308 AUDUBON 



words of Cuvier and assured us my work had not been heard 

 of in France. He promised to take us to the Academic 

 des Sciences on Monday next. I left Swainson at work in 

 the Musee, and went to the Louvre. There, entering the 

 first open door, I was shown into the pubHc part of the 

 King's Appartcjncnt, a thing I have never been able to 

 accomplish in England. I saw the room where the grand 

 councils arc held, and many paintings illustrating the 

 horrors of the French Revolution. Then to the galleries 

 of painting and sculpture, where I found Parker, and saw a 

 number of artists copying in oil the best pictures. This 

 evening we went to the Theatre Franqais, where I saw the 

 finest drop curtain I have yet beheld, and a fine tragedy, 

 Fidsque, which I enjoyed much. 



September 6. The strange things one sees in this town 

 would make a mountain of volumes if closely related ; but 

 I have not time, and can only speak to thee of a few. 

 After our breakfast of figs and bread and butter, Swainson 

 and I went down the Boulevard to the Jardins Royaux. 

 These boulevards are planted with trees to shade them, 

 and are filled with shops containing more objects of luxury 

 and of necessity than can well be imagined. The boule- 

 vard we took is a grand promenade, and the seat of great 

 bargains. I mean to say that a person unacquainted with 

 the ways of the French pet/t mareJiajid may be cheated 

 here, with better grace, probably, than anywhere else in 

 the world ; but one used to their tricks may buy cheap 

 and good articles. In the afternoon we went again to the 

 Louvre, and admired the paintings in the splendid gallery, 

 and lunched on chicken, a bottle of good. wine, vegetables 

 and bread, for thirty-five sous each. Evening coming on, 

 we proceeded, after dressing, to Baron Cuvier's house to 

 dine. We were announced by a servant in livery, and 

 received by the Baron, who presented us to his only re- 

 maining daughter, — a small, well-made, good-looking lady, 

 with sparkling black eyes, and extremely amiable. As I 



