oops filling the courtyards, giving
our Princes' palace the aspect of a castle taken by assault. Without
offense to the memory of a great captain and the brave generals and
soldiers who helped him to win such fine victories, one may well ask
what Bonaparte's victories have led to, and whether an inch of the
ground remains to us that cost us so much blood. What proves how tired
the people were of those eternal wars was their lack of enthusiasm
during the Hundred Days. The King returned to Paris on the 8th of
July, 1815, amid almost unanimous rejoicings, since, after all our
misfortunes, Louis XVIII. brought back peace.

Henceforth it was seen how this Prince combined wisdom and ability
with his more brilliant mental qualities. Times were critical, and
Louis XVIII. was assuredly the ruler to suit the period. With much
courage and coolness he united elevation of soul and great subtlety of
mind; all his ways were royal. He gave readily and liberally; he was
fond of patronising art and letters, which he himself cultivated; his
features were by no means devoid of beauty, and so noble was their
expression that, infirm though he was, the first sight of him called
forth involuntary respect. His favourite recreation was talking about
literature with clever people. In his youth he had written very pretty
verses, and his style was that of an accomplished man of letters.
Knowing Latin perfectly, he liked to converse in that language with
our most learned Latinists. His memory was prodigious; he could always
repeat the most striking passages of a book read rapidly, of a piece
seen once. Ducis, who before the Revolution had occupied a post in
Monsieur's household, came out from his retreat at Versailles to
present his homage to the King. Louis at once recognised him, welcomed
him warmly, and recited the best lines of his "Oedipus," scarcely
remembered by the aged author.

His Majesty was himself the author of several political writings and
an account of a "Journey to Coblentz." There are also attributed to
him the text of the opera "The Caravan" and "The Lutenist of Luebeck,"
a prose play in one act, given at the Theatre Francais. He had a
strong attachment for the Theatre Francais. He often went to that
playhouse, and especially admired the acting of Talma. Whenever that
great actor, happening to be on duty for the week, carried a torch
before the King to his box, Louis would regularly stop to talk with
him a long time. These conve