Art. XL Farts in Eighteen Hundred and Twfr arM Eighteen 
HuKdred and Fourteen. By the Rev. Wilua& SftEPHRitD. 
Svo. pp. 2tf0. Longman & Co., London. 1SH. 

M r Shepherd, whois well known to the literary" wofld as an 
accomplished scholar, and to the political as art inflexi- 
ble lover Of liberty and friend of the Constitution, ha$, iiv our o- 
pjnion, conferred a obligation upon the cbtfuntfh ruhpf read- 
ers and travellers, by the publication of this Kltfe vifortc. It is tl&h- 
er^p jnto notice vyitnout any pretensions, either in the form <uf the 
edition, or in the author's tone. He plainly tells hi$ reasons for ’ 



,181 4. Paris in 1802 an& in 1814. 

‘ ' r*, 

printing,— wliiqb, external evidence* JtM^thje 

stamp of truths Hi*j#rh^* kj^pt pn hi$ fir^t, tour ta Paris iii 
1802, according to a always* it seems, adopted by him 

when. traveling*, was m continual requisition among his friends 
for several jears. > , When he returned from a recent excursion 
to the same place, itw«s natural that a still greater demand 
should he nmde upon his kindness ; and he foresaw mucli trou- 
ble in superintending its circulation. Nothing could be more 
obvious than the Sjuggo^tiob.of giving it at once to the public. 
4 In n>y embam&smeftt* * says he, 4 I recollected to have heard 
4 of an honest Quaker,, who resided in the back settlements of 
* America, apd who, finding himself absolutely eaten up by 
4 transient, passengers, set up the sign of the Dun Cow; after 
4 which, though* he madeno profit, he enjoyed the comforts of 
4 a quiet house. Upon this hint I have committed both my 
4 journals to the press* If anything more than what accrued 
4 to the American accrues to me, * 4 Lucro apponam. ” (p. via.) 

A work of this kind, putting forth no pretensions beyond those 
of a Diary actually kept fpr the traveller's own use, to point the 
accuracy of his observations, and record matters of information 
or recall agreeable recollections, , ought in fairness to be judged 
according to those professions. Js it a good journal — apparent- 
ly the work of a sensible and accomplished man— such as no, well 
educated man need be ashamed of, if it by accident were found 
in his repositories, and perused by a stranger — calculated to serve 
its primary purposes with respect tot the author, and to render 
future travellers a reasonable share of assistance in their journeys 
and observations ? This is the fit question to be put j and we 
are enabled confidently to answer it in the affirmative; with the 
addition, which is not required .of such a work, that it contains 
every where the traces of a vigorous mind, af once shrewd an<L 
bold, and of feelings and principles equally candid and pure. 
Political discussions, indeed, seem to be rather avoided than 
courted ; nothing approaching to violence can be discerned ; we 
might even say that, the writer's, impartiality is carried far e- 
riough to make his political bias on the questions which incident- 
ally come in his way a matter of uncertainty. 

Mr Shepherd's object, in first visiting the French capital, was 
wholly uncpnnected with party, or with political matters, except 
in so, far as th£se must necessarily claim part of every man's ob- 
servation ^is principal object was the study of those wonderful 
monuments of ancient apd modern genius which the conquests of 
France, had ep^Wed Jier tp collect in one rich assemblage, such 
as never before existed within tfie s^me space. He was desir- 
ous* of viewing the pictures and marbles, and of examining 



m 


Pedis in %%6 2 and iu 1811. 


the maftu&ript treasures of the libraries, ^mcipafly with 94 
reference to the favourite study of his leisure hours, — the 
revival of LettetiMh Europe after th# dark ages* Formerly 
it was necessary t& climb the Alps, and wander over whole 
provinces, in order to gratify this learned and dignified curio- 
sity : The spoils of Italy are now brought together almost under 
the same roof, and there thrown open to the whole world* * 
Justice may indeed complain ; nor is it easy to repress a regret, 
not wholly romantic or sentimental^ thatthe French dM not reU 
satisfied with openingthe road to the mine, and thus' enabling each 
curious one to explore for himself the treasures, perhaps more; 
precious while fixed in their native soil, and surrounded, as it 
were, with the delightful associations of the spot- But the pro*, 
digious gain, in point of ease and convenience, which has 
suited from the pillage, not to the dcspodeSrs only, -but to the 
Transalpine work! at large, etionot admit of a doubt, how lit* 
tie soever it may be received m an excuse for the deed* The 
question of restoration lately excited swne attention. Granting; 
however, that such a wound Could safely have been inflicted up- 
on the national feelings of the French people,, in circumstanced 
eminently critical ; enormous, we may say inextricable/ diftieul- 
ties would have presented themselves in the detail of such a mea- 
sure. Nor can any reasonable doubt remain, that a portion of 
the treasures would have been destroyed unavoidably in the re- 
moval, , while a portion was wilfully spoilt by the conquered par- 
ty £ and, perhaps, a portion would have found its wny to other 
places than those they bad been taken from. Probably theif 
remaining in Paris w?is[ a matter of necessity, as the only, toler- 
ably certain means of preserving them, independently of the 
political obstacles to that restoration which justice prescribed. 

- The correct taste every where exhibited in this Journal, makes 
us regret that Mr Shepherd treats so sparingly of the details of 
the Galleries, In his first journey, he dismisses the pictures 
with a single sentence, and does not enter at all into the par- 
ticulars of his examination. He seems, indeed, to have expe- 
rienced, as wc believe, every visiter of the Louvre docs, a soVt 
of distraction in his first visit, which does not allow a minute 
inspection ; and a satiety from the immensity of the banquet 
served up nil at oqce, >0 as to prevent the enjoyment of any 
of the individual luxuries. All persons wiro have frequented 
thope rich collections, either in Italy or France, feel $ie desire 
strongly grow upon them; of singling out h few prime speci- 
mens oLart, and poring over them separated from the rest. 
Every one who has travelled/ mhslt have felt how much more 
exquisitely lie relished a visit to sbfrie place, where a^&SugfteJSrsf* 



1014 . 


