Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-10-28
MIS- SCELL A N Y .
A Remarkable story of Garrick.


A Paris correspondent of the Boston Travel
Ter writes as follows: .sl.
The date of this letter is enough to let yon
know that Paris is abandoned by the few thou
sand people. called everybody" All the best
writers of the press have flown with them. The
charming NJ. Eugene Guinot sends US weekly
letters from one or another of the charming vii
lagos in the vicinity of Paris. In a letter from
the Forest of Bondy, he tells the following SIM
eulsr story, in exhibition of the wonderful pow
ess of Garrick: lo
The celebrated English actor, Garrick made q
trip TO Paris in 1857, when he was at the height
of his talents and fame. He did not, as many of
our artists do now, make the excursion for the
purpose of speculation, he did not come to Paris
to perform and make money. He travelled for
amusement, mere tourist, anxious to visit q
beautiful country, which he might partly claim
for his own. The family of the English actor
was of French origin; they fled the country up
ON the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. In
the mail coach which bore them from London
to Dover Garrick found for fellow traveller,
Sir George Lewis gentleman he had met sew
eral times before in company and had known
for constant frequenter at Drury Theatre
They took advantage of this casual encounter to
improve their acquaintance; each was delighted
with the other. After crossing the channel to-
gether, they came to Paris in the same vehicle,
but when they reached this capital they separa-
ted. The actor went to the house of the friends
who were expecting him, and Sir George Lewis
took up his lodgings in one of those splendid
furnished houses of the Quarter de la Chaussee
d'Antin, which then began to be q very fashion,
able quarter of the town. The two travelling
companions had promised to see q great deal of
each other during their stay in Paris but the
very different life each of them led rendered it
impossible for them to execute their resolutions.
Sir George Lewis was man between forty five
and fifty years old, with very singular face
whose irregular and prominent features made
his physiognomy most eccentric and expressive.
During the whole journey Garrick had ad-
mired that countenance, thinking what an effect
it would produce on the stage. Despite his age,
which should have cooled the ardor of his char.
acter, and have engaged him to abandon the fol-
lies of youth, Sir George Lewis lived in the
midst of dissipation ard pleasure. He had come
to Paris to amuse himself by gaily spending
large legacy unexpectedly bequeathed to him.
He was passionately fond of gaming, and the
satisfaction of this passion led him into q very
mixed company, as indeed are all companies
where gambling is INDUCED, since these men are
valued by the sum of money they are able or
willing to stake on the cards, q test which al
lows many sbarpers to slip in. The actor lived
in a very different sort of society, and during
the four months of their stay in Paris the two
travelling companions scarcely met above two or
three times. Just as he was about leaving for
London Garrick called upon Sir George Lewis,
to bid him goodbye and enquire if he had any
commands for London. To his horror he was
informed that the unhappy gentleman had been
assassinated the previous evening. His body
had been found that morning in the Forest of
Boudy, covered with wounds, and lying bathed
in blood.
Deeply touched, Garrick exerted himself to
ascertain as much as possible of the details of
this deplorable event. He found that Sir George
LOWS had been one of party of pleasure to
visit chateau in the environs of Bondy, where
a large company Of sportsmen and gamblers
were assembled. He intended to remain there
some days. The first evening of his visit he won
a large sum of money at the gaming table, In
the afternoon of the second day he received a
note from Paris, engaging him to gallant rem
devious, and Immediately on receipt of it, he
bade adieu to the company. They tried to re-
tain him, less out of politeness, perhaps, than
the desire of winning back the money he had
taken from them, aud this desire was so vehe-
ment as to carry them to the resolution of dis
his carriage. But Sir George Lewis
was man of WILL and he determined to return
to Paris on horseback. He leaped on his horse
and galloped away. Further than this Garrick
could learn nothing. The police were inclined