44 The Popular Literature of France. QJuLy, 



ply a mass of Matthieu Lansberg, which may be estimated at nearly 

 three million copies. Troyes alone supplies one-sixth of this number ; 

 and the beginning of this fecundity is lost in the remote obscurity of the 

 history of almanacks. Its existence may be explained by the cheapness 

 both of labour and materials^ two conditions indispensable to the success 

 of speculations which depend on so small a profit. In this respect^ Paris 

 would appear to be in a less favourable position ; yet it furnishes a sup- 

 ply nearly equal to that of the second capital of Champagne. The 

 average yearly sale of the Double Liegeois of Stahl^ is from one hundred 

 and thirty to one hundred and eighty thousand ; and that of the Aslro- 

 logiie Parisien, published by the widow Demoraine, and Boucquin, suc- 

 cessors to the celebrated Tiger, at the Pilicr litleralre, is still greater. 

 The last mentioned work, conducted with a bonhomie frequently not 

 destitute of spirit and talent, has evidently the advantage over its rivals, 

 although, or perhaps we may say, because, it concedes something to that 

 thirst for prophecy, which is the generic character of its readers. But, 

 united with these characteristics, which are essential to its existence, we 

 find rules of conduct full of wisdom and reason ; medical and meteoro- 

 logical hints, founded on just observation ; a table of the penalties 

 attached to the crimes most frequently committed by the common peo- 

 ple ; and a summary of political events, in the form of an annual register. 

 The number for 1831, however, we may observe en passant, has one 

 remarkable peculiarity : following the example of certain reports, which 

 may, perhaps, be hereafter taken as the basis of history, it gives an 

 account of the expedition against Algiers, without even naming the ge- 

 neral who commanded it. Thus, good traditions are preserved. — " God 

 is great," a Turk would say, and we are very little. 



But the other day, history was mutilated in a similar way, and the 

 extreme verge of absurdity passed, in order to metamorphose Napoleon 

 into the Marquis de Bonaparte ; admirable device of those saviours of 

 monarchy, who, triumphing even over Chinese apathy, would find means 

 to create an opposition, ventas, the Burschcns-chaft and barricades at 

 Pekin, and drive King-li out of his capital with pitch-forks, if the cus- 

 tom-house of Canton would ever allow them admission into the Celestial 

 Empire. 



In addition to the cities we have mentioned, there are numerous places 

 in which almanacks are made specially for local purposes ; such as indi- 

 cating the fairs, agricultural directions, and other particulars, which vary 

 in each department. Then the double Matthieu Lansberg has not lost 

 its old supremacy. It is to be found in all the provinces, reprinted, in 

 every direction, except at Liege, whose name it still insidiously bears. 

 Not that this veteran of popular literature no longer exists ; a great 

 number even are printed on the banks of the ]\Ieuse ; but the elevation 

 of the price limits the exportation in France. It is there seen flanked 

 with venerable marks of authenticity, and adorned with the portrait of 

 the illustrious mathematician, holding in his right hand a celestial globe, 

 which he is examining with the contemplative air of a gastronome pur- 

 chasing on trust the deceitful cantaloup. Independently of its details 

 in domestic and rural economy, and chiromancy, it contains the cele- 

 brated Calendrier des Bergers, also called the Almanack des Anes, where 

 signs and figures are substituted for lettei's, for the benefit of those who 

 have not fathomed the mystery of reading. Nothing is more curious 

 than the hieroglyphics and drawings of this popular Keepsake. A pitch- 



