whose glare only brought to me the thoughts of confusion and disgrace. As we ascended the stair together, my tormentor pressed my arm in a transport of delight, and whispered that we should keep together the whole evening. This announcement, and the critical point of my situation, inspired me with a desperate courage. With a cunning which is often the result of extremity I told him that it was a rule of fashion, for an individual never to be seen twice with the same person, in public, and advised him to distribute his attentions among as many of the company as he could. We had then arrived at the first landing place on the stair, and, as there were two passages leading to the saloon, I pointed to the left, desiring him to follow it, while I, resolutely, sprung up the right, and hastened to get into the room before he should make his debut. In my haste I rudely stepped in before a handsome gentleman, wearing upon his upper lip its unshorn treasure, and supporting a tall and elegant lady dressed in black satin. I cast one glance back to read the effects of my misdemeanour, and almost sunk to the ground as my eyes encountered a face whick spoke any offence against it, a violation of majesty.

The effect of the lights, and the music and the sound of human voices, though it at first stunned me a little, recovered me partly from my confusion. Before I had advanced far, I was saluted by some acquaintances, and found myself among a circle of ladies who were busily talking about some expected mysterious event. "When will he come ?" said one. "What is he like ?" said another. "Good gracious !" exclaimed a third," he may be among us just now." "Aye!" replied a vivacious ladies' man, who now joined the group, "he may be at your elbow, Madam; for I remember I was once speaking about him at a large party, when I turned round, and saw him listening to me over my shoulder." "O! you have seen him? What was he like?" cried a host of voices at once, and a dead silence ensued while the smart wag gravely shook his head and answered, "Nay, that I can scarce tell; for, before I could recover from my surprise, he vanished through a door and I could only catch a glimpse of the tail- -""What, Mr.

!

you saw his tail!" enquired a lady in a black gown, trimmed with white scollops in the skirt. "The tail of his coat, Ma'am, and that, as nearly as I could discover, was a pea green." The breathless suspense which had hung over the group here gave way for a little, and I had an opportunity to ask, who was the individual alluded to. “O, Mr. !" replied the lady in black, “ "you are just come, and have not heard us talking about the gentleman who wears the Spectacles of The Day! It is expected that he will visit the Assembly to-night, and we are looking out for his appearance." These words were no sooner uttered, than I felt my toe violently trod upon, and, looking to the side, I saw my Highland friend, jogging me with all his might, and winking in such a manner as to intimate that there was a secret between us both, which was not known to the rest of those present. I could have grinned with rage upon the officious fellow, but, fearing lest his signs might produce a discovery, I went with him to another part of the room. He was very anxious that I should introduce him to a tasteful figure, in bright red, and almost ran mad after a young lady whom I had only seen once before in public, decorated with lace and white roses. I took pity, however, upon their pretty faces, and got my guest saddled on one of those fragrant evergreens, which, by an anomaly in the science of nomenclature, are denominated wallflowers.

Now, left to myself, I had leisure to reconnoitre the room, and the first thing that struck my attention was, the profusion of white dresses, certainly the most appropriate colour for a dancing saloon. The fairy forms which moved, with swan-like grace, through the quadrille, derived additional beauty from the undulations of snowy vestments, and, when the waltz came

in its turn to occupy a place among the amusements of the evening, the pulses of the air seemed all at once to assume a sensible form and motion, and to vibrate in the magic circles of innumerable fair flounces. Here, shining in the glossy folds of white satin, a tall and elegant figure glanced athwart the eye with the mien of a Grecian female, her head sweeping aloft, a plume of Maraboo feathers, and there a pair of handsome ancles, bound after the fashion of the Tyrian virgins, shewed their modest shapes beneath a white flounce adorned with gold trimming. The eye, which traversed with phrenzied pleasure "the gay and festive scene," then rested with delight on the sweet countenance of a rosy girl, whose dark tresses, contrasting with a bunch of roses and confined within a silver band, and her light form, flitting in airy pink, made her look like Iris, the messenger of Juno" drawing a thousand colours from the adverse sun." Again, the attention was claimed by the circling movements of the waltzers, and, conspicuous among the rest, like the leading deer, a white plume nodding over a suit of sables, pointed out a gay queen of fashion. Then, "observed of all observers," a snowy, swan-like form, supported by a pleasant officer, swam past the eye, with Parisian elegance, diffusing scintillations of light from golden sprigs of jessamine. Countenances expressive of sweetness, and figures moulded in the cast of dignity, pursued each other in never ending round. "Beauties, which even a Cynic might avow," there shewed their lilies and roses, the peculiar graces of their clime, and the Moor, who stood that night gazing upon the lovely groups, might have fancied

