The Life of Samuel Johnson - James Boswell [338]
‘In the way I saw the Greve, the Mayor’s house, and the Bastile.
‘We then went to Sans-terre, a brewer. He brews with about as much malt as Mr. Thrale, and sells his beer at the same price, though he pays no duty for malt, and little more than half as much for beer. Beer is sold retail at 6p. a bottle. He brews 4,000 barrels a year. There are seventeen brewers in Paris, of whom none is supposed to brew more than he: – reckoning them at 3,000 each, they make 51,000 a year. – They make their malt, for malting is here no trade.
‘The moat of the Bastile is dry.
‘Oct. 24. Tuesday. We visited the King’s library – I saw the Speculum bumancB Salvationis,514 rudely printed, with ink, sometimes pale, some– times black; part supposed to be with wooden types, and part with pages cut on boards. – The Bible, supposed to be older than that of Mentz, in {14}62: it has no date; it is supposed to have been printed with wooden types. – I am in doubt; the print is large and fair, in two folios. – Another book was shewn me, supposed to have been printed with wooden types; – I think, Durandi Sanctuarium in {14}58. This is inferred from the difference of form sometimes seen in the same letter, which might be struck with different puncheons. – The regular similitude of most letters proves better that they are metal. – I saw nothing but the Speculum which I had not seen, I think, before.
‘Thence to the Sorbonne. – The library very large, not in lattices like the King’s. Marbone and Durandi, q. collection 14 vol. Scriptores de rebus Gallicis, many folios. –Histoire Genealogique of France, 9 vol. –Gallia Christiana, the first edition, 4to. the last, f. 12 vol. – The Prior and Librarian dined [with us]: – I waited on them home. – Their garden pretty, with covered walks, but small; yet may hold many students. – The Doctors of the Sorbonne are all equal: – choose those who succeed to vacancies. – Profit little.
‘Oct. 25. Wednesday. I went with the Prior to St. Cloud, to see Dr. Hooke. – We walked round the palace, and had some talk. – I dined with our whole company at the Monastery. – In the library, Beroald, – Cymon, Titus, from Boccace. – Oratio Proverbialis to the Virgin, from Petrarch; Falkland to Sandys; Dryden’s Preface to the third vol. of Miscellanies.a
‘Oct. 16. Thursday. We saw the china at Seve, cut, glazed, painted. Bellevue, a pleasing house, not great: fine prospect. – Meudon, an old palace. – Alexander, in Porphyry: hollow between eyes and nose, thin cheeks. – Plato and Aristotle – Noble terrace overlooks the town. – St. Cloud. – Gallery not very high, nor grand, but pleasing. – In the rooms, Michael Angelo, drawn by himself, Sir Thomas More, Des Cartes, Bochart, Naudseus, Mazarine. – Gilded wainscot, so common that it is not minded. – Gough and Keene. – Hooke came to us at the inn. – A message from Drumgold.
‘Oct. 27. Friday. I staid at home. – Gough and Keene, and Mrs. S—’s friend515 dined with us. – This day we began to have a fire. – The weather is grown very cold, and I fear, has a bad effect upon my breath, which has grown much more free and easy in this country.
‘Sat., Oct. 28. I visited the Grand Chartreux516 built by St. Louis. – It is built for forty, but contains only twenty-four, and will not maintain more. The friar that spoke to us had a pretty apartment. – Mr. Baretti says four rooms; I remember but three. – His books seemed to be French. – His garden was neat; he gave me grapes. – We saw the Place de Victoire, with the statues of the King, and the captive nations.
‘We saw the palace and gardens of Luxembourg, but the gallery was shut. – We climbed to the top stairs. – I dined with Colbrooke, who had much company: – Foote, Sir George Rodney, Motteux, Udson, Taaf. – Called on the Prior, and found him in bed.
‘Hotel – a guinea a day. – Coach, three guineas a week. – Valet de place, three l. a day. –Avantcoureur, a guinea a week. – Ordinary dinner, six l. a head. – Our ordinary seems to be about five guineas a day. – Our extraordinary expences, as diversions, gratuities,