d I was followed thither by all the English at Paris. I
own, Versailles appeared to me rather vast than beautiful; and after
having seen the exact proportions of the Italian buildings, I thought
the irregularity of it shocking.

THE king's cabinet of antiques and medals, is, indeed, very richly
furnished. Amongst that collection, none pleased so well, as the
apotheosis of Germanicus, on a large agate, which is one of the most
delicate pieces of the kind that I remember to have seen. I observed
some ancient statues of great value. But the nauseous flattery, and
tawdry pencil of Le Brun, are equally disgusting in the gallery. I
will not pretend to describe to you the great apartment, the vast
variety of fountains, the theatre, the grove of Esop's (sic) fables,
&c. all which you may read very amply particularized in some of the
French authors, that have been paid for these descriptions.
Trianon, in its littleness, pleased me better than Versailles; Marli,
better than either of them; and St Cloud best of all; having the
advantage of the Seine running at the bottom of the gardens, the
great cascade, &c. You may find information in the aforesaid books,
if you have any curiosity to know the exact number of the statues,
and how many feet they cast up the water.

WE saw the king's pictures in the magnificent house of the duke
D'Antin, who has the care of preserving them till his majesty is of
age. There are not many but of the best hands. I looked, with great
pleasure on the arch-angel of Raphael, where the sentiments of
superior beings are as well expressed as in Milton. You won't
forgive me, if I say nothing of the Thuilleries (sic), much finer than
our Mall; and the Cour, more agreeable than our Hyde-park, the high
trees giving shade in the hottest season. At the Louvre, I had the
opportunity of seeing the king, accompanied by the Duke regent. He is
tall, and well shaped but has not the air of holding the crown so
many years as his grandfather. And now I am speaking of the Court, I
must say, I saw nothing in France that delighted me so much, as to
see an Englishman (at least a Briton) absolute at Paris, I mean Mr
Law, who treats their dukes and peers extremely _de haut en bas_, and
is treated by them with the utmost submission and respect.--Poor
souls!--This reflection on their abject slavery, puts me in mind of
the _place des victoires_; but I will not take up your time, and my
own, with such descriptions, whic