Year: 1873

The Hon. Wm. G. Bates, with his fam fly, has been spending the past year ir Europe, and he has written series of let ters for the information and pleasure ot his friends. They have been published and extensively read. He has sent us one which we insert for the qualification of oul subscribers, many of whom are acquainted with him, and all know of him. It is al- ways pleasant to read the descriptions oi foreign places which we may never visit, from one whom we know and whose state. ments we can trust. The series of letters written to THR NEWS by Gov. Holley were highly treasured by our readers, because they knew him, and knew his account was reliable. This letter of Mir. B. will also be prized for the same reason. His des- cription of Paris will be read with interest, as it contains his opinions of the existing state of French politics, sswell as his graphic description of some of the peculiarities of that wonderful city.

 PARIs, June 9th, 1873.

 ED. NRws:-To-dsy, was called upon

 

 by one of our kin and his wife, who for some time have resided here; and by his invitation we took seats in his carriage and rode for three hours about this beautiful city and its environs. As I sit down to record my impressions. scarcely know where to begin nor what course to follow l saw enough this afternoon to fill vol ume, in description, provided could faith fully portray to you the impressions that were made upon my mind by what saw. Following the course of our route, let us begin by saying that we first drove from the Madeleine to the Quai of the Seine; then along the banks past the Tuilleries, the gar dens, the Louvre, oyer the bridges and the island which formerly constituted ancient Paris; past the great church of Notre Dame; then down to the river to the bridge that leads to the Arc de Triumphe; then for circuit of many miles on the wide and beautiful domain which is called the Bois de Cologne; then returning to the Arc de Triumphe we drove down the avenue de la Reine Hortense, through the Pare de Mon- creaux to our house near the Madeleine. It was, truly, most interesting excursion |; and felt grateful to my namesake, not only for what I was enabled to see, but also for the information which he was so we'll fitted to afford. Let me refer to one incident which gave me something of q surprise and great deal of pleasure, and which possibly may be an example for u. to initiate in connection with our Western Avenue. After riding laAg and winding way over graded and level paths carefully smootbed by the roller, our carriage drew up at small hostlerie, on one side of which was an open tent, shielding the nu- merous guests who, like us, had stopped to sit at the tables beneath the tent. Without stopping at it, he led the way, with one of the ladies, to what found to be barn or COW stable, in which were about thirty coys and few goats which were kept there for milk. The cows were of differ ent breeds, but all of them fine animals and their nationality was displayed by signs hung up before them. A man was engaged in milking them; and when we returned to the tent we found that it was the habit of the people of Paris to drive out to this establishment in order to partake of dTaught ot milk warm from the COW. Some of the guests ordered ale and wine, and I presume that the restaurant was well fur nished with all the required restoratives but was pleased to see that the prevailing popular taste,called for warm cows milk. It could not but occur to me that if ever there should be established restaurant up- on our avenue, and it should be furnished with similar refreshments, and if the good sense of the visitors should induce them to discard the almost indispensable article which is the cause of so much ruin, for she refreshments which seem to satisfy the refined people of Paris, not only would our labor contribute to the beauty of the town and the honor of its people, but they would insugurate beginning of good health and improved morals. There is one peculiarity that distinguishes Paris beyond any other city that have ever seen; and that is, the number and beauty of it's parks and Places;" the width and straightness of it's streets and avenues, and tho magnificence of it's boulevards. have seen in my wanderings about the city, great number. already; and every time deViate into new quarter, I see the same attention paid to furnishing all parts of the city with what has we'll been called "its lungs" London is well provided with them, but their extent bears no proportion to those of Paris. And all, or the chief pat ot this beauty, is owing to the taste and enterprise of one man. Standing at the Arc de Triumphe, on the elevated sum- init that overlooks the whole city of Paris, and looking from it, as a center, down the broad avenues that radiate from it, could not but see the cause of that enthusiasm which is excited in the breast of every Frenchman at the name of Napoleon. The Arc itself is magnificent structure. do not know the exact dimensions. I think the small arch is at least 70 feet in height, the larger one, one hundred; the height of the whole structure over an hundred and afty feet; its breadth or thickness, at least z6 feet, and it's length 15O feet Around the square are blocks of palatial residences, and the Arc towers high above them. They seem to be dwarfed in comparison.

 Radiating from the "Place," in which the Arc stands. are twelve broad avenues, varying in width from six or seven rods to fifteen or twenty. Each one is planted with three rows of trees and many of them have four rows along the sides and central parts of them. The course of the avenues is straight, and the eye can take in the extent of miles. In the afternoon the view from the Arc down some of them is