George Ticknor, Life, letters and journals of George Ticknor
George Hillard, Ed.

[120] biography of Roederer, very brilliantly written, and in reading which he was often interrupted by very hearty rounds of applause; and the whole was concluded by parts of a memoir of the state of the civil law of France, considered in its relations with the economical condition of society, by Rossi,—again frequently interrupted by applause,— which was admirable for its soundness, wisdom, and strength, worthy of a solemn academical occasion. As a meeting, it had more of dignity in it, and seemed better to fulfil its purpose, than any meeting of the sort at which I remember to have been present. There was really a good deal to be learned at it by those who went with a wish to be taught.

In the evening I went a little while to Baron Pichon's, where I found a form of soiree different from the common one at Paris; almost everybody gravely seated at whist,—deputies, peers, and all. But I had some strong talk with M. Pichon himself, with whom it is not easily possible to have anything else, so masculine is his mind and so practical and business-like the tone of his faculties. However, I could stay only a short time. We had promised to take Mad. Martinetti to the de Broglies' to-night.

It was the evening of her grande reception, and, arriving at about ten o'clock, we found her beautiful saloon open, and the notabilityes of the time coming and going. The Russian Ambassador was there; Guizot and a plenty of Doctrinaire peers and deputies; the Countess de Ste. Aulaire and her accomplished daughters; the Duchess of Massa; the well-known Princess Lieven, who figured so long in London; Janvier, one of the most eloquent of the Chamber of Deputies; the d'haussonvilles, etc. Everything was very brilliant, but it was less agreeable than on the petites soirees. We stayed late, however, for Mad. Martinetti enjoyed it so well that she did not at all like to come away.

December 28.—. . . . In the evening I was presented at Court, which took a tedious while; for I left home before seven o'clock and did not get back till nearly ten, the first hour being spent in assembling, with eight or ten other Americans, at General Cass's and getting to the palace, an hour and a half at the palace itself, and half an hour to find my carriage and get home . . . . . I think about an hundred and thirty persons were presented. Of these, perhaps seven or eight were Austrians, sixty or more English, one Russian,—my friend Tourgueneff,—and the rest chiefly Germans, with a few Italians and Spaniards. The Russians are hardly permitted to come to Paris now, or, if they do come, hardly dare to be presented at Court, so