This group of literary whole lengths would however be imperfect without the introduction of Monsieur LANGLES.  The forte of M. Langles consists in his cultivation of, and enthusiastic ardor for, oriental literature.  He presides, in fact, over the Persian, Arabic, and other Oriental MSS. and he performs the duties of his office, as a public librarian, with equal punctuality and credit.  He has also published much upon the languages of the East, but is considered less profound than DE SACY:  although both his conversation and his library attest his predilection for his particular studies.  M. Langles is eclipsed by no one for that “gaiete de coeur” which, when joined with good manners and honourable principles, renders a well-bred Frenchman an exceedingly desirable companion.  He loves also the arts; as well of sculpture as of painting and of engraving.  His further room affords unquestionable evidence of his attachment to English Prints.  Wilson, West, and Wilkie—­from the burins of Woollett, Raimbach, and Burnet—­struck my eye very forcibly and pleasingly.  M. Langles admires and speaks our language.  “Your charming Wilkie (says he) pleases me more and more.  Why does he not visit us?  He will at least find here some good proofs of my respect for his talents.”  Of course he could not mean to pun.  I was then told to admire his impression of Woollett’s Battle of La Hogue; and indeed I must allow that it is one of the very best which I have seen.  He who possesses that, need not distress himself about any of the impressions of the Death of Wolfe; which is also in the collection of Langles.

His library is probably less extensive than Millin’s; but it is not less choice and valuable.  His collection of books (in which are a great number of our best Voyages and Travels) relating to Asia—­and particularly his philological volumes, as connected with the different languages of that country, cannot be too much commended.  I saw Sir John Malcolm’s History of Persia lying upon his table.  “How do you like that work, M. Langles?” “Sir (replied he) I more than like it—­I love it:  because I love the author.”  In fact, I knew that Sir John and he were well acquainted with each other, and I believe that the copy in question bore the distinctive mark of being “ex dono auctoris.”  I have had a good deal of interesting conversation with M. Langles about the history of books during the Revolution; or rather about that of the ROYAL LIBRARY.  He told me he was appointed one of the commissioners to attend to the distribution of those countless volumes which were piled up in different warehouses, as the produce of the ransacked monasteries.  I am not sure, whether, within the immediate neighbourhood of the Royal Library, he did not say that there were at least half a million of books.  At that time, every public meeting of Parisians—­whatever might be the professed object—­was agitated, and