The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-05-06
From he .Nfu lork .lmrricam

Having little ELSE Ia present Ia our rca-
ders, W. have given trauslatiou, from the
Constitutional, III the following amusing
account, by Mr. Thicrs, one of It's Editors,
of the difficulties attending French cxcur-
sons Of pleasure.
tOynre 10 thc PWcnecS IN he months Of
.\0rembtr aud December, i82 }, Jy one Of
The Edtf0rS 0tMt Constitutional
Leaving Paris with the intention of Vi
sltlng the two great chains OF monntains
winch bound on France, promised my
friends 10 take notes vi such things rs |
should decm worthy Of their attention.
However grand be the spectacle presented
by the Alps however iuu, hing The sight
III a wise, cnhghtend, aud really free pee.
pie, have thought ii best 10 Keep To my
self the emotions which they inspired
bal transported suddenly amidst the ryre-
necs, and witness ofthc movements which
are taklng placeon our frontier, Of the aux
l.ty ol our southern provinces, and of tine
LAST driraiS nj the regency OF rgt | tho't
might furnish some details that would be-
interesting As 10 the place and men, NOW
brcenr 81 such general interest, though 50
mperlcclly known. should like we'll
'h''r' '''il'hN lh'i''l t'hi ~ IliSA W
Pcrpignan or III Gcilayne, aud exhibit IT
once Ia the reader those monks, thosr
gncrIIlas, III short that picturesque people
resembling an Asiatic migration INTO the
midst Of Europeans ; bun the police will
not admit us 10 travel 81 quick, aud must
first make known the convenience aud de
light OF Il passport, TIM facilities OF the M.
5a,@ and the urbanily Of the mayors and
their assistants. | am not one of tiosr
uugraicial persons, who speak III of CIV III
Zailon while enjoying Ms benefits ! ad
mIfc, as much AS others, that rapldity of
communication, ready AT all times and for
all people. But the march of civilization
ls as useful IN the police as 10 liberty and
II II gives 10 MS who are subjects the con
yeyancc of the mail coach, il furnishes The
authorities with that of the telegraph $500
Nothing, indeed Gan be more delightful
than Ia SEE, Just as you are starting, c0li-
ricrs setting out who will apprisc your
friends Of your wishes and intentions to
find coaches easy and rapid always ready
10 receive you and the government, so
sullcltous III It's subjects, AS To offer them
passports, requiring -" all The ciuii and mi
injury authorities 10 grant Them Md and pro-
iectiOH.' admit all This is not 10 be- met
with IN the woods-but those courers so
obllging, will they also be discreet p
Those letters which they bear Ia such dis
tances, will they only be opened by my
illends And this protecting passport,
will il really Afford aid and comfort . In
accordance with some secret sign, viii II
moi oslsc me Ia be 5crupulOusly examined
by some gems d'armc, or mayor, aud shut
up IN some provincial tower But this i
not all this passport, whether sincere or
lo' IA It's oiler OF protection, you must be
provided with. ] have arranged my al
fairs, taken leave of my friends aud am
ready Ia start; but IA cieik or project
must previously consent. proceed accor-
dmgly 10 that great hall where travellers,
seated on long benches, show the police
their long or Oval faces thcir black or
blue Eyes their fiat ar Roman noses.
desire 10 he described. Have you, am
asked, Il certificate of the Commissary III
your district Answering IN the negative,
| am scHl h1ck in order 10 obtain from the
censor of HE district in which reside, Il
certificate titai he is satisfied with mne.--
While making my way into the lmll of au-
dicucc, hard many scandalous quarreIs
bul at last reaching the cnruIe chair, and
making profound bow, declare that |
! wish for permission " to circulate freely"
that is, 10 travel where please, aud ask
foI a passport. For what place, says The
commissnry. For foreign pats. For TO-
reign parts, aud al such time as tbs =
! III was las: October)-- are you go
] ing TO Switzerland. What business
carries you there None. Nome and
do you expect thai, having no business,
the project will permit you 10 go there
! II chnse To travel without assigning rea-
sons, is the project bound to fluid reasons
for me Besides, is not the desire to vi
sit that country u sufficient reason Thai
is enough--the authorities must decide
yon may return here IN three days. What
in three days? What, II am all ready ;
i # am ina hurry ii my place is taken
Three days? pray, have been denounced
to the ceinmlssary he any complaint
to make OF me None. He is thea salts
fed with me; and indeed the good citl-
zells must necessarily be best known tn
him. Return in three days. listen ii
this grave decision, pronounced with the
iullexihlliiy of destiny, and make up my
mind 10 wait ill ii 81. asceliaiued wether
in passing The JDra, | may not interrupt
the Congress al Verona. The time hay.
ing past, return. Sir, said |, with the he
stating Voice Of criminal, the three day,
have oypircd, ! was steadily scrutinlzed,a ~
iftu recall some impression that the multi
plicity nf fuch affairs had for the mornen
cllaced and after a short silence, wa
ordered to come another time. But wa