PARIS GOSSIP.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVI, Issue 70, 28 November 1857, Page 3

PARIS GOSSIP.

Much in the following commtimcations of a correspondent of the Boston Traveller will be found interesting. The letters are written from Paris : —

THE VACANCY IN THE ACADEMY.

The death of poor Alfred de Musset vacates a seat in the French Academy, and Heaven only knows the wriggling and intriguing of our quilldrivers to obtain that delightful seat, which gives the member a certain social status, which assures him the bit of red ribbon in the button-hole, so dear to Frenchmen, and more than all, the substantial honours of three hundred dollars a-yenr. Nothing exhibits in a more striking light the extreme poverty of Frenchmen than the value sums of money which would appear ridiculously small in America, assume here. But there are so few fortunes here, the levelling tendency of the French legislation razes so sternly every estate once in every life -time, the expenses incident to the public way in which Frenchmen live are so numerous ("many a little makes a mickle"), Frenchmen are grateful for the smallest favours in a pecuniary way, and fall down and worship three hundred dollars per annum for life, as being house-rent and clothes assured for the rest of their days, " come fair or foul" — whether the mind is benumbed by age, or the reason be overthrown, or the vein exhausted. That sum of money is something, and consequently three hundred times better than nothing.

VIDOCQ, OF THE "DETECTIVE FORCE."

Last week a man died who possessed a great deal of notoriety in his day, Vindocq. I have delayed noticing him, with the hope of being able to glean some interesting particulars respecting his career. But, as is commonly the case with men of his stamp, I find that popular prejudice has exaggerated him, and that the famous Vindocq was merely a first-rate " detective officer" ; and of course the process by which he was enabled to make his wonderful discoveries of crime and criminals consisted merely in acute observation of a certain sort, and a peculiar sagacity in tracing certain effects to their causes, where other minds could detect no connecting links. He was for a great many years the chief of the secret police here ; he was charged with abusing his position to his pecuniary advantage, for which he was dismissed service and tried for corruption, but acquitted. He has ever since lived in retirement, but he annually earned a large sum of money as a private "detective" ; if a husband doubted his wife, or au employer his clerk, Vidocq was summoned, aud discovered innocence or guilt. The following story is instanced to show the variety of adventures he met with while pursuing this lucrative " business." — A jealous husband summoned Vidocq, and told him to ascertain what his wife did between twelve and two o'clock every day, for he was jealous. — In a few days Vidocq returned and told the husband all he desired to know ; who gave the agent fifty dollars. Monsieur, said Vidocq, since your purse is open, you ought to pay me the little bill your wife owes me for a business similar to this you have employed me on. What! said the delighted husband, for his vanity was flattered by the jealousy of his wife. Does she take so much interest in me ! she was, jealous of me, eh ? She made you follow me? Oh ! no sir, 'twas not you, 'twas the tenor at the Grand Opera she made me follow! On another occasion a wealthy merchant sent for Vidocq ; he told the astute detective that a system of robbery had been going on around him, and that his strong box was less by 30,000 dollars than it should be, and that unless these continued peculations were ended he should soon be reduced to bankruptcy. Whom do you suspect? Nobody. Have you a clerk ? Oh yes, as honest a fellow as the day is long, who would not steal a centime — a sober, quiet, industrious fellow, worth his weight in gold. Hem. Are you married ? Certainly, to a divine woman, who saves me a fortune every year; she is economy itself. Does she never gamble on 'change or green baize ? Lor ! man, what au idea ! She ! my Gabrielle gamble, ha! ha! ha! that's a good 'un! Is she extravagant in dress ? Not a bit of it. The truth is, I have to scold her for not dressing well enough. Humph! said Vidocq, the best thing you can do is to leave Paris for four or five days — really leave it, and give public notice of your intention to be gone. The merchant obeyed, and the moment he was gone Vidocq secreted himself in the merchant's office. The second day of his concealment the merchant's wife and clerk entered the office. We must take advantage of this good fortune, said the wife, and fly : you know I have 100,000f., with that we can live happy in America. Agreed, said the clerk. The word was scarcely out of his mouth when Vidocq, armed to the teeth, discovered himself. There should be 130,000f., said Vidocq, where are the 50,000f. ? I lost them gambling on 'change, said the clerk. Give me, madame, the 100,000f., said Vidocq. When he placed them in his pocket, he drew out a pair of handcuffs, and said to the clerk, you must leave France. I'll be generous and give you liberty, on condition you quit France. To-morrow morning we will go to Havre together, when I'll embark you for Mew York. As for you, Madame, said he, turning to the guilty wife, let this be a lesson to you, and obliterate this transgression by devoting the rest of your life to your husband. He shall never leiirn this secret. The clerk was embarked at Havre, the money restored to the husband with a cock-and-bull explanation, and Vidocq said that he never saw a more affectionate and happy married couple than the merchant and his wife ever afterwards.