I arrived at Paris in the autumn of 1741, with fifteen louis in my purse, and with my comedy of Narcissus and my musical project in my pocket.  These composed my whole stock; consequently I had not much time to lose before I attempted to turn the latter to some advantage.  I therefore immediately thought of making use of my recommendations.

A young man who arrives at Paris, with a tolerable figure, and announces himself by his talents, is sure to be well received.  This was my good fortune, which procured me some pleasure without leading to anything solid.  Of all the persons to whom I was recommended, three only were useful to me.  M. Damesin, a gentleman of Savoy, at that time equerry, and I believe favorite, of the Princess of Carignan; M. de Boze, Secretary of the Academy of Inscriptions, and keeper of the medals of the king’s cabinet; and Father Castel, a Jesuit, author of the ’Clavecin oculaire’.—­[ocular harpsichord.]

All these recommendations, except that to M. Damesin, were given me by the Abbe de Malby.

M. Damesin provided me with that which was most needful, by means of two persons with whom he brought me acquainted.  One was M. Gase, ’president a mortier’ of the parliament of Bordeaux, and who played very well upon the violin; the other, the Abbe de Leon, who then lodged in the Sorbonne, a young nobleman; extremely amiable, who died in the flower of his age, after having, for a few moments, made a figure in the world under the name of the Chevalier de Rohan.  Both these gentlemen had an inclination to learn composition.  In this I gave them lessons for a few months, by which means my decreasing purse received some little aid.  The Abbe Leon conceived a friendship for me, and wished me to become his secretary; but he was far from being rich, and all the salary he could offer me was eight hundred livres, which, with infinite regret, I refused; since it was insufficient to defray the expenses of my lodging, food, and clothing.

I was well received by M. de Boze.  He had a thirst for knowledge, of which he possessed not a little, but was somewhat pedantic.  Madam de Boze much resembled him; she was lively and affected.  I sometimes dined with them, and it is impossible to be more awkward than I was in her presence.  Her easy manner intimidated me, and rendered mine more remarkable.  When she presented me a plate, I modestly put forward my fork to take one of the least bits of what she offered me, which made her give the plate to her servant, turning her head aside that I might not see her laugh.  She had not the least suspicion that in the head of the rustic with whom she was so diverted there was some small portion of wit.  M. de Boze presented me to M. de Reaumur, his friend, who came to dine with him every Friday, the day on which the Academy of Sciences met.  He mentioned to him my project, and the desire I had of having it examined by the academy.  M. de Reaumur consented to make the proposal, and