The Abbe wished to convince him out of Livy, and by some arguments drawn from Plutarch in favour of the Spartans.

Mr.
Gibbon, being endowed with a most excellent memory, and having all events present to his mind, soon got the command of the conversation.
The Abbe grew angry, they lost possession of themselves, and said hard things of each other.

The Englishman retaining his native coolness, watched for his advantages, and pressed the Abbe with increasing success in proportion as he was more disturbed by passion.

The conversation grew warmer, and was broken off by M.de Foncemagne's rising from table and passing into the parlour, where no one was tempted to renew it." But if not brilliant in society, he was very _repandu_, and was welcomed in the best circles.

He was a member of Boodle's, White's, Brooks's, and Almack's,[9] and "there were few persons in the literary or political world to whom he was a stranger." It is to be regretted that the best sketch of him at this period borders on caricature.