Before I could finish this, I received your despatches by Sir Thomas Clarges, and a most entertaining letter in three tomes.  It is being very dull, not to be able to furnish a quarter so much from your own country-but what can I do?  You are embarked in a new world, and I am living on the scraps of an old one, of which I am tired.  The best I can do is to reply to your letter, and not attempt to amuse you when I have nothing to say.  I think the Parliament meets today, or in a day or two-but I hope you are coming.  Your brother says so, and Madame du Deffand says so; and sure it is time to leave Paris, when you know ninety of the inhabitants.(192) There seems much affectation in those that will not know you;(193) and affectation is always a littleness—­it has been even rude:  but to be sure the rudeness one feels least, was that which is addressed to one before there has been any acquaintance.

Ninon came,(194) because, on Madame du Deffand’s mentioning it, I concluded it a new work, and am disappointed.  I can say this by heart.  The picture of Madame de Prie, which you don’t seem to value, and so Madame du Deffand says, I believe I shall dispute with you; I think it charming, but when offered to me years ago, I would not take it—­it was now given to you a little a mon intention.

I am sorry that, amongst all the verses you have sent me, you should have forgotten what you commend the most, Les trois exclamations.  I hope you will bring them with you.  Voltaire’s are intolerably stupid, and not above the level of officers in garrison.  Some of M. de Pezay’s are very pretty, though there is too much of them; and in truth I had seen them before.  Those on Madame de la Vali`ere pretty too, but one is a little tired of Venus and the Graces.  I am most pleased with your own—­and if you have a mind to like them still better, make Madame du Deffand show you mine, which are neither French, nor measure, nor metre.  She is unwilling to tell me so-, which diverts me.  Yours are really genteel and new.

I envy you the Russian Anecdotes(195) more than M. de Chamfort’s Fables, of which I know nothing; and as you say no more, I conclude I lose not much.  The stories of Sir Charles(196) are so far not new to me, that I heard them of him from abroad after he was mad:  but I believe no mortal of his acquaintance ever heard them before; nor did they at all correspond with his former life, with his treatment of his wife, or his history with Mrs. Woffington, qui n’`etait pas dupe.  I say nothing on the other stories you tell me of billets dropped,(197) et pour cause.