i']()l' TRAVELLING MEMORANDUMS. I97 



elude the privilege — I'he a£tors who appear on their 

 flage, do not fpeak one word ; their lips move, and 

 they go on with correfponding aftion and attitudes.. 

 But every word of the pliy is uttered with furpriiing 

 propriety iind charatter by perfons behind the fcenes. 

 The play was neiir over before this fingularity was diC 

 covered to me, and others ot our f arty. The whole 

 was fu Itrangely managed, that we could havefworn 

 the vilibl-r af^ors were aifo the fpeakers. 



The Bib.'iothcque Royal is a grand building, filled 

 with bojki, TT^anulcripts, bufts, medals, paintings. 

 The Guard Meuble de Roy is another great building, 

 which coiitf.ir.s nil the fiiie, rich, and curious fuperflui- 

 ties ot tiic rc'inarch. 



Here ve favv, in great variety, armour, arm^, fta- 

 tues, hi.tts, Chinefe figures, tapeftries, and feveral ca- 

 "bir.' t jf prcc i' us Hones richly ornamented — a mafs of 

 vai :;-olc and I'plendid property, ufelefs to the owner, 

 an only amufing to others — The king was ignorant 

 of tiiefe preciuus itores, till the emperor, who eagerly 

 went about to fee every thing during hi? late vifit here, 

 informed him of its exiflence, curiolity, and value ; — 

 it is now open to be feen on one particular day of eve- 

 ry month. — A company of us obtained a fpecial war- 

 rant from the proper officer for accefa to it. — Though I 

 wa^ at no fmall expence for falhionable articles of drefs, 

 and kept a handfome carriage, I f^lt too old and auk- 

 ward to afpire at, what is called, the beft company 

 and high life. — Yet I renewed old acquaintances, and 

 made lome agreeable nev: ones, both French and Bri- 

 tifh — My old acquaintance, Mr. Colbert, now bilhop 

 of Rodez, received, and treated me with many marks 

 of liberal kindnefs. — He is a man of luperior talents, 

 and highly elleemed in France. 



At this time, L d B 1 bifhop of D y 



was at Paris ; — he honoured me with very obliging at- 

 tentions — He is an extraordinary man, and appears to 

 |ne remarkably pleal'ant, fpirited, and intelligent — He 



