��tous, et a Madame Thrale en particulier. Je serai tres aise de voir toute cette bonne compagnie.'
' Mrs. S d on her return (continued Barretti) said something of Madame D J s impatience to see me in Johnson's hearing ; and finding her quite indifferent about him he took such an antipathy to her, that he went with reluctancy to visit her, and never could be prevailed upon to go a second time ' ; which perhaps was not to be wondered at, for the Ladies and Barretti on going one Day to drink tea with her, she happen'd to produce an old chaina [sic] teapot, which Mrs. S d, who made the tea, could not make pour. ' Soufflez, soufflez, madame, dedans/ cry'd Madame D e, * il se rectifie imme'diatement ; essayez, je vous en prie.' The servant then thinking that Mrs. S d did not understand what his lady said, took up the teapot to le rectifier, and Mrs. S d had quite a struggle with him to get it from him ; he was going to blow into the spout ! Madame D e all this while had not the least idea of its being any impropriety, and wonder'd at Mrs. S d's stupidity. She came over to the table, caught up the tea-pot, and blew into the spout with all her might, then finding it pour, she held it up in tryumph [sic], and repeatedly exclaim'd, ' voila, voila, j'ai regagne 1'honneur de ma Theiere.' She had no sugar-tongs, and said something that shew'd she expected Mrs. S d to use her fingers, to sweeten the cups. ' Madame je n'oserois/ ' Oh mon Dieu, quel grand quan quan les Anglois font de peu de chose * ! '
This however could not have prejudiced Dr. Johnson against the lady, for, as I apprehended Barretti, it happen'd a few days before they left Paris !
On telling Mr. Barretti of the proof that Johnson gave of the stupidity of the French, in the management of their Horse-
1 Miss Reynolds in one of her threw it into my coffee. I was going
versions writes: 'Madame, Je ne to put it aside; but hearing it was
ose pas.' 'Oh mon Dieu, quell grand made on purpose for me I e'en tasted
ca les Anglois faire de peu de chose.' Tom's fingers. The lady would needs
In another version her French is make tea d PAngloise. The spout of
corrected in a different hand. the tea-pot did not pour freely ; she
' JOHNSON. " At Madame 's, bad the footman blow into it.' Life,
a literary lady of rank, the footman ii. 403. took the sugar in his fingers and
U 2 Races,
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