Paris mMOZ.atid 1814. 


rate picture wgwto bMi PWffiofo o church* or Cofiv«it*olr cha- 
teau, remarkable only for ;4hi# solitary jewel, tkpn a surfeiting 
morning spent in dei^ruia theHri^ier wonders of « collection; 
in every compeetaieiit of whieh^-migat he found pieces of tran- 
scendent inenfe’sv-posaihlf as -foie a# the single . ornament of the 
obscure altarf thedistant refectory, or the comfortless and half* 
ruined chateau. the rather ascribe our author’s slight no- 
tice of the paintinga.' in his fitst tour* to tome such feelings; 
because* in kis seCond, when,, from the novelty being past, he 
had leisure and" self-command to pursue the plan- of tttnpg a Jm 
studies eachtime he visited the Gallery, he enters Somewhat more 
into det^\|j$aii, however, we could have wished for a much 
fuller Statement f— he might at least have told us What he fidt-— 
and his remarks orrtlie masterpieces, if not those of an artist, 
or a professed connoisseur# > would have borne the stamp of a vi- 
gorous, original mind, and a just taste. In his first visit, the 
statues seem to have struck him still more forcibly than the pic- 
tures. - t » * 

* Here, * says he, 1 When t found myself sitfrOUndfd by the works 
of Phidias, l’raxi riles, and Xeu*is,~ works which, for so many cen- 
turies before the Christian era. h&d excited the enthusiastic admira- 
tion of enlightened Greece, and which the hyMjrjjftfe of the Ror 
mans durst not aspire fo.etuOfotft-~nl could,haf41y persuade myself 
of the reality of the seepe Wfehfo Was exhibited to my view : — And 
when I gazed with minute ptfontion on the Apollo, foe Laocoon, 
foe MirmiHo. rrtofiens, and foe other pieces of sculpture With which 
foe engravings and casts that t had consulted lo the course of my 
classical studies had made me familiar, scon found that no copy 
was adequate to represent the spirit of foe august originals. What 
a Jfssspn doe* this Collection give on the instability of human thingci 
These breathing marbles were the -splendid fruits of foe victone* 
gained b* foe armies of Rome over the degenerate Greeks. Hie 
degenerated in their turn ; and the prize of valoUr has 
been W8#ed frotn foeir feeble hands, by the descendants of thosjt 
.Gauls, wifoWtftej once compelled to submit to the yoke of slave- 
Who eandkem it an impossible supposition, that, in the course 
. Mrplytng yfots, it foay be transferred by foe hand of victory 
umrfoe $mt to foe ,$eva~4rojn fWistp Petarsbiirgh.* p. 50, 51. 
The concluding sentence contains a singular anticipation, 
though certainty an accidental owe, of an .event, which, twelve 
yean afterwards, Wae undoubtrclly very near taking place. Be- 
fore dotting the Gaifortes* iki* fair to remark with wbat praise- 
worthy ItberaKty they are tnade accessible to the world. They 
srt open* Without any fee or reward, to strangers every day from 
<teh m and to the ) Pufe&tifoV three days in foe week ; a dhw 
fok«JjftWf s vmfch, however necessary, would dot, rn this country, 
lie very well refished, nor, indeed, very patiently submitted to. 
voi. xxiii. wo. 46. ’ Hh 



47$ Park in ISO $ and 1814. 

v- With tb&nuriosity respecting such ai^ec^ lj^pl to all tra* 
;vellera> bot peculiarly appropriate m an. ^cfesiasiij^ pur author 
visits at&fntively the jalaces of worship wherein he goes, and in- 
forms himself respecting the state of his elefical brethren —which 
is certainly fat from brilliant, and their estimation among the 
people, which is, we are sorry toobserVe, somewhat in propor- 
tion to their worldly condition. In the following account, of a 
Sunday* and the most awful solemnity of the Romish church, 
perhaps we are not at liberty to remark the difference between a 
Protestant and a Catholic observer*— between Mr Eustace iffd 
the pastor of . Gateacre : For a Sunday at Paris iti i 80£ f < ami 
high mass in Buonaparte's principal church, will probably not 
be allowed to present the real picture of h Cathplic'Sabhath/^ttd 
Sacrament. Nevertheless, we suspect* that had 3VIr /Eustace 
been at Paris, his emotions would have clothed the scene with 
somewhat more imposing colours; and of this we are pretty 
sure, that the reader will easily recognize, not merely the Pro- 
testant, but the sturdy Presbyterian, in some parts of .our au- 
thor's remarks. With these, it is unnecessary to observe, tw? 
are prepared to sympathize in an ^speciafmaarier, in this land 
of the Solemn League and Covenant* 

* On Sunday morning the 27th, we went to hear high ma$g in the 
church at Notre- Dame. On our way to this venerable Gothic edi- 
fice, we observed one half of the shops open, and the other half 
shut. If our observation was correct, it would of course ascertain 
the opinion of the bourgeois of Paris on the reverence due to the 
Sabbath. I was amused with a sort of compromise which" some 
shopkeepers seemed to make between Teligion and avarice* by shut* 
ting their windows, and exposing their goods their doors. On 
the whole, there was little pf the outward and visible signs of Sun- 
day. One distinguishing symptom was wanting^the ringing of 
bells. I presume these noisy annunciations of prayers and curses, 
joy and sorrow, wedding and death, — were aH melted into coin dur- 
ing the Revolution, When we arrived at the. church, the procession 
of the ho3t was moving up one of the side aisles. Penetrating thU 
crowd which was assembled in the nave, we proceeded to the 
and ascended hud a gallery, where fyc had a full yU/W of the Whole 
extent of the church. Our attention was attracted by the proces- 
sion, preceded by a number of boys, dre&Sed^fn white vestments, 
and bearing tapers^ These were followed* by eight at - ten priests. 
Who moved on in slow and solemn state, singing as they walked 
then appeared the distributers of incense, who dispensed it from sil- 
ver urns* suspended from their waists- by a silver chain . L The ele« 
glance and grace with which they* managed tbeseaagred vases, well 
entitle them to the appellation of clerical Veatrises* In, the. centre, 
Was the canopy wluchcbver^tbe host - This canopy sumurnd- 



