PALAIS ROYAL. 47* 



away, as arguments and eloquence were of no avail 

 while heads were rolling about. After the firft trans- 

 ports of violence were over, they returned to their 

 wonted ftation ; but with very different political 

 maxims, becaufe, of all the things that a man can- 

 not difpenfe with, his head is the moil indifpenfable. 

 They found all refolute for the third eftate, and there- 

 fore they either fpoke on that ride, or did not fpeak at 

 all. In the fequel that company was formed which fent 

 deputies to the national afTembly, made motions, and 

 alternately inflamed and quieted Paris : the mafs of un- 

 derftanding, experience and knowledge they had to 

 produce, got the upper hand over the tumultuous ex- 

 cefTes of the caffe du Caveau, and its preponderancy 

 was decilive, and is fo ffill. 



The fixth and lail cofFee-houfe is the Italian [caffe 

 italien] and it is as peaceable and quiet as the caffe de 

 Valois. The nation for which it is chiefly defigned, 

 frequent it the moft ; and there vilibly reigns in it a 

 certain gloomy, fufpicious air, that did not pleafe 

 me, accordingly I never went into it above twice. 



In your laft you made inquiries about the celebrated 

 caffe mechanique. It exifls no more ; like a multitude 

 of other inftitutions that have nothing but novelty to 

 recommend them, which at firft attract great notice, 

 are much frequented, and prefently forgotten. The 

 mechanifm, however, of this coffee-houfe was pretty 

 enough. I will therefore, in few words, give you an 

 idea of it. 



The tables in it Hood on hollow Ihafts of columns, 

 which had connection with the cellar below. Afk for 

 what you would, and before you were aware, there 



H h 4 fprun^ 



