parted the refult of every day's information refpect ing it, and told him that he could no longer trace the traiterous inftrument of his affaffination, and requested him as he knew it must be completed by this time, not to go to any public places, until he had regained a knowledge of it. Bonaparte replied, that fear only! made cowards, and confpirators brave, and that he had unalterably determined to go with his accuftomed equipage to the National Concert that very even ing. At the ufual hour the firft conful fet off undif mayed from the Thuilleries; a defcription of the machine, which was made to refemble a water cafk, being first given to the coachman, fervants, and guards. As they proceeded the advance guard paffed it unobferved, but the coachman difcovered it just as the confular carriage was on a parallel with it; inftantly the dexterous and faithful charioteer lafhed his horfes into full fpeed, and turned the corner of the Rue Marcem. In one moment after, the terrible machine exploded, and covered the street with ruins. The thun der of its difcharge fhcok the houses of Paris, and was heard at a confiderable distance in the country. The first conful arrived in fafety at the Hall of Mufic, and with every appearance of perfect tranquillity, entered his box amidft the acclamations of the crowded multitude. The range of buildings, which was thattered by the explosion, has long offended the eye of tafte, and prefented a gloomy, and very inconvenient obftruction to the grand entrance of the palace. Bo

naparte with his ufual judgment, which converts every event into fome good, immediately after this af fair, purchased the houfes which were damaged, and the whole of this fcene of ruins and rubbish is remo ving with all poffible expedition, to the great iraprovement of this grand approach.

Whilft I was ftrolling along the banks of the Seine, I could not help remarking that it would fuffer much by a comparison with the Thames, fo finely described by Sir John Denham.

Though deep, yet clear, though gentle yet not dull: Strong without rage, without o'erflowing full.

The Seine is narrow, and very dirty; its waters, which are finely filtrated when drawn from the fountains of Paris, produce an aperient effect upon ftrangers, who are generally cautioned not to drink much

of them at a time.

The tide does not reach further than feveral miles below Paris ; to this caufe I can alone attribute, though perhaps the reafon is infufficient, that the river is never rendered gay by the paffing, and repaffing of beautiful pleafure boats, to the delights of which the Parifians feem total ftrangers. Its fhores are fadly disfigured by a number of black, gloomy, and unwieldly fheds, which are erected upon barges, for the accommodation of the wafherwomen, who, by their mode of wafhing, which is, by rubbing the linen in the river water, and beating it with large flat pieces

of wood, refembling battledores, until the dirt, and generally a portion of the linen retire together, make a noise very fimilar to that of shipwrights caulking a veffel This is an abominable nuisance, and renders the views up the river, from the centre of the Pont de ala Concorde, the most complete melange of filth and \finery, meanness and magnificence I ever beheld. Whilft I am fpeaking of thefe valuable, but noify. dames, I must mention that their fervices are chiefly confined to ftrangers, and the humbler clafs of Parifans. The genteel families of France are annoyed by the unpleasant domeftic occurrence of wafhing, when in town only once, and when in the country only twice in the courfe of the year. Their magazines of clothes are of courfe immenfe, for the reception and arrangement of which feveral rooms in their houses are always allotted. It is the intention of the first conful gradually to unkennel this clattering race of females, when it can be done with fafety. To force them to the tub, and to put them into the fuds too fuddenly, might, from their influence amongst the lower claffes of citizens, be followed by confequences not very congenial to the repose of the government.

To fhow of what importance the ladies of the lower clafs in Paris are, I fhall relate a little anecdote of Bonaparte, in which he is confidered to have exhibited as much bravery as he ever displayed in the field of battle.

hin Theb poiffardes, whofe name alone will awaken fome emotion in the mind of the reader, from its hor rible union with the barbarous maffacres which discolored the capital with blood during the revolution, have been from time immemorial accustomed, upon Lany great and fortunate event, to send a deputation of their fifterhood, to the kings and ministers of France, and fince the revolution to the various rulers of the republic, to offer their congratulations, accompanied by a large bouquet of flowers. Upon the elevation of Bonaparte to the fupreme authority of France, according to cuftom, they fent a felect num. ber from their body to prefent him with their good wishes, and ufual fragrant donation. The first con ful fternly received them, and after rejecting their nofegay, fiercely told them to retire, and in future to attend to their husbands, their children, and their fifheries, and never more to attempt an interference in > matters relating to the ftate. Upon which he order ed the pages in waiting to clofe the door upon them. He thought no doubt that "Omnium manibus res 2: humanæ egent: paucorum capita fufficiunt."

A

Human affairs require the hands of all, whilst the heads of few are fufficient.".

These formidable dames, fo celebrated for their fe. rocity, retired chagrined and chapfallen from the prefence of the imperious conful, and have not attempt-. ed to force either their congratulations, or their bouquets upon any of the public functionaries fince that

period. Such a repulse as this, offered to a body of people, more formidable from their influence than the lazzaroni of Naples, would in all human proba<: bility have coft any one of the kings of France his crown. I received this anecdote from the brother of one of the minifters of France to whom this country. is much indebted. Before the high daring of Bona, parte, every difficulty feems to droop, and die.

Near the Pont de la Concorde is a handfome, and ornamental building, which is erected upon barges, and contains near three hundred cold and tepid baths, for men and women. It is furrounded by a wooden terrace, which forms an agreeable walk upon the was ter, and is decorated with farubs, orange trees, and flowers, on each fide,

This place is very grateful in a climate which in fummer, is intenfely warm. There are other public baths, but this is chiefly reforted to by people of refpectability. The price is very moderate, thirty-fols.

CHAPTER XI.

David-Place de Concorde L'Eglife de Madeleine. Print-Shops-Notre Dame - Mufeum, or Palace of Arts-Hall of Statues — Laocoon.—Belvidere A pollo-Socrates

DURING my ftay in Paris Ivifited the gallery of David. This celebrated artift has amaffed a fortune