The Idler in France

by Countess of Marguerite Blessington

CHAPTER VII.

Domestic Arrangements—Changes in Young People—Pleasant
Recollections—Lord Lilford—The Marquis and Marquise Zamperi—Comte
Alexander de Laborde—The Marquis de Mornay—Mode of passing the
Time—Evening Visits in France—Dinner-party—The Duc Dalberg—The Duc
de Mouchy—Party to Montmorency—Rousseau's Hermitage—Sensibility, a
Characteristic of Genius—Solitude—Letter of Rousseau to
Voltaire—Church, of Montmorency—Baths at Enghien—The Comtesse de
Gand—Colonel E. Lygon—The Marquis de Dreux-Brezé—Contrast between
him and the Duc de Talleyrand—The Baron and Baroness de Ruysch—Mr.
Douglas Kinnaird—Sir Francis Burdett—Colonel Leicester Stanhope—The
Marquis Palavicini—Charms of Italian Women—Lords Darnley and
Charlemont—Mr. Young, the Tragedian—Lord Lansdowne—Estimate of his
Character—Sir Robert Peel—Respect for the Memory of Sir William
Drummond—Lady Drummond—"Vivian Grey"—Mr. Standish—Intermarriages
between the French and the English, 64.

CHAPTER VIII.

Charles Kemble—His Daughter's Tragedy of "Francis the
First"—Recollections of John Kemble—The Opera—Count Ory—Sir A.
Barnard—Secret of Happiness—Visit to Mademoiselle Mars—Her Residence
described—Memorial of her Theatrical Career—The Duchesse de la
Force—Madame Grassini—Anecdote of her—Visit to Orsay—Its
Situation—The Princesse de Croy—Hamlet of Palaiseau—Drama of La Pie
Voteuse—Family of the Duc de Guiche—The Vaudeville Théâtre—Scribe's
Avant, Pendant, el Après—Its Dangerous Tendency—French
Ambition—Parisian Shopkeepers—Their Officious Conduct, 78.

CHAPTER IX.

Lord and Lady Stuart de Rothesay—French Politeness—Mr. D—— and Mr.
T—— —Study of Shakespeare—Attractions of Mrs. T—— —Lady
Charlotte Llndsay and the Misses Berry—Sir William Gell—Mr. and Mrs.
Hare—Female Amiability—Shopping—Hints on Female Dress—Brilliancy of
French Conversation—Mr. J. Strangways—A severe Trial—The
Plague-spot—Miraculous Escape—Dinner given by Comte A. de
Maussion—Goethe's Faust—Character of "Margaret"—The witty Mr.
M—— —Lord Byron—French Quickness of Apprehension—Sept
Heures—Character of Charlotte Corday—Degenerate Taste of the
Parisians—Hasty Conclusions, 91.

CHAPTER X.

The celebrated Dr. P—— —Society of Medical Men—Dr.
Guthrie—Requisites for a Surgeon—Celebrity and Merit—The Road to
Fortune, as related by Dr. P—— —Successful Stratagem—Fancied
Illness—Superfluity of Embonpoint—Mode of Treatment—Another
Patient—The Doctor à-la-mode—Mr. P. C. Scarlett—Lord Erskine—Mr.
H.B—— —Visit to the Théâtre Italien—Madame Malibran's
"Desdemona"—Defect in her Singing—The Princesse Pauline Borghese—The
Family of Napoleon—Particulars of the Duchesse d'Abrantes—The
Luxembourg Palace and Gardens—A Loving Couple—Holiness of
Marriage—Story of the Old Bachelor and his Crafty Housekeeper, 105.

CHAPTER XI.

Groups of Children in the Gardens of the Luxembourg—Joyous Sounds—The Nurses—The Child of Noble Birth and that of the Parvenu—Joys of Childhood—Contrast between Youth and Age—Meeting with Dr. P—— —Arrival of General and the Comtesse d'Orsay—Attractions of the latter—Remark of Napoleon—Affection in Domestic Circles in France—The Duchesse de Guiche—The Comtesse d'Orsay—The Duc de Gramont—Madame Craufurd—The ci-devant Jeune Homme—Potter, the actor—Sir Francis Burdett—Advantages of French Society—Topics of Conversation—Pedigrees of Horses—French Politeness—Deferential Treatment of the Fair Sex—Domestic Duties of the Duchesse do Guiche—Influence of Courts—Visit to the Théâtre des Nouveautés—La Maison du Rempart—Inflammable Exhibitions—Mr. Cuthbert and M. Charles Lafitte—advance of Civilization—Lady Combermere—Mr. Charles Grant (now Lord Glenelg)—Curiosity Shops on the Quai Voltaire—Madame de Sévigné—Objects that have belonged to celebrated People—A Hint to the Ladies—Pincushion of Madame de Maintenon—The Marquis de Rambouillet—Molière's Précieuses Ridicules—Pangs of Jealousy—Julie d'Angennes—Brilliant Coterie, 120.