He inquired of me respecting Burns, to whom he had been likened; and begged me to tell him something of Moore.

The delight of himself and his wife was amusing, at having discovered a secret which had puzzled them so long.
[Footnote 24: The Athenaeum.] He had a thousand things to tell me; in particular, that he had only the day before received a letter from the Duchess of Orleans, informing him that she had ordered a medal of her late husband to be struck, the first of which would be sent to him: she also announced to him the agreeable news of the king having granted him a pension of a thousand francs.

He smiled and wept by turns, as he told all this; and declared, much as he was elated at the possession of a sum which made him a rich man for life, the kindness of the duchess gratified him even more.
He then made us sit down while he read us two new poems; both charming, and full of grace and _naivete_; and one very affecting, being an address to the king, alluding to the death of his son.

As he read, his wife stood by, and fearing we did not quite comprehend his language, she made a remark to that effect: to which he answered impatiently, "Nonsense--don't you see they are in tears." This was unanswerable; and we were allowed to hear the poem to the end; and I certainly never listened to anything more feelingly and energetically delivered.
We had much conversation, for he was anxious to detain us, and, in the course of it, he told me that he had been by some accused of vanity.
"Oh!" he rejoined, "what would you have! I am a child of nature, and cannot conceal my feelings; the only difference between me and a man of refinement is, that he knows how to conceal his vanity and exultation at success, which I let everybody see." His wife drew me aside, and asked my opinion as to how much money it would cost to pay Jasmin's expenses, if he undertook a journey to England: "However," she added, "I dare say he need be at no charge, for, of _course_, your queen has read _that article_ in his favour, and knows his merit; she will probably send for him, pay all the expenses of his journey, and give him great fetes in London." I recommended the barber-poet to wait _till he was sent for_; and left the happy pair, promising to let them know the effect that the translation of Jasmin's poetry produced on the royal mind:--their earnest simplicity was really entertaining.
END OF VOL.

I.
* * * * * VOL.