CHAPTER VIII.

1860-61.

Refinement introduced by the précieuses of the Hôtel Rambouillet-Madame de Maintenon-Sympathy necessary to a writer-A new generation of habitués in the Rue du Bac-Loménie-Montalembert-New review-Hungarians and Poles-Decrees of Louis Napoleon-Abolition of passports-Causes of so many rascals flocking to London-Reception of Lacordaire at the AcademyOver-activity in England-Austro-Prussian War-China-Education of nieces -Young ladies in England-Ristori—Lamartine a tirelire-Papal affairs— Madame Tastu-Heroism of the Americans-Slavery-The triremeDemolition of old Paris-Madame Mohl correcting her proofs-FrystoneGrandmother's picture The Abbé Châteauvieux and "Mémoires de St. Hélène "-Mexican affair.

DURING the winter Madame Mohl was absorbed in composing her book. She writes to Miss Bonham Carter

October 14, 1860.

DEAREST COz,

I wish I could consult Flo about my book. This is the query. It enters into my plan to show the two centuries in French history when the women had the most influence; viz. the twelfth, when chivalry began, and all at once they were sung and obeyed; and the seventeenth, when the précieuses remoralized France to a certain degree-at least, they were the first to bring decency into books and conversation. The influence lasted the whole of the century; it ended, one may say, with Madame de Maintenon. Now, I have my own views on this lady very different from the ordinary ones-though now people have begun to do her some justice-and I am much tempted to enter into many particulars of her life and letters to show her character, and how much better she was than others, and that her influence was precisely a proof of what I say as to the love of the society and the conversation of women being a taste