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132 HISTORY OF LAC FI. point de toile.” 7 The valance, too, and coverlet of the bed were of the same material—wedding presents to his daughter and her cousins from their royal father. 8 In this luxury, however, Lngland followed her sister kingdom; for we read in the “ Royal Magazine ” of 1763 that on the baptism of the young prince, afterwards Duke of York, the company went to the council chamber at St. James’s, where a splendid bed was set up for the queen to sit on, the counterpane of which is described as of inimitable workmanship, the lace alone costing 37S37 sterling. 9 “What princes do themselves, they engage others to do,” says Quintilian, and the words of the critic were, in this case, fully verified: jupes, 10 corsets, mantles, aprons with their bibs, 11 shoes, 12 gloves, 13 even the fans were now trimmed w ith point de France. 14 At the audience given by the dauphine to the Siamese ambas sadors, “a ses relevailles,” she received them in a bed “presque tout couvert d’un tres beau Point de France, sur lesquels on avoit mis des riches carreaux.” 15 On the occasion of their visit to Versailles, Louis, proud of his fabric, presented the ambassadors 1 “Le Mercure Galaut.” 8 It was the custom, at the birth of a dauphin, for the papal nuncio to go to the palace and present to the new-horn child “ les langes benites, ’ or consecrated layette, on behalf of his holiness the Pope. The shirts, handkerchiefs, and other linen, were by half-dozens, and trimmed with the richest point. This custom dates as early as the birth of Louis XIII. Mercier describes the cere mony of carrying the layette to Versailles in the time of Louis XV. “ Vie du Dau- pidn, pere de Louis XVI.” Paris, 1858. 0 In the Lancaster state bedroom, at Fonthill, was sold in 1823: “A state bed quilt of Brussels point, for 100 guineas, and a Brussels toilet cover, for 30 guineas.”— FonthiU Sale Catalogue. “ 1094. Une toilette de satin violet picquee garny d un point d’Espagne d’or a deux carreaux de mesme satin et aussi pique.”—Inv. de Mgr. de la Vrilliere, Patriarfihe, Areheveque de Bourges. Bib. Nat. “ 1743. Une toilette et son bonhomme garnie d une vieille dentelle d’Angle- terre. Inv. de la Duchesse de Bourbon. “ 2758. Une toilette avec sa touaille de point fort vieux d’Alenqon.”—Inv. de Mademoiselle de Charollais. “1770. Une tres belle toilette do point d Argentan, et son surtout de 9000 livres. Une tres belle toilette d’Angleterre, et son surtout de OOOO. ’—Cptes. de Ma- dame du Barry, 10 “ On voit tonjours des jupes de point de France.”—Mercure Galant, 1686. “ Corsettes chamarres de point de France.”—Ibid. 11 Madame de Scvigne describes Made moiselle de Blois as “belle comme un ange,” with “ un tablier et une bavette de point do FranceP—Lettres. Paris 27 Jan. 1674. Garnis de point de France formant une maniere de rose antique.”—Mercure Galant, 1677. In the “ Extraordinaire du Mercure” for 1678, we have, in “habit d'este,” gloves of “ point d’Angleterre. 11 “Mercure Galant,” 1672. 15 Ibid. 1686.