After the ceremonies of this institution are over, there is a collection for the poor; and that this closing scene may be as elegant as any of the former, a young lady of some of the first families in France is appointed to present the box to the knights.  Her dress must be as rich and elegant, in proportion, as the Queen’s, and her hair, motions, and curtsies must have as much dignity and grace as those of the knights.  It was a curious entertainment to observe the easy air, the graceful bow, and the conscious dignity of the knight, in presenting his contribution; and the corresponding ease, grace, and dignity of the lady, in receiving it, were not less charming.  Every muscle, nerve, and fibre of both seemed perfectly disciplined to perform its functions.  The elevation of the arm, the bend of the elbow, and every finger in the hand of the knight, in putting his louis d’ors into the box appeared to be perfectly studied, because it was perfectly natural.  How much devotion there was in all this I know not, but it was a consummate school to teach the rising generation the perfection of the French air, and external politeness and good-breeding.  I have seen nothing to be compared to it in any other country....

At nine o’clock we went and saw the king, queen, and royal family, at the grand couvert.  Whether M. Francois, a gentleman who undertook upon this occasion to conduct us, had contrived a plot to gratify the curiosity of the spectators, or whether the royal family had a fancy to see the raw American at their leisure, or whether they were willing to gratify him with a convenient seat, in which he might see all the royal family, and all the splendors of the place, I know not; but the scheme could not have been carried into execution, certainly, without the orders of the king.  I was selected, and summoned indeed, from all my company, and ordered to a seat close beside the royal family.  The seats on both sides of the hall, arranged like the seats in a theatre, were all full of ladies of the first rank and fashion in the kingdom, and there was no room or place for me but in the midst of them.  It was not easy to make room for one more person.  However, room was made, and I was situated between two ladies, with rows and ranks of ladies above and below me, and on the right hand and on the left, and ladies only.  My dress was a decent French dress, becoming the station I held, but not to be compared with the gold, and diamonds, and embroidery, about me.  I could neither speak nor understand the language in a manner to support a conversation, but I had soon the satisfaction to find it was a silent meeting, and that nobody spoke a word but the royal family to each other, and they said very little.  The eyes of all the assembly were turned upon me, and I felt sufficiently humble and mortified, for I was not a proper object for the criticisms of such a company.  I found myself gazed at, as we in America used to gaze at the sachems