"Paradise within his view,

And all its houris beckoning too." But, who is she, calm as a summer sky, beautiful as the morning, who advances, robed in the pure colour of the sun, and imparting a share of her own light to the society which live around her? With tresses like the glittering forest leaves, which glance back the rays of the sun, and with a smile like that which wakens nature in a morning of May? Is it thou, beautiful among the daughters of Scotland, and blooming as the rose of Shiraz? Dost thou, who erst veiled thy charms in subduing sable, now shew thy perfect power of pleasing, by assuming the garb of cheerful white? Art thou ever ovely, both in the emblem of night, and as the goddess of day, and hast thou chosen that those hearts which thy solemn suit had wounded, should own the power of thy beauty, when adorned with sprightly vesture?

These were the spontaneous feelings which sprung up in my heart, as I gazed for the first time on the belle of the evening, and I could not help wishing myself a handsome young foreigner, that I might support on my arm so precious a burden. I was arrested in such reflections by a voice behind me, which I recognized to be the unwelcome one of the Laird of Loch-na-meol. -Hoping to escape from his intrusion, I endeavoured to move off among the crowd, but, before my object could be accomplished, his hand was on my shoulder. "Here!" said he, "what is that gentleman with the blue coat and silk lining to the tails of it?"

"That, I believe, is one of the stewards," was my reply.

"Just so, and, think you, will he have any ginger beer, for there are some ladies that I want to give a drink to?"

O! hang this fellow, thought I, he takes a steward of an assembly for a cork drawer. Woe betide me! if I am to endure the scorn of his ignorance. With all the art I was master of, I endeavoured to get rid of him, with an indefinite answer, but all to no effect. Like Sinbad's old man, he again got me into his gripe, and seemed determined not to let me get off as long as he had questions to ask, and remarks to make. He was very much pleased with the company -thought this lady, in white, with the profusion of

curls, pretty, and that neat figure, in pink, absolutely bewitching. The tall lady with the Grecian profile, and the other with the alabaster skin and aqualine nose were, decidedly, elegant, but rather too slim for his taste. But what dwelt with most weight upon his mind, was that he could not get an opportunity of dancing a reel. Gallopades, waltzes and quadrilles, had completely tired him, and I found his whole amusement had consisted in conversing with the ladies. He was now determined, however, to attempt a quadrille, and, though I foresaw that he would expose himself, I could not resist the temptation of introducing him to a partner, and thus getting rid of him myself. In leading him across the room, I observed that one of my acquaintances, whom I meet frequently at a billiard room, cut me, after looking very hard at my companion.

Again master of myself, I lounged about the room with the view of securing myself a place in the next dance. In my cruize I was passed by a very pretty and genteel figure in white muslin, with a satin band, whom I understood to be a debutante, leaning upon the arm of a learned gentleman, and I was ultimately successful enough to engage the hand of a handsome belle arrayed in the same colour, whose gay shawl had often attracted my admiration to the fair owner on a forenoon. We took our station beside the ropes, and were quietly waiting for a gay young spark, who could get no lady to dance with him, as they were all engaged three deep, and were refusing all invitations with some hauteur, when, to my horror, who should appear as our vis à vis but my unwearied persecutor? His feelings His feelings were of a different kind from mine; for he nodded over to me half a dozen times with the greatest glee, and seemed desirous to make me mad, with showing our acquaintance, by every hideous expression which his face could muster. It was no relief from this dumb show, when the dancing began, for my friend was so untutored in that art, that he used a quick reel step the whole time he was upon the floor, and made such bungling, in trying to execute the figures of the quadrilles, that we were soon obliged, though very much against his will, to resume our seats.

