The conversation, as might be expected, was literary and intellectual, enlivened by graceful pleasantry.

Many of the ladies of that ancient and proud noblesse--for the noblesse yet existed, though its hours were already numbered--added to the charm of the society; and theirs were the boldest criticisms, and often the most liberal sentiments.
Vain labour for me--vain labour almost for the grave English language--to do justice to the sparkling paradoxes that flew from lip to lip.

The favourite theme was the superiority of the moderns to the ancients.

Condorcet on this head was eloquent, and to some, at least, of his audience, most convincing.

That Voltaire was greater than Homer few there were disposed to deny.