PALAIS ROYAL. 443 



cli&ates of the moll fantaftic humour, you would ftill 

 find more than you could have required. Should you 

 come as the moft delicate epicure, whether to pleafe 

 your appetite in meats or drinks, you would have your 

 moft capricious longings gratified. Should you come 

 — but enough : you will prefently fee how all may 

 provide themfelves with whatever they want, whether 

 they come in cabriolets, in whifkies, or in ftate- 

 coaches, or even on foot. And pleafe to obferve, all 

 this is to be found beneath the arcades, without ftirring 

 a Hep upwards or downwards. 



The vaults are numbered ; let us therefore begin with 

 number i. This is occupied by a bookfeller of the 

 name of Defenne, and engroffes two arcades. It is the 

 largeft and mofc fplendid in the Palais Royal ; and, 

 whether you alk for the oldeft or the neweft, the moft 

 ufeful or the moft pernicious book, you find it with 

 him. Swarms of celebrated and uncelebrated authors 

 in every department are every day and every hour in 

 his fhop, and dilettantis and critics are hovering round 

 it. I have here pafled many an agreeable and inftruc- 

 tive hour. 



As Defenne provides a fupply for the wants and the 

 luxury of the intellect, fo his neighbour Poixmenu, 

 with his jewellery-ihop, which fills up three arcades, 

 fupplies the demands of the pooreft as well as the richeft 

 vanity. He has little gold rings for a poor bride, and 

 bracelets of brilliants for the richeft dutchefs. What- 

 ever can poffibly be executed in gold, lilver, fteel, and 

 all other materials of the jeweller's art, you meet with 

 at his fhop ; and you have only to give him a fhort 

 notice before-hand, if you would have any ornament 



or 



