He Seemed To Be A Little Out
At Elbows, Had Marvellous Foul Linen, And His Breeches Were Not
Very Sound:
But he assumed an air of importance, was very
courteous, and very solemn.
I asked him if he did not sometimes
divert himself with the muse: he smiled, and promised, in a
whisper, to shew me some chansonettes de sa facon. Meanwhile he
composed the requete in my name, which was very pompous, very
tedious, and very abject. Such a stile might perhaps be necessary
in a native of France; but I did not think it was at all suitable
to a subject of Great-Britain. I thanked him for the trouble he
had taken, as he would receive no other gratification; but when
my landlord proposed to send the memoire to his correspondent at
Paris, to be delivered to the chancellor, I told him I had
changed my mind, and would apply to the English ambassador. I
have accordingly taken the liberty to address myself to the earl
of H - ; and at the same time I have presumed to write to the
duchess of D - , who is now at Paris, to entreat her grace's
advice and interposition. What effect these applications may
have, I know not: but the sieur B - shakes his head, and has told
my servant, in confidence, that I am mistaken if I think the
English ambassador is as great a man at Paris as the chancellor
of France.
I ought to make an apology for troubling you with such an
unentertaining detail, and consider that the detention of my
books must be a matter of very little consequence to any body,
but to - Your affectionate humble servant.
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