Paris 135 



good in France. This idea is everywhere nearly the same in 

 that kingdom. T then said that they might have half their land 

 under wheat and yet be good farmers; thus: — i. Beans; — 

 2. Wheat;— 3, Tares;— 4. Wheat;— 5. Clover;— 6. Wheat;— 

 this they approved better of, but thought their own courses 

 more profitable. But the most interesting circumstance of their 

 farms is the chicory (chtcorium inlybus). I had the satisfaction to 

 find that Monsieur Crete de Palieul, had as great an opinion of 

 it as ever; that his brother had adopted it; that it was very 

 flourishing on both their farms ; and on those of their neighbours 

 also: I never see this plant but I congratulate myself on having 

 travelled for something more than to write in my closet: and 

 that the introduction of it in England would alone, if no other 

 result had flowed from one man's existence, have been enough 

 to show that he did not live in vain. Of this excellent plant, 

 and Monsieur Crete's experiments on it, more elsewhere. 



17//?. All conversation on the motion of I'Abbe Syeyes being 

 accepted, yet that of the Count de Mirabeau better relished. 

 But his character is a dead weight upon him; there is a suspicion 

 that he has received 100,000 livres from the queen; a blind, 

 improbable report; for his conduct would in every probability 

 be very different had any such transaction taken place: but 

 when a man's life has not passed free from gross errors, to use 

 the mildest language, suspicions are ever ready to fix on him, 

 even when he is as free from what ought at the moment to give 

 the imputation as any the most immaculate of their patriots. 

 This report brings out others from their lurking holes; that he 

 published, at her instigation, the anecdotes of the court of Berlin ; 

 and that the King of Prussia, knowing the causes of that publi- 

 cation, circulated the memoirs of Madame de la Motte all over 

 Germany. Such are the eternal tales, suspicions, and improba- 

 bilities for which Paris has always been so famous. One clearly, 

 however, gathers from the complexion of conversation, even on 

 the most ridiculous topics, provided of a public nature, how far, 

 and for what reason, confidence is lodged in certain men. In 

 every company, of every rank, you hear of the Count de Mira- 

 beau 's talents; that he is one of the first pens of France, and the 

 first orator; and yet that he could not carry from confidence six 

 votes on any question in the states. His writings, however, 

 spread in Paris and the provinces: he published a journal of the 

 states, written for a few days with such force, and such severity, 

 that it was silenced by an express edict of government. This 

 is attributed to Monsieur Necker. who was treated in it with so 



