A 18 by him, intimating thereby, that he would not attempt to paint his garb, which was subject to such frequent alterations. of all the French ladies, as if there were none amongst them eminent for virtue and modesty: the whole sex ought not to be reproached for the misconduct, or rather the innocent wantonness, of a few. The French are remarkable for their sprightliness and vivacity, to which the air of their country, An itch for gaming has infected their wines and diet, must very the generality of the French, and much contribute; for those who may be deemed one of the plagues drink malt-liquors and eat great of the nation: and yet one would quantities of flesh, may well be think it impossible for people who supposed to be heavier and slower seem naturally restless, and desirof apprehension, though they may ous of moving from place to place, be of a larger size, and more ca- to sit cutting and shuffling the pable of laborious employments. cards for five or six hours togeParis may be looked on as a great ther. The ladies say of a man who school of politeness; but foreign- does not play, that he is a useless ers are too apt to make themselves piece of lumber; and all manner » ridiculous by imitating fashions of conversation ceases, even the and gestures, for which they have addresses of the warmest lovers, as not a natural genius. The French soon as cards are brought upon abound in formal compliments and the carpet. ceremonies, not only to strangers The French are more extravabut to one another; and this ex-gant in their dress than in their cessive complaisance frequently diet. It was observed, during the degenerates into the meanest last war, that a French officer Aattery. covered with gold lace would It is observable, that the French dine upon a roll and a few raisins, allow their women all imaginable or perhaps a dish of soup and freedoms, and are seldom troubled herbs, when an English officer of with jealousy; nay, a Frenchman the same rank would spend four will almost suffer you to court his or five shillings at an ordinary. wife before his face, and is even It is certain they eat not near angry if you do not admire her the quantity of flesh that the person: and indeed, by the liber- English do, nor do they often ties I have often seen a married dress it in the same manner. lady use, I have been at a loss to Soups, fricassees, ragouts and distinguish her husband from the hashes, seasoned with onions, spirest of the company. But I would ces, and herbs, are generally prenot by this description give the ferred before whole joints of meat reader a disadvantageous opinion boiled or roasted; and what they do boil or roast has scarce a drop lis, we resolved to spend the reof gravy left in it. mainder of the year in viewing the The air of France in general southern parts of the kingdom; and may be reckoned temperate, equal-accordingly set out for Fontainely exempted from the extremities bleau, about thirty miles southof heat and cold; on which ac- east from Paris. The road is paved count it is preferable to Germany all the way, and has a great and the northern Nations on one many fine houses near it. Fonhand, as it is to Spain and Italy tainebleau is situated in the midon the other. Indeed, in the dle of a large forest, and is chiefsouthern parts the summers are ly remarkable for the royal castle frequently hotter, and in the nor- or palace there, from whence it thern provinces the winters are received its name; the palace becolder than we have in England. ing so denominated from a noble fountain in one of the courts. Successive kings having made considerable additions to this palace, it now contains about nine hundred rooms. The galleries are filled with excellent paintings, and the gardens are adorned with statues, fountains, grottos, fine walks, canals abounding with carp, &c. and every thing that can render a place delightful. Many of the ceilings are also painted by the most celebrated Italian mas The French are more sensible of the cold than we are, because their summers are usually warmer, and they are not so well supplied with firing; so that the poor people suffer extreme hardships in a severe season.—The soil is generally fruitful, and the face of the country beautiful and pleasant. It is extremely well watered with rivers, many of them navigable; of which the chief are the Loire, the Rhone, the Garonne, and the Seine And as it has the British ters. Channel on the north, the Atlantic Ocean on the west, and the Mediterranean on the south, no country can be better situated for the advancement of trade and navigation. The chief commodities of the country are wine, brandy, oil, flax, iron, and salt; and their manufactures are gold and silver stuffs, To be continued. Humour. INDIAN ADVERTISEMENT. wrought silks, velvet, gold and native advertisement which apsilver lace, ribbands, tapestry,peared in a newspaper, published linen and glass. Having staid three months very at Madras, in October, 1817:- agreeably in this famous metropo-Town, begs to inform his friends others, and pass them off for your own!" Voltaire protested that in public, all the gentlemens and ladies, and all the nobility of the settlement, black and white, that the verses were his own, and that I shall sell by outcry, on Wednes- he had only that moment finished day next at ten o'clock in