. The character of a freethinker has been generally ascribed to him. Doubtless he was a freethinker both in the good and in the bad sense of that appellation. Those subjects, which had been hitherto viewed but on one side, by the fearful eye of ignorance, prejudice, and supersti tion, he took the liberty of turning over and examin ing with boldness and impartiality. He scrupled not
to give an explicit statement of the difficulties which sometimes perplexed, and sometimes destroyed his belief in doctrines of heretofore unsuspected or un challenged credit. And he set an example,. at that period extremely rare, of investigating, with minute ness and candour, whatever dogmas are inculcated, before we allow them to become articles of faith or principles of action. In this respect Mr Bayle, it must be admitted, acted a rational and useful part. But, a the same time, it cannot be denied, that, in many points, he carried his scepticism to an unreason able length, and often gave an interest to the argu ments of infidels which does not belong to them, and a prominence which cannot fail to be injurious to young and unwary readers. Some parts of his wri •ings, especially of his dictionary, are stained with in delicate and obscene quotations from the volumes of other authors. This is a defect much to be lamented, both on account of its intrinsic turpitude, and its de basing tendency. It arose, however, rather from a laudable and anxious wish to support the facts and illustrate the positions that were stated, than from any peculiar depravity in the passions and habits of Mr Bayle, whose moral character, even in the iudg ment of his enemies, was pure and irreproachable. is described by those who were personally ac quainted with him as having been; modest and un-. assuming, constant in his friendships and disinterested in his kindness, placid and equable in his temper, chearful and affable in conversation, frugaFin his do mestic and individual habits, abhorrent of fraud and insincerity, grateful to those from whom he received any assistance, and addicted to no pleasures but those that arise from the acquisition of knowledge and the exercise of the best affections. This account may be somewhat- exaggerated by the partiality of friendship, but seems to be accurate in all its leading features.
Mr Bayle left a great many manuscripts, very- few of which were given to the world. See Maizeaux's Life of Bayle ; Eloge de Mr Bayle par Mr de Beauval ; .11.b- Eagle's Letters, &c. (r)