immediately upon his arrival at paris, mr. burney, by singular good fortune, had the honour to be introduced to lady clifford, a roman catholic dowager, of a character the most benevolent, who resided entirely in france, for the pious purpose of enjoying with facility the rites of her religion, which could not, at that period, be followed in england without peril of persecution.

this lady took the children of mr. burney into her kindest favour, and invited their father to consult with her unreservedly upon his projects and wishes; and, through such honourable auspices, scarcely ten days elapsed, ere esther and susan were placed under the care of madame st. mart, a woman of perfect goodness of heart, and of a disposition the most affectionate.

madame st. mart was accustomed to the charge of des jeunes anglaises, two daughters of sir willoughby aston, selina and belinda, being then under her roof.

highly satisfied with this arrangement, mr. burney now visited the delightful capital of france; made himself acquainted with its antiquities, curiosities, public buildings, public places, general laws, and peculiar customs; its politics, its resources, its festivities, its arts and its artists; as well as with the arbitrary tyrannies, and degrading oppressions towards the lower classes, which, at that epoch, were, to an english looker-on, incomprehensibly combined, not with murmurs nor discontent, but with the most lively animal spirits, and the freshest glee of national gaiety.