Comms. 
Language. 
Character 
of the 
French, 
736 
The standard coin of France is a piece’ of silver of 
the weight of five grammes, or five times 18), grains, 
pr vecve Be ag alloy and ,% ths of pure silver, and 
very ly the 24th part of the sterling metallic 
value, being nearly the same with the livre tournois: 
it is called a franc, and divided into decimes and cen- 
times. There are pieces of 5 francs, 2 francs, 3, } and 
} franc. The gold coins, like the silver coin, contain 
+sth of alloy and ,%,ths of pure metal. They are called 
Napoleons d'or or octo grammes: an octo gramme of 
gold is worth 25 francs. 
The basis of the French lan is Latin, on which 
are engrafted Celtic and Gothic words and idioms. It 
is more remarkable for refinement and precision, than 
for energy or dignity. Their writers have rendered 
their language amiliar to the lovers of literature 
throughout Europe; and in the value of their uc- 
tions, they have no equals am the moderns, with 
the sole exception of the English. Even the mathe- 
matical sciences have been cultivated by them with a 
success, certainly not inferior to that of any other na- 
tion. Their taste in letters is than in the fine 
arts, in which there is a cajeenisiBienes of ornament 
- and an affected manner. Before the Revolution, there 
were 21 universities, and 39 academies and literary so- 
cieties in France. During the Revolution a regular sys- 
tem of schools has been repeatedly decreed, ——— 
does not that they have been actually establi 
ed, or have.at least proceeded so su ly and use- 
fully, as the official reports represented. On the whole, 
however, education is more general now ‘than it was 
previous to the Revolution. : 
** The essence of the French character is an exube- 
rance of animal spirits, ‘producing excess of mobility, 
and a restless activity. They are quick, in- 
genious, fertile in expedients, buoyant against difficulty 
or raya ; but mutable, trifling, confident, vain, cre- 
dulous, and incapable of moderation. With: much that 
renders them amiable in society, as readiness to oblige, 
delicate attentions, kind sympathy, and lively ibi- 
lity, they are often of insecure commerce, from laxity 
of principle, unmeaning professions, jealous irritability, 
po tages propensity to intrigue. Their feelings of 
every kind v to excess ; and there is nothing either 
good or bad, of, which they are not capable, under the 
influence of their. impetuous ardour. No cabinet has 
excited so much disturbance among the neighbouring 
states, from ambition and the spirit of in ing; 
as that of France ; and we have seen, that no change 
af political system at home has made an alteration in 
their foreign policy. The French, beyond all people, 
are the creatures of society: by it their manners and 
sentiments are fashioned, and in it are centred. their 
chief pleasures and gratifications.. They would excel 
FRANCE. 
all nations in the art of conversation, were not the de- Statistics. 
sire of shining too universal. The love of glory ope- 
rates upon them with i force, and stimu- 
lates them to great exertions; but it is often attended 
_- CFP LMI se and vis 
ns les 102 » de ance, 
Bion . ei in & ne xe) par 
Voyage fait en 1787 ct 1788 dans la Haute et Basse 
Auvergne, par le Grand D’Aussy. 3 vol. 1795. — 
' Voyage les Departemens du Midi'de la France, 
par Millin, 4 vol. 8vo, 1807—1811. ar 
— - Mines, be as ‘84vol. 
‘etallurziques, jars. | 3 vol. 4to. : 
Atlas, et Disctigion "Meson de la France, par 
Statistique de la France, Peuchet. 1807. 
Analyse des Procés Ver des Conseils Generaux 
des i mit Mie pour Tan 8. ° 
De la Balance du Commerce, &c. de la France, par 
M. Arnould. 2 vol. 1791. , 
Du Commerce Frangais,dans 0 Etat actuel de ? Europe, 
par J. B. Dubois. 1806. 
De 0 Administration des Finances de la France, pax 
M. Neckar. 3 vol. 8vo. 1784. 
Memoires sur l’ Agriculture du Boulonnois, 1785. 
| L’Agriculteur du Midi, par A, L. Sinetz. 2 vol. 
1808. ; 4 
Mey seam d’ Agriculture, par Ollivier de Serres, reprint« 
1802. : y 
Instructions sur la Culture des Turneps, ow gros na« 
vets, par lés Intendans de Soissons, &c. ‘i786 ‘ 
Instruction sur les moyens de Pourvoir a ta dinette des 
Fourrages. 
Supplement. a? Insedelies &c. 1785. 
G 
Memoires d’ Agriculture, publies par la Societe Ro. 
d’ Agri te Paris, V761;) &e. Yay Sah er 
emoire sur le Mais, par Parmentier. “ 
preity wpa of France, by Tinseau, 1803 and 
Travels in France, by A. Young, 
Travels h several of the Mi and Western 
Hewuesle 2 France in 1802, by the Rev. W. 
Hughes. . 
Narrative of a three years residence in France, from 
1802 to 1805, by Anne Plum ROS Ag , 
Travels th h the South of France in 1807 and 1808, 
by Lieut.-Col. Pinckney: DB Sats 
Notes on a Journey through France in 1814, by M. 
Birkbeck. 
., Letter on the Genius and Disposition of the French 
Government, by an American (Mr Walsh) 1810. 
Sketches of ihe intrinsic Strength, &c. of France and 
Russia. Hague 1808, (oak ‘ wf 
