upon fhattered feats, under overgrown bowers, and others walking in the melancholy fhade of neglectedT avenues. The effect of the whole was gloomy and 1979 forrowful, and fully confirmed the melancholy recitalyfs which I received from Mrs. S. Bonaparte, it is 200 faid, intends to confirm to these nuns their prefentes refidence, by an act of government. mided from

Upon leaving the convent I vifited the feats of rond caffation, and juftice, in the architectural arrangement Ty of which, I faw but little worthy of minute notice, toy except the perfect accommodation which pervades all brs the French buildings, which are appropriated to the adminiftration of the laws.

The hall of the first caffation, or grand court ofrona I appeal, is very fine. The judges wear elegant cof-779) tumes, and were, as well as the advocates, feated 7699 upon chairs, which were conftructed to imitate the wo feats of Roman magiftracy, and had a good effect.com I was informed that the whole of the ornamentaled yo arrangement was defigned by Davido debuisung appels From the courts of justice, I went to the fecond natoq tional library, which is very noble and large, and has a valuable collection of books. Several ftudents were arranged with great filence and decorum, at long tables. In one apartment is a very large inge- ha nious model of Rome in a glafs cafe, and another of an ani frigate, a

w

Upon leaving the library I proceeded to the Gob, odak elins, fo called from one Gobel, a noted dyer an

CHAP. XIV JARDI

IN FRANCE.

163, 161

Rheims, who fettled here in the reign of Francis I. This beautiful manufactory has a crowd of vifitors: every day. Upon the walls of the galleries, the tap eftry is fufpended, which exhibits very exquifites ch copies of various hiftorical paintings, of which thereandw are fome very coftly and beautiful fpecimens. The k artifts work behind the frame, where the original from which they copy is placed. The whole is a very expenfive national establishment, much of its production is preserved for prefents to foreign princes, ta and some of it is difpofed of by public sale. a se Upon the comparison between the works of the Gobelins, and the beautiful works of Mifs Linwood, I could not help feeling a little degree of pride to obt ferve that my ingenious country woman did not aps pear to fuffer by it. Too much praise cannot be becord ftowed upon the tasteful paintings of her exquifite pou needle. This elegant minded woman has manifeftedet by her charming exhibition, that great genius is not E always feparated from great labor, and unwearied VIE perfeverances.

From the Gobelins I visited the garden of plants,; which is confidered to be the largest and most valu...... r able botannical collection in Europe, and was founded by the celebrated Buffon. The garden is laid out in noble walks, and beds containing the rareft plants § from all parts of the world, each of which is neatly labelled for the use of ftudents. On the right of the entrance is a park containing all forts of deer, and on

the left are vaft hothouses and greenhouses; and in the centre, inclosed in iron lattice work, is a large pond for the reception of foreign aquatic animals, very near which is a large Octagon experimentał beehive, about ten feet high, and at the end, near the banks of the Seine, is a fine menagerie, in which amongst other beafts, there are fome noble lions. Many of the animals have separate houses and gardens to range in. Adjoining is the park of the elephant. This ftupendous animal, from the ample space in which he moves, is seen to great advantage, and is confidered to be the largest of his fpecies in Europe. Near the entrance on the right, is the museum of natural curiofities, the collection of which is very valuable, and admirably arranged. There is here a fine giraffe, or camelopard, of an amazing height, ftuffed. This furprising animal is a native of Ethiopia, and fome other parts of Africa, and has fcarcely ever been seen in Europe.

From the garden of plants, I made all poffible dif patch to Madame C's in the Boulevard Italien, where I was engaged to dinner.

Upon croffing the Pont Neuf, where there are a number of little ftalls erected, the owners of which advertise upon little boards, which are raised upon poles, that they poffefs extraordinary talents for fhearing dogs and cats; I could not help ftopping and laughing moft heartily to obferve the following address to the public from one of these canine and grimalkin functionaries :

"Monin, tondit et coupe

"les chiens la chatte

を

et fa femme

dator 159 vat en ville."

#os broody 26 bu y

Which runs in this ridiculous manner in English :

"Monin fhears and cuts

dogs and cats and his wife"goes on errands."

As I had no time to return to my hotel to dress, I was initiated into a mode of expeditiously equipping myfelf, by a young friend who was with me, to which I was before a stranger, and which shows in the most trifling matters, that the French are good adepts in expedition and accommodation. In paffing through the Palais Royal, we entered the little fhop of a boot cleaner. In a moment I was mounted upon a dirty fopha, to which I afcended by fteps, and from which I had a complete commanding view of the concourfe of gay people, who are always paffing and repaffing in this idle place; the paper of the day, firetched upon a little wooden frame was placed in my hand, each foot was fixed upon an iron anvil, one man brushed off the dirt, and another put on a fhining blacking, a third brushed my clothes, and a fourth presented a bafin of water and towel to me. The whole of this comfortable operation lafted about four minutes. My dirty valets made me a low bow for four fols, which,

166

THE STRANGER

[CHAP. XIV. edi audreyol aɔco to bedt has „oquadállá poor as the recompense was, exceeded their expectatɔ tions by three pieces of that petty coin.wards fron

In the evening, I had the happiness of being intros duced to Monfieur S.

Under his noble and hof

ソ

pitable roof, amidst his affectionate, beautiful, and accomplished family, and in the select circle of his ele gant and enlightened fociety, I paffed many happy? hours. Monfieur S.- was of a noble family, and previous to the revolution was one of the fermiers gene-] raux, and poffeffed a very noble fortune. In difchar-T 1ging the duties of his diftinguished and lucrativels office, he conciliated the affections of every one, whor had the good fortune to be comprehended within the compafs of his honorable authority, and when the s revolution ftripped him of it, it found his integrity without a ftain, except what in the bewildered interpretation of republican fury, adhered to him from his connection with the old established order of things. In the general, and undistinguished cry for bloody which yelled from the remorfelefs affaffins of Robefpierre, this admirable man was configned to a dungeon, and doomed to the fcaffold. Two hours before he was to fuffer, the remembrance of the noble victim, and of a feries of favors, of kindness, and of generofity, flashed with momentary but irrefiftible compunction, upon the mind of one of his fanguinary judges, who, fufpending the bloody proceedings which then occupied the court, implored the compaffion of his fell affociates. He pleaded until he had obtained his