Nelvil of course is a thing shreddy and patchy enough.

He reminds us by turns of Chateaubriand's Rene and Rousseau's Bomston, both of whom Madame de Stael of course knew; of Mackenzie's Man of Feeling, with whom she was very probably acquainted; but most of no special, even bookish, progenitor, but of a combination of theoretic deductions from supposed properties of man in general and Englishman in particular.

Of Englishmen in particular Madame de Stael knew little more than a residence (chiefly in _emigre_ society) for a short time in England, and occasional meetings elsewhere, could teach her.

Of men in general her experience had been a little unfortunate.

Her father had probity, financial skill, and, I suppose, a certain amount of talent in other directions; but while he must have had some domestic virtues he was a wooden pedant.