THE KING'S LIBKAEIAN. 143 



They both complimented me on the purity of my French, and 

 wished me all the success I deserved. I went back .to my 

 friend in the cabinet, well contented, and we returned to our 

 lodgings. Not liking our rooms at our hotel, to-day I shall 

 remove to the Hotel de France, where I have a large, clean, 

 and comfortable room, and pay twenty-five sous per day. But 

 I must tell thee that in France, although a man may be a 

 prince or duke, he is called simply monsieur, and his lady, 

 madam, and all are as easy of access as men without a great 

 name : this made me quite at my ease with Prince d'Essling. 



" Seftemher 11. I have been travelling all over Paris to- 

 day, and have accomplished nothing. Called on M. Geoffroy 

 St. Hilaire, and he gave me some good advice and directions 

 respecting obtaining the king's subscription, and others. 



" Sepiemler 12. Visited, at his library, the librarian of the 

 king, M. Van Praet, a small and white-haired gentleman, 

 who assured me in the politest manner imaginable that it was 

 out of the question to subscribe for so heavy a work. He how- 

 ever gave me a card to introduce me to M. Barbier, a librarian 

 belonging to the king's private library at the Louvre. Here I 

 . learned that the inland postage of a single letter from Paris to 

 London is twenty-four sous ; there is a mail to London four 

 times a week. After some trouble I found the library of the 

 king, because I followed the direction ' toujours tout droit,' until 

 quite out of latitude and longitude by tacking and retacking ; 

 but at last I reached the place, and entered a gate fronting the 

 river, and found M. Barbier absent. But later in the day I found 

 him ; and he, not being able to say anything definite himself, 

 referred me to the Baron de BouUere, intendant of the king's 

 household. I wrote to him in French, the first letter I have 

 written in this language in twenty-five years, and I dare say a 

 very curious one to such a personage as he is. 



" September 13. Took my portfolio to Geoffroy de St. Hilaire, 

 and then to Baron Cuvier; the former, after examining it, 

 retracted his opinion respecting its size, and expressed himself 

 pleased with it. A Mons. Dumesnil, a French engraver, was 

 sent to me by Prince d'Essling, and I learned from him that my 

 work could be done better and at less expense in England than 

 in France. Copper is dearer here than in England, and good 