#f*. Paris U im ahd iitt 47S 

^'b^'ecd^asHc^va^^dBdjwed by pious votaries* ;t*b6 chanted 
Sfct^CG as' theyw&it along. The Ghorus which tliey formed 
vvas remlered raora^ileep by^hespund etf an inatrmhent lifco a has- 
soon>--the voices of the (melt* ware irUune with this instrument 
audthe harmopywbich they produced, had a very hoe effect. The 
procession wa* flanked by a party of soldiers? who, J presume, at* 
tended for of protecting the ceremony from the insults 

ofthose who were ^ssatisfied with die Catholic religion. At the e* 
fjtyr military commanding officer gave the word 
%\a. tone of yctfce, 4 iybich , echoed through the vaulted roof of the 
church, fyt this signal, the drums beat ; and the swell of the organ 
mingled With tlie WW The soldiers, on one knee, fixed thebut- 
end 0f their’mjuAetS dh the pavement ; and continued in that atti- 
tude till, on the cessation of the pound of drum and organ, the word of 
command was given; 'and they rose. After the procession had made the 
circuit of the inside of the church, the chief priests advanced to the 
high altar, and performed the mass,— their voices being occasionally 
assisted by the organ, At various intervals, voluntaries were played 
upon this? instrument, some of which were absolutely jigs. On the 
whole, our visit to Notre^Danrte presented to us a strange mixture of 
religious solemnity, military state, and levity* In the course of the 
service, twd collections of money occurred ;-*-the first for the bene- 
fit of the church* the second for the relief;of the poor. Of the 
multitudes assembled to-day in this vast edifice, I do not believe 
that more than 200 repaired thither for religious purposes; — the rest 
were composed only of persons, who were attracted by motives of 
curiosity . 9 p. £8w*61. 

v There is nothing more striking in the observations suggested 
by Mr Shepherd’s first visit to Paris, than the, disrepute into 
whiish republicanism* and every thing connected with it had fal- 
len, although it was long before Buonaparte’s power was fully 
established, and he eoulahave exerted hk influence in putting 
down the democracy, upon the ruins of which he built his des- 
potism. At the theatres, every where a good exponent of po- 
pular feelings, but in Paris by far the best, he found unlimited 
applause bestowed on all passages disparting to popular insti* 
tUtions' , Thereto saw, at the Corned^ Frap^aise the Cinna of 
Corneille, whicli abounds in sentiments of political tendency, 
and applicable to the.cirpum stan ces of the day. 4 One solitary 
1 plebeian made a few attempts to excite applause of the demo* 
i cratic sentiments ? but he was indignantly silenced by the rest of 
1 the apflience. On the contrary, the following lines were re- 
1 wived Vitjh a thunder of approbation, 

/ Maisquand le peupleeat maitre on n’agit qu’en turouUe. 

. la voix de la rai$tm jamais ne.se consuJte ; 

, I#ee bonneur* sont voodua auxiplus wnbitieux, 

,, •L’ftutoritfe livr&c aux plus seditieux : 

H h 2 



474 Paris tn 1802 and 1814 . ^ * 

’■ ' > i *** v .»< • * 

Ces petit* soiiveraiiw qu’il fait pour upg anoee; •« , 

Voyant d’un temps si court leur puissejicebornSft 
Des p)u* heureux desaeins font avorter le fruit 
Be pour dp les laisser & celui q«i les suit. ' , v - 
Comrne fig ont peu <Te part au bien dont ils ordonneot, 

Dans le champ dir public largement ils moissonnent ; 

Assures que chacun leur pardonne aiseraent, 

Esperant & son tour un pared traitement. 

Le pire des dtats c’est l’fetat pop ui sire. * pi 81 - 8 & 

We are «orry to find that a similar experiment op popular 
feeling, which our author made in the same place this year* wa» 
Very rar from givi ng a result equally favourable to the existing 
government. The minority was far from in^gnificant-^-hot with- 
standing Buonaparte’s recent downfhl — the eclat' of a new’dy- 
nasty, or still more seductive restoration * the " return of wished 
for peace, and the presence of powerful armies. The two par- 
ties, on the contrary, seemed to be pretty nearly balanced r-ufent 
of this in its proper place We anticipate it here* in order to 
show that the theatre does not reflect merely the sentiments fa* 
voured by the ruling powers; and that, of consequence, the 
observation which our author there took in 1 802 of the new go- 
vernment’s popularity, and the discredit of republicanism, was 
the more to be relied on. J-Jia inference from k, as drawn and 
committed to paper at the time* may fairly be reckoned a just 
one, after the events that have confirmed k- The PerMaos, 
he observes, seemed to b* ripe for the elevation of an Augustus.*® 
the imperial throne. This was written about two years before 
Buonaparte declared himself Emperor. r , < m > 

We' have already spoken of what are commonly' termed the 
Galleries j or the collection of old pictures* marbles, books and 
medals, so well known to every one, that we should only have 
dwelt on any thing new and singular in our aUthor’s remarks 
Upon them. But there 1*9 one institution connected with this 
subject, of a very pleasing nature, and not at all Jtnbwn in (his 
country, the Musee National*? des (VIonumena. Fransais. It owes 
Its origin 10 (he harbarohs ravages committed ' upon .the works 
of art and 1 remains of antiquity in different parts of France dur* 
ing the Revolution. JVL l.enoir obtained permission from the 
Convention to collect their fragments* awd restore them as near- 
ly a* possible to their primitive state* deporting them in a large 
convent which was set apart fin* their reception. By bit< indus- 
try and ingenuity, upwards of five hundred French^ monuments 
are there arranged in excellent- order and preserratipri- .iThey 
ore classed according to their respective ages, and tbusf afford 
the best history of the progress Of acuiptura in dififcrent ’ stages of 



47fi 


1614s. Paris in 1802 and in 1811. 

the art. Hie more anient stones are properly placed in the 
gloomy paitw of While the splendour 1 of the mo- 

4ei*n wOrkmahBhfp fe atO^tageourfy exhibited in the light halls; 
ami the garden iSoiSttfhis 'rfiahy tombifbnes, among others those 
of Abelard and Ufoislu The Endows are enriched with the 
superb painted gtask assembled Trorn a thousand churches, and 
which could o^ thus be saved from the destroying fanaticism 
of the day. 

The scientific reader wifi naturally desire to know the parti- 
culars of a sitting of the National Institute ; and our author has 
detailed them with great spirit, — underrating, however, we must 
remark, the ejects eyen of the mummery which he describes, 
inasmuch as it depends altogether on its adaptation to the per- 
sons concerned,, whether it may not afford just as powerful a 
stimulant to exertion as a graver or more sober method of pro- 
ceeding. 

