The Abbe de Radonvilliers, his preceptor, one of the Forty of the French Academy, a learned and amiable man, had given him and Monsieur a taste for study.

The King had continued to instruct himself; he knew the English language perfectly; I have often heard him translate some of the most difficult passages in Milton's poems.

He was a skilful geographer, and was fond of drawing and colouring maps; he was well versed in history, but had not perhaps sufficiently studied the spirit of it.

He appreciated dramatic beauties, and judged them accurately.

At Choisy, one day, several ladies expressed their dissatisfaction because the French actors were going to perform one of Moliere's pieces.