Washington sentinel., 1854-01-26
Washingtnn gentinel.
An Englishman In France.

hugging about them, their huge travelling
shawls, their enormous whiskers, and round
red faces looking very much like one of their
own puddings ere it is taken ont Of the bag.
You may know an Englishman by three things.
lie always dresses outandishly; he always
keeps tight grasp on his purse, thinking
everything is enormously dear; and always con-
tradicts you, when he can possibly do so, with
a regular Dr.-Johnson.ike air, as though that
was the conclusion of the whole nation. You
have doubtless heard of the John Bull who
never could 60 to sleep in peace without rais-
ing his window, every time the watchman
passed under it calling "twelve o'clock, and
bawling out, /" it is not twelve o'clock, you ras-
cal, it wants FIVE minutes Of it." He was a type
of this race Poor Mr. Crapeaud knows not
what to make Of him. All the widest, most
improbable stories about the eccentricities OF
Englishmen are rites in France, and are readi-
ly swallowed by the mass of the people. Here
is one that is now making great noise in Paris,
and it is said to be an actual occurrence. You
can Judge.
Sir Edward L. is the hero Of the tale, and he
is said TO be as wealthy as his tastes and habits
are otttre and extravagant. He engaged a
celebrated French pianist not long since, to
entertain with his talent a large and brilliant
party he was about to give at his hotel, in the
Rue St. Honore. The evening came round,
and so did the musician. On being ushered
into the drawingroom, he found four or five
people already arrived. On an ottoman IN the
farther end Of the room, was seated lady
magnifcently dressed, whom Sir Edward i'm
mediately introduced to the pianist as "Lady
E., my wife,. Not the slightest bend of the
head nor any other acknowledgment on the
ladys part followed the introduction. And
this" continued the nobleman, turning to an
other lady, seated at the table, and attentively
engaged in perusing the last novel, which lay
open before her, q this is my sister, the honor
able Miss E., she is a great reader, and fre-
quently sits up very late, engaged in her favor
ite occupation" The poor artist bowed with
a true Frenchmans grace, but his salutation
was taken just as much notice Of as his preyi-
ous one. "This," pursued the polite Sir Ed
ward, pointing to . gentleman seated at an
other table, shading his brow with his hand,
and intently gazing upon the squares Of chess
board, "this is the greatest chess-playerin in Eng
land am happy TO be tho medium Of your
acquaintance"
Not nod, not the movement of a muscle,
indicated that the great chess-player was con-
scious Of the presence of stranger. To sny
that the poor pianist was in despair at this
feelings Of modification and astonishment
But, thought he to himself, there is probably
some mystery connected with this manner Of
reception that will soon be cleared up; in the
mean time, perhaps, | shall have better success
with the fourth party, and he looked inquisi-
lively at tall gentleman standing by neigh
boring console and engaged in seeming the odor
of some magnificent camelias in vases OF Se-
vres porcelain. "Ahl' said Sir f., divining
his wishes, and in measure anticipating them:
You will allow me to present to you this my
most intimate friend, the Viscount b ---.
He twice saved my life in India, but his many
high qualities Of head and heart needed moi, l
assure you, this additional motive to the high
esteem in which / hold him. Again the
Frenchman bowed and again was his bow re-
turned with the same incivility-that is, not
returned at all. Sir Edward, therefore, fearing
perhaps too hasty dcnoueme'n, led the
pianist up to the piano and entreated him to
favor him with an exhibition Of his skill. He
complied, and selected piece of his own COM
position.
1t happened that the piano was exactly OPP
posite the ottoman on which sat the lady to
whom he had first been introduced. His fin
gers were flying over the keys at a great rate,
when suddenly he noticed the lady's handker-
chief drop. He sprang forward with oil a
Frenchman's gallantry to pick itup and restore
it, but his amazement may be conceived when
he discovered that the beautiful lady was moth
ing more nor less than ,oar. He turned to sur
vey the others; they were wax--the novel
reader, the chess-player, and the man "aux
camilias." He began to suspect that Sir Ed
ward himself was not exactly what he repre-
sented himself to be, when that gentleman
came to his relief by assuring him that the
real company was yet to arrive; that these
statues were only figures Of some Of his friends
then dead; that, finally, he carried them
round with him wherever he went. kept several
servants for no other purpose than to wait on
them, and always treated them with every pos
sible mark of respect. Such is Frenchman's s
idea Of an Englishman.
ITs CONQUEST conquest of Lower Cali
fornia by President Walker and a liberating ar
my Of forty-eight pistols, affords the English
papers fine opportunity for comment and dis
auisition A London paper has the following;
A remarkably bold and daring coup dctaf,
so marvellous that, had it occurred elsewhere,
it would have seemed almost incredible, has
Just been enacted in the Mexican State Of Lower
California. The province consists Of long
- l...J o-tord,rv from, ohnut 23o To I3o