Stung with as much mortification as I could have felt, had I committed the blunders myself, I slunk away, and endeavoured to escape being noticed as the friend of a person who had created so much confusion. In fact, I was just upon the point of quitting the room, when a young dragoon, who makes a good figure on horseback, requested me to stay, as he wished to introduce me to a very promising young lady, dressed with blond sleeves, who had come out that evening. I returned, therefore, and, as I went to speak to one of the directresses, I heard the Highland accents of Loch-na-meol. He was seated upon a sofa, between two ladies, making his jokes upon a number of waiting maids in the orchestra, which was employed, on this occasion, for the purpose of giving strangers of that description, a peep at well dressed people. The Highlander was quite delighted to have an opportunity of shewing his rustic taste, in criticising the looks of these spectators; but there was, probably, no other person in the room, who did not wish that, instead of the scarlet cloth affair, the orchestra had been kept in its proper place.

Luckily, I did not attract his observation just then, and I sat a little with the matron I was seeking, whose comely and good humoured countenance restored me some comfort. In a short while, I observed a number of people were going away. I took the opportunity to make my exit as quietly as possible. I did not, however, accomplish this without being observed by my faithful Achates, who fastened himself upon me in the passage. We proceeded down stairs together, and were looking out for a noddy, when, all at once, my companion discovered that he had got an old hat, instead of a spick-andspan-new one, which, in the simplicity of his heart, he

had purchased for the occasion. I observed to him, that it was the established rule of public parties, for the guests who left first, to take the best hats with them, and that he could not expect to have a better than that which fell to his share, considering how many had been served before him. This, however, was poor consolation, and he insisted upon our making some attempt to recover the lost beaver. This suggested to me a scheme for ridding myself of his company, and for revenging myself on him, for the misery which he had caused me. "Well," said I, "if you are anxious about your hat, the only place where I think it is likely to be found, is the coal hole; and if you please, we shall go there to seek it."

"What!" said he, surprised beyond measure, "and is it in a coal hole that they put a gentleman's hat?"

"Stay! my friend, you do not understand-the coal hole is a sort of finish for young bloods."-" Yes, trust you there," he rejoined. It is a finish for new hats at any rate."

With some persuasion, I got him to accompany me to that famous resort of merriment, and, before he well knew where he was, I had him pushed into the room, where several choice spirits of my acquaintance had already assembled. "Gentlemen, here is Mr. Spectacles of The Day"-I cried as I thrust him in among them, and no sooner were the words out of my mouth, than I had secured the door on the outside, thus rendering useless any attempt at escape from within, and then walked leisurely off, while my ears were gratified with the cries of" out with Mr. Spectacles, duck him, bag him," which effectually drowned all the unfortunate Highlander's attempts at expostulation.

ORIGINAL POETRY.

TO ANNE.

(An Impromptu at the last Assembly.) Need I name the charms that win me, Need I tell the love within me, Who that looks upon thy beauty, But must own that love's a duty. Teach thy skin to doff its whiteness, Bid thine eyes to lose their brightness, Then my prayers will cease to move thee, Then, my Anne, I'll cease to love thee. But while beauteous forms and faces Speak the heart's enchanting graces; And while these are lavish'd o'er thee, Still, I must, and will, adore thee!

MISCELLANEA.

