Her reflections on women might be called the great plea, at the end of the seventeenth century, for woman’s right to use her reason.  After the severe and cruel satire of Moliere, attacking women for their innocent amusements, they gave themselves up entirely to pleasure.  “Mme. de Lambert now wrote to avenge her sex and demand for it the honest and strong use of the mind; and this was done in the midst of the wild orgies of the Regency.”

Mme. de Lambert was not a rare beauty, but she possessed recompensing charms.  M. Colombey asserts that she became convinced of two things, about which she became highly enthusiastic:  first, that woman was more reasonable than man; secondly, that M. Fontenelle, who presided over or filled the functions of president of her salon, was always in the right.  He was indeed in harmony with the tone of the salon, being considered the most polished, brilliant, and distinguished member of the intellectual society of Paris, as well as one of the most talented drawing room philosophers.  He made the salon of Mme. de Lambert the most sought for and celebrated, the most intellectual and moral of the period.

Mme. de Lambert has, possibly, exercised more influence upon men—­and especially upon the Forty Immortals of her time—­than did any woman before or after her.  The Marquis d’Argenson states that “a person was seldom received at the Academy unless first presented at her salon.  It is certain that she made at least half of our actual Academicians.”

Her salon was called a bureau d’esprit, which was due to the fact that it was about the only social gathering point where culture and morality were the primary requisites.  As she advanced in years, she became even more influential.  After her death in 1733, her salon ceased to exist, but others, patterned after hers, soon sprang up; to those, her friends attached themselves—­Fontenelle frequented several, Henault became the leader of that of Mme. du Deffand.

The finest resume that can be given of Mme. de Lambert, is found in the letters of the Marquis d’Argenson:  “Her works contain a complete course in the most perfect morals for the use of the world and the present time.  Some affectation of the preciosite is found; but, what beautiful thoughts, what delicate sentiments!  How well she speaks of the duties of women, of friendship, of old age, of the difference between actual character and reputation!”

The salon of Mme. de Lambert forms a period of transition from the seventeenth century type in which elegance, politeness, courtesy, and morality were the first requisites, to the eighteenth century salon in which esprit and wit were the essentials demanded.  It retained the dignity, discipline, refinement, and sentiments of morality of the Hotel de Rambouillet; it showed, also, the first signs of pure intellectuality.  The salons to follow, will exhibit decidedly different characteristics.