ROUSSEAU.

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the conspiracy of all Europe against him, with an elo-quence that charmed while it inspired pity. “ His eyeswere two stars,” the prince writes : “ his genius shonein his face and electrified me ; he was touched by theeffect he produced, and, convinced of my enthusiasm,he showed gratitude for the interest I took in hiswelfare.”

Madame de Genlis made acquaintance with him soonafter his return to Paris , She says she never met aliterary man with less pretension, and more amiable :he spoke of himself with simplicity, and of his enemieswithout bitterness ; he did entire justice to the talentsof Voltaire ; he had a most agreeable smile, full of de-licacy and gentleness ; he was communicative, and oftenvery gay. He talked extremely well on music, in whichhe was a real connoisseur. Rousseau dined with thislady and her husband frequently. Their first quarrelarose from M. de Genlis sending him two dozen bottlesof a wine he had praised, instead of two, which he hadconsented to accept. Nothing could be in worse taste thanthe pleasure which all the rich acquaintance of Rousseau took in making him presents, after he had declared hewould not receive any. He always sent them back ;and they reaped the pleasure of at once displaying theirgenerosity without expense, and of railing at his mis-anthropy. The quarrel which put an end to his- ac-quaintance with madame de Genlis is somewhat unin-telligible. Rousseau took offence at something thatpassed at a theatre ; and, instead of supping with hisfriends as he had agreed, walked sullenly away. Madamede Genlis was offended in her turn, and their intercoursewas never renewed.

Bernardin de Saint Pierre, author of “ Paul and Vir-ginia, ” has left delightful details of his visits to therecluse. They are far too long to quote : we can onlymention that they impress the reader with love andesteem for Rousseau . Sometimes Saint Pierre was hurtby outbursts of Rousseau ’s umbrageous temper, and onone occasion complained of his morose manner and unjustm 4