Star.
London, England, 1826-09-21 00:00:00

THURSDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 21, 1826.

DIEPPE, Serraidant J.
—..,—..

This town is beginning to recover some of its former
consequence, and is likely to become a fashionable
watering-place for the French, under the patronage of
the Duchess de Berry. Her Royal Highness attracts
a considerable concourse of visitants, by spending a few
months here during the bathing season of the year.—
The whole appearance of the town is changed under I
this happy influence, from what it was four or five years
back. Dieppe has hitherto been little known to the
English traveller, but as a deserted looking melancholy
town, which happening to stand on the borders of the
sea, served very well as the first stage, or landing place,
sur la route de Paris. The place can now boast plenty
of English—an undoubted mark of improvement, their
presence being the forerunner of a chunge for the better,
when it is net the consequence of such a change.
The Duchess is the theme of all admiration with the
natives of this place. Her words are recorded, and her
steps are noted down. Some of her movements would
excite the surprise of the English public. in the person
of any of their Princesses. For instance, she bathes in
the open sea, in presence •f a concourse of spectators
every morning. Her dress, or rather her undress, con-
sists of nothing more than a simple bathing gown, and
she is 'always to be distinguished by her long hair Boating
over her shoulders, and her interesting efforts at im-
provement in the art of swimming. In this art, she is
'
becoming a tolerable adept • and it is remarked by the
French, that the mother of Henri IV. was skilled in the
same exercise. The Duchess seldims misses taking her
bath, and she walks into the sea from a tent pitched on
the beach. Her manners are plain and unaffected, with
a mixture, however, of the national levity, or pied du
cecur as it is called here—the native playfulness of her
disposition, indeed, sometimes displays itself in the
water, where she feigns terror of the coming wave, and
pretends to fly its approach. These little traits of good
humour, never fail to draw forth the loud applause of
the bye-standers._ _

Many acts of charity and good feeling, on the part of
this Royal Lady, are spoken of. She visits all the Con.
vents and Hospitals of the place and neighbourhood,
and contributes to their funds. Nor are instances of in-1
trepidity wanting to make up the compliment of virtue
fit for a descendant of Henri IV. On the 7th, some-
thing like a tempest visited the town. AU who dared
brave its fury fi icked to the end of the jetty, to witness
the desperate efforts of the fishing boats to come safe
into port. The force of the wind, joined with the heavy
spray which broke in sheets of foam over the spot, ren-
dered it difficult even for mariners to keep their footing.
After witnessing the safe entrance of several boats, amid
the shouts of the spectators, her Royal Highness re-
tired. Before the day was over, however, a poor yea-
ther-beaten fisherman, who was at the helm, was washed
overboard sit the very mouth of the port, in sight of his
wife and son. The Duchess, upon hearing of this melan-
choly accident, countermanded a ball fixed for that
night at her residence.
-By attentions of this kind, which evince a sympathy
in the feelings of her inferiors, she contrives to gain all
hearts • and, perhaps her success is not undeserved. A
fanciful instance of her anxiety to please occurred the
other day. A young girl, blind from her infancy, and
possessed of extraordinary powers of execution on the
plum, had given a specimen of her talent before her
Mira' Highness. Desiring to make her a handsome
present, she went to one of the ornamental ivory manu-
factories, for which Dieppe is famous, and shutting her
eyes, sought by the touch the article which seemed
most pleasing to the mind, during the suspension of
the faculty of sight. The idea has been applauded to
the skies. 1

Eva,' day brings its separate diversions fir the entertainment
of the Royal visitant. Races, feats of strength, sham lights, and
exeardons ea the sea, fans the boldness of the day ; and dancing
aad music comma he night. But aU these gay scenes are 'bent
to vanish—the bathing season is drawing as a close, the Princess
Royal is abort to depart, and the Dieppois are already sad by
anticipation.

'this the Mandarin, calling an o ccr of justice, ordered
the complainant immediately to be scourged.
On this a band, composed of robbers, to . whom the
Chinese gave the name of Gan-char,, advanced from the
multitude which had assembled to see the execution,
and takidg advantage of the opportunity to exercise
their trade, occasioned such tumult and confusion, and
threw such a quantity of stones, that many persons
were severely hurt, and among the rest two Mandarins.
`The robbers, upon this, precipitately entered the city,
threw stones at the houses of the Christians by which
they passed, and breaking open the doors, robbed the
house of Major Pavacho, and many other persons. They
then passed on to attack the Senate-house likewise, and
knowing that the said Major was in the palace of the
Governor, who was himself in the Fortilina do Monte,
with the members of the illustrious Senate and the
Ouvidor, they proceeded to the said palace, and at-
tempted to enter it by force, but were repelled. When
it was sees from this fortress that great confusion had
taken place in the city, a detachment of soldiers was
sent thither, along with other persons, accompanied by
a portion of negro slaves, who in a shirt time put them
to Right. The robbers, however, spreading themselves
through the Bazaar, and en Oppottuaity oft: ing by the
distance is which Terrafiro is situated, and by their
having their boats on that beach, they ran thither and
were enabled to commit rdbberies likewise in that place
to a considerable extent. They were only driven away
and forced to embark by a field-piece brought against
them. Two other field pieces were placed in the square
of the Senate, ready to be used in case it was found
necessary.
The Mandarins passing through the city in the height
of the tumult, and not being able to appease it, were
stoned afresh, and retired to the New Pagoda, beyond
the city, whence they were only enabled to escape when
tranquillity was restored. It is true, that the robbers,
besides pillage, committed destruction in the houses, but
they did not do it with impunity ; for those who came
out to quell the mob performed their duty so well, that
they wounded many of them, and some of them se-
verely. The number of Chinese who came to see the
execution might be within a few of 3,000, of whom a
considerable portion were engaged in the riot.
This was the first time that we bad observed a
formal rising of the Chinese against their ownAnthorities.
Not even respect for the prisence of Quan Chew Fu,
(Governor of Canton) who was delegate of the Vice-
roy, and was presEnt to witness the execution, could
restrain them, although he was accompanied by ether
Mandarins, who were likewise maltreated, one of them,
who was on horseback, being dismounted.
On the 14th (next day) the Lan-chair returned to
the Bazaar, and endeavoured to prevent the sale of
commodities to the Christians. They were, however,
by the precautions taken, forced to fly, and tranquillity
appears to be re-established. The best understanding
and harmony exist between our authorities and those of
the Chinese, from whom we have demanded a signal
satisfaction for the insults which were offered us on that
day, and which they permitted. •
We shall publish the alidal correspondent.* which has taken
plate between tkeprecurveir of the city and the Mandarins, as mean
as we obtala a copy alt.