Ten years ago I had the honour to be admitted often to the table of a Lady of the first rank. On _St. Ann's-day_, (that being her name-day) she received the visits of her friends, who all brought either a valuable present, a poesy, or a compliment in verse: when the dessert came upon the table, which was very magnificent, the middle plate seemed to be the finest and fairest fruit (_peaches_) and I was much surprized, that none of the Ladies, were helped by the gentlemen from _that_ plate: but my surprize was soon turned into astonishment! for the peaches suddenly burst forth, and played up the Saint's name, (_St. Ann_) in artificial fire-works! and many pretty devices of the same kind, were whirled off, from behind the coaches of her visitors, to which they were fixed, as the company left the house, which had a pretty effect, and was no indelicate way of _taking a French leave_. There is certainly among the French people of fashion an ease and good-breeding, which is very captivating, and not easily obtained, but by being bred up with them, from an early age; the whole body must be formed for it, as in dancing, while there is the pliability of youth; and where there is, as in France, a constant, early, and intimate correspondence between the two sexes. Men would be fierce and savage, were it not for the society of the other sex, as may be seen among the Turks and Moors, who must not visit their own wives, when other men's wives are with them. In France, the Lady's bed-chamber is always open, and she receives visits in bed, or up, with perfect ease. A noble Lord, late ambassador to this country, told me, that when he visited a young and beautiful woman of fashion, (I think too it was a first visit after marriage) she received him sitting up in her bed; and before he went, her _fille de chambre_ brought his Lordship _Madame le Comtesse_'s shift elegantly festooned, which his Lordship had the honour to put over the Lady's head, as she sat in bed!--nor was there, by that favour, the least indecency meant; it was a compliment intended; and, as such only, received. Marks of favour of _that_ sort, are not marks of _further favours_ from a French Lady. In this vast city of amusements, among the _other arts_, I cannot help pointing out to your particular notice, _Richlieu_'s monument in the _Sorbonne_, as an inimitable piece of modern sculpture[G] by _Girardeau_; and _Madame la Valliere's_ full-length portrait by _le Brun_: She was, you know, mistress to _Lewis_ the XIVth, but retired to the convent, in which the picture now is, and where she lived in repentance and sorrow above thirty years.[H] [G] VOLTAIRE says, this monument is not sufficiently noticed by strangers. [H] MADAME VALLIERE, during her retirement, being told of the death of one of her sons, replied, "I should rather grieve for his birth, than his death."