the them. "Well," said the king, morning, a large quantity of hams," however that may be, I have ironmongery, paper-hangings, la-just seen an Englishman who has dies' things of sorts, commodes, repeated them to me as his own confectionary, gentlemen's hats, writing." Frederick ordered the some Cremona fiddles, gentle- Englishman to be called in, and men's dress black-silk breeches, desired him to recite the verses he all for ready money, without had shown him that morning. The reserve, or other distinction of Englishman instantly repeated the persons." lines of the poet, without the variation of a word. Voltaire flew into a passion, and declared that the gentleman must deal with the d-l.. himself with the poet's anger, but The king for some time amused at last let him into the secret; when the Englishman was dismissed, with a proper recompense for the pleasure he had afforded the monarch. During the time Voltaire was resident with the King of Prussia at Potsdam, an Englishman happened to be there, who told the king, that he could retain, word for word, any discourse of considerable length, after having once read or heard it. Frederick resolved to put him to the proof, and the Englishman made good his assertions. Changed at Nurse.-A young. Voltaire happened at this mo- Irish gentleman, who was rather ment to be announced. He came ill-favoured, gave in answer to a to read the king a copy of verses remark on his features, "I tell he had just written. Frederick, you what gentlemen, it is no fault to amuse himself, concealed the of mine, I was put out to nurse Englishman in an adjoining clo- where there was a number of set, and ordered him to retain, children, and by my faith, they word for word, what Voltaire changed me for another!" should read to him. The poet was The king listened to them with A certain Sage of the Law, apparent coolness, and said, "In- whose celebrity did not arise from deed, my dear Voltaire, I cannot his tempering judgment with conceive what you are about, since mercy, on leaving the town where you sometimes take the verses of he had left eleven out of twelve Y prisoners for execution, was delayed by a young coach horse, which he was about to purchase, dropping down dead in the harness. "Strange accident, indeed!" exclaimed the Judge pettishly. 66 Regards, with sadly-pensive view, See those who, in youth's sunny prime, Or set in death's long night! Not at all, my Lord," replied the coachman sulkily; "I thought how it would be with the poor beast, when I was told as how your Lordship had taken him up-And not a breeze can blow, but drives on trial!" An Abbot, who was very fat, coming late in the evening to a fortified city, and meeting with a country-man, asked him "if he could get in at the gate." "I be Some trembler to the ground; May the firm few that brave time's taining Miscellany. lieve so," says the peasant, look-To the Editor of the Oxford Entering at him jocosely, "for I saw a waggon of hay go in there this morning!" SIR, Should think the you following lines worthy of insertion, I shall be glad to see them in your interesting publication. Yours, &c. DAUL. Thoughts of a person revisiting, after many years' absence, the deserted place of his birth. sweet, when twilight's calm draws nigh, How And think of joyous times past by, And weep for those I lov'd! Amid these haunts to moan. To wander out at e'en, The spot where they have been; Amid the flow'ry glade, Where yew-trees, with their height of years, Afford a mournful shade-. There in my grief, I love to roam, And weep o'er many a sod; My clay longs there to find its home, I muse on other days. Scenes, and their well-known actors too, (All have long since been gone) Repass before my raptur'd view; I muse and still muse onSweet is it to my sadden'd heart, For soon by fancy led, The spirits from their cold beds start, I seem amid the dead For sugar-plum thou ne'er did'st pine, Thy teeth no sweet-meats ever hurt, The sloe's juice was thy favourite wine, And bitter almonds thy deserts. Mustard, how strong soe'er the sort is, Could ne'er draw moisture from thine eye, Nor vinegar nor aqua-fortis Could ever set thy face awry. Thus train'd a satirist, thy mind Soon caught the bitter, sharp, and sour, And all their various powers combin'd Produc'd Child Harold and the Giaour. LINES Would that the pleasing scene could Addressed to a Young Friend upon stay, It proves alas! a dream The flitting spirits haste away, But bid me follow them And would that, as their graves among Some gentle eve I lie, Surrounded by that beck'ning throng, I there unseen may die. LINES ADDRESSED TO LORD BYRON. Bard of ungentle wayward wood! Would squeeze a lemon in thy pap. At vinegar how danced thine eyes Before thy tongue a word could utter, And oft the dame to stop thy cries Strew'd Wormwood on thy bread and butter. And when in childhood's frolic hour Thou plait'st a garland for thy hair, The nettle bloom'd a chosen flower And native thistles flourish'd there. I the point of marriage. Let not my MARY, when a wife, Bid all her fears adieu; I do not wish to damp your mirth, Your prospects and your hopes are great, May Heav'n those hopes fulfil, But you will find in every state, Some difficulties still. The rite which soon will join your hand, Cannot insure content : And love, the best cement. And such I trust is yours. |