Memoir of the life of John Law of Lauriston

OF LAURISTON. 189
His external appearance, as has already
been mentioned, was uncommonly engaging,
very few being reckoned his equal in personal
graces ; and his conversation, enlivened with
wit, and seasoned with repartees, was no less
attractive. Uniting to these qualifications dis-
tinguished politeness, and the most agreeable
and insinuating manners, he hardly ever failed
to conciliate the regard of those who came near
him. * The Duchess Dowager of Orleans re-
lates, that considering he was a foreigner, he
did not speak the French language ill; and
her Royal Highness highly commends his po-
lite, yet spirited, behaviour on first coming in-
* Law etoit d'un taille haute et bien proportionne'e ; il
avoit l'air grand et prevenant, le visage ovale, le front
eleve, les yeux bien fendus, le regard doux, le nez aqui-
lin, et la boucbe agreable; on peut, sans flatterie, le
mettre au rangdes homines les mieux faits. Son esprit
repondoit a son exterieur. Tout cela joint a ces ma-
nieres douces et insinuantes, lui attiroit l'estime et la
confidence de ceux qui l'approchoient. — Hist. Syst. i.
69. Grand, bien fait, d'un figure agreable et noble,
de beaucoup d'esprit, d'une politesse distinguee, avec
de k hauteur sans insolence. II y avoit chez lui plus
d'ordre et de proprete que de luxe. — Duclos, ii. 134.