M. de C****, very rich, but blinded by a cataract formed on both his eyes, came to Paris from the remotest part of Languedoc, to consult a surgeon; who told him that it was time for him to per form the operation of couching, for the success of which he would be answerable. M. de C**** inquired what would be the expence of the operation: fifty guineas, replied Granjean.-M. de C. remon strated grievously against the charge, and was disposed to make a bargain, to lower the price: but Granjean was inflexible; and M. de C. had nothing left but patience, submission, and non-resistance. Some days afterward, the surgeon performed the operation; when, having removed the cataract from the right eye, M. de C. exclaimed with transport, that his sight was perfectly restored. Come then, said Granjean, let us proceed to the other eye. Stay a moment, replied M. de C.:-you take fifty guineas for the whole operation; that is, five-and-twenty for each eye: now as I see quite as well as is necessary, and as I wish to see, I shall content myself with one eye: to recover the other would be a very useless luxury; there are your five-and-twenty guineas.' With one more sprightly anecdote, we shall close our extracts; and as it relates to our celebrated countryman Mr. Gibbon, we think that it will not be uninteresting to the reader : I hear from Lausanne that Mr. Gibbon has been settled there for some time, and is extremely well received. He is, they tell me, grown so prodigiously fat, that he walks with great difficulty: yet' with this figure, and his strange face, Mr Gibbon is infmitely gallant, and is fallen in love with a beautiful woman, Madame de Crou zas. One day, finding himself with her tête à tête for the first time, and desirous of availing himself of so favourable a moment, he fell suddenly on his knees, and made a declaration of his flame in the most passionate terms. Madame de Crouzas replied in a manner sufficiently repulsive to discourage every temptation to renew the scene, and Mr. Gibbon appeared embarrassed: but he nevertheless retained his prostrate attitude; and notwithstanding Madame's repeated invitation to re-seat himself on his chair, he was motionless and silent. "But, sir," repeated Madame de Crouzas, "rise, I beseech you.' "Alas, Madame," at length answered this unfortunate lover, "I am not able." In truth, the corpulency of his person totally impeded the possibility of his recovering his legs without assistance. Madame de C. then rang the bell, and desired the servant to help Mr. Gibbon to rise.' Here Mad. DE GENLIS takes leave of the gros Monsieur Gibbon, and directs her satiric pen to another ill-starred lover, whose stature was in the extreme of opposition; and the little man was even more ludicrously punished for an unwelcome declaration, by being placed upon the chimney piece. In revenge for the treatment of this unhappy wight, we shall now put the fair writer herself upon the shelf. INDEX To the REMARKABLE PASSAGES in this Volume. N. B. To find any particular Book, or Pamphlet, see the A pro- ACER SACCHARINUM, Allen, Mr. on carbonic acid, and on the diamond, 154. mode of operating for, 51. Romans not attributable to su- periority in his troops, but to Atheist, poetic delineation of, 176. B Bacon, Aitch of. See Dunmow. Bees, memoir on the economy of Beggar's Petition, translated into Belisarius, his story woven into a Bell, Mr. on the influence of Bladder, diseases of, the uvaursi Boyle, Richard, Earl of Cork, made the subject of a French Brewery, extraordinary cask in Brydon, Mr. a Scotch farmer, celebrated for converting un- Buckingham, Marquis of, presents. 2000 copies of the New Test. Fairy-Rings, memoir on, 150. of its still operative spirit, 21. Fiefs, origin of, 514. of Mr. Scott's tale of Mar- Gout, farther discussion of the land, essays on, 39. 41. H Fortifications recommended, and Hay, Mr on the improvement of His censured, for the defence of Holland, Lord, his prefatory ac- Home, Mr. on the stomachs of J Jamaica, comparative produce and cent. Jesus, the character of, considered as perfectly original, 409. 451-454 Invasion of Great Britain, re- marks on, 72-84. Jordan, analysis of the waters Jury, trial by, arguments relative K Knight, Mr. on the economy of L Ladies, English, accused of face- Lady, verses to one, at Bath, 21. Law, proceedings of, various L'Estrange, Sir Roger, anecdotes Liberty, temperate remarks on, 281. Lime-kilns, plan of, 39. historical particulars rel. to.331. Louis XIV. obs. on his character by Mrs. Chapone, 241. and of his works, 114—124. |