The hall in which this society assembles, is a noble apartment, 
the sides of which are ornamented with two beautiful pillars of the 
Coiirthhm order ; between the columns are marble statues of the 
celebrated French statesmen and warriors. In the middle of the hall 
an area is railed off for the accommodation of the members. Be- 
tween this rail and the wall* are several rowr of benches, which, on 
our entrance, we found so much crowded with spectators, that we 
experienced no small difficulty in procuring seats. While waiting, I 
had leisure to take * survey of the company ; among whom, my at- 
tention was particularly directed to the famotls Abdallah Menou, who 
sat near the president's chair. In the fat stupidity of this warrior’s 
countenance, I thought I could discern a sufficient cause for the expul- 
sion of the French from Egypt, Whilst meditating on the wonder- 
fill scenes which the army of Egypt had witnessed* the members of 
the Institute entered the hall. Their costume was very odd. It con- 
sisted of a dark green coat, richly embroidered with light green lace, 
a yellow waistcoat and green breeches. This attire gave them the 
appearance of a company of old English butlers. The president 
having opened tjie sitting by a short speecn, the celebrated LaJande 
mounted the tribune* and read a memoir of astronomical observa- 
tions, which, though I am morally certain not one of his auditors 
Understood* was received with thundering plaudits, He was suc- 
ceeded by other Sbtvww, who read papers like so many schoolboys. 
So rapid and indistinct was their pronunciation, that I found myself 
incapable of following the thread of thefr discourses, and their e- 
nunciatkm so monotonous* that it lulled me into a gentle slumber* 
which was only interrupted by the applauses that followed the termi- 
nation dfc each memoir. In short, I found the proceedings of the 
National Institute as tedious as those of the Royal Society of Lon- 
don ; and J was heartily glad to escape from an assembly which* in 
fay^opfeio^ war chargeable with a profusg waste of time, for 



476 


Pc&isin 13< 


MW. ' 


Sept* 


what benefit can be derived^^t the hearing of mathematical caleu* 
lations, the detail experiments, and a iotog set ies of pro^ 

found — ygppTT fffr r r m r r ^ m nr tffl of which Sin only be the' 
result of jMttBpSltidy to* the retirement of the closet? The wight 
who c^tfppffi&ctorily decide, whether it is more irksome to listen to 
lijl jjMpnfn i 1 n n lit i]i oration, or to harangue a listless and inattentive 
agpPTtude, may solve the question, whether the orators or the audi- 
tors of the above mentioned learned bodies are doomed to die most 
disagreeable task ? p. 100 — 102. 

No other parage in ihe first tour needs detain us, except th£ 
description of the exquisite English garden at dje Petit Trianon* 
the favourite retreat of the late unfortunate Queen. ThV sketch 
is very short ; and we transcribe it willingly. " * -v * 

* The Jardin Anglois is laid out with exquisite taste* Here 
passed through shady walks, which wind about gentle declivities, 
till we reached a grotto, from which a subterraneous passage con- 
ducted us to the top of an artificial mount. Descending from this, 
we pursued the course of a narrow streamlet, till we arrived at die 
Hameau, vhich consists of a farm-house, a mill and a church, all 
constructed in the true style of elegant rusticity, enveloped in tree*, 
and almost covered with ivy, Vines, woodbine*, in d other specie* of 
parasitic plants. Before the Hameau is a pool of water, fringed with 
reeds and bulrushes. Beyond is a gentle sloping lawn ; and the 
view is terminated by trees, which conceal the winding walks. What 
must have been the sensations of the late owner of this retreat, when 
ishe contrasted the voluptuous days which she had spent in its seduc- 
tive seclusion, with the terrifying altitude of the temple, and the fetid 
dungeon of the Bicefcre ? Evils are certainly heightened by contrast S 
and though a King is but a man, and a Queen a woman, yet the 
woes of Royalty must be attended with an aftguish peculiar to them- 
selves. The pleasure which I experienced in contemplating the de- 
licious scenery of the^Petit Trianon, was intermixed with serious re- 
flections. I left its shade, however, with reluctance. * p. 112, 113. 

Mr Shepherd’s second visit to Paris was principally under- 
taken with the some views as the former \ but ope very promi- 
nent feature of interest, of course, consists in the change that 
had recently taken place ; and accordingly, the parts of tne nar- 
rative which excite the greatest interest are those which recced 
the traveller’s remarks upop the dispositions pf the people to- 
wards their new government, and their? feelings with respect 
to the master whom they had so recency gotten rid of. The 
candour and impartiality of the author’^, observations upon this 
delicate topic, are extremely satisfactory. The general result is 
certainly what might hayobeen predicted $~r-that die majority of 
the. people are decided!) against Bonaparte, and friendly, though 
not jf&ry zealously so, to the government which has put an end 
toxins tyranny that the majority of the army have a leaning 



in .J$W. 4?7 

towards him* apd a^ipcMi^ion, . roingled^with jpuch |>erwnaj 

unpopular with the soifoeiy.pn account-of their co»l#ct.tow,aisfe 
their tavourhfcVcMefy’ and -are tbu& likely .to. serve thte present 
court faithfully. ! j? W itb • respect to thequestion most important 
to -foreign nation *,0°^ especially to ourselves die disposition of 
France towards peaceable' or hostilemeasuree with her neigh- 
bours, the rCsidt of ou r author's Observations rather disappoint* 
thp expectations which might fairly have been indulged. He 
seems to think that the nat ional pride has been too sorely wound- 
ed id let, t|te people ;'jfest | and that, notwithstanding all they have 
iuSkred* - <Key '•Wo^HqT &rh$' *' consolation from any Convulsion 
whichnaight give then> the opportunity of wiping away their 
late stains, and taking tn^r revenge. To deny the Fact, because 
of its inconsistency with bur previous belief in the effects of die 
conscription and Riis-iaU campaign, would be rash and dogma- 
tical. It might argue, too, an inattention to two very material 
points, the extraordinary, love of national glory which predo- 
, urinates ip, the french character, and the perversion in tlieir na- 
tures wrought, to a certain degree at least, by the conscription it- 
self j lor, perverted must. so military a people as the French have 
become, before such a sthte of things as existed under Buonaparte 
could at all suit their habits and dispositions. Nevertheless, we 
.would fain hope that the inference so unfortunate for the peace 
of the. world, if it be well founded,, rests 1 rather upon a view of 
the Parisian society, iri which the predominance of the military, 
knd the lighter burdens of the conscription, must naturally txi- 
minish the horror of war. We hasten, however, to mention 
a fe\y of the particulars related by Mr Shepherd,, with a refer- 
ence to thgse most interesting topics. 

