M.de Richelieu thought of me, and sent to desire I would undertake the alterations; and, that I might the better examine what there was to do, he gave me separately the poem and the music.

In the first place, I would not touch the words without the consent of the author, to whom I wrote upon the subject a very polite and respectful letter, such a one as was proper; and received from him the following answer: "SIR: In you two talents, which hitherto have always been separated, are united.

These are two good reasons for me to esteem and to endeavor to love you.

I am sorry, on your account, you should employ these talents in a work which is so little worthy of them.

A few months ago the Duke de Richelieu commanded me to make, absolutely in the twinkling of an eye, a little and bad sketch of a few insipid and imperfect scenes to be adapted to divertissements which are not of a nature to be joined with them.