"Really, in these times, we no longer know how to make
mediocre verses."

Great praise of the poetical and literary excellence of
these times, although M. de Barante was not conscious of it.



April 22, 1847.

Election of M. Ampere. This is an improvement upon
the last. A slow improvement. But Academies, like old
people, go slowly.

During the session and after the election Lamartine sent
to me by an usher the following lines:

C'est un état peu prospere
D'aller d'Empis en Ampere.

I replied to him by the same usher:

Toutefois ce serait pis
D'aller d'Ampere en Empis.

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October 4, 1847.