The Sun.
London, England, 1814-05-02 00:00:00

JOURNAL OF A TRIP TO PARIS.

(No. V.)

Ma. Envron,—ln' journeying from Sarver to
Montrenil, I had frequent opportunities of ob-
serving ,with what perfect composure and non-
tltalance every thing is taken in this country ;
things which, though trifling in themselves, would
he sufficient 'to ruffle the irritable teruper of an
Englishman. We gave the postillions ten sous
per post extra, to stimulate theni to speed ; and,
to do the fellows justice;' after they had contrived
to get the leg with its gigantic boot over to the
right side of their horse; they certainly lost little
time in procetliug to the end -of their course.—
What short stoppages did take place, however,
were entirely of a kind which would never
suggest themselves to an English postillion as
an apology for draWing up. Ex. gr. To drink a
glass of brandy to light a pipe ; to say a
fen' words, in 'the way of compliment, to the
driver of another voiture, ea passant ; or to
hold a short- conversation
,With a person of the
aaine description behind ; in fine, to do any thing
that occurs to hhn ns proper, 'exa'ctly as if tra7.
yelling for his own pleasure., and 'entirely inde-
pendent of the persons 'whO eiripl67 and pay him.
One of our fellows cracked off his -1.1,11iP : he im-
mediately applied for a remedy to the driver of a
cabriolet in front, wlio lent him a thong ; and
both stunt very leisurely together till the instru..
merit was properly mended. -At another time our
postillion drove tip along-side of another, and
both carriages were stopt till he obtained tobacco;
filled and lighted his pipe.
Travellers, indeed, he a muses in another *ay i
A few staves of a chanson—an air always gay and
happy, together with the singular and felicitous
varieties of cracking the whip, are qualities which
will always render the French postillion amusing
to a stranger.
X have by no means been able to ascertain upon
" what principle this exercise of the whip is con-
ducted ;—there is, generally, no apparent cause
for it beyond the mere will and pleasure of the
party ; except, indeed, in entering and passing
through towns, when the dexterity displayed and
the clatter made beggar description. The ablest
of our Four-in-hand Club would cut but a poor
figure in a contest of this sort ; nor do I suppose
that Lord SEFTON himself could compare with the
meanest proficient of the Post-house here in the
agile and whimsical management of the thong.
Monsieur, when it enters his brain to entertain
tits rare in this way, flourishes his whip round hls
head two or three litnes,• in order to obtain the
perfect command of it ;—then conies the ex-
ercise gymnastiqite. He will first treat you with
half a dozen of sound cracks on his right
side ; then with an equal number upon his ,
left : again, you have them straight forward
over the head, of the horse—(and the horses
pay not the slightest regard to the lash touching
their ears in this diversion); next, in rear; and,
lastly, perhaps, to finish the whole, a grand dis-•
play of ingenuity, in which, while making one
circle round about him, Mr. Postillion contrives
to introduce two cracks instead of one : in con-
clusion, he always looks behind him, with a grin
of self-satisfaction, to ascertain from your coun-
tenance if his exploit is sufficiently admired. To
do theta justice, neither the sword-exercise of the
cavalry, nor the Indian Jugglers with their balls,
surpass them in velocity or the execution of -
ch:xtrous.curvatures.

1 have, however, trespassed too long on your
patience with the account of these whimsical-
looking animals, and shall ,therefote resume my
route, reserving, for ano►ther digression hereafter,
a description of the French Diligences, harness,
and horses.

Near Cormont, passed a party of ten French
prisoners, released from England; they were toil-
ing forward to their once happy, but,now deserted
:and ruined. homes. What a change, since they
'left the lovely fields and glowing vineyards, of
France. "The generation of their compatriots has
-been swept from the face of the earth ; the bloody
ambition of a Monster has annihilated, all that
•
could be dear to them as men, or as the sons of
, •
France. ,In twelve:.oriourteen years, so hOrrible
has been the destritetion, that. there is scarcely a
point left whereby to trace what they were--
scarcely one link remaining to serve tdr a guide

to remembrance ! They looked very miserable ;
and such was the misery 4round them, that even
their deplorable condition seemed to awaken no

sympathy, and excite no co►npassion.

All the

in Prance, are absorbed
beet feelings of humanity,
wretchedness of the individual--
in the peculiar

out upon external
there is no room for its flowing

objects. I trust, that a few francs from a Briton,
in the heart of France; was na ungrateful offering

from my country to these distressed men :

least procured mc,tike heartfelt pleasure• of bearing