MADATvfE GEOPFRIN. 



even the mofi: inflgnificant of my thoughts. What 

 parted within me lay as open to her as my outward 

 form. My education was uninterrupted. I never 

 quitted my grand -mother's fide ; and all that I faw 

 was a IcfTon to me. She faid tutors would only make 

 me lofe my time ; and not one did fhe give me. She 

 hated the artificial graces of the dancing-mafter ; con- 

 tenting herfelf with fuch as nature confers when me 

 has formed us to her mind. She was not fond of in- 

 flrumental mufic ; thinking that feverai inftruments 

 together made too much noife, and that one alone was 

 of no great confequence : but fhe was a friend to 

 finging, yet alone and without accompaniment ; and 

 Hie would have allowed me to learn to ling, if I had 

 had a voice. She affirmed, that, of all natural talents* 

 this was the only one that required a direction ; but, 

 as me difcerned in me no other qualities to cultivate 

 than thought and fentiment, fhe contented herfelf with 

 only guiding my thoughts and fentimerits ; and I, like 

 my grandmother, am very well fatisned with my lot." 

 In fact, no education was ever attended with more re- 

 markable effects than this. Madame GeorTrtn was 

 eafily cognizable as the difciple faithfully formed upon 

 thefe maxims, upon thefe examples. The grand-mo- 

 ther and the grand-daughter feemed to have the fame 

 turn, the fame temper of mind ; and the true picture 

 of madame Geoffrin was particularly delineated in 

 .thefe words : " She had received very little in- 

 ftruction ; but her mind was fo enlightened, exercifed 

 and active, that it never left her at a lofs, and al- 

 ways compenfated for the want of learning," The 



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