On Sunday, ye next day, we went with a large party to Versailles, where we expected to see the _Eaux_ play, but we had been misled. We dined at _Le petit Trianon_, formerly a favourite little palace of the Queen’s, with a garden _à l’Anglaise_; but what I did admire indeed is _Le grand Trianon_, a most noble palace. The centre, instead of a _corps-de-logis_, is a peristyle composed of a double row of large marble columns; the front to the garden is very large and grand, only a _rez-de-chaussée_. The garden is thoroughly in the French style, broad and spacious walks, fountains, alleys, _cabinets de verdure_; in short, just what a garden should be near a large house. We went from thence to Versailles. What a change from former days! We walked along the Terrace, and so to the _Orangerie_, where there are trees in tubs as large as any I ever saw growing either at Nice or Naples in the common ground. One old tree they call _François Premier_, and they add that it is 400 years old. It is satisfactorily proved by a _procès verbal_ that it belonged to the Constable of Bourbon, and was confiscated with the rest of his property, and so came to François I. Our party was numerous: Mr. and Mrs. Fox, Ld. Robert, the General, Mr. Allen, Frederick Ponsonby, Miss Adair, Heathcote, St. John, Trotter,[185] Smith (the Petrarch of Carolina’s brother), Green. * * * * * The following is a list of those who dined with us at Paris in July, August, and part of September, 1802. [Sidenote: LA FAYETTE] _La Fayette_, who is indebted to Bonaparte for his liberty, has, since his return to his native country, resided chiefly upon the small estate the Revolution has not deprived him of at La Grange. Bonaparte affected to consult the nation whether he should be Consul for life; was answered by La Fayette, who wrote a gentle but able remonstrance upon the subject. Bonaparte was little enough, when an army promotion took place, to pass over La Fayette’s son and nephew; he has, however, promoted them since. His son was educated in Washington’s house, appears very amiable; he was just married.[186] _Andréossy_[187] is the son of an obscure man of Italian origin, employed by Riquet in the Languedoc Canal. He was born at Castelnaudary, educated at Sorèze, and served under the _ancien régime_ as an engineer. He made some campaigns in Italy, went to Egypt, was there employed upon an expedition to ye Lake Menzalah, and returned in the vessel which brought the First Consul to France. He has since been named to ye Embassy of England. He lived very much with us. He is a plain _Militaire_ in his manner, and if he offends it will be unintentional, as he is disposed to maintain peace and amity between the two countries.