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been in
Geneva.
To-day he invited me to a dinner, where I found myself surrounded by the
corpus Academicum, and a representation of the
Bibliotheque Britannique. I was struck with the exhibition of talent I witnessed, and particularly with
De Candolle, professor of botany, who has great powers of conversation, without that perpetual attempt at brilliancy and epigram which I found in
Paris society, and which I have found here only in
Dumont.
In the evening I went to a large party at
Dr. Buttini's, the first physician in
Geneva.
I found most of the society I met last evening, but was so much interested by the conversation of
President de la Rive that I made few new acquaintances.
September 14.—A Russian
Countess Bruess is living here, and finding it difficult to spend an income—said to be a million of francs a year —amuses herself with giving such entertainments as the simple
Genevans rarely see. Just at this time the birthday of her friend Princess Kourakin occurs, and as she is here on a visit, the
Countess determined to give a fete which should eclipse all her former magnificence.
At eight o'clock we found ourselves at her country place, on the borders of the lake, and by nine, three or four hundred persons had arrived.
After taking tea, we went to her theatre, which was neatly fitted up, and where ‘Le nouveau
M. de Pourceaugnac,’ which made much noise in
Paris last winter, was performed by herself and half a dozen of her friends.
When this was over, a practical charade in three acts, in honor of the princess, was performed with great success, and the whole ended with a Cossack dance, which seemed to me better than a French ballet.
On leaving the theatre we were taken to the conservatory, which was fancifully illuminated, and where we found a supper was prepared; but the scene was so beautiful, and the arrangements made with so much taste, that a great many of the party preferred to walk up and down, to see this fairy feast prepared amidst odorous shrubs and illuminated orange groves, to sharing its luxuries.
The entertainment ended with a ball, which finished I know not when, for I left it, wearied out, at two o'clock in the morning.
, which occupied three days, and excited and delighted him intensely.
His description of these scenes, so new to him, is full, animated, and glowing.
