Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-12-28

of tacit intimacy by often meeting on the same
walks Once or twice | accommodated him,
with bench, after which we touched hats on
passing each other; at length we got so Tar as
to take pinch Of snuff together out OF his
box, which is equivalentto eating salt together
in the East; from that time our acquaintance
was established. / now became his frequent
companion in his morning promenades, and
derived much amusement from his good-hu-
incurred remark, on men and manners. One
morning, as we were stroling through an alley
of the Tuilleries, with the autumnal breeze
whirling the yellow leaves about our path, my
companion fell into a peculiarly communlca-
tive vein, and gave me several particulars OF
his history. He had once been wealthy, and
possessed of fine estate in the country, and
noble hotel in Paris; but the Revolution,
which effected so many disastrous changes,
stripped him of every thing. He was secretly
denounced by his own steward, during san
culinary ,period of the Revolution, and num-
Der Of bloodhounds Of the Convention were
sent to arrest him. He received private intel
ligencs Of their approach in time to effect his
escape He landed in England without money
or friends. but considered himself singulary
fortunate in having his head upon his shout
ders, several of his neighbors having been
guillolined as punishment for being rich
When he reached London he had but louis
in his pocket, and no prospect oil getting ano-
Their. He ate a solitary dinner on beeisteak,
and was almost poisoned by port wine, which
from its color he had mistaken Tor claret.-
The dingy look Of the chep-house, and OF the
little mahogany colored box IN which he ate
his dinner, contrasted sadly with the gay sa-
looms OF Paris Every thing looked gloomy
and disheartening. Poverty stared HIM in the
e 20 eli, 20
of change; did not know what was to become
of him; and-went to the theatre! He took his
seat in the pit, listened attentively TO tragedy
Of which he did not understand word, and
which seemed made up of fighting, and stab
bing, and scene-shiiling; and began to feel his
spirits sinking within him; when, casting his
eyes into the orchestra, what was his surprise
10 recognise an old friend and neighbor in
the very act of extorting music from huge
vioIoncello AS soon as the evenings perform
ance was over, be tapped his friend on each
shoulder they kissed each other on each
cheek, and the musician took him home, anc
shared his lodgings with him. He had learn
ed music as an mpishment; by his friends
advice he now turned TO it as mean OF sup
port. He procured violin, offered himseffor
the orchestra, was received; and again consid-
cred himself one OF the most fortunate men up
on earth Here therefore he lived for many
wears during the ascendency OF the terrible Ma
ooleon He found several enigrants living like
himself by the exercise OF their talents They
associated together, talked OF France and OF old
times, and endeavoured to keep up semblance
of Partisan life in the centre Of London. They
dined at a miserable cheap French restaura-
tours in the neighbourhood OF Leicester square
where they were served with caricature Of
fhoir re
in ST. James's Park, and endeavoured TO fancy
il the Tuilleries; in short, they made shift to
accommodate themselves to every thing but an
English Sunday. Indeed the old gentleman
seemed 10 have nothing to say against the
English, whom he affirmed 10 be 6rares gems; *
he mingled so much among them, that at the
end OF twenty years he could speak their lam
guage almost well enough to be UNDERSTOOD
The downfall OF Napoleon was another epoch
in his life. He had considered himself fortu-
nate man TO make his escape pennyless out OF
France, and he considered himself fortunate 10
be able to return pennyless into it. 1t is true,
that he found his Partisan hotel had passed
through several hands during the yicissitudes
of the times, so as to be bevond the reach OF
recovery; but then he had been noticed being
nantly by government, and had pension OF
several hundred francs, upon which, with care
full management, he lived independently, and,
as far as could Judge, happily. AS his once
splendid hotel was now occupied as hotel ger
nj. he hired small chamber In the attic; II
was but, as he said, changing his bedroom up
two pair Of s.airs--he was still in his own
house. His room was decorated with pictures
of seyera! beauties Of former times, with whom
he professed TO have been on favourable terms;
among them was favourite opera dancer, who
had been the admiration Of Paris al the break
ing out of the Revolution. She had been
pro,egee Of my friend, and one of the few of
his youthful fayourites who had survived the
lapse Of time and its various vicissnudes. They
had renewed their acquaintance, and she now
and then visited him; bur the beautiful Psyche,
once the fashion of the day, and the idol Of the
parferre, was now shrivelled, little old woman,
warped in the back, and with a hooked nose
rhe old gentleman was deveut attendant up
on levees: he was most jealous in his loyalty,
and could not speak the royal family with
out burst ofenthusiasm; for he still felt to-
wards them as his companions in exile AS TO
his poverty, he madslight oft, * indeed, had
good-humoured way Of consolng himself for
every cross anc privation. if he had lost his
chateau in the country, he had half dozen roy
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