lOt fHEATRE AT PARIS'. 



quite againft his breafh This trick partly fpoilt the 

 fine play of his arms and feet : for here they fpeak with 

 the feet likewife. 



Picturefque in the higher! degree were the attitudes 

 of the actors and aclreffes ; now and then rather ililT 

 from too much affectation. 



At the end of the. opera, a little piece was given, 

 called, Les Pretendus. . Jfc had very agreeable rnufic, 

 and was acted with great fpirit . 



The french actors and aclrelles, on making their 

 entrances, have a certain hilarity in their looks, arifing 

 from the confeioufnefs of being the favourites of a 

 public that is not much to be dreaded.- Your engiifh 

 players lofe this look of felt- complacency under a cer- 

 tain anxious mien, as if they were awe-lrruck at ap- 

 pearing before their judges. One of the belt perform* 

 ers you have was always difgufting to me on this very 

 account alone. 



The duchefs of Orleans appeared in the opera, and 

 was received with great clapping of hands and fh outs 

 of admiration. In return for, which fhe thanked the 

 public by bowing thrice with innnite.grace and dignity. 

 The very next moment, I could, not help remarking, 

 that fhe was yawning. Perhaps this was only one of 

 thofe refources to which a perfon naturally flies, when 

 taken notice of by a large affembly, a iituation in which 

 we cannot always remain maflers of our motions, of 

 our lips and our hands. This was 'probably the cafe 

 with the duchefs, other wife ihe would have felt, thai 

 when perfons are the object of the loud and decided 

 applaufe of the public, they cannot properly thank 

 them and yawn at the fame time. Sans doute, e'eft 



une 