He travelled, from Dieppe to Paris, and on his way, at a vil- 
lage, he met a wounded soldier, who was wandering about in 
search of his billet. He had been a conscript, and severely 
wounded at the siege of Antwerp ; but he said, ;hat if his Em- 
per or were again set at liberty, {elarge), he would serve him as 
faithfully as eVbr* At Dieppe, however, Mr Shepherd had met 
' four conscripts, interesting youths of eighteen or nineteen, re- 
cetttfy taken from good families, and apparently well educated. 

: They had served fin . th® last campaign j but confessed their re- 
pugnance to arnilitarylife, and desire to return home. Among 
their rtiost intolerablbsufforings, our author justly ranks the be- 
ing cogipelled to associate witnthe common run of soldiery that 
fOt the ranks and barracks and tents of an army. The follow- 
jfig pass^e is lively' and interesting. . ' , 

' ‘ From Souyier we went through a rich and highly cultivated 



sorotry toYarvm^ Hem, while dmner preparing* I Jwa«4 
$te> the stable*, wfaw* Ifbund a *mto& mag 

atrpek with the beauty.ofcme of them,*! we pro^ 0 k§ *o examine 
ih when I was accoi WlMhr its owoer^whe happewd^n he a captain 
tf the Imperial Gtfard, We discoursed M t*!W upW cavalry 
equipments | ffesllgh he was not unwilling to do justice to the pow- 
ei&of Bri^sh cavalry, he preferred, ^for the detail* of a campaign, 
fhe lightness and activity of the Trench* Turning from this topic, 
Which I did not feel myself qualified to dfccjuis* 1 touched him on 
the subject of the Emperor* This I did verftjjmly> by observing 
that Jjfapolepn was a man of extraordinary genius. On hearing hi* 
late master thus characterized, the soldier’s eyes glistened with pleat 
sure ; and he requested J would do him the favour to drink a glass 
of bis wine, which he had left to look after his how* J told him l 
had not yet dined* but that if he would become my guest, I should 
|>e happy to see him* He accordingly accompanied me to Our a* 
partment. Qn his recurring to the subject of Bonaparte** character, 
| thought it my duty to qualify what j had said in commeodatfop 
pf his talents, by remarking* that his ambition was so unbounded, 
that while his power lasted* it was izppwible for his neighbours to 
rest in security. This drew from him a vehement philippic against 
Talleyrand and the Senate, who he said had instigated Napoleon to 
6tary mischievous act which he had* committed ; and after involving 
him in difficulties* had basely deserted and betrayed him. ** But the 
CCtzure of the sceptre of Spam ? *V-^ that was the suggestion of 
Talleyrand : v Kt And the expedition to Russia ? was suggested 
by Talleyrand j and, after all, it only failed in consequence of thp 
premature setting in of the frost* In short* I found that Napoleou 
could do no wrong 5 and that, fur every error into yphidh be had 
fallen, and for every crime of which he had been guilty, his minister 
was made responsible. But, on the contrary, Lotus.^VtlL could 
do nothing right. He had falsified* said (he plain spoken soldier, 
every promise he had made on his accession to the throne. He had 
accepted a constitution, but had violated every article of ft. He 
bad solemnly engaged to continue the constituted authorities as he 
found them ; but he had made the most capricious changes :~~he 
bad flattered the army with assurances that be had the most pern 
feet reliance on their support, and yet he bad sent the Imperial 
Guard away from Paris **~he had diminished their privileges and. ap- 
pointments, and intended to revive tbe old ^stat^fchment of the 
Gardes Swssts. To say in a word, he had f gjhren up himself fa 
the guidance of " those rascally priests, t$Jjq$e*eyil counsel had 
brought hi} brother to the scaffold* He wa^also led into error by 
the returning emigres, men who had deserted their ppuntyyuat a 
peripd wj||n their services were most needful, and now hacTthe auj 
clrim to the distinguished honours. WitJ^co*£ 
iid^^mjmodr, M. le Cajniaine mimicked the air and foanney df 
grafters, an old mm of>6vebfy wjjomlie $adh|tely 



*S14 


Pansmi&M and IfH 


m 


heard declaim hfcintention of w$v ing unde* the new rfegiufe Iff a mL 
htary ^padty>^<niderNthe Meb^thar hecould make hiv marches and 
even his charges tn a^abriolfek ' Ha then asked me^whit we thought 
of Louis in England ? to which ireplied, that he had lived so much 
iq retirement, diet little ot nothing had been said among us of Hi 
habits or proceedings, till the late events had summoned him from 
htttfetreat. “ Je vans compread$/\ replied he, M il a bien mange 
‘ f at bien dormii— et voila dfc grande preparAtifs pour conduire les 
& affaire* d'un grand royanme* M In short* he Was fall of grief and 
bittiness of spirit j and on my suggesting to him the probability of 
his incurring peril in consequence of his freedom of speech, he sail 
he had no fears bn that head, for he spoke the sentiment* of thou- 
sands, as“J should find when I arrived at Paris ; which city, he said* 
was very sad and very discontented. This man had undergone the 
hottors of the campaigns of Moscow/ p. 160-164. 

The popularity of Buonaparte in the army was admitted by 
different persona, ds well civil as military, with whom our au* 
fhor convened ; although the opinion appeared to be, thaf the 
opposite sentiments of the nation at large would prevail. At 
the theatre, he made Observations similar to his former ones, 
during the representation of Voltaire^ Merope . At first the 
^majority of the audience carried it decidedly, and had such airs 
played as denoted considerable enthusiasm for the royal lint. 
Great applause followed the passage — 

* Vous que tant de Constance et quinze ans de misere, 

Pont encore plus auguste, et nous rendent pins cher. * 

And the application to Buonaparte was speedily made of the 
lamoas passage— 

* La fiere ambition, dent il est devor# 

Est inquiete, ardente, et n’a rien de sacre , f &c. &c. 

