The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-09
Foreign Correspondents
SKETCHES
BY A PEDESTRIAN ABROAD.
PARIs, June 80, ls4l.
Mr.. ALLEs--

Mr.. ALLEN
DEAR Sin AT halfpast ak this morning looked
from the coupe of the diligence a Paris du Havre
upon the arch Of victory and the domes and spires of
Paris. Passing the Church Madeleine, the Place Ven
DOME the Palais de la Bourse and other objects and
places Of interest, was landed at O'Clock at Hotel
Rue Montmatre, having passed in less than twenty
hours from Hasre distance Of $50 miles. have
thus had the long desired pleasure Of seeing part of
la belle Frauce'-an speculation to the correctness
Of which can most heartily subscribe for have seen
most beautiful country. And this city, the desired
Of all eyes to see, what shall say Of i'll Truly my
expectations have been more than realized ! have
been astonished at the magni6cence Of the buildings
the grandeur of its palaces, and the vast extent and
richness Of its merchandise. In tits to be found not
as we say, little, hut great deal Of every thing the
hand Of man and woman can make, Of every thing al
most that the earth or the produces perhaps have
the most interesting parts of TIA few days will
enable to determine. Omitting details in respect
to now, will describe particularly my passage
here from Havre, of which have more distinct i'm
preston. Need describe a French stagecoach
yclept "the diligence known now throughout Eu-.
rope in America, and, indeed, the world over; for
who that has travelled has not been to Paris by the
diigence1 Often has il been described, hut generally
with attempt at humor than regard for truth,
grotesque and mons,Ioss thing devoid Of beauty
and convenience. The diligence is not an English
sagecoach, but for the purpose to which it is applied
j is far better. With crowds of passengers pouring
into Paris vast quantities Of baggage conveyed by
It, which renders its heavy and rather clumsy con-
structon necessary. 1t - not the vast wagon it
has been described to be. II is long, containing
different apartments, which have appropriate names,
having the appearance somewhat Of car on our
railways, quite symmetrical in its exterior and
as well furnished and comfortable within. Itisdrawn
by numerous relays Of horses--n less than hun
bred different horses attached to the one in which
was passenger-and all in and without is conducted
in the most commendable manner. Never did have
so pleasant ride. France have seen described as
inferior far, in agricultural point of view Eng
land, and in many important particulars to Anne
RIGA. OF England, which have not seen, I cannot
speak, but France, judging from what have of
H. is infinitely in advance Of America in point of good
husbandry and productveness; a better cultivated
country indeed scarce expect to see One looks
upon fields of vast extent far the eye can reach
covered with wheat, with oats, with barley, potatoes
and great variety of products, presenting beaut-
fully variegated landscape seeming in many places at
distance like picture painted in many colors ON
canvass, specially to please the eye The beauty of
the landscape is unobstructed by fences, Of which
there none all the land in cutvation-and there
is very little which il not--seems as one vast field,
save the villages and in Normandy, by the road sde
the matched cottages Of the peasantry and scatter
inn chafeana with which II ia int MANI
t.oi.,ts sue OF vaney OF the seine,
eminence above Caudbec, and may say that from
above Rouen ALSO are Of incompatible beauty But
will say no more of French husbandry and scenery
until have seen more What is admirable | am dis
posed TO admire, and what is censurable will cen
sure. en-.
Pans, July LIST, lS4l.
Alas the miserable situation Of able TO speak
or understand the Language of people with whom all
is intelligence and beauty and animation language
too, SO sweet and so elegant that of the French
A purchase of French books and digent study has
been the order of the day with me. Without other
aim than that Of recreation have once wandered out
along the vast and seemingly interminable hotels Of
Paris and gazing upon the thousand novelties which
net at every turn, the Place Vcndome, the column
and the statue of Napoleon, suddenly and unexpect
eddy burst upon my sight. Had the like been in an
cent times it had certainly been the eighth wonder Of
the world. An immense and lofty column composed
entirely of iron, is certainly very imposing object
Had il been Of stone and even much larger, the effect
produced on the spectator had been far less for one
can conceive that a monument however large may be
raised by gradually adding stone to stone; but how
was this column made of iron and made, how was it
raised9 For myself, can scarce conceive; by and
by hope to learn and be able describe its hstor
it's dimensions and Construction, and how was raised
Passing by, and directly in front, saw at some dis
lance what seemed to be park; approaching it be-
held for the first time the Garden of tho Tuileres
What pen can describe this vast enclosure what PEN
ell sketch its beauties The spectator stands mute
with establishment he first endeavors TO take in
one view the whole extent of it, but fails to the
half He behoids trees and walks and flowers ponds
and fountains Of water statues of ancient sages of
heroes, of gods and goddesses and Of ons equestrian
statues and fabulous monsters Of colossal size, in
marble and bronze Who can describe the scene
will not be guilty Of the vain the rash attempt-to
realize what it is the eye must see it, Truly have
not come to the old world in vain; from my earliest
recollection have greedily read, and each time as
read my imagination kndled at descriptions Of the
grandeur and perfection Of the arts Of the ancents-
Born in the woods Of America, had believed al
ways that there was something of the perfection
of art to be in Europe, which could elevate the
IDEAS and the character too Of man. am most hap
py to find that have not been mistaken to find my
expectations realized As, standing in the garden Of
the Tuileries look the wonders around be, see
in portion Of nature made paradise, in marble and
in bronze, enduring monuments Of mans greatness
and glory. He seems to have caught and embodied
in these statues something Of an ETHEREAL fire; as they