STEAM NAVIGATION.-There is one very important point of distinction between America and England with respect to Steam Navigation. The Americans have no steam-vessels that go to sea, or so few that they need hardly be counted. A few boats make passages up and down the Strait that lies between Long Island and the main land of New York, and one or two run from Boston to ports in the North; but, with these exceptions, the steam navigation of America, magnificent as it is, may be considered as confined to the fresh water, while that of Britain may be said as yet to be exclusively on the ocean. Nor is this adduced as a mere point of curious distinction; it involves in its essence a difference of the highest national importance. The steam-boats of America are not tit, either by their form or the nature of their materials, to stand the action of the sea for ten minutes; and, in like manner, the men by whom they are navigated are not seamen in any sense of the word. It is very true that an American is a hardy, active, and ingenious fellow-up to anything and everything; but for all this versatility of talent and ductility of purpose, it is not possible all at once to convert him, into a salt-water sailor, any more than it is possible to render his river steam-boat a sea-going craft. On the coasts of this empire, on the other hand, we are daily bringing up in our steamers an additional set of seamen, as valuable as any which the coasting trade has given birth to in past times, while all our old sources of supply remain untouched.—Quarterly Review.

NOVEL ENGLISH.-Byron, in one of his notes appended to Don Juan, says: "Anent is a Scotch phrase which has beeu made English by the Scotch novels."-A novel way of making English! We shrewdly guess the "Great Magician's Wand" has been at work here.

GLASGOW REMINISCENCE.

In the year 1779, in the month of September, a woman set out from the Cross of this city, to walk on foot to Haddington (60 measured miles) in 19 hours, which she performed with ease in 16 hours and three quarters. The bets, at starting, were ten guineas to one that she would not perform it.

GLASGOW HUNT REMINISCENCE.

IN November, 1779, the gentlemen of the Glasgow Hunt found a fox on Tuesday morning, at Tollcross, at nine o'clock, and run him till half-past four in the afternoon; he crossed Clyde three times, and ran over a great tract of country; he, at last, got the The chase could not be less than ground, in Hamilton wood. fifty miles.

LAW, LAWYERS AND LITIGANTS.

SIR, Your able paper on "Law, Lawyers and Litigants," while it contains many sound truths well expressed, leaves, at the same time, an opening for some few remarks.

The absurd prejudices against the members of the legal profession you very properly expose; but, still I think you do not make sufficient allowance for these feelings, which it must be allowed alone originate in the delays and uncertainty of the law.

now,

It appears strange that, while a single sitting of a court of justice suffices to determine the life or death of a human being, years must elapse before the disputed succession to an estate can be settled. A friend of mine, by the death of a relative, had, about twenty-six years ago, a portion of an estate in a neighbouring county bequeathed to him, the co-heirs denied his right, and a lawsuit was the result. The case has ever since been travelling alternately between the Court of Session and the House of Lords, and, though he has had repeated decisions in his favour, he is only when arrived at an advanced period of life, about to receive what ought to have been his property twenty-six years back. Now, Sir, though it might possibly have taken more than a day to decide this question, I cannot help thinking that, under a proper system, with some little previous examination into the merits of the case, a day being appointed, documents produced, and witnesses examined, as in criminal cases, that a decision could have been arrived at within an extremely moderate period. One of the great evils of British law is, that it is founded on no certain principles; its existence chiefly depends on the decisions of former judges, and the commentaries of writers upon their opinions. Again, these decisions are daily liable to be overturned by succeeding judges, showing that there must be something extremely unsettled in the foundation of that, which every newly-fledged judge can so easily upset. The study of British law may prove a quickener to the intellect, and may be calculated "to impress upon the miud of the student, the principles of justice, equity and truth." But, I doubt very much, if the law itself be likely to instil an admiration of the same principles in the minds of those suitors, who are dragged within its pale, The law of this whether in a righteous or an unrighteous cause. country, is in truth, an expensive luxury, for the gratification of the rich man's petulance or envy-to the poor it presents no evenOur demand handed justice, that is a prize beyond his reach. therefore, is, to possess cheap and speedy justice-justice to all classes in society-and, though speed may occasionally carry injustice in its train, better is it to have even that quickly, than years of expensive litigation and annoyance.

