SEVIGNE.

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ing, though she was a little too sprightly for a womanof quality. Madame de la Fayette addressed a por-trait to her, as was the fashion of those times. Madamede Sevigne was three-and-thirty when it was written.It is, of course, laudatory : it speaks of the charms ofher society, when all constraint was banished fromthe conversation ; and says that the brilliancy of herwit imparted so bright a tinge to her cheek, andsparkle to her eye, that, while others pleased the ears,she dazzled the eyes of her listeners ; so that she sur-passed, for the moment, the most perfect beauty. Theportrait speaks of the affectionate emotions of her heart,and of her love of all that was pleasing and agreeable.“ Joy is the natural atmosphere of your soul,” it says;“ and annoyance is more displeasing to you than to anyother.” It mentions her obliging disposition, and thegrace with which she obliged; her admirable conduct,her frankness, her sweetness.

Of course fault has been found with her. In thefirst place, Voltaire says, after praising her letters,“ It is a pity that she was absolutely devoid of taste ;that she did not do Racine justice; and that she putsMascaron ’s funeral oration on Turenne on a par withthe chef-d ’oeuvre of Flechier.” We need not saymuch concerning the first of these accusations. It mayhe thought that madame de Sevigne showed good tastein her criticisms on Racine. The truth was that, ac-customed to Corneille in her youth, she adhered to hisparty, and was faithful to tastes associated with herhappiest days. Of the second, we must mention thatshe heard Mascaron ’s oration delivered : and the effectof delivery is often to dazzle, and to inspire a falsejudgment. She wrote to her daughter on the spur ofthe moment; and her opinion had no pretensions to acriticism meant for posterity. Afterwards, when sheread Flechier's oration at leisure, she did not hesitate toprefer it. She is a little inclined to a false and flowerystyle in her choice of books; but her letters exonerate