8o Travels in France / 



down the words they indicate: from which it appears that he 

 has formed an alphabet of motions. As the length of the wire 

 makes no difference in the effect, a correspondence might be 

 carried on at any distance: within and without a besieged 

 town, for instance; or for a purpose much more worthy, and a 

 thousand times more harmless, between two lovers prohibited 

 or prevented from any better connection. Whatever the use 

 may be, the invention is beautiful. Monsieur Lomond has 

 many other curious machines, all the entire work of his own 

 hands: mechanical invention seems to be in him a natural 

 propensity. In the evening to the Comedie Francaise. Mola 

 did the Bourru Bienfaisant, and it is not easy for acting to be 

 carried to greater perfection. 



i']ih. To Monsieur I'Abbe Messier, astronomer royal, and of 

 the Academy of Sciences. View the exhibition, at the Louvre, 

 of the Academy's paintings. For one history piece in our 

 exhibitions at London here are ten; abundantly more than to 

 balance the difference between an annual and biennial exhibition. 

 Dined to-day with a party whose conversation was entirely 

 political. Monsieur de Calonne's Requite au Roi is come over, 

 and all the world are reading and disputing on it. It seems, 

 however, generally agreed that, without exonerating himself 

 from the charge of the agiotage, he has thrown no inconsiderable 

 load on the shoulders of the Archbishop of Toulouse, the present 

 premier, who will be puzzled to get rid of the attack. But both 

 these ministers were condemned on all hands in the lump as 

 being absolutely unequal to the difficulties of so arduous a 

 period. One opinion pervaded the whole company, that they 

 are on the eve of some great revolution in the government: 

 that everything points to it: the confusion in the finances 

 great ; with a deficit impossible to provide for without the states- 

 general of the kingdom, yet no ideas formed of what would be 

 the consequence of their meeting: no minister existing, or to be 

 looked to in or out of power, with such decisive talents as to 

 promise any other remedy than palliati^'e ones : a prince on the 

 throne, with excellent dispositions, but without the resources 

 of a mind that could govern in such a moment without ministers : 

 a court buried in pleasure and dissipation; and adding to the 

 distress instead of endeavouring to be placed in a more indepen- 

 dent situation: a great ferment amongst all ranks of men, who 

 are eager for some change, without knowing what to look to 

 or to hope for: and a strong leaven of liberty, increasing every 

 hour since the American revolution — altogether form a com- 