I am glad to find, that you acknowledge the evils of the present system; but, I am afraid that it is not the abolishing of fees to useless servants, and altering the forms of procedure, that will alone bring about the desired end-the numerous scattered acts of the legislature, and the leading features of a proper system of law ought to be collected together into one national code, to which Difficulties every man might refer and apply to his own case. no doubt might arise, cases might occur which no code could comprise; but these, as they happened, might be made to form a fitting appendix to the grand code, and in the course of a few years, we might have laws, which, if not absolutely perfect, would be as near perfection as any human institution could well arrive at. There are no doubt many plausible objections to a code, but, they appear greatly counter-balanced by the advantages likely to The formation of one is a task fitted for some accrue from it. master mind, and such a man the country at present possesses: were his energies directed to this point, and joining to it, a more rational mode of procedure than the present, no man need despair of seeing the laws of his country possessed of a clearness and aptitude of application, very different from the mystery and doubt which overshadow the present absurd system.

Trusting that you will excuse these desultory remarks, I reNO LAWYER. main, yours, &c.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

THE verses to the "Comet," by "A Neighbouring Star," are too eccentric for our taste.

The paper of" An admirer,” we suspect, would not excite the admiration of the public. The story is common-place.

The Epistle, asking us, whether we were serious when we wrote the Article "On the Highland Character," requires no

answer.

C

Advertisements.

JUST PUBLISHED, and to be had of JOHN REID &
CO., Foreign and English Booksellers, 58, HUTHESON STREET,
HILDHOOD and other POEMS. By J. NORVAL.
Beautifully printed on foolscap octavo, price 5s.
COIR MHOR A CHRIOSDUIDH. Eadar-theangaichte
o Bheurla UILLEAM GHUTHRIE. Le P. MACPHARLAIN,
Eadar-theangair "Tus agus fas diadhachd anns an anam," &c.
&c., 18mo. boards, 2s.

Just received, THE WESTERN LITERARY JOURNAL. No. VIII. Also, a further supply of former Nos.

Dedicated by permission to his Majesty, In the Press, and speedily will be Published, in One Volume Octavo, BIBLIO. THECA SCOTO-CELTICA; or, an Account of all the Books which have been Printed in the Gaelic Language, with Bibliographical and Biographical Notices. By JOHN REID.

A

BOUT TO LEAVE.-Patronised by His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester.-MONSIEUR EDOU. ART, Silhouettiste of the French Royal Family, No. 149, Queen Street, site of the Old Theatre.-M. EDOUART being about to proceed to London for the purpose of taking the Like. nesses of the Royal Family, he, previous to his departure, which is positively fixed for the 24th of the present month of March, takes this opportunity of presenting his sincere thanks to those families and individuals who have honoured him with their kind patronage; but takes leave to say that the encouragement he has experienced in Glasgow has fallen far short of his expectations, from the inducements held out to him to visit it. He attributes this to a parallel that may have been drawn, by those who have not seen his Exhibition Rooms, between his Silhouettes and the common Shades, to which the public attention has been formerly

attracted.

M. E. having taken the Royal Family of England, has determined to visit all the Continental Courts before any more provincial Towns, and he hopes that the specimens left behind him in Glasgow will give ample proof of his peculiar talent in taking Likenesses.

N. B. Mons. E. begs leave to inform the families who have already expressed to him their desire to have their likenesses taken, that to prevent disappointment they should come forward immediately, as his stay will not be prolonged beyond the above date.

IMPORTANT TO FAMILIES.-PRICE OF COALS

-Hutchesontown Coal Yard. In the Yard THREE SHILLINGS per CART, or THREE PENCE per Cwt. A number of respectable Carters being always in attendance, to execute Orders left at the Yard, the Public can have them Delivered at the following rates:

FOREIGN SKETCHES.-No. I.

A SUNDAY AT VERSAILLES.

