Cuvier. Ill 



artist, though inferior to John Kemble. I am afraid 

 my admiration of Shakespeare, my want of sym- 

 pathy with the artificial style of French tragedy, 

 and perhaps my youthful remembrance of our great 

 tragedian Mrs. Siddons, made me unjust to Made- 

 moiselle Duchenois, who, although ugly, was cer- 

 tainly an excellent actress and a favourite of the 

 public. I was so fond of the theatre that I enjoyed 

 comedy quite as much as tragedy, and was delighted 

 with Mademoiselle Mars, whom we saw in Tartuffe. 

 Some years later I saw her again, when, although 

 an old woman, she still appeared handsome and 

 young upon the stage, and was as graceful and 

 lively as ever. 



Soon after our dinner party at Arcceuil, we went 

 to pay a morning visit to Madame de la Place. It 

 was late in the day; but she received us in bed 

 elegantly dressed. I think the curtains were of 

 muslin with some gold ornaments, and the coverlet 

 was of rich silk and gold. It was the first time that 

 I had ever seen a lady receive in that manner. 

 Madame de La Place was lively and agreeable ; I 

 liked her very much. 



We spent a most entertaining day with M. and 

 Madame Cuvier at the Jardin des Plantes, and saw 

 the Museum, and everything in that celebrated 

 establishment. On returning to the house, we 



