"master of the language," and I think he will be almost as good a
one as the little don.(70)

M. de Talleyrand opened, at last, with infinite wit and capacity.
Madame de Stael whispered me, "How do you like him?" "Not very
much," I answered, "but I do not know him." "Oh, I assure you,"
cried she, "he is the best of the men."

I was happy not to agree ; but I have no time for such minute
detail till we meet. She read the noble tragedy of
"TancrŠde,"(71) till she blinded us all round. She is the most
charming person, to use her own phrase, "that never I saw." . .

We called yesterday upon Madame de Stael, and sat with her until
three o'clock, only the little don being present. She was
delightful; yet I see much uneasiness hanging over the whole
party, from the terror that the war may stop all remittances.
Heaven forbid!


TALLEYRAND IS FOUND CHARMING.

(Fanny Burney to Mrs locke.)
Thursday, Mickleham.
I have no heart not to write, and no time to write. I have been
scholaring all day, and mastering too : for our lessons are
mutual, and more entertaining than can easily be conceived. My
master of the language says he dreams of how much more solemnly
he shall write to charming Mrs. Locke after a little more
practice. Madame de Stael has written me two English notes, quite