Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-04-03
icon the London New Monthly Magazine for the pres,
THE FRENCH PRESS.
lcoHcLupEp 1


phenomena, whose properties are so extraordinary
that merely its external application hinders the hal
from becoming grey, prevents unpleasant dreams
takes away all wrinkles and renders the skin fresI
and heahhy as that Of an infant six months old; O
poudre, which makes the nails as beautiful a
mother Of pearl, the skin as soft velvet, and tn
teeth much whittier than snow; of '.rouge," and
white" combined with il, to give a COLOUR to tn
skin so natural, that h possible it gives tint NOR
natural than nature herself; OF pommade Trephl
come, which will not allow single hair ever L
leave the head without special permission; of
roseate cream, which makes the oldest grand nam
ma look younger than her grandchildren; OF past,
called Fannie de Ia peau, which dehes and defeats
the most obdurate and atrocious disorders of the
skin; of an almond and gumauvc soap, which give,
n sort OF supernatural beauty to all who it; o
a poudre a ramedne, prepared for the lovers o.
luxurious baths, and which softens and whtens
the skin that the soitness and wilderness are quite
"seraphc;" Of a creme de Taiko, for both young
and old boards, which has the effect of rendering
shaving "quite luxury" Of an epieiory paste
which 1rghtcns away in few seconds any daring
intruders, in the form Of stubborn down." on the
chns or checks of TIE angelic portion OF creations
and Of "a water 10 rince the mouth WITH" thai
leaves so ravishing odour, that in summer wealth
er bees actually arrive by swans at your mouth
imagining you to be nothing less than "bed o
vioets." By the bye, have made up my mint
no TO use "this" water TO the end OF my days
The advertisements" IN French provincial pa
pers are far less amusing. The reason is obvious
all that IS elegant, tashlOnnOle ana dlStngue Is
TO be found IN Paris, and cosmetics IN French coun
try towns are even moro than cleanliness which
would doubtless appear next TO impossible TO those
who have travelled in the French provinces. The
country newspapers are about twelve inches square
an average, printed in type old as Gotten6urg
aud on paper apparently dyed in saffron. They
are litte better m most OF the departments than
mere registers notarial sass adiuGicatiors de-
hnitlyes. There are of course many exceptions
TO this rule, as for example the Memorial Bordelis
odt tlash al nj -.
peace, and obedience, M. Henri Fonfrede. Then
there is the Courier dc Ptsere, journal of "great
merit" Of the Wing school; and paper, published
in the Pas de Calais, whose fame a radical pro-
yIncia leader has been extended by some foolish
prosecutions Roucn, Havre, Lyons, Bordeaux,
Lille and Nantes, have to!erably good weekly or
twice thrice-aweek papers all of the size OF the
National or little less. The advertisements in soma
OF them pay the expenses of the publishers, and the
editors receive some forty or fifty pounds per an
mum for their labonrs;-ill requted indeed! but
who is well paid in France, except opera-daucer
a man cookl
The French provincial papers cannot be compar-
ed Tor moment with the country papers of Great
Britain do not mean TO speak OF their size, their
type, their paper, or their advertisements merely,
when say lhis-but oftheir contents, their wit in.
formation, research, statistics, and local knowledge
In this, as in all other matters. except soups and
dancing, "od England for ever" say |. And vet
L will not deny that in some ten or twelve French
provincial papsrs there is good deal Of genuine ia
lent, and sometimes sound rea; oniny. But there is
one immense obstacle TO the French provincial
newspapers ever becoming of great importance in
directing public opinion in that country, and that
is-the system of French Capitalization. Paris is
the goyernment-Paris is the administration-Pars
IS the source--Paris Is every thing This system of
Capitalization is carried 10 such extent that If
little wooden bridge some mountain torrent
should be damaged or destroyed by a sudden thaw
at the breakup of long frost, the bridge could not
be repaired or rebuilt (though situate five hundred
miles from PaTis) unless the Minister OF the Interi-
or, Minister of the Public Works. and the admins
tratlon des points Ell chaussees had been consulted
nor until reports, maps, surveys and estimates had
been ordered, made, transmitted, examined return-
ed, revised, re-examlned, and finally approved
ans Is no carlcature, but an exact statement of
deplorable truth. IL the Emperor Napoleon
VINO Infatuated the present generation OF the
French 10 this centraliZ alton system, and though
they feel every day its hourly Inconvenience both
moral, political, and physical, they are so used 10
ITS workings, that they know not how to set about
opposing II, especially they stunted i'm their
mental growth by the depressing influence of the
system itself. The provincial press, therefore mar.