ALMOST every town and village, in the neighbourhood of Paris, has its particular fête days, to which not only the inhabitants of the surrounding country, but also hordes from the capital, are attracted. That of Versailles, certainly not the least esteemed, takes place the first Sunday of May, and as I was resolved to see every thing I joined the crowds that were proceeding in every sort of vehicle, to assist at that scene of festivity. At an early hour I hurried to the Place Louis Quinze, and took a place in one of those machines known in Paris under the appellation of a "cuccu." This vehicle was drawn by two perfect rozinantes, attached to it in the most clumsy manner-the driver had on his Sunday dress, but withal, was still a figure sufficiently picturesque for the pencil of a Cruikshanks or a Vernet, while the tout ensemble, to say the least of it, would have made a most choice frontispiece to Miss Edgeworth's account of Irish posting. The driver had, however, fully as much spirit as the Hibernian postillion, that is to say, he would not permit any one to him on the road, and, although the horses appearpass ed both stiff and lame when starting, we found them to accord completely with the driver's description, that "quand nous sommes en route, ils iront à merveille." After many "sacres," an infinity of "forçons," and "allons," we arrived at Versailles in time for breakfast, notwithstanding the thousand threatening creaks of the vehicle to break down or to go in pieces, and mirabile dictu without any damage except the trifling loss of two or three inches of whip cord.

Versailles is certainly one of the neatest and best built towns for its size in France. Its streets are broad and clean, and every thing bespeaks, what it actually is, the residence of a genteel population. The Boulevards du Roi and de la Reine are great ornaments to the city, and, along with the grounds around the Palace, which like all other things belonging to the crown, are laid open to the public, prove a constant and delightful promenade to its inhabitants. But the chief thing that makes Versailles so interesting to the stranger is its magnificent Palace. The approach to this royal domain is by a straight avenue of trees, which leads into an extensive parterre, through which are scattered statues, vases, casts and fountains. Above this parterre, rises a terrace, upon which stands the magnificent edifice, whose façade has all that regularity of design and execution which a building, so immense, ought to possess. Its situation is commanding, and from the terrace there is a most extensive and varied prospect. The park was laid out by Le Notre, under Louis XIV., and, like all those designed and planted by that esteemed gardener, consists of straight broad avenues, lined with trees, fantastical cascades, basins, ponds, jettes d'eau, and a profusion of statues and casts-of all that stiff unbending magnificence that is still so well suited to French taste, and still so accordant with their idea of perfection in the art of gardening. There is an air of grandeur, peculiarly consonant to the habitation of royalty, in this mode of laying out grounds, although it must be allowed that Nature's dictates are, almost entirely, set at nought. Nature, in fact, is sacrificed to art.

The splendour of the Palace is almost proverbial. Every succeeding hall and chamber exceeds another in beauty and chasteness of design-in excellence of execution in happy appropriation and harmony of painting-in profusion of mirrors-in richness of gilding, and in the magnificence of the tout ensemble. The first five halls to which we were introduced, were each dedicated to a particular fabled god or goddess, and had each paintings and devices suitable to their attributed qualifications, actions or pursuits. For instance, the Salle de Hercule, was adorned with delineations of the feats of that demi-god by Paul Veronese. The Salle de Venus had no painting but what pourtrayed love's tender passion. Even the bust of Louis XIV. was appropriately placed here, for we find him to have been as zealous a worshipper of the goddess of love as he was of his other tutelar deity the god of war. The Salle d'Apollo was crowded with paintings and devices, emblematical of the arts and sciences over which he rules. The Salle de Mars was filled with military trophies, and that de Mercure was adorned with paintings of the seasons. The three succeeding halls were even still more magnificent: the first, la Salle de la Guerre, had its roof painted with the emblems and the effects of war, and its one side ornamented with a painting of Louis XIV. on horseback. This hall proved, as it were, an anti-chamber to la grande gallerie, the largest and most esteemed hall of the palace. The length of this gallery is 220 feet, is supported by marble pillars, and has its walls actually covered with mirrors. Besides a profusion of work on the cornices, it has its roof also covered with paintings, representing all the prominent actions of Louis XIV. by the excellent pencil of Lebrun. At the further end of this gallery is another hall, similar to the Salle de la guerre, termed la salle de la paix, which, like the other, serves as an anti-chamber. In this, Louis XV. is painted in the attitude of offering the olive branch to Europe, surrounded with all the emblems of peace, commerce, agriculture and the fine arts. The appearance of these three rooms has every thing that can impress one with just ideas of true grandeur, unalloyed with vulgar profuseness-nothing has been sparedyet nothing has been expended in vain. They have been painted by the first masters, designed by the best architects, and finished, altogether, with the purest taste. To go over the chambers we saw would be an endless task-that of the Queen, may, however, be mentioned as possessing a gold ceiling-and that where Louis XIV. died, from the circumstance of no person having slept in it since his death; and it may be also noticed that in this last apartment there is a very exquisite painting of Jupiter wrestling with the Giants, by Paul Veronese. Like many other shows, the servants of the Palace had reserved the best sight for the last. Just before quitting the chateau, we were conducted to the Tribune du Roi, certainly the most sumptuous and rich, in decoration, that we had seen: its pavement is composed of alternate diamonds, of white and black marble-its roof was painted by La Fosse, and its dome by Coypel, the last representing Le Pere Eternel looking down with a fatherly eye upon the throne, which occupies the farther end of the apartment.

