AN OLD MS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2051, 15 June 1893, Page 49

AN OLD MS.

BY 1.M.1.

In overhauling a lot oE old documents recently the following very interesting letter was come across, and as its contents tersely describe Paris as it was over 70 years ago, shortly after the Battle of Waterloo, it will no doubt be read with interest by many— particularly so as some of the questions touched on are prominent with ourselves at the present day. For instance, political movements, press supervision (slightly), leading men, marriage, trade, grand buildings, and pleasure grounds, and other matters referring to Paris— a city which has gone through terrible vicissitudes and trials, overcoming or recovering from them all, and still occupying a foremost place in tbe world's history. The letter was intended as private, but as all the parties directly connected with it, as well as those to whom reference is made, are now numbered with the dead, no breach of confidence is committed in giving it publicity, and it will serve t.he good purpose of bringing the present generation to a large extent face to face with the failings and experiences of their predecessors. WHAT THE LETTER SAYS.

Paris, August 7, 1820. My Dear Sir,— Your strange commencement of the 26th June almost, gave me the horrors, but your benevolent conclusion showed me a j heart strongly embued with love to its fellowcreatures. You ask me do I ever feel such emotions. I truly think had I actually the power which you so well describe I should be the identical beneficent individual you picture ; but, alas ! the lovely blossom is nipt in its earliest bad by the ice of Reason The sanguine soul in its abstract moments may rush, into fcbe magazine of the Eternal, and With a hasty hand seize on heaven's choicest blessings. Transported with a fervour wholly divine, it may with, a lavish hand scatter them on suffering humanity ; but what are its teelings when awakened from the dream of enthusiasm by the regular click, click of Nature s undeviating course? The visions of mental intoxication fly and leave the soul like a spark without the flame, conscious, deeply conscious, of its boundless wishes and its utter inability for performance. . . The proceedings of the British Ministers against the Queen are watched with an interest which cannot be separated from the subject. There is nothing which passes in Britain which arrives here in shape of news bat is laid hold of with avidity, but the liberty of the press is not here as in Britain. The present reigning family have felt the sting of revolution too severely to' allow the wings of dreaming politicians to go unclipt. The Board ot Censors fulfils the object of its creation, although it must sometimes pull up the seedß with the weeds together. The censors m Paris have been known to stop the publication in the Journal Constitutional of from six to 10,000 lines in the course of a month's'time. Every article which is intended for the "journals is seen and examined by the tribunate, and they can stop altogether _or modify as they choose any article except foreign news and the discussions in the Deux Chambers. Literature is subjected to the same species of inquisitorial examination, and it will not require a great deal to give the police the power of seizing a work in the press and fining and imprisoning the author and bookseller. The seizures are extremely frequent during the discussions on* the law of elections. We bad some fine parading : the Cuirassiers and Guards charged the defenceless mob moat manfully— with as much fury as they would have done an enemy. One would have thought they were recovering the lost laurels which the Scots Greys plucked from them on the field ot Waterloo. The two members you mention are very popular, and are reckoned very able. The portraits of the several popular members are engraved, and are bought up quickly by the populace. Lafayette has in his study a fulllength portrait of the immortal Washington. Perhaps the remembrances of that great man s actions mingles with and enlightens the meditations of his friend and fellow soldier. Lafayette is a little lame, occasioned by a wound which, I am told, he received m battle. In other respects he is a very fine figure ot a With regard to the damnable doctrine on marriage which you seem to be displeased with, I wish to give you a key to it. Call into your remembrance the fable of the fox and the grapes, and for the better illustration of the subject were I alongside of you 1 would chant you a verse or two of "The jolly miller," but more particularly the chorus " I care for noI am sorryto hear bad accounts of the trade of the island and of the death of the two gentlemen you mention. Is it John Macfie, my landlord ? Have any of the Rothesay merchants any hand in the throwing away of that ships cargo which was said to have been lost at the back of the island?- I hope not. Herrings are very much relished in Paris, but the Bupply is generally from the Dutch market and from the small fisheries on the French coast. It would indeed give me a deal of pleasure to see you m Paris. I would willingly spend a week with you in showing the different curiosities of this celebrated metropolis- the metropolis of a country which has made so prominent a figure ever since the dawn of history. You would be astonished and delighted with the many Bights and shows which it contains. The manners of the people to a mind such as yours would give much amusement, and afford sufficient subject for speculation. The number, immense Bize, and grandeur of the churches would -enchant you, bub the many things which are worthy of notice are past description. The Chamber of Deputies is open to the public, but I have never had an opportunity of coins to see it. I anticipate a deal of pleasure Sn the 25th tout. The «be of St. Louis commences on August 25, and is kept up with great splendour by the munificence of the king. It is literally a treat to the inhabitants, all kinds of sports and plays, feasting and drinking, are carried on, and the Champs Elysees, or Elysian fields, are a scene of all kinds of revelry and fun. I intend seeing the palace of Versailles. The beauty of the gardens and the water fountains are beyond belief. The palace is thrown open to all the world free of the least expense. In fact, the French are more liberal than the English in this respect; for the most part the public places are free of expense. 1 should indeed be happy were you of the party. We would return to the city in the evening and be regaled with the line decorations of the Tuileries and great variety of fireworks. I have to see the palaco of St. Germain's, where James 11, the last of the Stuarts, breathed his last, and the palace of St. Cloud, where the Emperor Napoleon played so conspicuous a part. These places are all within six or eight miles of Paris. There are plenty of carriages, fvnd for the small sum of lOfr you will be taken,

to any of these places. Do write me soon again. You cannot think how grateful a little domestic news proves to me. If I have again trespassed by a long letter put it down to economy, for I like to give you something for your money. Compliments to Mrs Mac and Mr Miller; oblivion seems to have touched the susceptible minds of all my other Rothesay friends. I must conclude. Accept my warmest wishes for your temporal and eternal good, and believe me that it is with sincere pleasure I subscribe myself— Yours truly, Wm. Scott. Hotel de son Excellence l'Ambassadeur d'Angleterre, Eve Foubg St. Honore", No. 39 a Paris. 1 stop the press to announcs that had you not mentioned the name of the young lady whom report says my friend Mr Wright is bargaining for, you would have touched a cord in my bosom, the vibration of which the learned call jealousy. For instance, had you said Mar' garet instead of- Mary my Joy ! would have been complete. Ala's, poor Yorick ! You will find the key to this simple saying in the cut of Miss Margaret's exterior, deducting two years (I should think) of improvement, 2be P.S. is quite an eeigma. Probably some of the ladies or gentlemen versed in the language of feigns and symbols may send an interpretation.