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.