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

[127] d'oeil which would have satisfied an Oriental fancy; but though, after the ladies had supped, the gentlemen were admitted, the crowd was so dense and the struggle so unruly that I would not undertake it.

January 12.—This evening I carried Count Balbo to Thierry's, and introduced him to them. Balbo has written a good deal on the early history of modern Europe, and occupied himself with the Communes of Italy, so that they had high converse together, which I enjoyed. Thierry was striking in his positions and in their illustration, as he always is.

January 13.—I went this evening to the Princess Belgiojoso's. Her house and style of reception are as picturesque as herself, and savor strongly-even to the hot climate she makes in this cold weather–of her Italy. There was much fashion there, and many men of letters: Mignet, Fauriel, Mohl, Quinet, Baron d'eckstein, etc. I saw, too, for the first time, the Count de Montalembert and his graceful wife, who was a Belgian Merode. I was surprised to find the Count, who is already so famous by his ultra Catholic and liberal tone, both in the Chamber of Peers and in his writings, to be so young a man. He will certainly be much distinguished if he lives, notwithstanding his sort of poetical fanaticism, which accords but ill with his free tone in politics. His conversation is acute, but not remarkable.

January 14.—I spent the early part of the evening at the Countess Lipona's, the name under which Madame Murat passes here.¹ She is a very good-looking, stout person, nearly sixty years old, I suppose, and with lady-like and rather benevolent manners. She lives in good style, but without splendor; and, like the rest of her family, allows those about her to call her Reine. Prince Musignano was there, and perhaps in the course of an hour twenty people came in, for it was her reception evening; but the whole, I suppose, was Bonapartist, for I happen to know that those who wish to stand well with Louis Philippe avoid her doors; a weakness on his part as great as that which, on hers, permits her to be called Queen. . . . .

January 17.—I passed a large part of to-day with H. Ternaux, who was formerly in the United States, since which time he has been in French diplomacy . . . . . My object was to see his library, which is curious in many respects, especially in old Spanish literature and in early American history. He kept me occupied till dark, in looking at a succession of rarities and curiosities, such as I have not seen before for many a day.