The biography of Gresset first appeared anonymously.  This circumstance gave rise to a singular scene, which the author used to relate with a smile.  I will here myself repeat the principal traits of it, if it be only to deter writers, whoever they may be, from launching their works into the world without affixing their names to them.

The Marchioness of Crequi was a lady in the high circles of society, to whom a copy of the eulogium of the author of Vert-Vert was presented as an offering.  Some days after Bailly went to pay her a visit; did he hope to hear her speak favourably of the new work?  I know not.  At all events, our predecessor would have been ill rewarded for his curiosity.

“Do you know,” said the great lady as soon as she saw him, “a Eulogy of Gresset recently published?  The author has sent me a copy of it, without naming himself.  He will probably come to see me; he may, perhaps, have come already.  What could I say to him?  I do not think any one ever wrote worse.  He mistakes obscurity for profundity; it is the darkness before the creation.”

Notwithstanding all Bailly’s efforts to change the subject of the conversation, perhaps on account of those very efforts, the Marchioness rose, goes in search of the pamphlet, puts it into the author’s hands, and begs of him to read aloud, if it be but the first page—­quite enough, she said, to enable one to judge of the rest.

Bailly used to read remarkably well.  I leave it to be guessed whether, on this occasion, he was able to exercise this talent.  Superfluous trouble!  Madame de Crequi interrupted him at each sentence by the most disagreeable commentaries, by exclamations such as the following:  “Detestable style!” “Confusion worse confounded!” and other similar amenities.  Bailly did not succeed in extorting any indulgences from Madame de Crequi, when, fortunately, the arrival of another visitor put an end to this insupportable torture.

Two years after this, Bailly having become the first personage in the city, some booksellers collected all his opuscula and published them.  This time, the Marchioness, who had lost all recollection of the scene that I have been describing, overpowered the Mayor of Paris with compliments and felicitations on account of this same eulogy, which she had before treated with such inhuman rigour.

Such a contrast excited the mirth of the author.  Still, might I dare to say so, Madame de Crequi was, perhaps, sincere on both occasions; had the exaggerations of praise and of criticism been put aside, it would not have been impossible to defend both opinions.  The early pages of the pamphlet might appear embarrassed and obscure, whilst in the rest there might be found great refinement, elegance, and appreciations full of taste.

ASSEMBLY OF THE NOTABLES.—­BAILLY IS NAMED FIRST DEPUTY OF PARIS; AND SOON AFTER DEAN OR SENIOR OF THE DEPUTIES OF THE COMMUNES.