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established usage colonels and captains entertain their subordinates
and thus expend 〃much beyond their salaries。〃＇71＇ This is one of the
reasons why regiments are reserved for the sons of the best families；
and companies in them for wealthy gentlemen。 The vast royal tree；
expanding so luxuriantly at Versailles； sends forth its offshoots to
overrun France by thousands； and to bloom everywhere； as at
Versailles； in bouquets of finery and of drawing room sociability。
VII。 PROVINCIAL NOBILITY。
Prelates； seigniors and minor provincial nobles。 … The feudal
aristocracy transformed into a drawing room group。
Following this pattern； and as well through the effect of
temperature； we see； even in remote provinces； all aristocratic
branches having a flourishing social life。 Lacking other employment；
the nobles exchange visits； and the chief function of a prominent
seignior is to do the honors of his house creditably。 This applies as
well to ecclesiastics as to laymen。 The one hundred and thirty…one
bishops and archbishops； the seven hundred abbés…commendatory； are all
men of the world； they behave well； are rich； and are not austere；
while their episcopal palace or abbey is for them a country…house；
which they repair or embellish with a view to the time they pass in
it； and to the company they welcome to it。＇72＇ At Clairvaux； Dom
Rocourt； very affable with men and still more gallant with the ladies；
never drives out except with four horses； and with a mounted groom
ahead； his monks do him the honors of a Monseigneur； and he maintains
a veritable court。 The chartreuse of Val Saint…Pierre is a sumptuous
palace in the center of an immense domain； and the father…procurator；
Dom Effinger； passes his days in entertaining his guests。＇73＇ At the
convent of Origny； near Saint…Quentin；＇74＇ 〃the abbess has her
domestics and her carriage and horses； and receives men on visits； who
dine in her apartments。〃 The princess Christine； abbess of Remiremont；
with her lady canonesses； are almost always traveling； and yet 〃they
enjoy themselves in the abbey；〃 entertaining there a good many people
〃in the private apartments of the princess； and in the strangers'
rooms。〃＇75＇ The twenty…five noble chapters of women； and the nineteen
noble chapters of men； are as many permanent drawing…rooms and
gathering places incessantly resorted to by the fine society which a
slight ecclesiastical barrier scarcely divides from the great world
from which it is recruited。 At the chapter of Alix； near Lyons； the
canonesses wear hoopskirts into the choir； 〃dressed as in the world
outside；〃 except that their black silk robes and their mantles are
lined with ermine。＇76＇ At the chapter of Ottmarsheim in Alsace； 〃our
week was passed in promenading； in visiting the traces of Roman roads；
in laughing a good deal； and even in dancing； for there were many
people visiting the abbey； and especially talking over dresses。〃 Near
Sarrebuis； the canonesses of Loutre dine with the officers and are
anything but prudish。＇77＇ Numbers of convents serve as agreeable and
respectable asylums for widowed ladies； for young women whose husbands
are in the army； and for young ladies of rank； while the superior；
generally some noble damsel； wields； with ease and dexterity； the
scepter of this pretty feminine world。 But nowhere is the pomp of
hospitality or the concourse greater； than in the episcopal palaces。 I
have described the situation of the bishops； with their opulence；
possessors of the like feudal rights； heirs and successors to the
ancient sovereigns of the territory； and besides all this； men of the
world and frequenters of Versailles； why should they not keep a court？
A Cicé； archbishop of Bordeaux； a Dillon； archbishop of Narbonne； a
Brienne； archbishop of Toulouse； a Castellane； bishop of Mende and
seignior…suzerain of the whole of Gévaudan； an archbishop of Cambrai；
duke of Cambray； seignior…suzerain of the whole of Cambrésis； and
president by birth of the provincial States…General； are nearly all
princes ； why not parade themselves like princes？ Hence； they build；
hunt and have their clients and guests； a lever； an antechamber；
ushers； officers； a free table； a complete household； equipages； and；
oftener still； debts； the finishing touch of a grand seignior。 In the
almost regal palace which the Rohans； hereditary bishops of Strasbourg
and cardinals from uncle to nephew； erected for themselves at
Saverne；＇78＇ there are 700 beds； 180 horses； 14 butlers； and 25
valets。 〃The whole province assembles there；〃 the cardinal lodges as
many as two hundred guests at a time； without counting the valets； at
all times there are found under his roof 〃from twenty to thirty ladies
the most agreeable of the province； and this number is often increased
by those of the court and from Paris。 。 。 。 The entire company sup
together at nine o'clock in the evening； which always looks like a
fête；〃 and the cardinal himself is its chief ornament。 Splendidly
dressed； fine…looking； gallant； exquisitely polite； the slightest
smile is a grace。 〃His face； always beaming； inspired confidence； he
had the true physiognomy of a man expressly designed for pompous
display。〃
Such likewise is the attitude and occupation of the principal lay
seigniors； at home； in summer； when a love of the charms of fine
weather brings them back to their estates。 For example； Harcourt in
Normandy and Brienne in Champagne are two chateaux the best
frequented。 〃Persons of distinction resort to it from Paris； eminent
men of letters； while the nobility of the canton pay there an
assiduous court。〃＇79＇ There is no residence where flocks of
fashionable people do not light down permanently to dine； to dance； to
hunt； to gossip； to unravel；＇80＇ （parfiler） to play comedy。 We can
trace these birds from cage to cage； they remain a week； a month；
three months； displaying their plumage and their prattle。 From Paris
to Ile…Adam； to Villers…Cotterets； to Frétoy； to Planchette； to
Soissons； to Rheims； to Grisolles； to Sillery； to Braine； to
Balincourt； to Vaudreuil； the Comte and Comtesse de Genlis thus bear
about their leisure； their wit； their gaiety； at the domiciles of
friends whom； in their turn； they entertain at Genlis。 A glance at the
exteriors of these mansions suffices to show that it was the chief
duty in these days to be hospitable； as it was a prime necessity to be
in society。＇81＇ Their luxury； indeed； differs from ours。 With the
exception of a few princely establishments it is not great in the
matter of country furniture； a display of this description is left to
the financiers。 〃But it is prodigious in all things which can minister
to the enjoyment of others； in horses； carriages； and in an open
table； in accommodations given even to people not belonging to the
house； in boxes at the play which are lent to friends； and lastly； in
servants； much more numerous than nowadays。〃 Through this mutual and
cons