Beschreibung des französischen Thronfolgers Ludwig Ferdinand (oder Louis Ferdinand): "... he was respectful, dutiful and good, if perhaps a little awkward. '[He] showed wit and knowledge, had a thousand good qualities, but not those needed by public figures,' the duc of Croy noted. 'He waddled when he walked and was careless about time, so that he was twice as difficult to serve as the King and one never quite knew how to treat him. He was often closeted with Madame la Dauphine [seiner Gattin], the rest of the time with his gentlemen, who had taken him over; besides that, he was neither easy nor pleasant of access.' It is never easy being a Crown Prince, but it was doubly difficult for the Dauphin. His father [Ludwig XV. von Frankreich] was not only the King but the handsomest man in France and a notable athlete, as well as a man at ease with women. The Dauphin, on the other hand, was plain, overweight, clumsy and lacking in charm. Since he was also rather more pious than became a French prince, he was often unpleasant to people whose morals he disapproved of, which did nothing to increase his popularity. As to his preference for being alone with his wife, it was considered uncivilized, odd and ungracious. Still, the Dauphin did have positive qualities. He was serious, conscientious, always interested in new information and recent books (as long as they attacked neither the government nor the Church), a good son and husband; and he could, when he felt at ease, demonstrate a certain kind of humor ... [ein Zeitgenosse namens J. N. Dufort de Cheverny erzählt:) "I was several times introduced into his private apartments and saw the Dauphine sitting and embroidering in a small room with only one window, which the Dauphin had made into his library. His desk was covered by the best books, which were renewed every week ... The Dauphin walked up and down or sat. I found myself several times chatting with him as if I had been in an ordinary salon ... He had a pleasant, logical, instructive manner of conversing, nobody was better at giving audience to the ambassadors. He knew the needs of the several states, all about the ruling families of Europe and was familiar with the production of the different countries. He measured the intelligence of those with whom he spoke and had the art of keeping the conversation general without letting it become too long ... He sang arias, played the harpsichord and loved music, I saw him very cheerful in private, but in a decent and well-bred way.' ... As for Louis XV, he felt he had a loving son and a worthy successor." (in: Olivier Bernier: Louis the beloved – The Life of Louis XV, id., pp. 158-159).