Character-Versailles

A

ND how do you find the French? said the Count de B****, after he had given me the Passport.

The reader may suppose, that after so obliging a proof of courtesy, I could not be at a loss to say something handsome to the enquiry.

Mais passe, pour cela

Speak frankly, said he do you find all the urbanity in the French which the world give us the honour of? — I had found every thing, I said, which confirmed it- Vraiment, said the Count-les François sont polis - To an excess, replied I.

The Count took notice of the word excesse; and would have it I meant more than I said. I defended myself a long time as well as I could against it he insisted I had a reserve, and that I would speak my opinion frankly.

I believe, Mons. le Count, said I, that man has a certain compass, as well as an instrument; and that the social and other calls have occasion by turns for every key in him; so that if you begin a note too high or too low, there must be a want either in the upper or under part, to fill up the system of harmony. - The

Count de B**** did not understand music, so desired me to explain it some other way. A polish'd nation, my dear Count, said I, makes every one its debtor; and besides, urbanity itself, like the fair sex, has so many charms, it goes against the heart to say it can do ill; and yet, I believe, there is but a certain line of perfection, that man, take him altogether, is impower'd to arrive at-if he gets beyond, he rather exchanges qualities than gets them. I must not presume to say, how far this has affected the French in the subject we are speaking of- but should it ever be the case of the English, in the progress of their refinements, to arrive at the same polish which distinguishes the French, if we did not lose the politesse du cœur, which inclines men more to humane actions, than courteous ones we should at least lose that distinct variety and originality of character, which distinguishes them, not only from each other, but from all the world besides.

I had a few of King William's shillings as smooth as glass in my pocket; and foreseeing they would be of use in the illustration of my hypothesis, I had got them into my hand, when I had proceeded so far

See, Mons. le Count, said I, rising up, and

laying them before him upon the table-by jingling and rubbing one against another for seventy years together in one body's pocket or another's, they are become so much alike, you can scarce distinguish one shilling from another.

The English, like ancient medals, kept more apart, and passing but few people's hands, preserve the first sharpnesses which the fine hand of Nature has given them- they are not so pleasant to feel ———— but, in return, the legend is so visible, that at the first look you see whose image and superscription they bear. But the French, Mons. le Count, added I (wishing to soften what I had said), have so many excellencies, they can the better spare this they are a loyal, a gallant, a generous, an ingenious, and good-temper'd people as is under heaven-if they have a fault, they are too serious.

Mon Dieu! cried the Count, rising out of his chair.

exclamation.

Mais vous plaisantez, said he, correcting his I laid my hand upon my breast, and with earnest gravity assured him it was my most settled opinion.

The Count said he was mortified he could not stay to hear my reasons, being engaged to

go

that moment to dine with the Duc de C****.

But if it is not too far to come to Versailles to eat your soup with me, I beg, before you leave France, I may have the pleasure of

knowing you retract your opinion

what manner you support it. But if

or, in do

you

support it, Mons. Anglois, said he, you must do it with all your powers, because

you have the whole world against you—I promised the Count I would do myself the honour of dining with him before I set out for Italy - so took my leave.

Che Temptation-Paris

W

HEN I alighted at the hotel, the por

ter told me a young woman with a bandbox had been that moment enquiring for me. I do not know, said the porter, whether she has gone away or no. I took the key of my chamber of him, and went up stairs; and when I had got within ten steps of the top of the landing before my door, I met her coming easily down.

It was the fair fille de chambre I had walked along the Quai de Conti with: Madame de R**** had sent her upon some commission to

a merchante de modes within a step or two of the Hôtel de Modene; and as I had fail'd in waiting upon her, had bid her enquire if I had left Paris; and if so, whether I had not left a letter addressed to her.

As the fair fille de chambre was so near my door, she returned back, and went into the room with me for a moment or two whilst I wrote a card.

It was a fine still evening in the latter end of the month of May the crimson window-curtains (which were of the same colour of those of the bed) were drawn close the sun was setting, and reflected through them so warm a tint into the fair fille de chambre's face I thought she blushed -the idea of it made me blush myself- we were quite alone; and that superinduced a second blush before the first could get off.

There is a sort of a pleasing half-guilty blush, where the blood is more in fault than the man -'tis sent impetuous from the heart, and virtue flies after it not to call it back, but to make the sensation of it more delicious to the 't is associated.

nerves

But I'll not describe it I felt something at first within me which was not in strict unison with the lesson of virtue I had given