254 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[No. 124. 



These MSS. are 216 in number, and many of 

 thera are at present in the British Museum, in 

 the Lansdowne Collection of MSS. Osborne re- 

 printed this list in his next catalogue for February 

 173g, entitled: 



" An Extensive and Curious Catalogue of valuable 

 Books and MSS. in all Languages, &c., including a 

 very large Collection of Curious Genealogical Tracts," 

 &c. 



After the MSS., which occupy pp. 68 — 92., is 

 an "Appendix," consisting of thirty-three pedigree 

 rolls, chiefly on vellum, which also belonged to 

 St. George. 



To conclude with a Query, may I ask, if any 

 complete list of Osborne's Catalogues can be ob- 

 tained previous to 1756, when the list in Nichols's 

 Literary Anecdotes, vol. iii., begins ? fi. 



STEBNE IN PARIS. 



(Vol. v., p. 105.) 



. I inclose a copy of an autograph letter of 

 Sterne's written when at Paris. It is very inte- 

 resting, and is not contained among his published 

 letters. Some few words are illegible, and several 

 of the proper names may be inaccurately copied. 



" Paris, March 15, 1762. 

 "My Dear, — Having an opportunity of writing 

 by a physician, who is posting off for London to- 

 day, I would not omit doing it, though you will 

 possibly receive a letter (which is gone from hence 

 last post) at the very same time. I send to Mr. 

 l^'oley's every mail-day, to inquire for a letter from 

 you ; and if I do not get one in a post or two, I 

 shall be greatly surprised and disappointed. A 

 terrible fire happened here last night, the whole 

 fair of St. Germain's burned to the ground in a 

 few hours ; and hundreds of unhappy people are 

 now going crying along the streets, ruined totally 

 by it. This fair of St. Germain's is built upon a 

 spot of ground covered and tiled, as large as 

 the Minster Yard, entirely of wood, divided into 

 shops, and formed into little streets, like a town 

 in miniature. All the artizans in the kingdom 

 come with their wares — jewellers, silversmiths, — 

 and have free leave from all parts of the world to 

 profit by a general licence from the Carnival to 

 Easter. They compute the loss at six millions 

 of livres, which these poor creatures have sus- 

 tained, not one of which have saved a single shil- 

 ling, and many fled out in their shirts, and have 

 not only lost their goods and merchandize, but all 

 the money they have been taking these six weeks. 

 Oh ! ces moments de malheur sont tej-rihles, said 

 my barber to me, as he was shaving me this 

 morning ; and the good-natured fellow uttered it 

 with so moving an accent, that I could have 

 found in my heart to have cried over the perish- 



able and uncertain tenure of every good in this 

 life. 



"I have been three mornings together to hear a 

 celebrated pulpit orator near me, one Pere Cle- 

 ment, who delights me much ; the parish pays 

 him 600 livres for a dozen sermons this Lent ; he 

 is K.Stanislas's preacher — most excellent indeed! 

 his matter solid, and to the purpose ; his manner, 

 more than theatrical, and greater, both in his 

 action and delivery, than Madame Clairon, who, 

 you must know, is the Garrick of the stage here ; 

 he has infinite variety, and keeps up the attention 

 by it wonderfully ; his pulpit, oblong, with three 

 seats in it, into which he occasionally casts him- 

 self; goes on, then rises, by a gradation of four 

 steps, each of which he profits by, as his discourse 

 inclines him : in short, 'tis a stage, and the va- 

 riety of his tones would make you imagine there 

 were no less than five or six actors on it together. 



"I was last night at Baron de Bagg's concert; it 

 was very fine, both music and company; and to- 

 night 1 go to the Prince of Conti's. There is a 

 Monsieur Popigniere, who lives here like a so- 

 vereign prince; keeps a company of musicians 

 always in his house, and a full set of players ; and 

 gives concerts and plays alternately to the gran- 

 dees of this metropolis; he is the richest of alHhe 



farmer ; he did me the honour last night 



to send me an invitation to his house, while I 

 stayed here — that is, to his music and table. 



"I suppose you had terrible snows in Yorkshire, 

 from the accounts I read in the London papers. 

 There has been no snow here, but the weather 

 has been sharp ; and was I to be all the day in 

 my room, I could not keep myself warm_ for a 

 shilling a day. This is an expensive article to 

 great houses here — 'tis most pleasant and most 

 healthy firing; I shall never bear coals I fear 

 again ; and if I can get wood at Coswold, I will 

 aFways have a little. I hope Lydia is better, and 

 not worse, and that I shall hear the same account 

 of you. I hope my Lydia goes on with her 

 French; I speak it fast and fluent, but incorrect 

 both in accent and phrase; but the Frenchtell 

 me I speak it most surprisingly well for the time. 

 In six weeks I shall get over all difficulties, having 

 "•ot over one of the worst, which is to understand 

 whatever is said by others, which I own I found 

 much trouble in at first. 



" My love to my Lyd . I have got a colour 



into my face now, though I came with no more 

 than there is in a dishclout. 



" I am your affectionate 



" L. Sterne. 



" For Mrs. Sterne at York." _ 



H. A. B. 



A letter from Sterne, dated Paris, May 19, 1764, 

 giving an account of his mode of life there, and 

 other" notices of him in France, are to be found in 



