The National Register. — London, England, 1815-09-10 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL R her as we were going along " that her master was an old man employed in the customs, whose fortune was pretty considerable, that his health for the last six months had been bad enough to induce his two nephews to reside with him ; that an attack of apoplexy at this moment threatened the life of the old gentleman, and that the least delay in the application of the proper remedies would probably be his death. " And is it such a woman," thought !, " whom age and infirrities almost overpower, who is scarcely able to drag one foot after the other, that these honest youths, who are occupied in dividing the property of their dying uncle, have fixed upon to procure him the necessary assistance, which will no doubt arrive too late." I left her in the hands of the disciple of Esculapius and departed, secretly praying that he might not be unsuccessful. At the corner of la Rue Croix-des-Pails-Chumps, I saw a man in his night-cap and dressing gown, endeavouring to find out the numbers of the houses by the moon light. This honest citizen, whose grotesque figure could not be equalled in any city of the world, was in search of a midwife, for whom his young wife, he informed me, had the most pressing necessity ; the manner in which he told me, that he was about to becoine a father, had a little smack of vanity in it; but there was something in him, also, which appeared like surprize at the event. I assisted him in his search, and we at length succeeded in finding the midwife's hell, and she was ready in a few minutes. The good husband returned me many thanks, and was very near in viting me to the christening. We walked a few minutes together, and as he was returning home full speed, with the Parisian Lucina under his arm, we met the old house keeper, accompanied by the apothecary, and followed by his boy, loaded with medicaments. They received, at the same spot, two Ambassadors charged with very diffe rent missions: the one announced to the husband, that he had an heir to his name, and the other, (who was one of the nepliews that had dispatched an helpless old woman for assistance,) was running himself, to prevent the pro perty being burdened with an expense that was rendered unnecessary by the death of his uncle. I was now arrived under the piazzas of the Palais-Royal, which still resounded with the noise of the Orchestra du baldes Etrangers, the immoderate laughing of the dancers, and the oaths of the gamblers. Some centinels were pacing the long galleries with measured steps, counting every quar ter of an hour by the clock, whilst other centinels of a less honourable profession were slily creeping about, taking notes of every thing they saw, and even of what they did not see, for the purpose of augmenting the report of the following day. A violent clamour drew me to the portico, where a fierce dispute had arisen, between a soldier and a young doc tor, with respect to a lovely Helen who was waiting, with the utmost indifference, the issue of a combat, of which she was to be the prize. The Guard arrived upon the field of battle almost as soon as 1 did, and put an end to the quarrel by carrying off the beauty, who was the cause of all the strife. I left the Patois Royal, and wandered about the adjacent streets for more than half an hour, without meeting a single creature. As I approached la Place des Victoires, the centinel on duty at the Bank (a post always entrusted to the National Guard), cried out, .‘ who goes there," as soon as he heard me coming. The answer of ‘, a friend, a citizen," which I hastened to give, did not satisfy him, and he ordered me to advance a la mililaire 1 entered the guard-house and found ten or twelve chasseurs of the tenth Legion seated round a table and fintshing a bowl of punch. The R. commander of the guard, who was sleeping upon a bench. got np for the purpose of examining me; he asked me what business I had in the streets of Paris at two o'clock in she morning. I replied that I was engaged in writing an article for a newspaper; and this truth had so much the air of all ill-timed joke. that the officer was giving the order for me to be carried before the police; fortunately for me, however. I was recognised by my tailor, who had just been relieved from guard, and I was set at liberty. As I was going along. I could not help applauding the zeal and severity displayed by the National Guard, for the safety of the citizens: when at the corner of la Rue de Ceruty, two men of very unprepossessing. appearance invited me to take the neighbouring street; I asked these gentlemen what right they had to prescribe any particular route for me. One of them presented a pistol to me; but not being contented with so bad a reason, I imme diately cried out " thieves ! thieves !" At this instant the two rascals, by a cant call, gave the alarm to their comrades, who were occupied in breaking open the house of a jeweller at a little distance, and the whole directly took to their heels. On following the road the robbers had taken, I met at the top of la Rue Montmartre a rag-picker, who, with a !author:4, was groping in every kennel he could find, and at the same time was whistling most melodiously. 1 asked him if he had seen the villains whose entertainment I had disturbed. "It is no business of mine," said lie, io a very deliberate tone. " I get my bread as I please, and leave others to do the same." " You follow a business, my friend, that cannot bring .018 is much." "I am sixty years old, my good Sir, and you see one may live by it. It is true that lam at the same time a ticket porter; enquire for me at the corner of the Faubourg Montmartre—Joseph, No. 1077." " Have you never followed any other profession ?" " Oh, yes ; in my youth I wore a li •ery, but as I grew old, 1 felt the dignity of a man, and the want of independance." " You are very poor to be free." " Do you know many rich men who have more liberty than I? By means of my two professions, I atn master of half my time; when I have made a good day, 1 repose during the night; and when I have made a good night. l do nothing during the day." " But what can you gain by groping in the kennels?" " Sometimes more, sometimes less; one or two pieces of money, a trifling ornament, a ring, or a brace let; something is always to be found; it is only necessary to search," In quitting this street philosopher, I took care he should not regret the time I had made him lose. The lustre of the stars was now diminished by the approach of day; the grocers opened their shops and prepared the liquor for the morn ing workmen. I was returning to my lodgings. One mere adventure attracted my attention. upon the Boulerard at the corner of -- street (discretion is necessary here•). I saw a young man get over a Bard n wall : I do not pietend to affirm be was a thief; however that might be, he had ac comp!ices in the house, for I distinctly saw a very pretty white hand held out to him when lie was upon the wall, which he kissed in the most ardent manner. Ills gig was waiting for him at the corner of the adjoining street, and I. concluded, by the drowsy appearance of his servant, an 4 the impatience of his horse, that they had not passed the night quite so pleasantly as their master. I arrived at home at day break, and was not ready for breakfast. The silence 'and accusing looks of Mrs. G left me no room to doubt but that she was acquainted with my absence during the night. I did not think it necessary t• provoke any explana tion, but shall take good care to make her read this article to-morrow, to convince her of the manner in which I was employed dining the night of the isth and 16• h of Mav 1815, THE IttEL EFEAILEA. SEPT. io.