On leaving the chateau, I proceeded to a smaller

palace at the further end of the Park, called the "Grand Trianon," built by Louis XIV., for Madame Maintenon. It is elegantly furnished, and has been more in use than the chateau itself, which has been chiefly kept for show. On entering this palace we were ushered into an oval apartment, in the centre of which stood a large table covered with green velvet. "Look at that table," whispered a French gentleman, "it was around that, that the Russian campaign was devised." I started at the information, and, surprised, looked a little sceptical, "Mais c'est trop vrai," said the unknown. This addendum even made me look more than twice at the singular piece of furniture, and immediately I began to fancy to myself, that I saw the groupe of warriors and statesmen, seated in deep divan around it, on that portentous day, when the fates of Europe and of Napoleon were, as it were, in the cast of a die. I pictured also, to myself, the guardian angel of Europe, which had been hovering around to watch the deliberations, in the act of presenting to the ambitious eye of Napoleon a scroll, containing the very plan that was to conduct him to Moscow; and he, losing his natural presence of mind and deep foresight, in the expected glory of being hailed as Emperor of Europe and dictator to the world, is about to grasp the glorious offer, which his too wary but then unheard Talleyrand sees was but to be an ignus fatuus to light him to destruction! The only rooms which struck my fancy in this palace were le salon de la querre, filled with various pictures, by Vernet and Paul Potter, and some exquisitely finished models of ships of war; and la chambre de la reine, the walls and roof of which, with the drapery of the bed, were of blue silk, embroidered with gold spots. At one of the extremities of the park, belonging to this palace, stands le petit Trianon, said to have been built by Louis XV., for Madame Pompadour. This house, with its gardens and grounds, forms a perfect paradise. The interior decorations of the mansion are executed with great simplicity and taste, and the grounds, from being laid out in the true English style, give to it all that natural beauty which is so much awanting in the pleasure grounds of Le Notre. Knowing me to be an Englishman, the gardener was very assiduous in pointing out everything that merited observation, demanding, at the close of every remark, if this, or that, was not precisely done as in England. I, of course, answered in the affirmative, although I was often aware I had seldom seen a sight of equal beauty. Every thing that art can do to assist nature has been done here, and there is, certainly, more of that romantic and picturesque effect produced here, than in any work of art that has come under my observation. Our walk winded through a thicket of brushwood trees, over artificial rocks to the side of a picturesque waterfall, whose waters fall into a lake, near which rises the tower of Malbrook, and around whose banks has been erected a small village, built only for effect. The scene, altogether, resembles some Scottish clachan, without the accompaniment of squalling children and dirty doors. But, besides these natural beauties, the grounds possess a temple, dedicated to Venus, in the centre of which is a tolerable good statue of that goddess by Bocard, and, near the house, a handsome theatre, built to celebrate the nuptials of Marie Antionette. The Petit Trianon is, doubtless, a most enviable residence. It answers exactly, to the description of the poet's Elysian home, and to the lover's dwelling place, and I am not surprised that Marie Antoinette made choice of such a spot, as her place of retreat and seclusion from the world, to enjoy a day of solitude and an hour of love.

