The Trinity times., 1855-05-05
The English and the french,
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

The French intellect is quick and active.
1t flashes its way into a subject with the IA.
pidity of lightning; seizes upon remote con-
cusions with sudden bound, and its dedue-
tioas are almost intutive. The English in
tellect is less rapid, but more persevering;
less Sudden, but more sure in its deductions.
The quicbness and mobility of the French
enable them to Gnd enjoyment in the multi
plicity OF sensations. They speak and act
more from immediate impressions than
from reflection and meditation. They
are therefore more social and communicative;
more fond of society, and of places of public
resort and amusement. An rEnglishman is
more reflective in his habits. He lives in
the world of his own thoughts, and seems
more self-existent and self dependent. lie
loves the quiet OF his own apartment: even
when abroad he in a manner makes little
solitude around him, by his silence and re-
serve; he moves about shy and solitary, and
as it were, buttoned up, body and soul.
The French are great optimiss: they seize
upon every good as it flies, and revel in the
passing pleasure. The Englishman is too
apt to neglect the present good, and prepar-
ing against the possible evil However ad-
vers,ies may lower, let the sunshine but for
n moment, and forth sallies tho mercurial
Frenchman, in holiday dress and holiday
spirits, gay as butterfly, MS though his sun
were perpetual: but let the sun beam never
sd brightly. 50 taere be hut y clond ~ tao
horizon, the wary Engliahmun ventures forth
distrustlully, with his umbrella in his hand.
The Frenchman has s wonderful facility at
turning small things to advantage. No one
can be gay and luxurious on smaller rncans:
no one require less expese TO be happy. lie
practices kind Of gliding in his style Of liv.
ing, end hammers out every guinea into gold
leaf. The Englislman, on the contrary, is
expensive in his habits, and expensive IN his
enioyments. lie values eTerythlng, whether
useful or ornaG;cntal, by what it costs. lie
has no satisfaction ia show, unless it be solid
and complete. Everything goes with him
by the square foot. Whatever disrlay he
makes the depth is sure to equal the surface.
The Frenchman's habitation, like himself,
is open, cheerful, hustlIng, aAd noisy. lie
lives in O part Of great hotel, with wide por-
tai, paved court, a spacious dirty, store stair
case and a family on every floor. All is
clatter and chatter. He is good -hnmored
and talkatye with his servants, sociabe with
his neighbore, and complaisant to all the
world. Anybody has access 10 himself and
his apartments: his very bedroom is open
to visitors, whatever may be its state of confu.
sion; and all this not from any peculiarly hos.
pitable feeling, but from that communicative
habit which prodominatef over his character.
The Englishman, on the contrary, enscon-
ces himself in snug brick mansion, which
he has all to himself locks tho front door
puts broken bottles along his walls, and
sprine-puns and man traps in his garden:
shrouds him with trees and window curtains,
IN his quiet aud privacy, aud seems disposed
10 keep out noise, daylight and company
His house, like himself, has reserved, inhos-
piable exterior yet whoeyeyer gains. admit
lance, is apt to 6nd warm heart and warm
freside within.
The French excel IN wit: the English in
humor: tie French have gayer fancy, the
English richer imagnatons. The former
are full Of sensiblity, easily moved, and prone
to sudden and great excitement. but their
excitement is not durable: the Engsh are
more phlegmatic: not 70 readily affected: but
capable Of being aroused to great enthusiasm.
The faults Of the opposite temperaments are,
that the yivacity Of the French is apt b. spar
kle up an become froihy the gravity of the
English 10 settle down and grow muddy
When the two characters can be fixed IN
medium, the French kept from cfervosccnce
and ihe English from slagnation, both will be
ioaud excellent.
This contrast Of charcer may also be no.
tccd in the great concerns Of the two ma
tions. The ardent Fcenchman is all for mil
Itary renown: be fights for glory, that IL to
say, for success Ia arms. Tor, provided the
nationalAag be victorious, lac cares little about
the expense, the Injustice or the ingulity Of
the war. II is wonderful how the poorest
frenchmau will rcyel on "a Triumphant bulle-
tin: a great victory is meat and drink 10 hin'
and at the sight Of military sovereign
bringing home captured cannon ana captur-
ed standards, be throws up his greasy cap N
the air, aud is ready to jump out Of his wood
on shoes for joy.
John Bull, on the contrary, is a reasoning,
considerate person. II be does wrong il is
h tho most rational way imaginable, He
( gohis because the good ol The world requires
h. lie is "a moral person, and makes war up
90 hs ueigllhor Tor the maintenance oi peace
/ L