Star.
London, England, 1824-04-20 00:00:00

PARISIAN CARNIVAL.

PARIS, APRIL 15.
Nothing having transpired here for the last week of
any interest, further than what you find recorded in the
Paris Journals, I have deferred writing, for the purpose,
of sending you an account of the Fete of Longcharnps,
which is kept up annually for three days in the Holy
Week, and is considered one of the must magnificent in
the year. Yesterday was the first day ; at an early hour
all was in motion in the Champs Elysees ; thousands of
chairs were arranged in lines on each side the road,
from the. Place Louis XV. to the Barrier de l'Etoile ;
hundreds of tables were also prepared by gingerbread
merchants, sellers of bonbons, fryers of sausages, charla-
tans, and games.of chance.
About twelve the Duchess de Berry, with les Enfans
di Prance, passed through the Champs Elysees. The
Duc de Bourdeaux• is a beautiful' child, and the rosy
bloom :of infancy, which animates his features renders
'himisiculiaily interesting; he is always placed at the
carnage window, and his little hands are in constant
'motion in Saluting the people. His sister is a pretty child,
but excites less sympathy.
About two o'clock the beau monde began to file off
from the Boulevards and Chaussee d'Antin, and fall into
the procession to Longehatiips. A strong detachment
;Of gens d'armes, d cheval et a pied, formed a line, in
open order, from the Tuillenes to the entrance of Long-
champs, to preserve regularity and good order among
the numerous vehiCles,Trom the landau and four to the
humble one-horse chair, which covered the road ; the
right side of which was preserved for those proceeding
to, and the left for those returning from, the Bois de
Boulogne, and the centre for the equestrians. From
three till five the scene was particularly animated.—
The beauty of this morning re-announced the spring :
the sun rose in all his splendour, and invited hundreds
abroad who had feared to expose their summer dresses
to the uncertain weather of yesterday, and the number
of carriages with rich liveries were much more nume-
rous: the equestrians were increased in proportion, and
die thousands of well-dressed females who occupied the
chairs on each side the road, presented an agreeable
amp d'ced of the richly variegated assemblage, as silks
are the mode at this season, and bonnets of all colours.
The day continued remai kably fine, and the Champs
Elysees at two o'clock resembled an immense fair :
roundabouts, rumble-tumbles, jugglers, Punch and Judy,
and every amusement that "tun and frolic" could in-
vent, were displayed along each side of the road : all
bore the outward and visible sign" of gaiety and con-
tent. One object particularly excited my astonishment.,
We have ceased to be surprised at men swallowing
knives, forks, swords, &c. but I yesterday saw a man
introduce into his body a solid bar of iron, 18 inches
long, an inch and a half diameter, and weighing 151 b.
this phenomenon serves as a subject for the students at
CF.cok de lifedkcine, and other establishments of surgery
in Paris. Another individual raised the enormous weight
of 32 fifty pound weights by the strength of his loins.
So perfect was the order and regularity pursued by
the gens d'armes and the police throughout both days,
that in a crowd of at least a hundred thousand persons,
I have not heard of a single accident, excepting the in-
voluntary dismounting of a gay cavalier, who wished
to figure before the belled on a prancing steed, when oh
a sudden be lost his seat, but escaped without any
wound but that which his vanity received from the

bursts of reiterated laughter which assailed his ears from
the convulsed crowd that surrounded him.
SATURDAY.—The pilgrimage concluded yesterday,
but owing to the rain, which poured in torrents during
Thursday night, and the heavy and unwelcome showers
of yesterday, there were only a few solitary carriages,
whose owners must have conformed with the custom
1
.a•..ler as a penance than a pleasure. The beautiful
weather on the first day gave promise of enjoyment
which the two next days destroyed ; an event common
enough in aff.rirs of more impoi tauce than a procession.
There was no display of equipages, no blazonry of
beauty and fashion, no saunterers—an expression, by the
way, derived from going a pilgrimage a la Santa Terra,
or the Holy Land—nothing, in fact, for the lover oi
merriment and rejoicing to feast upon. All of this cl.iss
were, of course, put upon short allowance ; I pitied them
heartily, for I have a great affection for the whole order.
Shakspeare cautions us against i‘ the man that bath no
music in his soul." lam equally on my guard against
the man whose soul bath no mirth in it; and I join issue
with our immortal bard in saying, " Let no such man be
trusted." In my estimate even of female charms, the
best beauty of the cheek is a dimple. If the mind sits
entlnoned in a smile, I don't care about the brains ; for
the half of mankind, as to the use they make of them,
are, for aught I see, as well without them as with them.
As to her roseate lips, they are worth nothing till some
good joke shews you her teeth, and a hearty laugh has
to me more of eloquence And persuasion than all the
logic of the schools.
Adieu.--I am summoned to the Boulevards. In
Paris a man need have all his strength centered in
his health ; the demand upon one's idleness and curio-
sity is perpetual.