On returning to Versailles we proceeded to the Church. This we found to be like all other places of worship, belonging to those professing Catholic tenets: walls adorned with pictures, images, and bassi relievi, and the altar piece, either representing the Virgin Mary, or our Saviour on the cross. To one that has been brought up under the simplicity of the Church of

Scotland, there can hardly be any thing more ridiculous in appearance (especially after frequent repetition) than the manoeuvres attendant on amass. The continued bowing and kneeling-the frequent kissing of the altar-the unceasing crossing, and the endless taking off and putting on of caps, on the part of the priests, has far more the aspect of showmen amusing a mob, than clergymen employed in the sacred and solemn exercise of worship; and, when there are added to this the horrid bawlings, and monotonous voices of a country choir, accompanied by the grunting of a couple of divine serpents, one is very apt to forget he is in the house of God, and to be totally unimpressed with those sacred dispositions which such a place is wont to inspire. It is in country churches that one is most struck with the absurdity of Catholic forms. In Paris, there is so much glare, such heavenly music, such strict observance of propriety and decorum, and, in fine, such sacredness of aspect, both on the part of priests and people, that even a Protestant is actually made a worshipper, and is impressed with religious

awe.

If the scene in the chapel struck me as being, in form, somewhat indecorous, the actions without its walls were, in every thing, at variance with the strictness of the Protestant creed, with respect to Sabbath observance. The Fair had now commenced, with a bustle and noise little inferior to that of Bartholemew, in London-the streets were crowded with temporary shops, selling every article of clothing, all kinds of household stuffs, fruits, pastry, pictures and jewellery-spectacles of every kind were ranged along the boulevards the everywhere-to-be-met-with punchinello consequently could not be a wanting on this occasion and, in fact, with his other brethren, were playing their most nauseous tricks and manoeuvres on every hand, to the delight of the gaping multitudethe pranks of monkeys and bears called, also, for a portion of public favour, while the grimacer and quack doctor, each attended by a band of musicians, made out exactly one's idea of a Dutch concert-further, from the faces of the crowd, was seen the royal round-about, in constant motion, sickening children for a sous-whilst, under the shade of the trees, were observed, groupes dancing quadrilles to no indifferent orchestra. There were, certainly, elegance and ease in the dancing of these rustics, not often to be met with even among the genteeler orders in Britain. The greatest happiness and cordiality seemed to exist amongst the dancers; for, at the conclusion of every quadrille, each couple embraced most lovingly. It was a fete, and every one had their hearts in the amusements of the day, and a person who is acquainted with the levity, frivolity, and fire of the French character, will scarcely picture to himself a scene of greater life and variety, than what the streets and boulevards of Versailles this day exhibited. As I looked upon the scene before me, I could not help contrasting the present noise, bustle and business of Versailles, and the frivolity and carelessness of its general population, with the peaceful sober aspect of our Scottish cities, and the decorum and piety observable in the outward duties and employment of their inhabitants, on a similar day. It is happy for a nation, when its population can look with pleasure to a day of repose, and to an hour of solemn meditation. One may calculate, that a nation thus minded, still possesses principles of moral rectitude-s -some shadow of that image that was impressed on man at his creation-some of those amiable feelings that yet link man to heaven, and keep up the chain of communication with his Maker. But, when a nation exemplifies a hatred to every thing like sobriety, or thoughtfulness-when a Sabbath cannot be endured except when it brings along with it a fleece of amusements-then, there is a fear that the grand principles of morality and religion are broken up, and the fair qualities that are productive of real happiness-which give birth to patriotism, to valour, to domestic bliss