The Marquis l'Espérance de l'Aigle was also present, and is a perfect specimen of the fine gentleman of _la Vieille Cour_--a race now nearly extinct. Possessing all the gaiety and vivacity of youth, with that attention to the feelings of others peculiar only to maturity and high-breeding, the Count l'Espérance de l'Aigle is universally beloved. He can talk over old times with the grand-mother with all the wit that we read of, oftener than we meet with; give his opinion of _la dernière mode_ to the youthful mother, with rare tact and good taste; dance with the young daughter as actively and gracefully as any _garçon de dix-huit ans_ in Paris; and gallop through the Bois de Boulogne with the young men who pride themselves on their riding, without being ever left behind. I had frequently heard his praises from the Duchesse de Guiche, and found that her description of him was very accurate. The house of the Duc de Guiche is a picture of English comfort and French elegance united; and that portion of it appropriated to its fair mistress is fitted up with exquisite taste. Her _salons_ and _boudoir_ are objects of _vertù, bijouterie_, and vases of old Sèvre, enough to excite envy in those who can duly appreciate such treasures, and tempt to the violation of the tenth commandment. Order reigns in the whole arrangement of the establishment, which, possessing all the luxurious appliances of a _maison montée_, has all the scrupulous cleanliness of that of a Quaker. Went to the Opera last night, where I saw the _début_ of the new _danseuse_ Taglioni. Hers is a totally new style of dancing; graceful beyond all comparison, wonderful lightness, an absence of all violent effort, or at least of the appearance of it, and a modesty as new as it is delightful to witness in her art. She seems to float and bound like a sylph across the stage, never executing those _tours de force_ that we know to be difficult and wish were impossible, being always performed at the expense of decorum and grace, and requiring only activity for their achievement. She excited the most rapturous applause, and received it with a "decent dignity," very unlike the leering smiles with which, in general, a _danseuse_ thinks it necessary to advance to the front of the proscenium, shewing all her teeth, as she lowly courtesies to the audience. There is a sentiment in the dancing of this charming votary of Terpsichore that elevates it far beyond the licentious style generally adopted by the ladies of her profession, and which bids fair to accomplish a reformation in it. The Duc de Cazes, who came in to the Duchesse de Guiche's box, was enthusiastic in his praises of Mademoiselle Taglioni, and said hers was the most poetical style of dancing he had ever seen. Another observed, that it was indeed the poetry of motion. I would describe it as being the epic of dancing. The Duc de Cazes is a very distinguished looking man, with a fine and intelligent countenance, and very agreeable manners.