Indeed, he sent for Calvert the very next day, and for several weeks thereafter the young man was thrown much with Stuart and many of the most interesting and famous men of the time, who delighted to foregather in Mr. West’s studio.  The portrait which Mr. Stuart made of Calvert at this time he always reckoned one of his masterpieces, as, indeed, all who ever saw it declared it to be.  Never did the artist execute anything simpler or purer in outline, never were his wonderful flesh tints better laid on, nor the expression of a noble countenance more perfectly caught than in this sketch, a copy of which he was good enough to make and send to Mr. Jefferson, as he had promised.  ’Twas at one of the sittings to Mr. Stuart that Calvert made the acquaintance of Mr. Burke.  He came in with Sir Joshua Reynolds—­the two gentlemen were the greatest friends—­and, on discovering that the young gentleman was an American and had been attached to the Legation in Paris, he immediately entered into an animated conversation with him.

“You ought to be able to give us some interesting information about the present state of affairs in France, Mr. Calvert,” said Burke to the young man.  “By the way, I have thrown together some reflections on the revolution which I would be glad to have you see.  They are elaborated from notes made a year ago and are still in manuscript.  I live near here in Gerrard Street, Soho, and I would be happy to welcome you and Mr. Stuart to my home, and to have you give me your opinion on certain points.”

Mr. Stuart saying that the sitting was over, suggested that they should go at once, so the three gentlemen accompanied Mr. Burke to Gerrard Street and were hospitably ushered into his library.  He brought out the manuscript of which he had spoken so lightly (and which was, indeed, voluminous enough for a book) and, turning over the pages rapidly, read here and there extracts from that remarkable treatise which he thought might most interest his audience.

“It has been nearly a score of years since I was in France,” he says to Mr. Calvert, laying down the manuscript, “but the interest which that country aroused in me then has never flagged, and ever since my return I have endeavored to keep myself informed of the progress of events there.  While in Paris I was presented to their Majesties and many of the most notable men and women of the day.  I remember the Queen well—­surely there never was a princess so beautiful and so entrancing.  She shone brilliant as the morning star, full of splendor and joy.  But stay—­I have written what I thought of her here,” and so saying, he began to read that wonderful passage, that exquisite panegyric of the Dauphiness of France which was soon to be so justly famous.  There was a murmur of applause from the gentlemen when he laid the manuscript down.

“’Tis a beautiful tribute.  I wish Mr. Jefferson could hear it,” says Mr. Calvert, with a smile.  “He is not an admirer of the Queen, like yourself, Mr. Burke, and thinks she should be shut up in a convent and the King left free to follow his ministers, but I think your eloquence would win him over, if anything could.”