But by degrees, as the piece proceeded, plain symptoms ap* 
peared that the feeling evidently belonging to the majority, was 
far indeed from unanimously that of the audience. The parti* 
2 an$ of Buonaparte began to rally, ahd were strong enough to 
show themselves 5 which we bcheve is always a sure sigh either 
that the preponderance or the vehemence or the majority is not 
very great* * They made their Bht stand at the celebrated speech 
of Polifontd. 

* Un soldat tel que moi peut justement pretendre 

A gouverner J'etat, quand if I*a sb defendre. 

Le premier qiri fftt rot, f£t un soldat heureux , 9 

There seems at obe paMage of the piece to have been a kind 
of compromise betfp£#n the contending parties, indicative of the 
pupophlarity of the bhiefe Who have changed their sides. 4 The 
< mdst bitter sensation, * sqys oar author, * was manifested by 
• .mad^rteopfe in al| qpa$eh hf the house on the repetition of 
Vfc&bikmg description of time-serving politicians * 9 


480 


&arisin 1802 and 1814 . 


c Non*-4a pone e$t Uvr6e a leur trpupe etuelle; 

* ^^environa&de la foule mfidelle * * >, , 

- T^a ^fowcourtisans que j’ai yu autrefois v 
S'e represser a ma suite et rarpper sous mes loix^ \ 

Ap English mercantile gentPcman* who had peculiar oppor- 
tunities ot observation lrom the capacity in which he was resid- 
ing at Paris (a deputy from a number of merchants who w^ere 
desirous of making some commercial arrangements .with the go- 
vernment), confirmed all the author's conclusions respecting the 
disposition of the army. He had himself witnessed their sulki- 
ness in repeating Vive le Hoy after their officers at. a review, and 
the enthusiasm of their cries of 1 Vive VBmpneur 9 soon as 
they had piled their arms. A similar incident waspotfoed by 
Mr Shepherd himself at a review which he attended. ' ^heb 
General passed along the line, the officers cried 4 Viv$ le Ro^ 9 
But this cry was reechoed by very few of the men, of whom thjp 
great majority maintained a sulky silence. 

It would be a very dangerous delusion for the restored Go- 
vernment to discredit the statements of their dangerous rival's 
popularity among his ancient companions in arms ; and almost e- 
qually so to rock the nselves into a secure reliance upon their own 
favour with the people at large. The bulk of mankind, in France 
especially, are by no means remarkable for constancy in their 
political attachments; and a just regard for their real interests too 
frequently yields to some unwise prejudice or capricious feeling. 
$hc memory of the conscription will not very long survive its 
actual burthens ; nor will the glories of Napoleon's reign, its fo- 
reign triumphs, its domestic? magnificence, fail to strike the 
plind of an ambition^ and vanglorious people, before Whose 
eyes are constantly placed the trophies of the one and the mo- 
numents of the other. Nothing in politics is more true, than 
that a small piesent evil is often sufficiently irksome to make the 
multitude forget vast benefits which it has been the means of 
purchasing ; and that any attempt to appease them by recounting 
negative advantages* or the past evils which they have escaped, sel- 
dom produces any thing but increase of irritation. The Bourbon 
Princes must keep these lessons of experience in their view while 
they have to support their very delicate character* and regulate so 
ticklish a nation as the Piretfch. In some most material respects 
they have serious disadvantages to conte*k| with. Their acces- 
sion, or Restoration, w»s effected by foreigti troops; it followed 
the hu fj pft ation of the French arms, hilhdrfco triumphant beyond 
eaMjflHf it has been attended with a permanent diminution of 
te^Ky apd power to die country, not ca«]y to Be c&tmfed. 
Tj Sgi lre themselves by »o mean* teed, bfsufch d^zzliijg ^aleetl* in 
pM' especially, as to have the srbwlest chance Qf’Inakifl'g^^eV 



xm. 


P&rh in 1802 md 181*. 


♦ 8-1 

mighty predecessor forgotten. The Illustrious head oftheijpuse, 
in particular, Kttlfc reimtibtethnt; bold md active mMtefc m Jo t- 
tune* It is rather tef ocmts^sfe that he will remind hia people 
of that brilliant though jpestffehtial tiieteoh * When discontents 
refchlt the ha<;£ fifties to the peopled vain recollection, it is to be 
fparOd that th^irophieH which nave been won will only shine the 
Wlghtei* In the gloom that Wifi nowsormtrnd them. To despise 
*uch disCofilms wOuld in any princes be the extreme of folly ; 
but in those who are deficient In so many of the means of allay- 
ing <hem, it would be so very insane, that we may almost pro- 
nounce it impOs$ib!e> Rather let us hope that a lull use will be 
made of the means which they do possess — that they will govern 
equally and mildly — keeping faith with their subjects* and shun- 
ning wars, how loudly soever the public voice may call for vic- 
tory, in the conviction that defeat being in their case most likely, 
will also prove most ruinous. 

Such are the hope's at least which the good and the wise now 
cherish. But it tnusf be admitted, that the recent proceedings 
of the French Court are very far from holding out much en- 
courage nent to our expectations. The army being unfavour- 
able to the Court, and the people better disposed, we might 
naturally have looked for measures favourable to public liberty, — 
to the popular cause. Free discussion seemed a safe license un- 
der a just and righteous government, which had established it- 
self on the ruins of an iron despotism eminently hostile to all 
discussion. It seemed even a probable source of strength to a 
dynasty unsupported except by the public voice, and reduced to 
the necessity of appealing, though reluctantly, to the country 
at large^for security against the military orders. What had the 
Boaroons to fear froip a few seditious ebullitions ? The pen- 

* His Majesty squares as little with Mr Burke's famous sketch of 
the beau ideal of a restored Bourbon Prince. * Whoever claims a 

* right by birth to govern there, ' says that most profound writer, 
4 mufct find in his breast, or must conjure up in it, an energy not to 

* be expected, perhaps not always to be wished for, in well ordered 
4 stated. The lawful Prince must have, in every thing but crime, the 
4 character of anrusurper. He is gone, if he imagine* himself the 

* quiet possessor of a throne. He is to contend for it as much after 
4 an apparent conquest, as before. His task is. to win it ; he must 

* leave posterity to enjoy i^d to adorn it. No velvet cushion* for 
4* hip** He to bo always (I spqak nearly to the letter) on horse- 

* back** This opinion/ adds Mr Burke, 4 is the result of much pa- 
jf dent thinking on |ho subject, which I conceive no event is likely to 
J alter, '-^Rernrfa an the Policy of the Allies . Wvrks> Bw, vn. 187.* 
TJtewtpde passage ib well Worthy of attention in the present times. 



