按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
d； that is two hundred thousand more than are contained in the bills of mortality。 The hotels of the French noblesse； at Paris； take up a great deal of room； with their courtyards and gardens； and so do their convents and churches。 It must be owned； indeed； that their streets are wonderfully crouded with people and carriages。
The French begin to imitate the English； but only in such particulars as render them worthy of imitation。 When I was last at Paris； no person of any condition； male or female； appeared； but in full dress； even when obliged to come out early in the morning； and there was not such a thing to be seen as a perruque ronde； but at present I see a number of frocks and scratches in a morning； in the streets of this metropolis。 They have set up a petite poste； on the plan of our penny…post； with some improvements； and I am told there is a scheme on foot for supplying every house with water； by leaden pipes； from the river Seine。 They have even adopted our practice of the cold bath； which is taken very conveniently； in wooden houses； erected on the side of the river； the water of which is let in and out occasionally； by cocks fixed in the sides of the bath。 There are different rooms for the different sexes： the accommodations are good； and the expence is a trifle。 The tapestry of the Gobelins is brought to an amazing degree of perfection； and I am surprised that this furniture is not more in fashion among the great； who alone are able to purchase it。 It would be a most elegant and magnificent ornament； which would always nobly distinguish their apartments from those； of an inferior rank； and in this they would run no risk of being rivalled by the bourgeois。 At the village of Chaillot； in the neighbourhood of Paris； they make beautiful carpets and screen…work； and this is the more extraordinary； as there are hardly any carpets used in this kingdom。 In almost all the lodging…houses； the floors are of brick； and have no other kind of cleaning； than that of being sprinkled with water； and swept once a day。 These brick floors； the stone stairs； the want of wainscotting in the rooms； and the thick party…walls of stone； are； however； good preservatives against fire； which seldom does any damage in this city。 Instead of wainscotting； the walls are covered with tapestry or damask。 The beds in general are very good； and well ornamented； with testers and curtains。
Twenty years ago the river Seine； within a mile of Paris； was as solitary as if it had run through a desert。 At present the banks of it are adorned with a number of elegant houses and plantations； as far as Marli。 I need not mention the machine at this place for raising water； because I know you are well acquainted with its construction； nor shall I say any thing more of the city of Paris； but that there is a new square； built upon an elegant plan； at the end of the garden of the Thuilleries： it is called Place de Louis XV。 and； in the middle of it； there is a good equestrian statue of the reigning king。
You have often heard that Louis XIV。 frequently regretted； that his country did not afford gravel for the walks of his gardens； which are covered with a white； loose sand； very disagreeable both to the eyes and feet of those who walk upon it； but this is a vulgar mistake。 There is plenty of gravel on the road between Paris and Versailles； as well as in many other parts of this kingdom； but the French； who are all for glare and glitter； think the other is more gay and agreeable： one would imagine they did not feel the burning reflexion from the white sand； which in summer is almost intolerable。
In the character of the French； considered as a people； there are undoubtedly many circumstances truly ridiculous。 You know the fashionable people； who go a hunting； are equipped with their jack boots； bag wigs； swords and pistols： but I saw the other day a scene still more grotesque。 On the road to Choissi； a fiacre； or hackney…coach； stopped； and out came five or six men； armed with musquets； who took post； each behind a separate tree。 I asked our servant who they were imagining they might be archers； or footpads of justice； in pursuit of some malefactor。 But guess my surprise； when the fellow told me； they were gentlemen a la chasse。 They were in fact come out from Paris； in this equipage； to take the diversion of hare…hunting； that is； of shooting from behind a tree at the hares that chanced to pass。 Indeed； if they had nothing more in view； but to destroy the game； this was a very effectual method； for the hares are in such plenty in this neighbourhood； that I have seen a dozen together； in the same field。 I think this way of hunting； in a coach or chariot； might be properly adopted at London； in favour of those aldermen of the city； who are too unwieldy to follow the hounds a horseback。
The French； however； with all their absurdities； preserve a certain ascendancy over us； which is very disgraceful to our nation； and this appears in nothing more than in the article of dress。 We are contented to be thought their apes in fashion； but； in fact； we are slaves to their taylors； mantua…makers； barbers； and other tradesmen。 One would be apt to imagine that our own tradesmen had joined them in a combination against us。 When the natives of France come to London； they appear in all public places； with cloaths made according to the fashion of their own country； and this fashion is generally admired by the English。 Why； therefore； don't we follow it implicitly？ No； we pique ourselves upon a most ridiculous deviation from the very modes we admire； and please ourselves with thinking this deviation is a mark of our spirit and liberty。 But； we have not spirit enough to persist in this deviation； when we visit their country： otherwise； perhaps； they would come to admire and follow our example： for； certainly； in point of true taste； the fashions of both countries are equally absurd。 At present； the skirts of the English descend from the fifth rib to the calf of the leg； and give the coat the form of a Jewish gaberdine； and our hats seem to be modelled after that which Pistol wears upon the stage。 In France； the haunch buttons and pocketholes are within half a foot of the coat's extremity： their hats look as if they had been pared round the brims； and the crown is covered with a kind of cordage； which； in my opinion； produces a very beggarly effect。 In every other circumstance of dress； male and female； the contrast between the two nations； appears equally glaring。 What is the consequence？ when an Englishman comes to Paris； he cannot appear until he has undergone a total metamorphosis。 At his first arrival he finds it necessary to send for the taylor； perruquier； hatter； shoemaker； and every other tradesman concerned in the equipment of the human body。 He must even change his buckles； and the form of his ruffles； and； though at the risque of his life； suit his cloaths to the mode of the season。 For example； though the weather should be never so cold； he must wear his habit d'ete； or demi…saison。 without presuming to put on a warm dress before the day which fashion has fi