The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-09
PAnIs, July 8. 1871.


Of the hospitality Of our Minister Penipotentiary,
Gen Cass and his excellent lady in the matter Of
good dinner. The General and his family spend
their summers here in snug little cottage just with
out the city, retired, plain and neat, with grounds
around sweet the vale Of Tempe, adorned with the
virgin modesty and purity Of nature their winters
they spend in Paris. AT their hosptable board met
some ten or twelve Of my countrymen from the eI-
tremes Of st. Louis and Bcstonl What travellers
we Americans They had arrived some days be-
fore at Paris via Liverpool and London, and were
full Of what they had seen Of John Bull and Queen
Victoria This constituted first round Of c6nser-
saiion, In the Of which uttered some jeu
desprit In respect Of Prince Albert and and the snug
harbor he had made in the ofthe Queen. Much
also said Of the great excitement and spirit Of fac
tion now rife in England, which was compared much
to self congratulaon, to the late great political
excitement in the United States, which went of as
regular as steam, without noise. Then next we had
up and discussed the subject Of the fine arts in the
course of which was happy to learn that my impress
sions of the palace at Versailles were in the main
correct. Happening to mention, however with APP
probation, the picture representing Washington and
his army at York Town, says one, but the Ereneh
are mainly represented there, and ntey made to
have fought ou battle for u.s." l think the remark
not just hope to be able to test its correctness at
| other time. We next a little upon railroads.
with that rapid little locomotive the tongue at high
pressure, comparing France in this respect with her
petit Chenier de Fer from Paris to Versailles, with
iron ribs binding the shores of the Atlantic with the
Alleganies This led to some remarks upon the COM
paratve resources wealth and poverty Of France and
| the United States. Some remarking that he
had been yet scarce mporuned by beggars in
France-theIe is said the General not much
poverty here as in England beggas are rarely
| seen but II is owing very much to the vigi-
liant and strict police here; people are not allowed
to beg in the streets. There are however, but few
people in absolute restitution ofthe nvcessaries Of life
| in France. There are many poor, but few paupers;
and yet the poor here have not, in the u. States,
superauies with their poverty; poor soldier for
instance, receives much bread per day. Ga little
much meat week "a very iittle) their clothing, and
| a day! Whilst our soldiers in America are
paid some eight dollars per month, are allowed
mucn bread and more than double the meat with the
Injuries Of tea, coffee, sugar &C. Last, not least.
with cakes and discussed the subject ofcur
| rency somewhat. find the old General genuine
hickory yet. All, said he you here the immense
tuatons Of property here; what thing was worth
yesterday it is worth to-day does 60 bed
rich at night and rise in the morning poor even the
entry of the Allies into Paris caused change in
the value of property and scarce any in the business
of the Bank Of France. To the business of these re-
marks, Wing as am, was obliged to assent; for
there seems to be lack Of currency of CON
fdence here. The only serious difficulty in respect
80 III. a..
in the want of means to catch il; the part of the
stranger who has it. in the want Of power to keep it
for in spite Of all his resolutions of economy he finds
his francs if 10th leave the place Of their natura
lisation, far too current In fact the Parsians ,oH
have your money they have many attractions to
keep, and many fine things to sell you, and this
may be principal reason of their having the argent
so plenty. C. N.
To Frenchman it is next to impossible to speak
the English language correctly; did think that my
speaking the French would be attended with as much
difficulty and many bunders, should be ready to
give il up despair. have French teacher who is
Professor Of languages at the Royal know not
what-has been some years teacher Of the French
language in London, and thinks himself quite master
Of the English, and who yet speaks il SO badly that
can scarce understand him conversing ordinary
topics. The Frenchman, gliding the consonants
of his own language, or shooting them through the
nose, and lighting but softly the vowels finds
rougher sounds in English perfect jaw breakers
Upon each consonant he sticks and labors and tries
to sound il in vain ; il is with him one kicking
against pricks My morning lesson finished, my mar
francais proposed walk to the Kings garden
the garden Of plants the garden of the Luxcmbough
&c. As we passed along near the Seine, my atten-
ton arrested by very large, long, and low build
ing, surrounded by high walls; and what said l. is
this "Ete Use de grand depot of the weens he who
buys of de weens has to pay here de ares do you
understand7" Ouie, monsieur; but my reader may
not-he would have said it is the great depot of the
wines, where the purchaser has to pay tax, or i'm
post. But it is unkind to repeat the mistakes and
blunders Of one so kind my old teacher. We were
soon in the Jardin du Roi from considerable eeya-
ton at end of which we had good view Of tho
whole garden and most Of the city of Paris. This,
had not that Of the Tuileries, should have
pronounced very magnificent garden. II is, indeed
very arge and parts Of beautiful especially its
long avenues Of trees and walks beneath. Within il
objects of interest very different from those at the
Tulleries and at Versailles especially the grand
nagere and garden Of plants. In il are represented
the four quarters Of the globe in both animal and
vegetable life there the white bear of Greenland.
the lion, the tigers and the elephant of Asia. There
are plants from the Andes and the Alps from Green
land and Patagonia. There are not only wild, but
and domestic animals of different Species the
sheep and the goat. There also various kinds Of
domestic and wild fowl. My survey of all this was
but very partial for want Of time. l next proceeded
with my guide past the Pantheon, large and very