4 * 2 ' 



men would generally have been with them j and their efforts, 
ift the efldEf" would naVe 'beaten, if they cohTd 4 hoi convert the 
swordsmen. 'Vet #if IfiWr seen th&S patrdWize'the establishment 
of o censorship upon 1 the press* f Perhaps the revival of the 
Slave Trade may he given as another 4 great blunder/ even in 
this point of View. It is a most clumsyattempt td court popu- 
lar favour) it' is a base sacrifice Of principle, ufe best foundation 
of lasting popularity, to the supposed interests of a particular 
class $ it is a shortsighted deference paid to a few merchants of 
Hanfz and Bourdeaux, at the risk of alienating all the nforat 
and religious and soundly judging parts df the community. 
This very false step has completely alienated the bulk of ihe 
people in this country from the Bourbon cause * and there is so 
much sympathy between the popular bodies In the two coun- 
tries, and England is so much looked to by all the rest of Eu- 
rope as * the public, * before whose tribunal the conduct of 
courts and nations is best canvassed, that the loss of favour ift 
this Island may Seriously weaken the hands, and unsettle the 
security of the restored fondly within the realm of France it- 
self. 


If it Would be foolish in that family to disregard the popular 
Voice, and shut their eyes to the disadvantages df its situa- 
tion, the error would Ire no less in other powers, and esp< daily 
pi this country, were they to reckon too surely upoi lasting 
peace, from p presumption that France is either exhausted in 
her means, or sick in spirit of military sufferings and petite. 
We shquld deceive our readers into something of this prevailing 
mistake, were we to withhold the opinion formed on this point 
by so competent a judge as the author of the work before us. 

* I am sorry, * says he, * to state, that I did not perceive in the 

* people of France any due sense of the ble^ings of public tran- 

* quillity. The minds of the army, both officers and privates, 

* lure beht Upon violence and rapine ; and they C are hot on 

* whom they are exercised. Their notions of .warfare are not 

* modified by the chivalrous spirit of modern times. They have 

* even little regard for tine welfare of their country. Plunder 

* and promotion are the main articles of their Creed j and they 

* are ready to draw the sword, without inquiring 1 against whom. 

* Nor are the bulk of the people 1 chastised into Wisdom by the 

* events which have lately occurred to nunbie them. ThVy f 

* cannot be persuaded that any of the orpinary occurrences jpT 


m at, Ikfge seems to wisb for an oppbrfotMy'qf i&Mjsdftg 
ie military credit 5 which, tbou^tpo pr^udt^J^knp^led^^ 



1*1*. farts fn *803 and 181*. 489 

« "it, they atfe ft&sc^Thsy have lost. , pf 

4 the agmv end people, » uu»t> inveterate against Austria,, which 

* power they lewdly accuse of pgachery and cupidity j — political 
4 vice? which they very consistently, no doubt, avow their wish 

* to punish and restrain, Hu Enmand, also, they look with an 
4 evd eye, They cannot hear to think of our naval power ; atgd 

* .they contemplate, with alfthe jealousy of rivalry, our cora- 

* mercjal prosperity, The complaints of the prisoners of war 

* whom we lately, dismissed in such numbers, are readily hs- 

* tenedjo, and pggravate fedings, in themselves sufficiently tur- 

* iwiieni’ p.270, 2t?r . 

We ate far from thinking that the danger is imminent of a 
new way ; but that every thing will depend op the prudence of 
the negotiators at Vienna* we entirely believe, hlo men, as Mr 1 
fSJiephenf remarks, ever had a more difficult or important task 
confided to them. We will add, no such theatre was ever open to 
a laudable ambition — the ambition, jn the negotiators, of excel- 
ling each other in artless honesty and frankness, and all the bet- 
ter qualities of accomplished diplomatists j — in the sovereigns, 
of running that race of virtuous moderation in which they have 
already so far advanced, as to b» in full view of the goal and 
the prise— a lasting peace to mankind. Towards inculcating 
the benefits of this moderate conduct, we conceive the remark 
to he very material Which lias just been cited : and should any 
of the high parties to the approaching treaty so fiir forget their 
duty aftd their past professions, as to press more severely upon 
France than the common safety requires, the knowledge of the 
spirit still residing there may serve the purpose of a check, and 
remind them that resistance is still not impossible.' , 

The English reader will naturally be desirous of knowing 
what kind of legislative assemblies the French have received as 
their compensation for qll the sufferings of tne Revolution. The 
anecdotes of the two Chambers, contained in this volume, are 
interesting} and show, indeed, the wide difference between those 
bodies and the English Houses of Parliament. Something, no 
doubt, is to be set down to the account of the national charac- 
ter} prone to representation* pomp, and what we tern thea- 
trical effect But more, we fear, is due <p defects which time 
only can cure,w»the' want of experietiSwL me‘ warn; of materials 
of which to form parliaments, and; of a vigilant pubfick to 
wetcfrw'tir interest,,, and yet with jealousy, the proceedings of 
the legislature, T—Frbm some thing? here related, we should ra- 
ther, think the Lower House* or €bamJ>£rof Deputies, had been 
formed on tne model of the French Academy, or National 
infinite, than of that best exemplar (With all its defects) the 



484 


Path /0 180$ and 


English Hfoise ofOomrhons. ' The dearito? eachi lumber, wild 
happens foodie? h tSdlebtated by a foneritf toafkmi, or elogeJ* 
Such acovemohy m$t needs % tnoSt cases become bambasticAl 
and ridiculous almost all ft Is trifling}— 4ml in a&jt Is de- 
structive of its bwn object, by being indiscriminately performed* 
No Such absurdity was committed during the revolutionary rimes. 
With alt Iheir faults, trifling and unmeaning mummery yps 
not theit filing j—they had far to^ much* rea| ourine^s on th#ir 
hands, to preach funeral sermons at their sittings. Another ab- 
surdity of the same stamp, is the receiving presents^ worih 
from authors and booksellers, fuid acknowledging them iflrthe 
journals with formal votes of thanks.~ f I lfove seen recorded* * 
says Mr Shepherd, 4 with all gravity, in the prods, xpglwl of .the 
4 Corps Legisktif, the presentation of 44 an Qd* on the r$$fa?a+ 
44 lion of the Bourbons. ” And the proceedings of August 5th 
4 were opened by— 44 V homage d'une production de$tinie d l % m* 
44 struction de lajeunesse , et mtitulSe V Abe tile Fran gam, par M. 
44 V Abbe Cot dier* 99 We extracted the account of a visit to the 
Institute:— the following to the House of Deputies, is a fit pen- 
dant to it. 

