oulevards
Italiens_--after passing the pillars of the proposed church of _Ste.
Madelaine_, and turning to the right--helped to prolong our extreme
gratification, till we reached the spot whence I am addressing you.
Doubtless, at first glance, this is a most splendid and enchanting city.
A particular detail must be necessarily reserved, for the next despatch.
I shall take all possible pains to make you acquainted with the
treasures of PAST TIMES--in the shape of Manuscripts and printed Books.
THE ROYAL LIBRARY has as much astonished me, as the CURATORS of it have
charmed me by their extreme kindness and civility.[175]

[174] [The above was written in 1818-19. Now, what would be said by a
foreigner, of his first drive from Westminster Bridge, through Regent
Street to the stupendous Pantheon facing the termination of Portland
Place?]

[175] At this point, the labours of Mons. LICQUET, as my translator, cease;
and I will let him take leave of his task of translation in his own
words. "Ici se termine la tache qui m'a ete confiee. Apres avoir
refute franchement tout ce qui m'a semble digne de letre, je crois
devoir declarer, en finissant, que mes observations n'ont jamais eu
_la personne_ pour objet. Je reste persuade, d'ailleurs, que le coeur
de M.D. est tout-a-fait innocent des ecarts de son esprit. Si l'on
peut le condamner pour le fait, il faudra toujours l'absoudre pour
l'intention...." The _concluding_-sentence need not be copied: it is
bad taste to re-echo the notices of one's own good qualities.

My Norman translator at least takes leave of me with the grace of a
gentleman: although his thrusts have been occasionally direct and
severely intended. The foil which he has used has not always had the
button covered. The candid reader will, however, judge how these
thrusts have been parried; and if the "hits" on the part of my
adversary, have been sometimes "palpable," those of the original
author will not (it is presumed) be deemed feeble or unimpressive.
After all, the sum total of "Errata" scarcely includes THREE of
_substantial moment_: and wishing Mons Licquet "a very good day," I
desire nothing better than to renew our critical coqueting on the
floor of that Library of which he is the "Bibliothecaire en Chef."

END OF VOL. I.

London: Printed by W. Nicol,
Cleveland-row, St. James's.

SUPPLEMENT TO VOL