The reader of Madame d'Epinay's memoir is informed how hard she found it to tame Diderot into sociability.

"What a pity," she exclaims, "that men of genius and of such eminent merit as M.Diderot should thus wrap themselves up in their philosophy, and disdain the homage that people would eagerly pay them in any society that they would honour with their presence."[247] One of the soundest social observers of the time was undoubtedly Duclos.

His _Considerations on the Manners of the Century_, which was published in 1751, abounds in admirable criticism.

He makes two remarks with which we may close our chapter.

"The relaxation of morals does not prevent people from being very loud in praise of honour and virtue; those who have least of them know very well how much they are concerned in other people having them." Again, "The French," he said, "are the only people among whom it is possible for morals to be depraved, without either the heart being corrupted, or their courage being weakened.".