'The poor taken to hospitals, and miserably kept.--Monks in the convent fifteen:--accounted poor.
'Oct. 12. Thursday. We went to the Gobelins.--Tapestry makes a good picture;--imitates flesh exactly.--One piece with a gold ground;--the birds not exactly coloured.--Thence we went to the King's cabinet;--very neat, not, perhaps, perfect.--Gold ore.--Candles of the candle-tree.-- Seeds.--Woods. Thence to Gagnier's house, where I saw rooms nine, furnished with a profusion of wealth and elegance which I never had seen before.--Vases.--Pictures.--The Dragon china.--The lustre said to be of crystal, and to have cost 3,500L.--The whole furniture said to have cost 125,000L.--Damask hangings covered with pictures.--Porphyry.--This house struck me.--Then we waited on the ladies to Monville's.--Captain Irwin with us[1159].--Spain. County towns all beggars.--At Dijon he could not find the way to Orleans.--Cross roads of France very bad.--Five soldiers.--Woman.--Soldiers escaped.--The Colonel would not lose five men for the death of one woman.--The magistrate cannot seize a soldier but by the Colonel's permission.--Good inn at Nismes.--Moors of Barbary fond of Englishmen.--Gibraltar eminently healthy;--It has beef from Barbary;--There is a large garden.--Soldiers sometimes fall from the rock.
'Oct. 13. Friday. I staid at home all day, only went to find the Prior, who was not at home.--I read something in Canus[1160].--Nec admiror, nec multum laudo.
Oct. 14. Saturday. We went to the house of Mr. Argenson, which was almost wainscotted with looking-glasses, and covered with gold.--The ladies' closet wainscotted with large squares of glass over painted paper. They always place mirrours to reflect their rooms.
'Then we went to Julien's, the Treasurer of the Clergy:--30,000L a year.--The house has no very large room, but is set with mirrours, and covered with gold.--Books of wood here, and in another library.
'At D----'s[1161] I looked into the books in the lady's closet, and, in contempt, shewed them to Mr. T.--Prince Titi[1162]; Bibl. des Fees, and other books.--She was offended, and shut up, as we heard afterwards, her apartment.
'Then we went to Julien Le Roy, the King's watch-maker, a man of character in his business, who shewed a small clock made to find the longitude[1163].--A decent man.
'Afterwards we saw the Palais Marchand[1164], and the Courts of Justice, civil and criminal.--Queries on the Sellette[1165].--This building has the old Gothick passages, and a great appearance of antiquity.--Three hundred prisoners sometimes in the gaol[1166].
'Much disturbed; hope no ill will be[1167].
'In the afternoon I visited Mr. Freron the journalist[1168]. He spoke Latin very scantily, but seemed to understand me.--His house not splendid, but of commodious size.--His family, wife, son, and daughter, not elevated but decent.--I was pleased with my reception.--He is to translate my books, which I am to send him with notes.
'Oct. 15. Sunday. At Choisi, a royal palace on the banks of the Seine, about 7m. from Paris.--The terrace noble along the river.--The rooms numerous and grand, but not discriminated from other palaces.--The chapel beautiful, but small.--China globes.--Inlaid tables.--Labyrinth. --Sinking table[1169].--Toilet tables.
'Oct. 16. Monday. The Palais Royal very grand, large, and lofty.--A very great collection of pictures.--Three of Raphael.--Two Holy Family.--One small piece of M. Angelo.--One room of Rubens--I thought the pictures of Raphael fine[1170].
'The Thuilleries.--Statues.--Venus.--Aen. and Anchises in his arms.--Nilus.--Many more. The walks not open to mean persons.--Chairs at night hired for two sous apiece.--Pont tournant[1171].
'Austin Nuns.--Grate.--Mrs. Fermor, Abbess[1172].--She knew Pope, and thought him disagreeable.--Mrs. ------- has many books[1173];--has seen life.--Their frontlet disagreeable.--Their hood.--Their life easy.--Rise about five; hour and half in chapel.--Dine at ten.--Another hour and half at chapel; half an hour about three, and half an hour more at seven:--four hours in chapel.--A large garden.--Thirteen pensioners[1174].--Teacher complained.
'At the Boulevards saw nothing, yet was glad to be there.--Rope-dancing and farce.--Egg dance.
'N. [Note.] Near Paris, whether on week-days or Sundays, the roads empty.
'Oct. 17, Tuesday. At the Palais Marchand I bought
A snuff-box[1175], 24 L. ------------- 6 Table book 15 Scissars 3 p [pair] 18 ---- 63--2 12 6[1176]
'We heard the lawyers plead.--N. As many killed at Paris as there are days in the year. Chambre de question[1177].--Tournelle[1178] at the Palais Marchand.--An old venerable building.
'The Palais Bourbon, belonging to the Prince of Conde. Only one small wing shown;--lofty;--splendid;--gold and glass.--The battles of the great Conde are painted in one of the rooms. The present Prince a grandsire at thirty-nine[1179].