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who keep the best houses, and receive in the most 

 showy style, are for the most part the bankers, and 

 those whose fortunes have risen since that period. 

 Those of the old regime who remain here, are for 

 the most part so reduced in fortune as to be un- 

 able to receive anybody in their houses ; but we 

 see the greater part of them among those with 

 whom we visit, and have begun to get a footing 

 among some of those who still see company. But 

 the persons whom we chiefly spend our time 

 amongst, and who actually seem to be the only set 

 in Paris that understand real hospitality and plea- 

 sant living, are the Russians, with whom I believe I 

 mentioned to you that we had formed an acquaint- 

 ance, and are now perfectly naturalized. Every 

 one of their houses is open every night ; and at 

 some or other of them we are certain, if they are 

 going to no ball or regular party, to meet with 

 those who have something besides stars, ribbons, 

 and titles to recommend them ; namely, good edu- 

 cation, good breeding, and good sense. We con- 

 trive to fill up every evening with engagements to 

 parties, after going to some of the spectacles, 

 which we do most evenings, with a most charming 

 woman, the Princess Galitzin, whose beauty, whose 

 manners, and whose character I feel myself un- 

 equal to describe. We have been at a great many 

 very fine and elegant balls, particularly one at the 

 Comtesse de Gerebtzoff's, who with the Princess 

 were the first of our acquaintance, and have been 

 infinitely kind in pushing us forward. Three nights 

 ago we were at an exceedingly elegant entertain- 



