Smith went more into society in the few months he resided in Paris than at any other period of his life.  He was a regular guest in almost all the famous literary salons of that time—­Baron d’Holbach’s, Helvetius’, Madame de Geoffrin’s, Comtesse de Boufflers’, Mademoiselle l’Espinasse’s, and probably Madame Necker’s.  Our information about his doings is of course meagre, but there is one week in July 1766 in which we happen to have his name mentioned frequently in the course of the correspondence between Hume and his Paris friends regarding the quarrel with Rousseau, and during that week Smith was on the 21st at Mademoiselle l’Espinasse’s, on the 25th at Comtesse de Boufflers’, and on the 27th at Baron d’Holbach’s, where he had some conversation with Turgot.  He was a constant visitor at Madame Riccoboni the novelist’s.  He attended the meetings of the new economist sect in the apartments of Dr. Quesnay, and though the economic dinners of the elder Mirabeau, the “Friend of Men,” were not begun for a year after, he no doubt visited the Marquis, as we know he visited other members of the fraternity.  He went to Compiegne when the Court removed to Compiegne, made frequent excursions to interesting places within reach, and is always seen with troops of friends about him.  Many of these were Englishmen, for after their long exclusion from Paris during the Seven Years war, Englishmen had begun to pour into the city, and the Hotel du Parc Royal, where Smith lived, was generally full of English guests.  Among others who were there, as I have just mentioned, was Horace Walpole, who remained on till Easter, and with whom Smith seems to have become well acquainted, for in writing Hume in July he asks to be specially remembered to Mr. Walpole.

So much has been written about the literary salons of Paris in last century that it is unnecessary to do more here than describe Smith’s connection with them.  The salon we happen to hear most of his frequenting is the salon of the Comtesse de Boufflers-Rouvel, but that is due to the simple circumstance that the hostess was an assiduous correspondent of David Hume.  She was mistress to the Prince de Conti, but ties of that character, if permanent, derogated nothing from a lady’s position in Paris at that period.  Abbe Morellet, who was a constant guest at her house, even states that this connection of hers with a prince of the blood, though illicit, really enhanced rather than diminished her consideration in society, and her receptions were attended by all the rank, fashion, and learning of the city.  The Comtesse was very fond of entertaining English guests, for she spoke our language well, and had been greatly pleased with the civilities she had received during her then recent visit to England in 1763.  Smith was not long in Paris till he made her acquaintance, and received a very hearty welcome for the love of Hume.  She began to read his book, moreover, and it became eventually such a favourite with her that she had thoughts of translating it.