Mme. Necker’s idea of conducting a salon and its conversation was much the same as the management of a state; she believed that the hostess must never join in the conversation as long as it goes on by itself, but, ever watchful, must never permit disturbances, disagreements, improprieties, or obstacles; she must animate it if it languish; she must see that conversation never takes a dangerous, disagreeable, or tiresome turn, and that it never brings into undue prominence one man especially, as this makes others jealous and displeases the entire society; it must always interest and include all members.  The discussions at Mme. Necker’s were literary and philosophical; and to prevent even the possibility of tedium, frequent readings were given in their place.

It was at the salon of Mme. Necker that Bernardin de Saint-Pierre first read his Paul et Virginie, which received such a cold and indifferent welcome that the author, utterly discouraged, was on the point of burning his manuscript, when he was prevailed upon by his friend Vernet, the great artist, to preserve all his works.  Mme. Necker was always quite frank and outspoken, often showing a cutting harshness and a rigor which, as was said, was little in harmony with her bare neck and arms—­a style then in vogue at court.  She never judged persons by their reputations, but by their esprit; thus, it was possible for her to receive people of the most diverse tendencies.  When the Marquise de La Ferte-Imbault, one of the few virtuous women of the time, and of the highest aristocracy, was invited to attend the salon of Mme. Necker and was told that the Marechale de Luxembourg, Mme. du Deffand, Mme. de Boufflers, and Mme. Marchais were frequenters, she said:  “These four women are so discredited by manners, and the first two are so dangerous, that for thirty years they have been the horror of society.”

The two portraits by Marmontel and Galiani are interesting, as throwing light upon the doings of her salon.  Marmontel wrote:  “Mme. Necker is very virtuous and instructed, but emphatic and stiff.  She does not know Mme. de Sevigne, whom she praises, and only esteems Buffon and Thomas.  She calculates all things; she sought men of letters only as trumpets to blow in honor of her husband.  He never said a word; that was not very recreating.”

Galiani leaves a different impression:  “There is not a Friday that I do not go to your house en esprit.  I arrive, I find you now busy with your headdress, now busy with this duchess.  I seat myself at your feet.  Thomas quietly suffers, Morellet shows his anger aloud.  Grimm and Suard laugh heartily about it, and my dear Comte de Greuze does not notice it.  Marmontel finds the example worthy to be imitated, and you, madame, make two of your most beautiful virtues do battle, bashfulness and politeness, and in this suffering you find me a little monster more embarrassing than odious.  Dinner is announced.  They leave the table and in the cafe all speak at the same time.  M. Necker thinks everything well, bows his head and goes away.”