CHAPTER XVII.
Romantic Feelings of Lady C—— —True Love—Disagreeable
Neighbours—Credulity—Mademoiselle Delphine Gay—French Novels—French
Critics—Eligible Mansions—Comforts of Seclusion—Genius of
L.E.L.—The Comtesse d'O—— —A Brilliant Talker—Letter from
Mrs. Hare—Extreme Hospitality—Longchamps—Exhibition of
Spring Fashions—French Beauties—Animated Scene—Promenade at
Longchamps—Extravagance of Mademoiselle Duthé—Modern Morals—Cinq
Mars, by Comte Alfred de Vigny—His Style—Strictures on Mankind—The
best Philosophy—Speech of Lord Grey—The Caterpillar—A Voracious
Appetite—A Refined Lady—La Chronique du temps de Charles
IX, by Prosper Merimée—Estimation of Sir Walter Scott—Jules
Janin—Injudicious Praise—Renewal of Youth—Self-Deception—Grey
Hairs, 194.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Victor Hugo's Dernier Jour d'un Condamné—Value of Common
Sense—Conscience—Cunning—Curiosity Shops on the Quai
d'Orsay—Expensive and Tasteful Gifts—An Avaricious Vender—A
Moral—Anonymous Scribbler—Weakness of Mind—Poems of Mrs. Hemans—The
Minds of Genius—Poetesses of England—Arrival of Lord D—— —The
Catholic Question carried—Irish prejudices—Letters from Absent
Friends—Sir William Gell—The Archbishop of Tarentum—Discoveries at
Pompeii—Novel of The Disowned—Advantages to be derived from the
Perusal of Works of Fiction—Politics—Charles the Tenth
unpopular—Charles the First—The House of Bourbon—"Uneasy lies the
Head that wears a Crown"—The Duc de T—— —Mr. Hook's Sayings and
Doings—Visit to the Hotel Monaco, 207.
CHAPTER XIX.
A new Resilience—Consolation in Sickness—House in the Rue de
Matignon—Its Interior described—The Library—Drive in the Bois de
Boulogne—Atmospheric Influence—The Rocher de Cancale—A _Diner de
Restaurant—_A Gay Sight—Good Taste in Dress innate in
Frenchwomen—Well-appointed Carriages—Soldier-like Air of the Male
Population—Observation of the Emperor Napoleon—Characteristics of the
British Soldier—National Anthem—Changes in the Journey of
Life—Captain Marryat's Naval Officer—Performance of La Tour
d'Auvergne—Letter of Carnot—Distinction awarded to Merit by
Napoleon—National Glory—Effect of Enthusiasm—Villa of the Duchesse
de Montmorency—Residences on the Banks of the Thames—Bagatelle, the
Seat of the Duc de Bordeaux—Earthly Happiness—Domestic
Alterations—High Rents at Paris—Terrace and Aviary—Unsettled Slate,
219.
CHAPTER XX.
Unexpected Events—Mr. and Mrs. Mathews—Their son, Charles—Evening Party—Recitations and Songs—Pleasant Recollections—Visit to the Jardin des Plantes—Amusing Incident—Humorous Imitations—Intellectual Powers—Recourse to Reading—The Comte Montalembert—His Grief on the Death of his Daughter—Restraint imposed by Society—Fate of the Unfortunate—The Prince and Princess Soutzo—Particulars relative to them—Reverse of Fortune—Mr. Rogers and Mr. Luttrell—Memory of Lord Byron—His Lampoon on Rogers—Love of Sarcasm—Conversation of Mr. Luttrell—Lord John Russell—His Qualifications—Monsieur Thiers—Monsieur Mignet—His Vigorous Writings—Friendship between Thiers and Mignet—The Baron Cailleux—Visit to the Louvre—Taste for the Fine Arts—The Marquis and Marquise de B—— —Clever People—Lord Allen and Sir Andrew Barnard—The Culinary Art, 230.
CHAPTER XXI.
Mr. Rogers and Mr. Luttrell—Society of Refined Englishmen—Mercurial
Temperament of the French—Opposite Characters—M. Erard's Collection
of Pictures—Antique Bijouterie—Lord Pembroke—The Duke of
Hamilton—Dr. Parr—Reproof of the Duc de Blacas—Monsieur Mignet—His
great Knowledge—A Clever Man—Influence of Conscience—Abilities of
Lord Palmerston—Lord Castlereagh—His Uncle, the late Marquess of
Londonderry—Dangers of Fashion—Mr. Cutlar Fergusson—The Baron and
Baroness de Ruysch—A Mind at Ease—Dreary Weather—Sad State of the
Streets—Fogs—Fascination of Madame Grassini—Sledge Party—Sledge of
the Duc de Guiche—That of Comte d'Orsay—Picturesque Night
Scene—Revival of an Old Fashion—The Prince Polignac—His Amiable
Manners—His Difficult Position, 242.