192 Mary Somerville. 



the Marchese Lucchesi Palli made an immense sen- 

 sation ; it was discussed in the salons in a truly 

 French manner ; it was talked of in the streets ; 

 the Robes de Resistance were no longer worn, and 

 the Legitimiste newspapers went out of mourning. 



All parties criticised the British Administration 

 in Ireland. A lady sitting by me at a party said, 

 " No wonder so many English prefer France to so 

 odious a country as England, where the people are 

 oppressed, and even cabbages are raised in hot- 

 beds." I laughed, and said, " I like England very 

 well, for all that." An old gentleman, who was 

 standing near us, said, " Whatever terms two 

 countries may be on, it behoves us individuals to 

 observe good manners ;" and when I went away, this 

 gentleman handed me to the carriage, though I had 

 never seen him before. 



The Marquise de La Place was commissioned by 

 Dr. Majendie to invite me to meet her and Madame 

 Gay Lussac at dinner. I was very unwilling to go ; 

 for I detested the man for his wanton cruelties, but 

 I found I could not refuse on account of these 

 ladies. There was a large party of savants, agreeable 

 and gentlemanly; but Majendie himself had the 

 coarsest manners ; his conversation was horridly 

 professional ; many things were said and subjects 

 discussed not fit for women to hear. What a con- 