4 On our entrance into the great gateway, we were stopped by a 
military guard ; but on our announcing ourselves Englishmen, were 
permitted to proceed. We then made our way into an antiroom, 
when a doorkeeper told us we could not be admitted into the gallery 
without tickets. But on my Observing to lnm, that my friend the 
Baron had informed m& that rickets were not necessary, he o- 
pened the dopr, and introduced ^is info the body of the hall* Here 
we found twp Qr>4hree members pt foe Corps Legidatf and about 
half a dozen ladies. The hall is a very handsome room, in the form 
of a half oval. It is ornamented with si* statues,’ representing X,y- 
curgus, Solon, Demosthenes, Brutus, Cato, and Cicero. Under 
the president’s chair are two figures in bas-relief of History and 
Renown. Immediately below are stools appointed for the huissiers. 
Ond or two benches covered witlr blue leather, are appropriated to 
such of the Kixlg^s ministers as may have occasion to attend th © as- 
sembly. On the entrance of several members, clothed in their fuH 
costume, a blue coat ornamented with gold lace, we withdrew into 
the gallery, the first bepch of which was reserved for the ladies. 
When the president had taken his chair, he gave Notice of the com- 
mencement of business by ringing a bell. The proces-verbal of the 
lost sitting was read* and the presentation of two or three pam- 
ilet^pos announced* A member, then me, and waikiijg across 
c$fnl, ascended the tribune, and read a speech, proposing a fre© 
ifofl export of commdditiep iptoTronqe, whitfo was recew* 
ritb nformurs of disapprobation^ When foe prafor hwfim$V 
Odjby a motion, one or two metnbers rose, and waiting aCrosaMhe 



MH«w 


JPhris in l£03 and 


floor, mounted the rostrqro i$ ayecessiop, am) said a very few word st 
after which th^ question was put, and almost unanimously agreed, 
that “ there was no room to deliberate * J upon the proposition which 
had jubt been made, Tim president, then proceeded to read the re- 
sult of several ballots for committees, after which he terminated the 
sfttihg/ Though this day’s proceedings were far from being interest- 
ipg, where was sdch * disposition to tumults among the members, 
that ttife president was obliged* two or three times to reduce them to 
ortfe^, by rifl£in£ his be!). The reading the speeches has a very flat 
effecf, and the transit from the benches, and the tribune, must tend 
to damp a speaker's fire, Marly years must elapse before the Corps 
LSgi&latif of France will emulate the well regulated activity and 
promptitude of our House of Commons . 9 p. 261-263. 

Before concluding our account of this useful and interesting 
little volume, We briefly indicate a few points on which we differ 
with the learned author, and one or two things which we con- 
ceive to be slips. His taste is generally chaste and*correct ; but 
we can hardly agree with him in his preference of Gothic to 
Grecian architecture, even in churches — to which, indeed, his 
observations are principally confined. Tins is probably the ef- 
fect of early association. We suspect, too, that he undervalues 
the famous Venus de Medici. Persons unaccustomed to sculp- 
ture** are apt to disregard this exquisite marble, as those who, 
for the first time, see the Raphaels in the Vatican, are not a- 
ware of the wonders before them. But the experience, even of 
the ignorant, and the united voice of the learned, always more 
and more approaches towards devotion of those masterpieces. 
To find so knowing an eye a9 Mr Shepherd's out on such a sub* 
ject, surprised us. We can only account for it by his jealousy 
of any rival to his favourite Apollo. 

Is it not inaccurate to speak of Constantinople and London 
(232) as the only two capitals in Europe which Buonaparte had 
not personally visited ? 4 When was lie at Lisbon, or Stockholm* 
or Copenhagen, or St Petersburgh, unless, indeed, Moscow is 
to stand proxy for the modern metropolis ? In the French, a 
few errors of the pres&have crept in, buj of little consequence; 
as * intends 9 for 4 entends, 9 4 quc'est* for 4 qu 7 est-ce 9 4 crupandine* 
for 1 arapaudtne , 9 and one or two others. 4 Cichbeo 9 for 4 Ct- 
4 cerone , 9 an officer of a very different description, though 
sometimes united with the other, is a slip of the pen. But these 
arfe trifles* We only wish the book had been larger ; and such 
slips might have been as numerous as he chose % 

Wofeantiot better close this article than by the anecdote relate 
e*Tof Ant stem and honest republican Carnot — a man whos£ 
atteftdnents, aid extraordinary talents/ both in -war 
andpeace, all Europe has acknowledged ; — whose errors have at 



#9 Pattein l $02 and 19H. ,£fept, 

least been consistent* and redeemed, as far a* rocfi erforycan 
be redeemed, by long and various persecutions whose prind- 

J tes, how much soever we may differ from him, we must admit 
e has acted on, and suffered for, with the coolness of a philo- 
sopher, and the zeal of a martyr. 

‘ Of all the men of abilities Who had figured upon 1 the stage of the 
Revolution, Cam&t had been most steady in his opposition to Boons* 
parte. He had Voted against his being appointed Consul for life ? and 
had declared his disapprobation of his assumption of the Imperial 
dignity His carriage, however, hud won the respect of Napoleon, 
Who had suffered him to live m unmolested retirement. Bat when 
the Allies had entered France, and Buonaparte was surrounded by 
difficulties, he addressed to him a letter, in which, after reminding 
him that, in the days of his splendour and prosperity, he' had studi- 
ously kept aloof from him ; he declared he was ready td render him 
his best services in the season of his distress. It is an instance of 
the decision of .Buonaparte's character, that, in consequence of this 
letter, he entrusted the man who had been so long his declared ene- 
my, with the defence of the important city of Antwerp, * p. 242, 
243 .