takes OF the character of the people of the pro.
vinces, and consequently all who wish in those
provinces TO know what is going on take in or read
a Faris paper. Sometimes II happens that a new
provincial paper is started on what are called Tn-
dependent principles" and then, during a short
time all rush TO the new light with avidity But
ny the Time lew numbers have appeared, tie
journalist discovers that he has been born before
his time that he is greatly in advance of the age IN
which he lives, and that the department in which
he resides has been too long habtuated 10 midnight
darkness TO estimate to bear That light which
sis journal was Intended to difTuse. The result
may be anticipated; the new light either goes out
entreY or Il sinks into the rushlight character Of
us contemporary luminaries!
The political papers OF Paris are now so well
known TO the educated classes IN England, that n
Jew words will suffice respecting them. The Jour.
nal des Debats supports the new dynasty The
Courier FrangaIs IS IN France what the Morning
Chronicle would be in England, if such statesmen
ms those we have just named were in office. The
Temps follows in the same tram, with this excep-
ton, that II would rather more resemble the G. ODE
than the Chronicle. The Constitutional has no
parallel IN England. GAN things to all menu who
can assist IT, is the basis Of its policy. but always
leaning TO the popular side of every question what.
ever that question may be- The National is much
more republican than the Morning Advertiser but
addresses ITSELF as does its English contemporarv
TO the middling classes, The Steele is a chenp edi-
sion OF the Courier Rraneas; for whilst the subscrip
ton TO the Siec'e IS only fifty francs per annum,
that OF the Courier FRANCOIS is eighty francs The
auoutenne, France, and Gazette are faithfully re.
presented here by the Morning Post and Slanard.
but with this exception, that whereas these three
French journals are attached toa fallen DYNASTY
the two English journals are heartily in favor Of
our young and beloved monarch. The Commerce
- about OF the same politics as the Sun and occu
pies itself, like its Eng ish contemporary much more
with home than with foreign questions
The judicial journals Of Paris are by firthe most
read OF any that are published, and pay their pro-
prelors enormously. The trials at the Paris and
provincial courts recorded with talent, LEARNING
and wit. The decisions Of judges on points of a
commercial or general character are given with great
caution and much legal knowledge. The aiiera.
tons from time to time proposed in the code or laws
are examined with care and science. The courts of
justice Of other countries are not left unnoced and
comparisons are instituted, and improvements sue.
gesied, IN good SPIRIT and without party feeling.
The rights OF the weak are defended, the cause of
the innocent protected; and a whole, these LEGAL
newspapers are 10y far the most honest well con-
ducied and even entertaining Of all French journals.
The Gazette des TrIbunaUT still bears the aim Of
victory, though many attempts have been made 10
rival Or excel H. Its late founder made large and
we'll merited fortune; and those who have shares IN
this print, may consider themselves as Every lucky
fellows"
The theatrical and gossiping journals are the mos,
lively and witty IN Europe. The Charivari is quite
unuValled. LIS subscription is certainly very bipb
for though it's dear the Debats IL does not con
tam more than a sixth Of It's matter. Bur then IFS
lhographic caricatures, "eyery day in the year." al
ways droll, or butcsque Or comic, or satircil. and
alwayF 50 good, are worth all the money, and ten
ume' more IL was generally thought when the
generated laws Of Septsmber" were made and put
mo vigorous operation against the press" chat the
1hauvar must fall. II was asked, "How can the
ShafNau 60 on; now II is interdicted by the law
from Punhshlng any PRINT or engraving without the
permission Of the Minister Of the interior who will
not oieoufse, allow q political allusIon(n But an
great mas been Tie talent and hitherto incYhaus-
tbe the Wit, fun, and humour Of this model i,,,t
laf ~ Al 49, -. d