486 Mr. Laurence on the Dreis, Food, Sfc. of French Farmers. [Jan. 1, 

 happy in tlieir familirs and llieir occu- so little consequence do even tlieir wo- 

 palions. How they reconcile llicir uni- men attach to sccrcsy on certain piiy- 

 versal and excessive attachment to Na- sical occasions, tiiat tiie most decent of 

 poleone le Grand and to ISapolcone Roi tlicni will step to the public street-door, 

 fie Rome, with their orii^inal ideas of with as little concern as an Englishman 

 Jiberty, my informant found the same shcnsinturning to thcwall. The Trench 

 tliliicully to account in France, wiiicli generally contrive to croud all their 

 liis humble servant had already cxpe- beds into one room, each bed being 

 yioif ed in England, in the parallel case, placed in a close recess in the wall, — a, 

 Here indeed, by way of apology, I was description of lodging with which they 

 assuretl by a great patriot, that liberty ought to have no asthmatic patients, 

 ■was good for nothing in France, as un- As a characteristic anecdote of tiiese 

 «We to support itself; but I should be children of Nature, — in the same room 

 glad to be informed of that country, and adjoining beds, were lodged the fa- 

 "»vhere liberty can support herself, in ther and mother, and twin sons of five- 

 opposition to cannon and musketry, and-twenty years of age. 

 directed by the genius and experience The dress of these people is said to be 

 of cockaded patriots. All that has been very well represented upon tlie Englisli 

 ■written of the general substitution, in utajpO ; they have little variety in their 

 I'rance, of a moral for (ho ancient the- habilinients, wearing no stockings but 

 ©logical system, »p|)ears to be correct, on holidajs, when women, who have 

 ■V'ith the exception of occasional •x- tJie means, put on a cotton gown and 

 }«mples of the grossest sujierstition and a cap full of large staring tlowcrs, 

 attachment to that spawn of fanaticism, haTing beneath, a caul of pink glazed 

 ivitchcrafl, conjining, and fortune-tel- cotton to flash them. According to 

 ling. The truth is, one part of the revo- ancient IVencli usage, young children 

 lulionists had no leisure, and the other are still bedizcnncd in the adult fashion, 

 no inclination, for public instruction — female infants being pnt into a bur- 

 liinc ilUe lachrym<E. lesque full dress of gowns, caps, and 

 1'he superior classes of the French aprons ; but that which is far more to be 

 peo|)le not being particularly nice on regretted, (he cliildren arc generally 

 the score of lodging, much delicacy on found rude and untaught, and too often 

 that head cannot be expected among trouhlesome, spiteful, and cruel, as 



the ordinary inhabitants of the country ; 

 Ror is that land of ta.ste and refinement 

 overladen with a scrupulous personal 

 fastidiousness. 'Jlic common farm- 



yoinig demons. 



The diet of a French farm-honsft 

 would be thought any thing rather tlian 

 luxurious in an English one. Instead 



houses are mean and inconvenient lio- of tea and coll'cc, the French will slop 

 vels, having no upiier-story, but a suite down their primitive throats, as a break- 

 of four or live rooms, with earth or brick- fast, a 6oiri//i of cai)bage and all kinds 

 floors, like a range of stabling. It would of vcgelablcs, well larded wi(h a large 

 lie an English or a Dutch idea, not a dab of fat pork; and bcjond that thcro 

 French, to suj^pose tiicse floors are ever seems little variety in any other meal, 

 washed. The stoves in connnon use, fat jjork being their standard flesh viand, 

 do not say mncli in favour of I'rench only that they arc far more economical 

 skill in the conveniences and comforts of it than we of this country. I'hc wo- 

 of I il'e. When any arlicle of cookery is men wearing no stays, and li\ ing chiefly 

 t» be placed upon Ihe fire, it is ncces- on soup and a loose vegetable diet, their 

 sary as a preliminary, to take olf the form, as may be expected, is usually of 

 whole top of the stove, when out rushes a full Grecian size ; and sonic of theni 

 llame, smoke, and ashes, as from a are saiii to be as coarse and uncoutli 

 volcano, covering the whole room, in their manners as in their pcisons. 

 These people, too, are pretty uniform in French women, I find, characterized 

 their neglect of temples, no such one generally — fascinating as angels, and 



bcijig ever thought of among them 

 is so indispensably necessary an appen- 

 dage to a house in Englaml and most 

 ptiier civilized countries. The Frencii 

 peasantry olVcj- their oblations at ran 



artful as devils; the wives holding an 

 absolute dominion over thsJir husbands, 

 and liaviiig very few ideas in common 

 with the English ones, on the subject; 

 of decorum. 'I'he manners and language 



tlom, sub dio, of which, the wutsiiics of of the stage at C'andiray, it is presumed, 

 their houses, their garden walks, and would not be tolerated, for a moment, at 

 few hedge-rows, afford the most abun- any play-house in England, 

 daut and savourv tesljmyiiials. liide^d^ Justice Jo\Taids bnitc animals, with 



tompassi^^ 



