ent but little charm for them. I had frequent opportunity of making this remark, as well in the capital as in the departments of the republic through which I paffed. In Paris, the Sabbath can only be confidered as a day of diffipation to the lovers of gaiety, and a day of unusual profit to the man of trade. Here, it is true, upon particular festival days, confiderable bodies of people are to be seen in the act of worship, but curiofity and the love of fhew affemble them together, if it was otherwife their ate tendance would be more numerous and regular. The first conful does not feem to poffefs much fashionable influence over the French in matters of religion, otherwife, as he has the credit. of attending mafs, with very pious punctuality, in his private chapel at Mal Maifon, it might be rather expected, that devotion would become a little more familiar to the people..

Upon another fubject the will of the chief magif trate has been equally unfortunate. To the few ladies who are admitted into his focial circles, he has declared himself an enemy to that drefs, or undrefs: (I am puzzled to know what to call it) which his friend David, has fo fuccefsfully recommended for the purpose of displaying, with the leaft poffible re ftraint, the fine proportions of the female form. Madame Bonaparte, who is confidered to be in as good a state of fubordination, to her young husband, as the confular regiment is to their young general, contrives to exhibit her elegant person to the greatest

advantage; by adopting a judicious and graceful medium of drefs by which fhe tastefully avoids a load of decoration, which repels the eye by two denfe a covering, and that questionable airiness of ornament which by its gracious and unrestrained display, deprives the imagination of more than half its pleasures. Bonaparte is faid not to be indifferent to thofe affec tions which do honor to the breaft which cherishes them, nor to the morals of the people whom he gov

erns.

*

It is well known that in France, in the house of a new fashionable couple, feparate chambers are always referved for the faithful pair, which after the folemnities of marriage very feldom remain long unoccupied. The first conful confiders fuch feparation as unfriendly to morals. A few months fince, by a well timed difplay of affumed ignorance, he endeavored to give fashion to a fentiment which may in time reduce the number of these family accommodations. The noble palace of St. Cloud was at this time preparing for him; the principal architect requested of him to point out in what part of the palace he would with to have his feparate fleeping room. "I do not know what you mean," faid the young imperial. philofopher, crimes only divide the husband and his wife. Make as many bed rooms as you pleafe, "but only one for me and Madame Bonaparte."

I must now quit the dazzling fplendor of imperial virtues for the more tranquil, but not lefs fafcinating appearance of retired and modeft merit.

It was in the afternoon of one of the finest days in June, when Madame O, with her nephew, a very amiable young man, called in their carriage and took me to the chateau of her husband, to whom I had letters of introduction. After paffing through a charming country for nine miles, adorned on each fide with gardens and country houses, we arrived at the pleasant village of la Reine. As foon as we entered it, the fight of the carriage, and of their benefactress, seemed to enliven the faces of the villagers, who were feated in picturefque groupes at the doors of their cottages. Such animated looks were not lighted up by curiofity, for they had feen Madame O a thoufand and a thoufand times, but becaufe they had feldom feen her without experiencing fome endearing proof of a bountiful heart. We left the village to the right and proceeded through a private road, lined with stately walnut trees, of nearly a mile in length, which led to Monfieur O's. It was evening; the fun was fetting in great glory and covered the face of this romantic country with the richest glow. Near the gate of a fhrubbery I beheld a very handsome boy, whofe appearance at once be fpoke him to be the fon of a gentleman, the animated fmile of Madame O, immediately convinced me that it was her fon; "fee," faid the delighted mother, "it is my little gardener," the little graceful ruftic had a small spade in his hand, which he threw down and ran to us. We alighted at the entrance

of the garden, into which we entered, under a beautiful covered treillage, lined with Jeffamine and honeyfuckles. At the end were two elegant young women, waiting with delight, to receive their mother, from whom they had been separated only a few hours. With this charming family I entered the houfe, which was handsome but plain. The hofpitable owner rofe from his fofa, and after embracing his elegant lady with great affection, he received me with all the expreflions and warmth of a long friendfhip. Soon afterwards his fervant (a faithful indian) entered, and fpread upon the table, Madeira, Burgundy, and dried fruits. It was intenfely hot: the great window at the end of the room in which we were fitting opened into the gardens, which appeared to be very beautiful and abounded with nightin gales, which were then moft fweetly finging. "They

are my little musicians," faid Monfieur O"we have made a pleasant bargain together, I give ❝ them crumbs of bread and my bowers to range in,, "and they give me this charming mufic every eve❝ning"

Monfieur O was an invalide, the revolution, poignant vexations, heavy loffes and a painful feperation from his native country, for the prefervation of his life, and that of his family, had undermined his health. Grief had made fad inroads upon a delicate conftitution. It was his good fortune to be the hufband of one of the finest and most amiable, women in

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ATX

France, and the father of an affectionate, beautiful, and accomplished family. His circumftances had been once fplendid; they were then refpectable, but he had paffed through events which threatened his all. Thofe fufferings which generous fouls fustain for the fake of others, not for themfelves, had alone destroyed the resemblance which once exifted between this excellent man and his admirable portrait, which, at the further end of the room, prefentedithe healthy glow, and fine proportions of manly beauty. He expreffed to me, in the most charming manner, his regret, that indifpofition cofined him to the country, and prevented him from receiving me in Paris fuitable to his own wifhes, and to thofe claims which I had upon his attentions, by the letters of introduc tion which I had brought to him; but added, that he fhould furnish me with letters to fome of his friends in town, who would be happy to fupply his abfence, and to make Paris agreeable to me. Monfieur O was as good as his word.

This amiable gentleman poffeffed a countenance of great genies, and a mind full of intelligence.

After an elegant fupper, when his lady and daughters had withdrawn, he entered into a very interefting account of his country, of the revolution, and of his flight for the falvation of himself and family. A tolerable good opinion may be formed of the devaftation which have been produced by the late republican government, by the following circumstance, which