At six we rose from table, and walked in the Luxembourg gardens, hard by.  The air had become somewhat cooler.  The sun was partially concealed by thin, speckled clouds:  a gentle wind was rising; and the fragrance of innumerable flowers, from terraces crowded with rose-trees, was altogether so genial and refreshing, that my venerable companions—­between whom I walked arm in arm—­declared that “they hardly knew when the gardens had smelt so sweetly.”  We went straight onward—­towards the Observatoire, the residence of the Astronomer Royal.  In our way thither we could not avoid crossing the Rue d’ Enfer, where Marshal Ney was shot.  The spot, which had been stained with his blood, was at this moment covered by skittles, and groups of stout lads were enjoying themselves in all directions.  It should seem that nothing but youthful sports and pastimes had ever prevailed there:  so insensibly do succeeding occupations wear away all traces of the past.  I paused for half a minute, casting a thoughtful eye towards the spot.  The Abbe Betencourt moralised aloud, and Dom Brial seemed inwardly to meditate.  We now reached the Observatory.  The Sub-Principal was at home, and was overjoyed to receive his venerable visitors.  He was a fellow-townsman of Dom Brial, and we were shewn every thing deserving of notice.  It was nearly night-fall, when, on reaching the Rue Servandoni, I wished my amiable companions adieu, till we met again.

I have before mentioned the name of M. GAIL.  Let me devote a little more time and attention to him.  He is, as you have been also previously told, the curator of the Greek and Latin MSS. in the Royal Library, and a Greek Professor in the College Royale.  There is no man, at all alive to a generous and kind feeling, who can deny M. Gail the merit of a frank, benevolent, and hearty disposition.  His Greek and Latin studies, for the last thirty-five years, have neither given a severe bias to his judgment, nor repressed the ebullitions of an ardent and active imagination.  His heart is yet all warmth and kindness.  His fulfilment of the duties of his chair has been exemplary and beneficial; and it is impossible for the most zealous and grateful of her sons, to have the prosperity of the College Royale more constantly in view, than my friend I.B.  Gail has that of the University of Paris.  His labours, as a scholar, have been rather useful than critical.  He has edited Anacreon more than once:  and to the duodecimo edition of 1794, is prefixed a small portrait—­medallion-wise—­of the editor; which, from the costume of dress and juvenility of expression, does not much remind me of the Editor as he now is.  M. Gail’s great scholastic work is his Greek, Latin, and French, editions of Xenophon and Thucydides, in twenty-four quarto volumes; but in the execution of this performance he suffered himself to be rather led astray by the attractions of the Bibliomania.  In other words, he chose to indulge in membranaceous propensities; and nothing would serve M. Gail’s turn but he must have a unique COPY UPON VELLUM! in a quarto form.[159] Twenty four quarto volumes upon vellum!.. enough to chill the ardour and drain the purse of the most resolute and opulent publisher.