where we found him living like a
patriarch, surrounded by his family to the fourth generation. He was
mild, highly distinguished, and noble in his manners; his conversation
was exceedingly interesting, as he readily spoke of the Revolution in
which he had taken so active a part. Among other anecdotes, he
mentioned, that he had sent the principal key of the Bastile to General
Washington, who kept it under a glass case. He was much interested to
hear that I could, in some degree, claim a kind of relationship with
Washington, whose mother was a Fairfax. Baron Fairfax, the head of the
family, being settled in America, had joined the independent party at
the Revolution.

The two daughters of La Fayette, who had been in prison with him at
Olmuetz, were keen politicians, and discussed points with a warmth of
gesticulation which amused Somerville and me, accustomed to our cold
still manners. The grand-daughters, Mesdames de Remusat and de
Corcelles, were kind friends to me all the time I was in Paris.

M. Bouvard, whom we had known in London, was now Astronomer-Royal of
France, and he invited us to dine with him at the Observatory. The table
was surrounded by savants, who complimented me on the "Mechanism of the
Heavens." I sat next M. Poisson, who advised me in the strongest manner
to write a second volume, so as to complete the account of La Place's
works; and he afterwards told Somerville, that there were not twenty men
in France who could read my book. M. Arago, who was of the party, said,
he had not written to thank me for my book, because he had been reading
it, and was busy preparing an account of it for the Journal of the
Institute. At this party, I made the acquaintance of the celebrated
astronomer, M. Pontecoulant, and soon after, of M. La Croix, to whose
works I was indebted for my knowledge of the highest branches of
mathematics. M. Prony, and M. Poinsot, came to visit me, the latter, an
amiable and gentlemanly person; both gave me a copy of their works.

We had a long visit from M. Biot, who seemed really glad to renew our
old friendship. He was making experiments on light, though much out of
health; but when we dined with him and Madame Biot, he forgot for the
time his bad health, and resumed his former gaiety. They made us promise
to visit them at their country-house when we returned to England, as it
lay on our road.

To my infinite regret, La Place had been dead some time; the Marquise
was still at Arcueil,