Staël

Hitherto, Madame de Staël had reigned in salons, rather than on the throne of letters.

Madame de Staël wrote letters of impassioned friendship, and nobles and generals paid unwonted attention.

In this city, after her ten years' exile, Madame de Staël reigned in prouder state than at any previous period of her life.

When the Consulate was established, Mme de Staël's salon empire was watched by the rising influence of the day with a jealous eye.

In vain did the friends of Mme de Staël say, that a salon could never be dangerous to a rule like his.