Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1844-06-27
LETTER FROM EUROPE,
To the Sen Editor of the Reading Eagle, dated,


VIENNA, Nov. 30,h, 1888.
Dear Friend II hear so seldom from my
friends in America that | have almost become
home sick Indeed, it would be strange if an
American abroad should not become So One
sees, It is true, much TO be admired, much TO
be praised, and much to be initiated but as TO
happiness in common life, the moral condition
and political relations, the preponderance is
upon the whole, so much in favor of our own
country, ,ha, one may indeed be proud Of being
an American. II is absolutely impossible for
native American TO travel over Europe and
not return with renewed patriotism and thank
God that he is an American citizen and that he
and his children may live there. But dislike
TO say much of this al present. If God spare
my life, and am permitted again TO tread upon
and hiss the soil of my native country, | shall
give you more copious description in detail.
After not very pleasant voyage, during
which we had almost daily rains and contrary
winds, we landed on the 26ih day after our de-
parure from New York, a, Havre, in France.
With my own luggage had not much difficult
ty but the other passengers not little. since
even the hand baskets and relicules of the la
dies descending from the ship were searched
through, and all trunks instantly taken to the
custom house, opened and rummaged, in order
TO find prohibited articles, which were immedl-
aiely con6scated and the owners fined besides.
Tobacco, silk goods aud clothes of every kind,
which were not yet transformed into garments,
they were particularly keen in searching after
and there were some comic scenes, that may
,Ho for lau
In Havre we were not ittIe astonlsbed al
the dresses and The whole appearance part'cu-
larly of the country people, They much remind
me of eur ROUGH MOUNTAINEERS.
The women all wear caps, some foot and
a half high, and many pointed like sugar
head. From Havre we went with steamboat
up the Seine to Rouen, the capital OF Norman
dy, where we remained one day 10 view the
Cathedral, one Of The most ancient and splen-
did, not only in France but in Europe, besides
other curiOsi,ies. The banks OF The Seine,
from Havre 10 Rouen, are very beautiful
There are many splendid palaces and beautl.
fully situated villages but the cottages oil TIE
country people are very poor, low, and almost
all covered with straw, not much better than
the pig pens of our wealthy farmers. They
look romantic enough but want every comfort
After leaving the bay, formed by the river al lis
mouth, it is pretty much like the Schuylkill
only some what deeper, 10 Rouen from thence
10 Paris il is mol so wide, and 90 shallow, too
that it is hardly navigahe by sruall boats. We
left, therefore, the river, and travelled overland
in fast line stage 10 Paris.
1t is an enormous city, with about 900 00C
inhabitants The houses are very high, the
streets very narrow, and extremely dirty, with
ou fpavements) sidewalks for foot passengers
EVERY PLACE is swarming with people, SO as
scarcely 10 force oneself through; and the crowd
and stench makes one anxlously long alter
Gods free air. How men can freely choose
such a city to live in is inconceisable 10 me
Only the msgnificen, public gardens, which one
finds there, and they are indeed most beautiful
can render the place, IN some measure ,olsra'
BILE. Ons may spend month here; for the
palaces, galleries Of paintings, exhibitions oi
all conceivable works Of ART, public libraries
ETC.. are beautiful 10 admiration and very a''rac-
i've. The Kag, and ,he whole regal family
faad had The honor to be presented TO them,
are very kind and afahle. The King talked
much with me of America, and remembered
many family that be had known ia Philadel
phia. He dent appear TO enjoy The best health
and after h,s d-cesse. troubles may arise again
! in France, ,ha, morally Is extremely corrup,