Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-13

ligon OF the court, or ralher lis weak efforts lof
the conversion Of the people,, Every opportu-
nifty is gladly embraced to testify the feeling en-
tertained towards those wandering pastors
In the chocolate shops, amidst the variety Of
forms and fantasies into which this material Is
moulded, you see number ofprlests sitting
in row, with the most sanctihed faces and pos
lures, and clothed in their reverend garD; ana
beneath each is this lable-"Dlx sous pour VI
missionaries" and lady asked me at the dinner
table the other day, if we had any OF those piacK
beasts in England; for II is not as IN Italy,
where many of the priests sill manage 10 hoia
an empire over the fair sex. Here they are re-
garded by the latter with perfect detesta.ion.
1t was rather ludicrous sight when the king
and all the royal family walked to the church OF
ST. Genevieve fortnight ago, by way OF penl-
tence. It was called the Jubilee, and takes
place only once in so years, ne streets were
strewed with soft sand, and the line and Gentle
manly looking soldiers OF the garde de corps
hemmed in majesty so closely and carefully,
that i, was scarcely possible to get sight OF
single member of the Bourbons.
The Duchess de Berrl, with many ladies,
walked also inthe procession, with slow pace.
but the total absence of.all sancuty was anu
sing The people showed not the slightest
appearance of it; the crowds that filled the
splendid church looked on with utter indiffe-
renee, and numbers had sheer of contempt
ON thr faces. The French ladies seemed to
enjoy the thing highly, and the TWO thotsahd
priests who marched up the long aisles in front
(for all Paris had poured forth its prieslly popu-
la,ion,) afforded the fair gazers much amuse-
ment ought not to call them fair, Tor such
a dearth of beauty, in SO large an assembage
Of women, never before 5eheld; the bright q
wandering eye was there, and the white and
well set row of teeth, two PROJECTIONS on which
| they pride themselves but as to the general
charms of face and figure, what a falling Oft
| from the beings wanderer is accustomed to
behold in the streets and assemblies OF his own
| capital! When the long procession had reach
ed the altar and the host was elevated a. the per-
| Torrance Of the mass, the command was given,
and the long files OF the garde de corps sunk
on their knees: posture TO which, Judging
| from their looks, they had been little aCcustom-
| ed The spectacle at this moment was very
splendid, the helmets and rich plumes OF the
troops mingling with those OF gazing beauty,
and spreading, like a moveless ridge, round
the array of royalty, that knell soemnly before
the altar.
| 1t has been said that Paris is more free from a
| trocious crimes than our own CAPITAL that Its
| police is infinitely better directed This idea
has partly originated from The habit oil not pub
fishing the details of offences in the French pa
pers; but visitor who has the curiosity to
perambuate much and frequently the various
| dark and doubtful. as. well as the fascinating
parts of this gay and abandoned city, will soon
| be convinced that the prevalence of crime, tho
more hidden, is as great as in any part of the
los yInC inc ut
fact, than the narrowing one so often presented
| at the Morgue; did one, or even several bodies
appear there to be owned by their friends, &C.
casionally only, the circumstance might be at
tribu,ed to the accident of their having fallen
into the river, or plunged in there to be rid of
the bur,hen of life. But moi day passes, but
the sight of untimely and violent death draws
numbers of gazers 10 the Morgue.
| Formerly this place was entered by a long and
dark passage, tina, conducted down to the edge
| of the water; but it is since removed to high
er and more improper situation, and stands by
the side of, and on level with the public streets
on the banks Of the Seine The door is always
open, and in passing by, stranger is induced
to follow the people he sees constantly catering;
few steps place him before large window,
in front Of which the bodies that have been dis
covered are always laid. 1t is sad and dis
gushing scene, and most improperly placed
close under the eyes Of an immense population.
A few days since was induced by curiosity to
go there; it was about ten in the morning, and
the unusual number of spectators denoted that
something extraordinary had attracted them
n shall not soon be able TO chase from my me-
mory the horrid spectacle that presented ITSELF
Two men were extended on their backs, as is
the custom, with coarse covering round the
waist--in olhe: respects the bodies are always
naked, for the clothes are suspended on hooks
beside them. They had both met cruel and
violent death, from the number Of wounds with
which they were covered. One Of them, the
,allest, had apparently received TWO mortal
strokes in the head and breast On inqurlng
into the circumstances Of their death, two or
three Of the spectators said they had been Kill
ed, one of them at least, in sanguinary duel
the preceding night; and that the smaller man,
after having Slain his antagonist, had blown his
own brains ost: The dueist who had fallen
first, had evidently died in great agony either oil
body or mind; for his mouth was drawn up,
his head dropped on one side, and his lett arm
was bent beneath it as in attitude OF utter des-
pair. His less powerful murderer who had CIV
en- The fatal bows--for the conflict had been
fought with knives or swords-detied all inves-